On the northern side of the beautiful large cobbled square in the centre of Valbonne, you'll find the often under-rated Café des Arcades. The restaurant has close to 200 seats outside and its summer reputation for attracting a large english speaking clientele who have the habit of drinking rose well into the afternoon, may have led to a presumption that the food is ordinary!

Well that's just plain wrong. Over the past two years there has been a significant improvement in the quality of the Cafe des Arcades menu. Their pizzas are especially good - thin crusted and generously garnished with whatever you topping choose. Dig a little deeper into the menu and you'll find a very good souris d'agneau, an excellent salmon dish, some delicious pastas and I've enjoyed a very good fillet and entrecote (with great chips by the way!).

The restaurant also offers summer delights such as its 'Tropical Platter', a mixture of salad and tropical fruits - mango for example - perfect for a hot day, when you just want to nibble, drink rose and watch the world go by. A special word, as well, for the staff who are very efficient and always welcoming.

Cozy in the winter and buzzing in the summer - this is a place where the evenings live long in the memory.

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Photos by Eric Rousset