It’s quite amazing to think that Cannes, the trendiest of French Riviera holiday destinations, started as a humble fishing village over 2000 years ago. How times have changed! Renowned mostly for its yearly International Film Festival, and home to more designer boutique and eateries than one could swipe a platinum Amex at, Cannes is synonymous with elegance, old-school splendour and bling. Lots of bling! But may people not forget that, at the end of the day, Cannes is still a tranquil seaside village full of cultural splendour and innumerable rustic attractions. Book your holiday rental apartment in Cannes on the Côte d’Azur and check out the following specialty shops offering only the very best of local produce.

Marché Forville, Cannes
The Forville fresh produce markets are an absolute feast for all the sense. Nearby patisseries do a fine job of enhancing the aromas which emanate from the stalls of organic and fresh fruits, veggies, seafood, meats and an innumerable array of home made cheeses, tapenades and more delicious treats that you can fill a baguette with. The ideal market to visit if you book self-catering accommodation in Cannes, this area is brimming with epicurean delights on every corner, so bring plenty of grocery bags and feast to your heart’s content. You know the market’s good when you realise you’re shopping alongside savvy Parisian holidaymakers. They know their stuff!

Maiffret Chocolatier
Chocolate heaven is to be found on Rue d’Antibes, opposite the intersection with Rue des Belges, and its name is Maiffret! Master chocolatiers have been at work here since 1885 and have built a reputation for producing the very best hand-made chocolates on the whole French Riviera. Specialising also in the local favourite fruit confits (fruit jellies), this fragrant emporium sells cakes, tarts, pastries, delectable marrons glaces, ganaches and a myriad of chocolaty treats. We can assure you that gorging on a dark chocolate Eiffel Tower is about as good as France gets!

1862 Wines & Spirits
We can’t really talk about the south of France without mentioning the extraordinary wines produced in this region. 1862 Wines & spirit is Cannes’ epitome wine seller and is one of the oldest in the region. Nowadays, it is also one of the city’s trendiest wine bars, so you can pop in for a drop, take a couple of superb bottles home and, if that’s not enough…you can continue your alcoholic splurge through their online store once you get home. The shop’s magnanimous selection of wines, champagnes and spirits is outstanding, and the service deserving of praise, so head here even if you know nothing about vintages or blends, and let the guys at 1862 enlighten all your senses with a heavenly tasting session.

Fromagerie Ceneri
It’s safe to say you’ll need to stock up on a generous amount of mouth-watering cheeses to go with all that wine right? And that’s where Ceneri comes in! Absolutely, hands down, the best cheese shop in Cannes; at Ceneri you can fill your picnic basket with over 250 different types of cheeses, including cured brie and camembert infused with brandy, cognac or herbs and the most divine selections of French and foreign hard chesses, yoghurts and prime conserves. A truly remarkable shop, Ceneri will transport your self-catering holiday to a whole new level of deliciousness.