Let's Go Europe 2011: The Student Travel Guide
Page 78
ITALIAN
04 93 39 52 79
Incredibly cheap pasta and salads for students and budget travelers alike, as the student menu gets you a pasta and drink for ridiculously reasonable prices (€6.50). The simple interior decor matches the simplicity of its menu, while the small stand outside proudly boasts its main dish of the day.
Students menu €6.50, Normal menu €8 for pasta and drink. Salads €5.90, pastas €5.50-7. 10. Open M-Sa 8:30am-7:30pm.
NIGHTLIFE
THE STATION TAVERN
18 rue Juan Juares
BAR
04 93 38 34 91
A godsend for young budget travelers, since cheap beer and karaoke is all you need to fill a small lounge with every under-25 in Cannes. The karaoke nights (Th-Sa at 9pm) are completely unpretentious, and totally awesome in its cheesiness.
Karaoke Th-Sa 9pm. Beer €3.50, 10 beer for €16, 10 shots for €16. Open M-Sa 6pm-2am.
BROWN SUGAR
17 rue des Frères Pradignac
BAR, RESTAURANT
04 93 39 70 10
Kooky Holland-themed bar goes all out with bicycle wheels, accordions, skis, pots and sleds hanging from ceiling. Noticeable family clientele that tapers off as the night goes on. Come before 9:30pm and you get a free tapa with the purchase of a drink. How come you taste so good?
Beer €4-7, shooters €5, cocktails €8. Open daily 6pm-2:30am.
SPARKLING AND 4U
6/8 rue des Frères Pradignac
NIGHTCLUB
04 93 39 71 21
And sparkle it does. This joint bar and club is what a club looks like in everyone’s wildest dream. Multiple rooms, colors, and textures are enough to keep even the most ADD child interested and focused on this club for the night. A large circular bar (4U bar) sits in the center of the main room, and additional bars are scattered throughout the establishment. Thursday is theme-night. First Thursday of the month is GLBT night.
Shooters €4, cocktails €12. Open M-Sa 6pm-5am.
ZANZIBAR
85 rue Felix Fauvre
BAR
04 93 39 30 75 www.lezanzibar.com
Europe’s oldest official gay bar, Zanzibar showcases a classic sailor theme. A small, barrel-like room is covered in images depicting jolly young men drinking and singing on the waterfront. The bar attracts a somewhat older crowd early on in the night, but beckons Americans and youth after midnight.
GLBT info at www.hexagonegay.com. Beer €4.50, cocktails €9-10. Open daily 7pm-5am (or later).
LE 7
7 rue Rouguière
CABARET, NIGHTCLUB
04 93 39 10 36 www.discotheque-le7.com
Get prepared for a raunchy all-nighter: this local legend’s outrageous drag shows start at 2am, and the drinks and fabulously dressed preformers continue until 5am. Cannes’ most famous caberet club, Le 7 caters to all genders and sexual orientations.
Cover Fri-Sa €12, includes one free drink. Drinks €9.50, shooters €7. Open Th-Su 11:30pm-5am.
VOGUE
20 rue du Suquet
BAR
04 93 39 99 18
Prepare to be (wo)man-handled. This Hollywood/fabulous GLBT bar in the heart of the Suquet compensates for its small size with sparkling mirrors, images of red carpet divas, and a soundtrack fit to accompany your strut down the runway. Come here to play guess-what-gender, then be told very proudly that gender is a construct.
Cocktails €8. Open daily 8:30pm-2:30am.
LE MUST
14 rue du Batéguier
BAR, CLUB
06 68 14 27 40
Like a scene out of a 1970s porn flick, this bar du nuit has chic, glittery plastic barstools, private alcoves in dimly lit areas, and a giant picture of Marilyn Monroe. Outside seating has low couches and a hookah water pipe when you reach sparkley overload. Theme nights include a Russia Night where vodka is discounted.
Shooters €5, beer €6-8, cocktails €10. Open Mar-Oct daily 7pm-2:30am, Nov-Feb F-Sa 7pm-2:30am.
ESSENTIALS
Practicalities
• TOURIST OFFICE: In the Palais des Festivals. Booking tickets for events and provides free maps of the city.(1 bl. de la Croisette 04 92 99 84 22 www.cannes.fr. Open Jul-Aug 9am-8pm, Sep-Jun 9am-7pm). Also a branch next to the train station (04 93 99 19 77 Open M-Sa 9am-7pm.)
• CURRENCY EXCHANGE: Trevelex. €80 min cash advance. (8 rue d’Antibes 04 93 37 41 45 Open M-Tu 9am-6pm, W 9:45am-6pm, Th-F 8:50am-6pm, Sa 9:45am-6pm.)
• AMBULANCE: (04 92 97 90 21.)
• YOUTH CENTER: Cannes Information Jeuenesse. Info on jobs and housing. (5 quai St-Pierre 04 97 06 46 25 lekiosque@ville-cannes.fr. Open M-Th 8:30am-12:30pm and 1:30-6pm, F 8:30am-12:30pm and 1:30-5pm.)
• INTERNET: Cyber Atlas (Corner of Juan Juares and Helene Vagliano 04 93 69 42 86. €3 per hr. Open Jul-Aug 10am-11pm, Sep-Jun 10am-10pm).
• POST OFFICE: 22 rue de Bivouac Napoleon (04 93 06 26 50 Open M-F 9am-7pm, Sa 9am-noon). Branch at 34 rue Mimont (04 93 06 27 00 Open M-F 8:30am-noon, 1:30-5pm, Sa 8:30am-noon).
• POSTAL CODE: 06400.
Emergency!
• PHARMACY: Pharmacie des Allees. Staff speaks Russian, Italian, German, English and French. (2 ave. Felix Fauvre 04 93 39 00 18 Open Sept-June M-Sa 9:30am-7:30pm, Jul-Aug 9:30am-9pm.)
• POLICE: 1 ave. de Grasse (04 93 06 22 22) and 2 quai St-Pierre (08 00 11 71 18).
• HOSPITAL: Hopital des Broussailles (13 ave. des Broussailles 04 93 69 70 00).
Getting There
Trains leave from 1 rue Juan Juares. Automatic ticket booths if you have a European card. (Station open 5:20am-1:10am. Ticket office open daily 5:30am-10:30pm. Info desk open M-Sa 8:30am-5:30pm.) To Antibes ( 15min. €2.75.); Grasse ( 25min. €3.30.); Marseille ++( 2hr. €27.40.); Monaco (1hr. €11); Nice ( 45min. €6.20); St-Rafael( 25min. €6.30); TGV to Paris via Marseille ( 5hr. €80-100).
The principal bus company is Rapide Côte d’Azur, (pl. Hotel de Ville 04 93 48 70 30). To Nice ( 1hr., every 20min. €6.) and Nice Airport ( 1hr., every 30min. Runs M-Sa 7am-7pm, Su 8:30am-7pm €15.). Buses to Grasse ( 50min., every 45min. €1.50.) leave from the train station.The closest airport is Nice-Côte d’Azur (NCE 08 20 42 33 33).
Getting Around
Walking is the easiest option in Cannes, since you’ll find that its a much smaller city than in your Hollywood dreams and is incredibly manageable by foot. If you have to make it further than local campgrounds, take the bus (€1) in front of the train station. The Gare Routiere is in front of the Hotel de Ville, and is valid for one hour. The local train station leads to any city within reach. There are no subways or tram lines.
saint-tropez
0494
St-Tropez is the excess capital of the world. You’d be stunned at the prices, if you weren’t distracted by the beautiful yachts and beautiful people. Independent wealth thrives here, as evidenced by the numerous boats flying the flags of blacklisted tax havens. In a town where the tip to the dockmaster can run you as much as €5000, it can be hard to find deals. Apparently rich people just like spending money as a way to keep out the petty-folk. The real attraction here are the party beaches, which light up at night and continue until day break. Unfortunately, these parties are exclusive and hard to access without a yacht or some serious nighttime espionage. Beyond the money, St-Tropez is an incredibly beautiful town, and unlike any other on the Riviera in terms of architecture and layout of the town. Villas and small alleys make up the heart of the town, and it vaguely resembles a seaside village in Spain or Italy with its terra-cotta rooftops and colored tiles. It’s easy to see why Hollywood and the mega wealthy fell in love with it, but that means making a serious dent in your wallet to enjoy it yourself.
ORIENTATION
Its wealth per square kilometer might outdo the Vatican, but St-Tropez is a very tiny town. Walking is the easiest way to get around here between the old and new ports. Unfortunately, the beaches are far away from the town center, requiring shuttles or a scooter
rental (a good option for those who want freedom from tedious timetables) to get there. The most affordable restaurants, hotels, and shops are on the outskirts of town. The closer you are to the port or the quais, the higher the prices. From the bus station or new port, turn left and walk right into town. The pl. des Lices is the main square that is the most normal, local part of Saint Tropez, with small stands for food, and banks and the market surrounding it. Most of the main roads lead to pl. des Lices. To get to the beaches, either walk around the citadel past the cemetery on Chemin des Graniers, or take the main road at the entrance of the town (Route des Plages) where turning left at any intersection will take you to the beaches.
ACCOMMODATIONS
There are lots of places to stay in St-Tropez, so long as you have lots of money. The cheaper places are located in St. Maxime, the next town over, or just on the outskirts of St.Tropez. The hotels we listed are in the actual town, easy to get to, and under €100.
LE COLOMBIER
impasse des Conquettes
HOTEL
04 94 97 05 31
Beautiful, small hotel just on the edge of the old city. Small rooms, but a private breakfast available in the garden. Cheapest place in St-Tropez, but miraculously still very chic.
From the pl. des Lices (center of town), walk away from the citadel. Take the most left street (bl. Louis Blanc) from the sq. J. Moulin. Walk 1-2 blocks, turn left onto ave. Paul Roussel. Turn left again onto Impsse des Conquettes. Hotel is at the end of street. Cheapest rooms have no A/C and shared bath. Singles and doubles €63-110.
LES PALMIERS
24 Lavoir Vasserot
HOTEL
04 94 97 01 61
Small, boutique hotel in the style of a Tropezienne villa. The orange walls and low, plastered ceilings make this affordable hotel even more attractive. Clean rooms and old-fashioned bar. The entry garden is overgrown, so it’s an adventure just to find the reception. The villas overlook the garden.
From the pl. les Lices, walk away from the hill and rue joseph Quaranta on your slight right. Hotel is on your left. Breakfast €11. Singles and doubles €89-189.
FOOD
Food in St-Tropez is—surprise!—very expensive, especially for sit-down meals. There are some cheaper prix-fixe menus in the old city up near the Citadel, as well as closer to the new port (sailors gotta eat too). All over the pl. des Lices, you’ll find cheap food options in the form of stands, and there is a local Monoprix ( Open daily 9am-6pm) right as you walk into town from the new port.
CRÊPERIE BRETONNE
quai Frederic Mistral
CRÊPERIE
04 94 97 48 53
Authentic Breton crêperie that serves its own cider. Not your typical crêpes, though—these babies are crispy, folded halfway and left partially open, like they do it up north. Right on the port so you can feel like you’re rich while you’re dining on the patio. Old sailing paraphernalia cover the walls.
Crêpes €3.50-8. Cider €5. Open daily noon-8pm.
L’OLIVE
9 rue Aire du Chemin
TRADITIONAL
04 94 97 09 21
Finally, a three-course meal in St-Tropez that doesn’t cost a fortune. Serves Provençal dishes near the citadel on a patio under a canopy of jasmine. Prix fixe 3 course meals €18. Open M-Sa 7-10pm.
LA TANNELLE
Passage Gambetta
PIZZERIA
04 94 54 82 02
Rooftop pizzeria that has a view of the old port. The pizza is cheap, and the ivy growth on the patio provides ample shade. A warning though: the sign out front explicitly states that they don’t accept €500 bills. Sorry, Richie Rich.
Pizza €11.50-13. Order for takeout €10. Open daily noon-9pm.
MIJO CRÊPES
Marché Couvert, pl. des Lices
CRÊPERIE
In the pl. des Lices, there’s a covered market with permanent stands of cheap crêpes, which serve the cheapest and the sweetest in town.
Crêpes €2.50-5. Open daily July-Aug 9am-10:30pm; Sept-June 10am-7pm.
NIGHTLIFE
LE QUAI
22 quai Jean Juares
BAR
04 94 97 04 07
Less pretentious lounge and bar that turns into a madhouse of packed bodies and pumping music. When the patrons start to climb onto the furniture, you’re not sure if they are drunk or just trying to get out of the mosh pit. Expect absolutely debacherous behavior.
Beer €5. Cocktails €13. Open Mar-Oct noon-4am.
CABANITO
16 quai de l’Epi
BAR
05 14 12 28 60
Pound back shots underneath Che posters to the sounds of Cuban music and reggaeton. The super chill crowd gathers for latin salsa, killer mojitos, and €4 beer. Soirees on Tuesday nights.
Beer €4. Cocktails €8. Open daily 5pm-3am.
PAPAGAYO
Résidence du Port
CLUB
04 94 97 95 95
One of St-Tropez’s most famous clubs, where bottles of booze cost more than your starting salary. If you can dress up and get past the bouncer, get ready for a packed house that vibrates with the bass, and keep your eyes out for what color a €500 bill is (hint: it matches the walls). Lounge seating by reservation only. If you forget, the large bouncer will remind you.
Cocktails €19. Open May-June F-Sa 12:30am-6am; July-Aug daily 12:30am-6am; Sept F-Sa 12:30am-6am.
MICASA SUSHI
1 pl. Alphonse Celli
SUSHI, BAR
04 94 97 04 32
All-white interior sushi bar where everyone sits outside to enjoy the live rock music on the weekends. The older crowd jams and young crowd cases the lines at the exclusive clubs.
Beer €4. Cocktails €13. Open daily 6pm-2am (or later).
CHEZ MAGGIE
7 rue Sibille
BAR
04 94 97 16 12
Clubby atmosphere without the stress of not getting in.’70s decor and disco hits make this a popular location for soirees and a slightly older crowd.
Cocktails €12. Open daily 8:30pm-3am.
TSAR
1 quai de l’Epi
BAR
06 11 95 76 43
Gay bar that is frequented by all genders and sexualities for the use of its hookahs. Pink, sparkly, and “fabulously” laid-back (think Claire’s, only gay-er), this is the best place for a middle ground thats less than a club and more than a bar. Beer €8. Cocktails €15. Hookah €20. Open daily 6pm-3am.
CHEZ LES GARÇONS
11-13 rue de Crepoun
GAY BAR
04 94 43 68 70 www.chezlesgarcons.com
If the name didn’t give it away, the small bar packed with older men will—this is one of the most popular gay bars in St-Tropez, and unlike the Tsar caters almost exclusively to gay men. Outside seating doubles the bar’s size. Inside is a DJ and pink and blue arched ceiling.
Cocktails €12. Open Jun-Aug daily 7pm-3am, Sept-Dec Th-Su 7pm-3am; Feb-May Th-Su 7pm-3am.
ARTS AND CULTURE
PALAIS DES FESTIVALS ET DES CONGRÈS
bld. de la Croisette
LA CROISETTE
04 93 39 01 01 www.palaisdesfestivals.com
Large venue that hosts every festival or expo that comes through Cannes. Everything from dance, to arts, to concerts to the film festival in May.
Prices vary, call director. Open M-Sa 9am-noon and 2-6pm.
FESTIVAL DE PLAISSANCE
Vieux Port
CENTRE-VILLE
01 46 04 08 62 www.salonnautiquecannes.com
In case you wanted to feel worse about yourself for not having giggles of money, check out this aptly named boat show where the entire Vieux Port is filled with multimillion dollar yachts and megayachts during this week long festival in September.
€15 entrance for the whole week.
ESSENTIALS
Practicalities
• TOURIST OFFICE: On the corner of quai Jean Jaures and rue Victor L
augier. English spoken, free maps, and events guide. ( 04 94 97 45 21 www.saint-tropez.st €1 bus schedules. Open daily from late June to early Sept 9:30am-8pm; from mid-Sept to early Oct and from late Mar to mid-June 9:30am-12:30pm and 2-7pm; from mid-Oct to mid-Mar 9:30am-12:30pm and 2-6pm.)
• CURRENCY EXCHANGE: Societe Generale, pl. des Lices. (04 94 12 81 40 Open M-F 8:15am-12:15pm and 2-5:30pm, Sa 8:15am-12:25pm.)