There are few places on the Côte d’Azur where lunch feels quite as cinematic as it does at Hôtel Belles Rives. On the Cap d’Antibes, the Mediterranean stretches out below the terrace in an uninterrupted sheet of blue, boats drift beyond the pontoon and the day seems to acquire its own, slower tempo. At the hotel’s private beach, the pleasures are deliberately uncomplicated: a swim, a cold glass in the sunshine, and a table that makes you want to stay long after lunch is over.
This summer, the experience comes with a distinctly fashion-forward twist. From May to September 2026, Burberry has brought its signature Check to Belles Rives, reimagining the pattern in the hotel’s unmistakable blue. Parasols, loungers, armchairs and even the historic lift have been given the treatment, while the jetty and entrance to the private beach carry the exclusive collaboration’s mark. It is a meeting of two very different icons of British and Riviera glamour, and somehow the combination feels entirely at home here.
The food in the La Plage Belles Rives, meanwhile, remains firmly rooted in the Mediterranean.
Chef Aurélien Véquaud builds his menu for the restaurant around the flavours of Provence, favouring seasonal produce, clean combinations and dishes that make sense in the heat. There is colour everywhere, but little excess. The cooking allows tomatoes to taste like tomatoes, basil to smell of summer and ripe fruit to provide much of the drama.
For an aperitif, the peppered panisses with anchovy cream and thyme oil offer a deliciously Provençal opening, while the combination of melon, Parma ham, buffalo stracciatella and basil oil is almost a distillation of the Riviera in one plate. It is the kind of food that invites conversation and another glass rather than demanding concentration.
Among the starters, the Belles Rives Niçoise salad gives the classic local dish a more generous treatment, bringing together tuna ventresca, anchovies, a soft-boiled egg and market vegetables. The burrata with peaches and tomatoes is even more summery, balancing creamy richness with the sweetness and acidity of ripe fruit.
There are lighter, more cosmopolitan choices too. A marinated tuna poke bowl combines quinoa, avocado, edamame and wakame with fried onions and raspberries, while tuna tataki arrives with leche de tigre, lime and coriander. The sea bass carpaccio takes a similarly bright route, pairing kalamansi, lime, mint and purple shiso.
For those staying through the afternoon, the menu becomes more substantial. A marinated chicken skewer comes with Greek yoghurt, jalapeños, cashews and jasmine rice, while an Argentine ribeye with chimichurri and fries is made for a long lunch shared between friends. Italian comfort makes an appearance in fresh puttanesca linguine, cacio e pepe and agnolotti dressed with sage butter, meat jus and guanciale.
And then there is the sweet side of the experience. This year, Johann Kleiber has taken on the role of Head Pastry Chef at Belles Rives, bringing his own sensibility to the hotel’s pastry offering. His creations are available at La Plage Belles Rives, where they can be enjoyed at the table or taken away for later. The beach service makes the pleasure even more effortless: whether it is a freshly baked pastry, a cup of artisanal ice cream or a bowl of ripe fruit, something sweet can be brought directly to your lounger. Sicilian lemon, pistachio, coconut, Piedmont hazelnut and other flavours make the ice-cream selection particularly difficult to resist.
The private beach has always understood that the Riviera is as much about atmosphere as it is about food. With its beach huts, pontoon, private landing stage and solarium, Belles Rives accommodates both the energetic and the unhurried: children can play, swimmers can disappear into the sea, and a long table can gather everyone together for lunch.
For those inclined to leave the lounger behind, the Belles Rives Water-Skiing Club offers lessons from the age of three, adding a little movement to an otherwise wonderfully languid day.
The result is not simply a restaurant meal by the sea. It is a particular kind of Côte d’Azur ritual — barefoot, sun-warmed and generous, with Provence on the plate and the Mediterranean providing the backdrop.
Address: 33 Bd Edouard Baudoin, 06160 Antibes
Phone: 04 93 61 02 79