Bars & Clubs — A strip of sundowner bars stretches along rue Félix Faure. Most are chic, some have happy-hour cocktails, and several have DJs after dinner. Wine bar Le Bouche à Oreille, 7 rue des Gabres (www.lebouchaoreille.com; tel. 04-93-39-97-90), is a convivial spot to sample more unusual South of France wines. For an aperitif with history, the Bar l’Amiral, in the Hôtel Martinez, 73 La Croisette (tel. 04-93-90-12-34), is where deals have always gone down during the film festival. The bar comes complete with the nameplates of stars that once propped it up, Humphrey Bogart among them. Alternatively, head to Le 360, Radisson Blu 1835 Hotel & Thalasso, 2 bd. Jean Hibert (www.restaurant-le-360.com; tel. 04-92-99-73-04), a panoramic rooftop terrace overlooking the port that’s idyllic for a cocktail as the sun sets. Continue the party at Chrystie, 22 rue Macé (www.chrystie.com; tel. 04-93-99-66-91), with a choice of dozens of impeccably-created sexy cocktails on offer (Daïkiri Red Lips, anyone?), luxurious nibbles (try the truffle pizza), plus live pop, international DJs, and cabaret. At Le Bâoli, Port Pierre Canto, La Croisette (www.baolicannes.com; tel. 04-93-43-03-43), Europe’s partying elite, from Prince Albert of Monaco to Jude Law, dance until dawn. Dress to the nines to slip past the über-tight security and into this Asian-inspired wonderland.
Casinos — Cannes is invariably associated with easygoing permissiveness, filmmaking glitterati, and gambling. If the latter is your thing, Cannes has world-class casinos (you must present a passport for entry) loaded with high rollers, voyeurs, and everyone in between. The better established is the Casino Barrière Cannes Le Croisette, in the Palais des Festivals, 1 espace Lucien Barrière (www.lucienbarriere.com; tel. 04-92-98-78-00). A well-respected fixture in town since the 1950s, a collection of noisy slot machines it is most certainly not. Its main competitor is the 3.14 Casino, 5 Rue François Einesy (www.314casino.com; tel. 04-97-06-36-90). It attracts a younger crowd with private games rooms, a beach club, two restaurants, and a juice bar. The casino also pulls in daytime visitors with tasty Middle Eastern mezze (from 8€) and its set menu lunches (14€–21€). Both casinos maintain slots that operate daily from lunchtime to around 4am. Smarter dress is expected for the salles des grands jeux (blackjack, roulette, craps, poker, and chemin de fer), which open nightly 8pm to 4am.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
