Manoir de l’Etang

We absolutely loved this meal. We were staying in a villa in Mougins and had been recommended this restaurant by a local friend. He knew the owner, who seated us and checked in with us throughout the night. She and the chef, Mathieu Soler, make this place a wonderful destination. I can’t talk to the hotel rooms, though the exterior of the building and views are magnificent. But the food is the real star here! Everyone must order a ravioli – I had the aubergine ravioli which was out of this world and the lobster gratin was rich and delicious. The steak was cooked to medium rare perfection. The wine flowed and the conversation was fun because everything else was so simple and divine. I would highly recommend making this a destination lunch or dinner spot and do make a reservation as I think they are hard to come by in the busy season.

I typically stay here when I attend MIP. For the Cannes Film Festival I like to be close to the action but if Mougins is not far from Cannes and it’s pretty. You need to rent a car though but coming from the Nice airport you’d be spending $ 100 on a taxi each way regardless so if you’re only in town for a few days this is doable.
I love the environment here: eat breakfast on the patio where the view of the hills and fields is lovely. The manoir itself is charming — all made of stone with ivy on the walls. The rooms are small though. And wifi only on the lobby is a pain. The prices are very reasonable especially compared to Cannes so all-​in-​all it’s worth it. Oh and the food is delicious.