A Postcard from Good: My journey to the South of France in 12 pics

Síomha Connolly, a vogue author from Dublin, Eire, shares a snapshot of a current journey to Good, highlighting the perfect locations to eat, drink and sleep in — and what you should not miss.

Spurred on by a dream to go to one in all my bucket-list motels, I deliberate a go to to the South of France as an end-of-summer journey. Arriving at our first vacation spot in Good on the final weekend in September, temperatures had been a balmy 24°C (75°F). The late summer season climate was good for wandering across the metropolis with out being too stiflingly scorching however nonetheless heat sufficient to sit down outdoors and luxuriate in a day drink or a swim within the sea. Avoiding the principle vacationer season additionally visited some widespread spots within the metropolis with out bookings and bought higher lodging charges.

Nice buildings in sunlight, Straw basket shop
Good buildings in daylight and the straw basket store 

I normally begin the day in Good with…

A stroll across the metropolis, taking within the sun-soaked buildings and discovering someplace good to cease for espresso. Except it is a luxurious five-star resort, I by no means choose to incorporate breakfast in my resort reserving, preferring as an alternative to find an area cafe or bakery.

Certainly one of my favourite issues to do whereas touring is to discover the native boutiques and craft retailers. A favourite in Good was a tiny shopfront on Boulevard Stalingrad promoting each straw memento you possibly can dream of, from small basket baggage to bigger chairs, wicker tables and handwoven textiles. We left with a hand-crocheted bag (so as to add to an ever-growing vacation assortment). 

Plage des Bains Military swimming spot.
LPlage des Bains Army swimming spot and Síomha having fun with a glass of wine at Le Plongeoir 

In Good, you have to attempt…

A cocktail at Le Plongeoir. After winding our approach round Port Lympia and eyeing up the entire tremendous yachts, as we approached our first vacation spot of the night, we noticed a locals’ swimming space, Plage des Bains Military: a small, pebbled seaside that was a lot quieter than the stretch alongside the principle promenade. This calm cove could be an ideal spot to chill off after a day’s sightseeing. However with a cocktail in our sights, we skipped the dip and headed straight for Le Plongeoir.

Glamour by the ocean: the perfect seashores in Good

Whereas the restaurant is reservation solely, and the decrease platform is used as a drinks space and provides small snacks from a wood-fired oven, visiting on the finish of September meant we missed the principle summer season rush and had been seated instantly. The lapping sounds of the waves, a view of the yachts crusing by, and the golden hour solar twinkling on the ocean had been the proper setting to acquaint ourselves with Good on our first night.

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La Merenda interior and La Merenda exterior
La Merenda inside and exterior 

The highest spot for a traditional dinner in Good is…

At La Merenda. This restaurant is a Good establishment run by chef Dominique Le Stanc, serving a small menu of regional dishes with produce picked up from the market at Cours Saleya every morning.

Contained in the tiny 24-seat restaurant, colourful artwork strains the partitions (most of the items created bespoke for La Merenda) whereas a linen hopsack protecting drapes the ceiling, and the sound of chatter out of your fellow diners fills the room, you may neglect you’re steps away from the busy crowds of the Outdated City. Order the deep-fried courgette flowers and pesto pasta, and you will not be dissatisfied — and ensure to deliver money; playing cards aren’t accepted.

Spending diary: what I spent on a four-day journey in and round Good

Hotel Vendome and extra: La Part des Anges wine shop.
La Half des Anges wine store and Lodge Vendome 

In Good, I stayed at…

Hôtel Vendôme. A final-minute reserving that paid off, Hôtel Vendôme is a well-located resort on Rue Pastorelli. The road has a tram cease (a two-minute stroll from the resort) and leads as much as the principle buying district Avenue Jean Médeci. It is also a 15-minute stroll from Good Ville prepare station and 25 minutes on the tram from the airport, so it is a handy and central location if you wish to use town as a base on your keep whereas visiting different areas.

Do not miss the artwork set up within the resort foyer; the constructing is neoclassical with stained glass home windows on the staircase, and whereas rooms are primary, ours was on the fifth ground and had a balcony overlooking town. If you happen to keep right here, take a look at slightly wine bar across the nook, La Part des Anges, the place you’ll be able to choose up a bottle to remove or sit in with a cheeseboard and another small plates.

Hotel Les Roches Rouges
Lodge Les Roches Rouges 

I bought away from the crowds by…

Taking the prepare alongside the Côte d’Azur for a weekend journey from Good. Tucked between Cannes and Saint-Tropez is a small port city known as Saint Raphael, and there you’ll discover a unprecedented boutique resort known as Les Roches Rouges. Perched proper on the coast and sitting reverse the Île d’Or (the golden island) with a seawater swimming pool carved into the rocks, it is exhausting to image a extra breathtaking sea view.

The perfect half about this resort is waking as much as the view out of your personal balcony and listening to the waves lap towards the shore and splashing proper into the seawater pool, refreshing it simply in time on your morning swim.

Síomha in market
Síomha perusing Cours Saleya market 

From Good, you must deliver again a…

Memento from the Cours Saleya market. On Mondays, the weekly market at Cours Saleya is taken over by a brocante that spans the streets of Cours Saleya and the neighboring squares. Look forward to finding vogue (on a current go to, I noticed every part from a classic Dior trunk for €299 to a Goyard card holder for €320 and a Balmain silk scarf for €25) to books, ceramics, artwork, furnishings, trinkets and extra.

The 9 greatest museums in Good: from main artwork venues to archaeological websites

Permit your self loads of time to browse and make your approach by way of the squares. The stalls are arrange from round 9am and start closing up at round 4pm, so plan accordingly and make time to take a break for lunch when it will get too scorching. We stopped off at Le Rossetti, a small family-run restaurant off Place Rossetti, serving wood-fired pizzas, socca (a Good specialty) and (once more) deep-fried courgette flowers. Take pleasure in an aperitif or a gelato by the fountain in Place Rossetti afterward to toast your profitable buying journey.

Síomha walking outside La Trattoria.
Síomha strolling outdoors La Trattoria 

The one merchandise I like to recommend bringing to Good is…

Simple to match linen separates, cool sufficient to put on by day, and simple to decorate up for the night time, my vacation wardrobe is made up of linen mix-and-match separates like these classic Yves Saint Laurent trousers I am sporting above.

Arket stocks this pair of 100% linen drawstring trousers in a number of colours (the beige and brown are most versatile for summer season journeys), and they might be good for sporting in your journey days for further consolation however can simply as simply be worn for a pleasant meal or drinks at night time.