The town of Mandelieu-la-Napoule is located on the Côte d’Azur, right next to Cannes in the Paca region (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur). It is a small town of about 22,000 inhabitants (which still boasts the 2nd largest port capacity in the region after Marseille) where life is good, with, of course, very mild temperatures all year round. Mandelieu developed significantly in the 19th century thanks to Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia. We went to discover the destination with our favorite photographer and Fanny from the site Les Exploratrices at the end of August 2022, and I must say it was still very hot there.
Mandelieu is also the city of the Mimosa (which was brought back from Australia at the end of the 19th century), and the city is also known for its basket making (wicker baskets for transporting the mimosa, of course), which reinforces Mandelieu’s floral identity. Every year, from December to February, the town’s hills are covered in yellow, and the Mimosa Festival takes place in winter. Finally, it is a very sporty town at all levels (golf, trail running, cycling, fitness…) and hosts numerous sporting events.
Practical Information
- Note: prices are those of the Côte d’Azur in general, so they are more expensive than elsewhere. You should plan for this in your budget.
- Getting there by train: count about 6 hours from Paris.
- Getting there by plane: from Orly airport (1h20/1h30 flight) to Nice, then take the train from Nice (cheaper flights with Easyjet).
- The good deal: in summer, the city offers free shuttles to get around town.
Mandelieu Tourism
Table of Contents
What to see and do in Mandelieu-la-Napoule?
The town of Mandelieu is very easy to explore on foot (apart from the short hike I mention below, which requires a car to get to). It has a total of 7 fine sandy beaches along the Mediterranean. On the heights, you can also admire the Château d’Agecroft, built in 1918 and better known as the “Château des Mineurs” because it was bought in 1947 on behalf of the Houillères du Nord Pas-de-Calais. Now listed and belonging to the EDF works council, it is surrounded by a 14-hectare estate and has a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean. Also, for golf enthusiasts, know that the town’s first golf course, the “Old Course“, was opened in 1891; it has more than 4,000 pine trees and is an 18-hole course.
Below, as usual, I offer a small selection of things to do and see if you come to spend a stay in Mandelieu or in the region.
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Visit the Château de la Napoule
This fortified castle, the seigneurial residence of the counts of Villeneuve, dates back to the end of the 14th century and still has two defensive towers from the medieval period. It was then rebuilt starting in 1918 and until the 1930s with stones from the Esterel mountains. The place became at that time the main residence of a couple of American artist patrons, Henry and Marie Clews. Enamored with the picturesque site, they rebuilt the building according to their very personal interpretation of medieval architecture. Henry Clews, who was a sculptor artist, also set up his studio there at that time.
Today the place is managed by the La Napoule Art Foundation (created by Marie Clews in 1951). It is an art foundation that hosts several artists of all nationalities in residence, including five artists per year, who are housed on-site and provided with materials and substances to create. You can visit the interior of the castle (including the former studio of the artist Henry Clews) on a guided tour and the garden on a self-guided tour. The latter, at the back of the building, offers a very beautiful view of the sea. The castle also houses most of the Clews collection of paintings and sculptures. The place (with its extremely romantic setting) is also rented out for events (weddings, private events).
Château de la Napoule
453 Avenue Henry Clews, 06210 Mandelieu-la-Napoule
Rates: guided tour of the castle + self-guided tour of the gardens 7€ and 4€ reduced and group / self-guided tour of the gardens + film (20min) 4€ / free for under 7s
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Visit the Villa Logis d’Azur
Built in the 1940s, in an Art Deco spirit, the Villa Logis d’Azur is located facing the port of La Napoule and right next to the Ermitage de l’Oasis hotel (which I tell you about a little further down). Transformed into a cultural space dedicated to art since 2020, it presents works from the Safa Collection to the general public through temporary exhibitions. During our visit in 2022, we saw an exhibition entitled “Figuration narrative & nouveau réalisme”.
Villa Logis d’Azur
26 Av. Henry Clews, 06210 Mandelieu-la-Napoule
open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
the good deal: free entry
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Take an electric boat trip on the banks of the Siagne
This little trip in an electric boat without a license, on the banks of the Siagne (a river), is done with the company Au fil de l’eau. You have to go to the Au fil de l’eau pontoon (Esplanade Pinéa, Parc Robinson) to take your little boat and go on an excursion. All the boats are made in France and they have poets’ names.
This trip is very nice to do with family or friends, and handling the boat is relatively simple. It is also a very calm and relaxing trip, and it is not necessarily necessary to know about boats to drive these little machines. There are several sizes of boats and, it is worth noting, there is also a boat with PRM access (which is not common).
Au Fil de l’eau
06210 Mandelieu-la-Napoule
Open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. until sunset
Rates: for a boat of 5 people max (including 3 adults max) 30€ for half an hour / 44€ for an hour/ extra hour 40€ / 3h package 120€ / for a boat of 7 people max: 40€ for half an hour / 68€ for an hour/ extra hour 60€ / 3h package 180€
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Take a sea trip in an e-trimaran
The Riviera Boat Club has been offering boat rental services in partnership with the Hotel de l’ilot du Golf (which I tell you about later in the article) since 2022, to leave from the hotel and go for a ride on the Siagne or at sea. The Riviera Boat Club has the desire to offer more and more electric boats in its fleet.
For our part, we went for a morning sea trip towards the Esterel massif (red rocks) with the latest boat in their fleet: the electric trimaran ORPHIE 29. This boat, made in France near Toulon, is the first of its kind and is therefore an exclusive. It runs 100% on electricity, with solar panels located on the roof, and it benefits from 4 hours of autonomy for navigation. This is consequently quieter and more respectful of the environment. On the boat, there are paddles and equipment for snorkeling. In total, you can take up to 10 people on the boat with a captain who must accompany us (not everyone can drive this type of boat). This very graphic boat is also made of bio-sourced wood, which can be entirely recycled at the end of its life.
Riviera Boat Club
E-trimaran rental rates: 500€ half-day for the full boat and 900€ for the day
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Go parasailing at Rague Water Sport
Parasailing is one of the water activities offered at Rague Water Sport. You can do the activity alone, in pairs, or even in groups of 3 (which was our case!). I actually thought it was great to be able to experience this flight together. Honestly, at first, I didn’t want to do it because I’ve never wanted to go skydiving and I’m not at all looking for the sensation of falling into a void (which I hate), but frankly, it’s a super gentle activity in reality and not at all intense. I would even say it’s a super relaxing activity, actually. I was a little scared, but in the end, it’s just pure fun and you feel like you’re flying! As soon as we got back on the boat, I only had one desire, which was to go back, and if I have one piece of advice for you, it’s “go for it”!
The venue also offers other activities: jet ski, towable tubes, paddleboarding and pedal boats, water skiing, and wakeboarding.
Water activities at Rague Water Sport
Plage de la Rague, D6098, 06210 Mandelieu-la-Napoule
Open 7 days a week
Parasailing rates: flight with 1 person 70€ / flight with 2 people 45€ per person / flight with 3 people 40€ per person / family flight 40€ per person
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Go hiking in the hills of Mandelieu
On the last day, we wanted to go for a short walk/hike, so we asked for advice at our hotel reception, which suggested we take the trail or the Grand Duc circuit. So we drove to the Grand Duc parking lot and then started the walk. It’s very nice because it allows you to climb into the heights of Mandelieu and get a magnificent view of the surroundings. A small recommendation, however: the first part of the walk is not very shaded (and also has quite a bit of elevation gain), so in high season, a cap, water, and sunscreen are essential!
Grand Duc Circuit
1290 Route de Tanneron, 06210 Mandelieu-la-Napoule
More info on this hike
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Les Nuits de Robinson at the Robinson Theater
About thirty years ago, the banks of the Siagne were a major leisure spot in the Cannes area, and during the summer, the heart of the city beat there during the Robinson evenings. Since 2013, the city of Mandelieu-La Napoule has wanted to rediscover this spirit that once animated the Robinson district. Every summer, the Nuits de Robinson therefore offer numerous shows that are as prestigious as they are eclectic for all tastes and all generations in the setting of a beautiful open-air theater.
For our part, during our visit in 2022, we attended the last show of the summer, a concert by Camille and Julie Berthollet, 2 sisters who play the violin. They played their latest album “Série,” in which they cover music from films and TV series (notably Money Heist, La La Land, Game of Thrones…). In 2023, the festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary by offering some very beautiful evenings!
Les Nuits de Robinson
in July and August
Link to the city’s website
My favorite addresses in Mandelieu-la-Napoule
As usual, you will find below my selection of great addresses in Mandelieu-la-Napoule (two accommodations and several restaurants) that we had the opportunity to test during our stay with the favorite photographer and Fanny. These addresses often offer the chance to discover local products and some regional specialties to taste if you come to the Côte d’Azur.
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Where to eat ice cream in Mandelieu? La Cascade des Glaces
This ice cream parlor is now run by a Northerner, Jean-Pierre Caron, who used to come to Mandelieu on vacation in his childhood and who decided to settle in this beautiful city on the Côte d’Azur. The house has a very nice range of ice cream and sorbet flavors and also offers ephemeral flavors depending on the season (I notably tasted lavender during our visit). Its specialty is offering large sundaes of artisanal ice cream, created by Stéphane Vindret, one of the best Master Artisan Ice Cream Makers in France. To sit down and eat your ice cream in peace, the address has 3 terraces that are quickly taken over on sunny days.
One of the house specialties is the Miner’s ice cream “Gaillette” (which means a large piece of coal), invented by the owner with a recipe based on chicory, caramel, and speculoos. The whole thing is mixed with vegetable charcoal, which gives it an extremely digestible texture (and you can tell when you taste it). It is also this last ingredient that gives this ice cream its black color. In any case, I was personally thrilled by the taste of this ice cream, which is like no other and is very addictive! If you come to La Cascade des Glaces, you absolutely must taste it!
Another specialty is the Chantilly with Elixir la Napouloise. The latter (the recipe for which is kept secret) was also invented by Jean-Pierre Caron and it is indeed very good. It can be enjoyed as whipped cream to accompany ice creams but also in the form of ice cream, La Napouloise. I recommend you get a small pot with these two specialties, which go very well together.
La Cascade des Glaces
Place de la Fontaine, 06210 Mandelieu-la-Napoule
Open from April to October
Price: sundaes to compose 1 flavor 3.70 € / 2 flavors 6.90 € / 3 flavors 9.60 € / 4 flavors 11.90 € / 5 flavors 13.90 €
takeaway cone 1 flavor 2.50 € / 2 flavors 4 €
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Where to eat facing the port in Mandelieu? Restaurant Pépite
This restaurant is located by the sea in front of the city’s port. It has 2 terraces, one in front of the restaurant and one elevated with a view of the port, and that’s where we had lunch. Nothing extraordinary on the plates, but a beautiful location and a good place for a simple lunch and/or to have a drink. Plus, the service is friendly and smiling, which is always pleasant.
To taste: bottled beer from the Brasserie du Comté, brewery in Nice (6€) / non-alcoholic cocktail 7€ / maki bowl with rice, salmon and tuna tartare, avocado, cucumber, mango, candied ginger (23€); tuna tataki breaded with satay with vegetable wok and noodles (29€) / for dessert milkshake (6€).
Restaurant Pépite
Avenue Henry Clews, 06210 Mandelieu-la-Napoule
Open every day from 9 a.m. to midnight
The good deal: happy hours from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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Where to have lunch with your feet in the sand in Mandelieu? La Plage des Iles
This address offers a private beach with a restaurant and a beach bar, located towards the Port de la Rague. It’s the ideal spot for lunch with a view of the sea and your feet in the sand. Plus, the staff and welcome are very friendly.
We tasted: the seared tuna with sesame oil and Thai salad (28€); the Label Rouge salmon tartare with fries and salad (22€); a bowl of strawberries and raspberries (8€); non-alcoholic cocktail and smoothie of the day for drinks.
La Plage des Iles
Port Rague, 06210 Mandelieu-la-Napoule
open every day during the summer season
Price: dish of the day at 17€ / à la carte dishes between 17€ and 28€ / desserts between 6€ and 10€
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Where to have a gourmet dinner in Mandelieu? Oasis Comptoir Gourmand
This gourmet restaurant (be careful, the portions are also those of a restaurant of this standing) is set in a magnificent and very chic setting. We dined in the heart of its superb lush garden, nestled inside the establishment. Everything was excellent, and a special mention for the desserts, which are made by the house pastry chef (in the afternoon, the place also acts as a tea room, and you can come and taste them on-site as well). A very beautiful address that comes at a price, so reserve it for a beautiful evening where you want to treat yourself. This restaurant is also one of the addresses of the Collection Barbossi (I’ll tell you about their hotel a little further down in the article).
We tasted: tuna tataki with the chef’s inspiration (28€); langoustine tortello, zucchini coulis, and burrata (35€); Grand Marnier soufflé (22€); king crab and its homemade tarragon mayonnaise (65€); all-chocolate finger with a praline heart (15€); wines from the Domaine de Barbossi (vineyard in the bay of Cannes that extends over 4 hectares and is planted with 5 grape varieties) in white, rosé, and red (with the Syrah grape variety).
Oasis Comptoir Gourmand
6, rue Jean Honoré Carle, Mandelieu
Comptoir Gourmand Oasis
Starters between €18 and €32 / main courses between €35 and €65 / desserts between €12 and €22
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Where to enjoy a dinner show in Mandelieu? Le Lagon Restaurant
This chic spot, which is both a bar and a restaurant, offers a trendy setting around a private pool. During our dinner, we were even treated to a little fire-breather show. On the plates, you’ll find world cuisine orchestrated by chef Dany Duchamp, with a particular focus on fish and shellfish.
Must-try: ceviche guevara to share (€21) with mahi-mahi, coconut milk tiger’s milk, mango and avocado / whole grilled sea bass (€39) / giant prawns (€49) with kaffir lime polenta, vegetables and black garlic mayonnaise / whole grilled sea bass (€39) / Simmental beef fillet (€35) / side of summer truffle fries (€8).
Le Lagon Restaurant
930 Avenue de la Mer, 06210 Mandelieu-La Napoule
Price: Starters between €21 and €49 / main courses between €23 and €65 / children’s menu €15
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Where to stay in Mandelieu? Hôtel Ermitage de l’Oasis
This charming ☆☆☆☆ hotel opened its doors in 1958 and offers 33 rooms and suites featuring a beautiful collection of artworks belonging to the hotel owner. The establishment also offers a panoramic view of the sea, the river, and the Estérel massif. The hotel also has a very charming heated outdoor pool (even if it wasn’t really necessary when we went) that invites you to lounge. Surrounding the establishment, a lush Provençal garden adorns the hotel.
My recommended accommodations for this stay
Hôtel Ermitage de l’Oasis
via BookingHôtel Ilot du Golf
via BookingThe place also has a restaurant, the Bistrot de l’Oasis, which we didn’t have the opportunity to test. The hotel owner also has a golf course created in 1991, the Riviera Golf de Barbossi, as well as a gourmet restaurant (which I mentioned above), the Oasis Comptoir Gourmand, and a wine estate.
We spent two nights in this hotel and we were accommodated in Suite 506, a small single-story pavilion with a terrace that didn’t lack charm, with air conditioning and very good soundproofing. We had a bathtub, as well as a shower, and the bedding was super comfortable. The room was also equipped with a kettle and a coffee machine (it was just missing herbal teas, as is often the case, but I managed to get some quite easily at the reception). As for the reception, it’s very high-end and we were welcomed by a wonderful Golden Keys concierge (from the national union of hotel concierges). The only small criticism I could make about the hotel is that the breakfast didn’t seem to us to be up to the standard of the establishment, which is a shame.
Hôtel Ermitage de l’Oasis
26 avenue Henri Clews, 06210 Mandelieu-La Napoule
Room rates from €128 in low season
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Where to stay bis in Mandelieu? Hôtel Ilot du Golf
This hotel from the Best Western Premier Collection range, opened in June 2021, offers a quiet setting with a chic neo-Provençal style. We also had a very pleasant view of the canal from our room. The bedding was also very good, which I think is important to specify. As for breakfast, it is quite acceptable for an establishment of this standing with freshly squeezed orange juice, very good scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, pancakes… And the icing on the cake, during sunny days, breakfast can be taken on the very pleasant interior terrace of the establishment.
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Lunch at the Ilot du Golf hotel restaurant: the K Restaurant
The hotel also houses a restaurant, the K restaurant, also open to guests outside the hotel. The latter offers a very pretty terrace (the same one as for breakfast for hotel guests), pleasant for sunny days in the shade of a hundred-year-old olive tree. You will find fish and shellfish dishes and fusion cuisine orchestrated by chef Raffaele Fontana.
Must-try: dish of the day, gnocchi with shellfish bisque and blue lobster from Brittany (€38 with 1/2 lobster); sea bass fillet and prawns with vierge sauce, roasted vegetable sprouts and baby potatoes (€32); desserts artisanal ice creams of your choice 2 scoops (€9); mosaic of fresh seasonal fruits (€12).
Hôtel Ilot du Golf
Avenue de la Mer, 06210 Mandelieu-La Napoule
Hotel price: rooms in high season (from early June to late October): from €210 excluding breakfast / from €550 for a room with balcony or garden level
Price of K restaurant: children’s menu -12 years €16 / glass of Provence rosé wine (between €8 and €13) domaine Saint André de Figuière €10 and Minuty €13 / fine lunch menu, dishes between €18 and €32
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Thanks to the Mandelieu-la-Napoule Tourist Office and Fluxus Communication for organizing this great stay to discover Mandelieu.
I hope that with all this I will have made you want to visit Mandelieu-la-Napoule and if you also have your good addresses and tips for this destination, do not hesitate to share them in the comments below!
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez Photos not royalty-free, photographer's authorization required before any use
