When you find yourself in a new city, there truly is nothing more valuable than a great recommendation. Better yet, is when said endorsement references a destination spa along the French Riviera. In , a new spa premiered in Cannes, the French city famed for its annual Film Festival.
This season, the spa commissioned Daniele Beniamini, masseur for the star dancers of the Paris Opera, to develop a body massage customised to the muscular state of each client. In May, I was in town covering the Cannes Film Festival, a fun, yet gruelling schedule which sees journalists attend premieres at 11pm in the evening, and file copy in the wee hours of the morning.
I was invited to Spa by Carita to experience a treatment, and opted for one of their signature facials to restore some dewiness to my tired, dull skin. The hour-long session was other-worldly. As I wrapped up, a guest book was available to write a thank you message. The last entry was from Academy Award-winning Hollywood actress Julianne Moore who was in town to promote her superb new film May December.
During the Cannes Film Festival, you are bound to see a celebrity eating in the restaurant or, after 4pm, exiting via the poolside entrance to attend a premiere. I caught Coco Rocha at this very spot. For dinner: Bobo Bistro. Delicious, well-priced Italian food. Pre-book or line up at 7pm on the dot, or just before to visit as a walk-in.
Lunch by the sea: Carlton Beach Club. Expensive but iconic. I had the Nicoise salad. This dish and a gym visit, no matter how tired you are, has been my jetlag cure for years. Exploring: Le Suquet. Meander along the steep and winding cobble-stoned alleyways for a beautiful view over the Bay of Cannes.
