Villefranche-sur-Mer is a dazzling town, with its port and 16th century citadel, and the 18th Century Baroque-style church of St Michel, at the foot of a vast amphitheatre and with the majestic sweep of its shoreline, has retained many traces of its historical origins.

As a maritime town, in a very priviledged location, and with its close proximity to Nice and Monaco, Villefranche has become one of the principal superyacht anchorages of the Côte d’Azur, not just with luxury charter yachts but also with the many cruise ships who have it as a key stop off point on their itinerary. However, at heart, Villefranche is still essentially a fishing port, with its flotilla of small boats which leave the port early every morning, and the ambiance in the town is very much that of a small seafaring village. Fishing is sculpted into Villefranche’s culture. Needless to say, it is not surprising that fish is one of the prominent choices on many of the local restaurant menus.

The restaurant choice in Villefranche is mesmerising, and if you love good fish and shellfish, it is quite difficult to choose the wrong place! Les Garçons (18 rue de Poilu) have a carte which features excellent sole and monkfish, Le Mayssa Beach (9 place Wilson) is a superb choice for those who really want to be close to the sea whilst dining (almost feet in the water), and the legendary La Mère Germaine (9 quai Courbet) offers one of the best Plâteau de Fruits de Mer on this stretch of the coast.