Lunch in Villefranche Sur Mer

[MACKAM]

We are sailing on the Ecilpse in September and would love to take a long leisurely lunch in Villefranche. Could anybody recommend a very nice restaurant Thanks in advance

[Wj420]

After you get off the tenders, the town is directly before you. Many cafes line the street overlooking the port. We walked along, checked menus and picked one. We had a lovely lunch. Enjoy your trip! I'm sure the lunch will be special.

[Adammara]

We had a great lunch at La Nautic on the sea front, but it was in September 2006, so things may have changed!

 

Richard

[barbels]

Take a taxi to the Villa efruzzi- an amazing house and gardens with a great lunch room. Check it out on the net; it's amazing and few people know about it.

[FLJudi]

Take a taxi to the Villa efruzzi- an amazing house and gardens with a great lunch room. Check it out on the net; it's amazing and few people know about it.

 

A gorgeous lunchroom with lots of windows overlooking the magnificent gardens. You can spend a couple of hours here and still have time to stroll the waterfront before reboarding. Makes for a nice, stressless day.

[thedog01]

The train ride to Nice is easy and quick too. No stress, and then you have endless options too. If not, lots close to tender pier.

[Lsimon]

After you get off the tenders, the town is directly before you. Many cafes line the street overlooking the port. We walked along, checked menus and picked one. We had a lovely lunch. Enjoy your trip! I'm sure the lunch will be special.

 

This is what we did. Fantastic views, atmosphere and a great lunch!

 

If you're looking for something beyond this and price is no object then take a cab to Eze and have lunch at the Chateau Eze http://www.chateaueza.com/restaurant-amp-bar.html#. Make reservations in advance and leave plenty of time. You'll be paying for the location and view as well as the food. We choose to just have a drink there and head back to Villefranche for lunch at one of the waterfront cafes there.

[Peteymil]

This is what we did. Fantastic views, atmosphere and a great lunch!

 

If you're looking for something beyond this and price is no object then take a cab to Eze and have lunch at the Chateau Eze http://www.chateaueza.com/restaurant-amp-bar.html#. Make reservations in advance and leave plenty of time. You'll be paying for the location and view as well as the food. We choose to just have a drink there and head back to Villefranche for lunch at one of the waterfront cafes there.

 

We did this with Sylvie de Cristo (local guide), and it was one of the most memorable parts of our trip. The artwork in the Chateau itself was incredible.

[Blazerboy]

Eze is a great spot. We took the local bus there, which was easy and inexpensive. We looked at the Chateau and at "Les Jardins Exotique." We stopped at the Fragonard Perfume Factory, and had lunch at a nice cafe with stunning views. After looking at the church, we hoped back on the bus, went to Monte Carlo for a quick look, and a bus back to Villefranche. Easy!

 

When you tender in, you walk through a small building near the dock, and there is a tourist desk right there - the woman staffing it was very helpful.

 

Andrew

[TLCOhio]

After you get off the tenders, the town is directly before you. Many cafes line the street overlooking the port. We walked along, checked menus and picked one. We had a lovely lunch. Enjoy your trip! I'm sure the lunch will be special.

 

Agree with above that there are lots of nice options along that main street overlooking the harbor. There are also nice, nearby options in Eze, Nice, Monaco, etc. Great, scenic and interesting port. Below are some of my visuals examples for these various options. See more from the live/blog connected below.

 

Villefranche sur Mer is set in one of the world's most beautiful bays. The original Old Town is at the base of a natural amphitheater of mountains and terraced hills. The views are wonderful and it is easy to see why so many people fall in love with Villefranche. The bay itself is very deep and many of the Mediterranean's largest cruise ships stop in the bay. Nearby are Mount Boron, which looks down over the bay from the west; Nice to the west and St. Jean Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu sur Mer, Eze Village and Eze Bord de Mer to the east.

The most extreme example we've seen anywhere of a vaulted passage is the Rue Obscura, a street about a block in from the seafront that's completely covered for about half its length. Lit only by white, wire-gridded lamps in the roof, the "obscure" street reminds you of the days when the town's population sheltered here from bombardments. Founded in the 14th century by Charles d'Anjou a duty-free port, Villefranche's steep narrow streets and stacked up dusty-rose, ochre and apricot houses with trompe l'oeil frescoes redefine the term 'picturesque'. On the tiny cobblestoned port, you might still see old women mending fishing nets. In the old town rue Obscure, a dark and eerie vaulted passageway, has changed little since the Middle Ages. One could walk up and down for hours not actually doing anything but enjoying oneself nonetheless. The Combat Naval Fleuri, held on the Monday before Ash Wednesday, is a surreal sight as dozens of fishing boats bedecked with flowers invade the harbour.

 

The deep harbor between the headlands of Mont Boron to the west and Cap-Ferrat to the east was used as a U.S. naval base until France withdrew from the military wing of NATO in 1966.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 98,545 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

 

The charm, style and beauty of Villefranche are clear in this picture of its harbor area greeting visitors as we arrived via tender from the ship.:

 

 

 

We went through the old areas of Villefranche, seeing the narrow steps where pirates and soldiers would have battled/traveled, flowers, etc.:

 

 

 

Villefranche’s walled fortress or Saint Elme citadel is the “real thing”. It makes the point of how this town’s history was based on its 1500’s coastal/security setting, etc.:

 

 

 

In the Old Town of Villefranche, this is rue Obscure, a dark and eerie vaulted passageway that has changed little since the Middle Ages. This area provided connection and security in times of attack.:

 

 

 

This is the Baroque, Italian-style tower of Villefranche’s Saint Michael Church. It is in the heart of the old town and originally dates from the first part of the 14th Century.:

 

 

 

Hidden among the narrow passages of Villefranche’s Old Town was this artist whose shop produced various etching designs.:

 

[MACKAM]

Thanks to everyone who has replied, like Celebrity you have"Exceeded my Expectations". Roll on Setember the 15th.Initially we were going to stay at Villefranche,but now seriously thinking of Eze.

[MACKAM]

This is Mackam's DH,just want to thank TLCOhio for those wonderful photo's of the harbour at Villefrance, so enticing, does anyone have a specific restaurant name

[TLCOhio]

Thanks to everyone who has replied, like Celebrity you have "Exceeded my Expectations". Roll on Setember the 15th. Initially we were going to stay at Villefranche, but now seriously thinking of Eze.

 

MACKAM: This is Mackam's DH' date='just want to thank TLCOhio for [b']those wonderful photo's[/b] of the harbour at Villefrance, so enticing, does anyone have a specific restaurant name

 

Appreciate the nice comments from Mackam's DH. Sounds like a man of excellent judgement and good taste. YES, Eze can be wonderful. Below is some more on that super charming village. You can do BOTH! Seeing some of Villefranche and then Eze, plus, overall, lots of scenic coastal and mountain views.

 

The old village of Eze, along the coast between Nice and Monaco, hangs up in the mountains above the water and crowds. It's wonderful to visit. Great, great views! Totally charming! Have lunch or dinner there at one of the two great eating places and feel like you're sitting on the edge of paradise! We ate at the Château Eza. Its website: http://www.chateauezarestaurant.com. At 1,407 feet above the Mediterranean, Eze offers commanding views of cliffs, sea, sprawling estates and off-shore islands. The village's narrow streets or more really paths among the buildings lead to the Jardin Exotique It is a maze of paths flanked by mammoth flowering plants and spiky cactuses. For about $3, you can walk up to the best view on the French Riviera. On a clear day, you can see Corsica! It does not get much better than Eze. Their tourism office:

http://www.eze-riviera.com

 

What other ports are you visiting and seeking info?

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 98,545 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

 

The charming mountain top village of Eze is nearby and offers great view along the southern French coast to the west.:

 

 

 

This picture shows more of the gardens at the top of Eze that offers great views along the coast:

 

[celebritydave]

We were in Villefranche in 2010 on our first Transatlantic Cruise and we had a very nice lunch in a waterfront cafe called point Kom cafe.

 

My wife and I both had crepes with a pitcher of wine. It was very good, and the view was awesome!!!

 

We liked Villefranche so much that we have booked a waterfront apartment for 2 weeks next spring:D.

[MACKAM]

Enjoyed Terry from Ohio's comments re MACKAM DH.How perceptive you are.

Time is limited in Villefranche so we may be restricted to the town.Eze is superb but we may not have time for lunch there,and were looking at La Mere Germaine in Villefranche.

Ports of call include Malaga,Civitavecchia[been to Rome many times] Livorno[Florence & Pisa likewise] Genoa,were looking at Portofino[ it;s a long time since last visit].Gibraltar and Lisbon where we want to go to Sintra.

[TLCOhio]

Enjoyed Terry from Ohio's comments re MACKAM DH.How perceptive you are. Time is limited in Villefranche so we may be restricted to the town.Eze is superb but we may not have time for lunch there,and were looking at La Mere Germaine in Villefranche.

Ports of call include Malaga,Civitavecchia[been to Rome many times] Livorno[Florence & Pisa likewise] Genoa,were looking at Portofino[ it;s a long time since last visit].Gibraltar and Lisbon where we want to go to Sintra.

 

Glad that I figured out how smart your DH was and is. He married you, right? Sounds like you are very experienced and savvy travelers.

 

Portofino and Lisbon are both on our future, to-do lists. Can't help with suggestions there. Let us know how things work out there. Too bad your time is limited in Villefranche. I'm sure things will work out fine.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 98,731 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

[Lsimon]

Thanks to everyone who has replied, like Celebrity you have"Exceeded my Expectations". Roll on Setember the 15th.Initially we were going to stay at Villefranche,but now seriously thinking of Eze.

There is no reason you can't do both. We had time to get off the ship without rushing (waited for tender lines to wind down), walked around Villefranche for an hour or so. Then took a taxi to Eze and walked around this great medieval village on top of a high hill overlooking the coast. We stopped for a drink at the Chateau Eze outdoor bar and had what was probably the most expensive cocktail we've ever had, something like 18 or 20 Euros 5 years ago, but you're paying for the magnificent view. We saw the restaurant but it was too pricey for what we had in mind and we might have needed reservations. Then we took a cab back to Villefranche for lunch and a little more walking around.

 

When you walk into Villefranche you'll see a string of outdoor cafes there along the waterfront. We just picked one that looked nice and had a wonderful lunch with a great view of the waterfront. I couldn't remember the name but all of them looked great and the setting was wonderful.

 

Here are some photos of all of these sights and a little more info on our day there: http://simon-pics.smugmug.com/Cruises/Europe-Sept-07-Millennium-Med/Villefranche-French-Riviera/3635456_bv6LVB#!i=207170160&k=p6X9B

 

 

At one point we had considered a much more intensive private tour which went to Monaco and Monte Carlo and some other cities along the coast. Then we decided to take it easy that day as so many other days of our cruise had long intensive touring days. We were very happy with our decision as we had a really great easygoing day.

[ghstudio]

Just a related thought since you will be in Villefranche which is not the most charming city on the Riviera (less charming to us since we were on the Century that broke down there a couple of years ago).

 

One of the relatively unknown, most missed sites in that area of France is the Maeght Foundation in St Paul de Vence. If you like modern art, this is like visiting mecca. It's an exciting alternative to the usual tourist sites.

[MACKAM]

This is what we did. Fantastic views, atmosphere and a great lunch!

 

If you're looking for something beyond this and price is no object then take a cab to Eze and have lunch at the Chateau Eze http://www.chateaueza.com/restaurant-amp-bar.html#. Make reservations in advance and leave plenty of time. You'll be paying for the location and view as well as the food. We choose to just have a drink there and head back to Villefranche for lunch at one of the waterfront cafes there.

 

Hi L.simon,How much was the taxi fare to Eze.The prices we've seen on the internet ,it would be cheaper to hire a Ferrari.We also looked at lunch at the Chateau but like you we are thinking of La Mere Germaine in Villefranche.

[Blazerboy]

Enjoyed Terry from Ohio's comments re MACKAM DH.How perceptive you are.

Time is limited in Villefranche so we may be restricted to the town.Eze is superb but we may not have time for lunch there,and were looking at La Mere Germaine in Villefranche.

Ports of call include Malaga,Civitavecchia[been to Rome many times] Livorno[Florence & Pisa likewise] Genoa,were looking at Portofino[ it;s a long time since last visit].Gibraltar and Lisbon where we want to go to Sintra.

Are you willing to rent a car in Italy? We, too, have been to Rome many times, so we rented a car in Civitivecchia and drove through the countryside to Orvieto in Umbria. A spectacular hilltop town with a wonderful cathedral, an underground tour, and amazing restaurants featuring local white truffles! A GREAT day. Also rented a car in Livorno, and drove to Voltera, where they carve alabaster, and on to San Giminiano for lunch and touring...and some wine. We even had time to drive back through Pisa to show friends the tower.

 

Andrew

[ghstudio]

Since you mention Rome, driving in Italy is OK although drivers seem to leave no space at all between cars even when doing 100kmph...but my experience is that you don't want to drive in Rome where the taxis have been known to view those raised areas on the side of the road that usually have pedestrians as extra lanes. Then again, if you think Rome is bad, try driving in Istanbul. I will never ever complain about NY cabbies again.

 

Driving on the cote d'azure can be exciting as well.

 

If you are one who likes to slow down to read road signs, perhaps you should let someone else do the driving :)

[darrencantwait]

I also highly recommend visiting Eze. It's so beautiful. Very easy to get there via public transit. We took the Nietzsche trail all they way down to sea level and caught the bus back to Villefranche on the roadside.

[bostondavek]

Stayed in vilfranche for a week last year. Cosmos is great for seafood, as is citadelle for Classic French. Favorite town in France. Enjoy.

[Gran2five]

Hi, we have had dinner at La mere Germaine and it was wonderful. We were on a land trip, staying at an apartment in Villefranche. There are several very good restaurants right by the sea. Eze is wonderful as well - depends on how much time you have in port.

[dgraham]

When we were Villefranche a couple of years ago (in October) we enjoyed the waterfront restaurant L'Oursin Bleu, primarily because of the location of some of the outside tables, two feet from the edge of the harbour, looking right down into the water, with white tablecloths no less, and we felt the food was excellent. But what a setting!!!