Film festival fever: Live like a local in Cannes
By Tessa Crowley | 19 May 2026 | Travel
With the 78th Cannes Film Festival in full swing, we take a look at the luxury hotels offering silver screen-worthy, star-studded glamour.
As the Cannes Film Festival kicks off this week, celebrities are flocking to the Côte d’Azur to discover the latest silver screen releases and celebrate cinematic excellence. An unmissable fixture of the film industry calendar, the event attracts a heady array of established directors, famous faces, up-and-coming actors, and undiscovered filmmakers hoping to secure their first big break. With The White Lotus simultaneously filming season four in the city, Cannes is currently abuzz.
Intrigued by this sparkling French spot, drawn by its cinematic culture and luminary allure, and looking to discover its hedonistic side as it becomes summer 2026’s set-jetting hotspot? Read on to find our pick of sensational spa spots, flawless French hospitality and gastronomic delights.
Take a boat across the bay to dine at Restaurant La Guérite
An institution of the French Riviera, La Guérite is nestled on the rocky cove of Ile Sainte-Marguerite near Cannes. Best accessed by boat for a true taste of the Côte d’Azur lifestyle, its charming vistas across the bay of Cannes and stylish scene entice locals and visitors alike. Known for its long lazy lunches, wandering musicians and excellent cocktails, its a spot to sit back, relax, and admire the views — of both people and place. Experts in fire, dishes are flame-grilled, barbecued, or oven-cooked, with compelling cuts of meat and fresh fish adorned with fragrant herbs and tongue-tingling marinades by Head Chef Yiannis Kioroglou and his talented team.
Live like a local at Palm Beach Cannes
Overlooking the ocean, Palm Beach Cannes is a tranquil temple to fitness and holistic health. The lifestyle location for the Côte d’Azur’s glamorous residents to tone and hone their physique, this members’ club offers state-of-the-art equipment from the best brands, coaches for one-to-one guidance, and an array of classes and activities — from pilates, yoga and aquagym, to golf, tennis, kayaking and hiking. An equally impressive wellness area offers a relaxing Japanese bath, refreshing snow room — the only one of its kind on the French Riviera —plus the essentials, from saunas and cryotherapy to treatments and massages from Scens, Decorté and 111SKIN.
Related: The White Lotus fever: Where to stay in St. Tropez
Indulge and unwind at The C Club Spa
Lauded Swiss beauty brand La Prairie needs no introduction, and lovers of its luxury ethos, indulgent creams and nourishing formulas will be excited to see it comes to the Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel, from 28 May. Coming together to offer a unique wellness experience in the heart of the Croisette, expect an exceptional destination dedicated to beauty and longevity, powered by La Prairie’s signature innovation and the craftsmanship of the Carlton Cannes. An exclusive facial designed for the Carlton Spa will offer skin diagnosis to inform a refined and restorative treatment tailored to each guest — smoothing, brightening, and deeply revitalising.
Dance the night away at Nammos
Reopening this month for the summer season, Nammos Cannes returns to Palm Beach for its third year with the same sensational atmosphere and an elevated approach. From new designs and expanded outdoor spaces, the magnetic live music hot spot is the perfect day-to-night destination. Enjoy sun-soaked lunches leading into high-energy evenings, with international DJs, Mediterranean glamour and seaside elegance, to capture the spirit of Riviera living.
