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What to do and where to eat in Menton, France

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What to do and where to eat in MentonMenton isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of the south of France. But, nonetheless, it’s a very beautiful place and well worth visiting.

We stumbled upon it because we were looking for somewhere to go for a holiday during my second trimester of pregnancy. I didn’t want to go anywhere too hot, and I wanted to be able to do a spot of sightseeing without walking for miles. And I wanted to go somewhere pretty too, so Menton it was. (We have this Telegraph list of the best beach holidays in France to thank for our find).

We stayed at the Princess et Richmond Hotel on the Promenade du Soleil, because who wouldn’t want to be 1 MINUTE from the beach? During our stay, I spent a lot of time googling what to do and where to eat, so the least I could do is write up my own recommendations now we’re back. I hope you find them useful!

What to do

1. Visit Jardin Exotique Val Rahmeh

I was totally blown away by this incredibly beautiful garden. We were staying on the west side of Menton so to avoid walking 40 minutes there in the heat, we took a taxi, which I really recommend as there’s lots of walking to be done when you get there. I understand you can have formal guided tours, but we just took ourselves around the numbered trail and really enjoyed it. Aside from being a garden lover’s idea of heaven, it’s also an Instragrammer’s paradise so take your camera.

Need to know: The garden opens from 10.30am, shuts at 12.30pm for lunch, and then re-opens at 3.30pm – so don’t get caught out. Entry cost €13 in total for the two of us. Also – they don’t sell water so go prepared.

What to do and where to eat in Menton What to do and where to eat in Menton What to do and where to eat in MentonWhat to do and where to eat in Menton

2. Walk up to the Basilique Saint Michel

If you were feeling more energetic than I was you could spend a lot of your time in the south of France seeing the sights from on high. But even I had the strength to get up here – the steps up to the church aren’t bad at all and it’s well worth the stroll (and there’s a railing too for the wobbly among us). Not only is the church beautiful, inside and out, but the views up there are lovely too. I can’t get enough of brightly coloured buildings and cute alleyways, so I was snapping away like my life depended on it. When you’re done, rather than going back on yourself and down the steps, walk past the church and down the little residential streets back into town. You’ll see so many bright buildings with excellent shutter/window boxes co-ordination that you’ll want to go home and paint your house.

What to do and where to eat in MentonWhat to do and where to eat in Menton What to do and where to eat in Menton

3. Hit the beach

An obvious one but it really is one of the best things to do in Menton. The sea is glorious and, because it’s not the world’s most well-known holiday destination, there’s room for everyone. It’s a pebble beach so I recommend wearing flip flops down to the water as, unless your feet are a lot stronger than mine, you’ll need them for the stroll back to your towel. We couldn’t find anywhere to hire umbrellas so we bought one in town for about €15 instead. Not to sound too much like your mum but the sun is strong here so a little shade will definitely come in handy. See also: water, suntan lotion and a hat.

What to do and where to eat in MentonWhat to do and where to eat in Menton4. Visit Serre de la Madone

Yep, it’s another garden. It’s what Menton’s known for because they’re just so damn good at them. I thought it would be tricky to follow Val Rahmeh but this place is just as lovely. Exploring the garden involves climbing through the various levels and taking in the huge variety of flowers and plants until you get to the lovely villa towards the top. There are maps available to help you round, but you can also just follow your nose.

Need to know: Transport of some kind to this jardin is a must. Not only is it a steep journey, there’s also very limited pavement on the way up. The extremely helpful lady working there was kind enough to try to find us a taxi, or otherwise there’s a bus from just outside. (Check departure times as they’re not very frequent). There’s no lunchtime closing here, so you can go any time between 10am and 6pm. Tickets cost €16 in total for the two of us, plus €1 for the map. They also sell drinks and offer water!

What to do and where to eat in MentonWhat to do and where to eat in Menton What to do and where to eat in Menton What to do and where to eat in Menton

Where to eat

We had many-a lovely meal during our week in Menton – here are the top six I’d recommend.

1. Cote Sud, 15 Quai Bonaparte

Good, reasonably priced food right by the marina, and served by friendly staff. We had the wild boar padella followed by the chocolate brownie and tiramisu and left extremely full but content.

2. Le P’tit Resto, 19 Avenue de la Madone

Homemade, extremely tasty food in a little traditional french restaurant. This place was just behind our hotel so very convenient after a tiring day, but it’s also worth visiting if you’re staying more centrally. I enjoyed the boeuf bourguignon and frites, whilst my husband had a steak with gorgonzola sauce (yep, he’s enjoying all the foods I specifically cannot have whilst pregnant).

3. The Love Hut, 649 Promenade de la Soleil

Tasty and interesting vegan food overlooking the sea. We treated the starters as tapas and had the sushi, dumplings, endives with hummus, and fries. Leon then had the fried tofu with rice too (because he has more room than I do), and then we shared a banana split (because everybody knows dessert goes in a separate stomach anyway). It’s a very chilled out place and the fruit juices are delicious.

4. Le Bistrot des Jardins, 14 Avenue Boyers

Our best meal by far. The setting is so cute – and unsurprisingly in a little garden. The staff were incredibly helpful and patient with my slowly-returning memory of A-level French. We both had the asparagus, then I had the St Pierre fillet, whilst Leon had yet another steak. Pudding was fresh pineapple in spices for me, and tiramisu for Leon (he’s a man of habit, and why not). I can’t recommend this place enough, so do go.

5. Le Bruit Qui Court, 31 Quai Bonaparte

I don’t know if we just got lucky or if the people of Menton are all just very nice, but the staff here were great. It’s another lovely place by the marina, serving good French food. Warning: the ravioli bake starter is HUGE but right tasty. The fish mains are simple but very nice and healthy. The highlight for me was the fromage frais with a fruit coulis I had for pudding – I have never enjoyed what is essentially yogurt so much in my life.

6. Les Enfants Terribles, 1 Quai Bonaparte

Living in London has taught me to be dubious about centrally positioned, large restaurants. We Brits assume that means they’ll be overpriced and mediocre. But that’s not the case in Menton, or certainly not here. The sole was the best I’ve ever had, and Leon’s steak also went down a treat. They serve MEGA ice cream sundae puddings, which you just have to try. But take my advice: when your partner suggests that you have one each, gently insist that you share. If you finished your dinner like a good girl/boy, you won’t have room for a whole one, trust me.

Have a lovely time in Menton, my friend. And say hello to the sea for me.What to do and where to eat in Menton

Five holiday habits to bring home with you

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Holiday habits to bring home with youWe’ve just spent a glorious week’s holiday in Menton in the south of France. I’d never heard of it before we booked our flights a few weeks ago and now I have it to thank for a much needed seven days of rest,  swimming in the sea, and more photograph-taking opportunities than any Instagrammer could hope for. (I’ve written a little guide to my favourite places and restaurants to visit in Menton for any future visitors).

But when we returned to normality yesterday, I felt myself automatically slip back into behaviours that simply don’t exist on holiday. My priority stopped being what felt good and relaxing, and I started darting from one thing to another, and ended up falling asleep early doors with a headache.

So, today I woke up determined to try to live life a little more like I do on holiday by adopting five more en-vacances-like habits. I hope you’ll find them useful too.

1. Drinking enough water

Following a horrific dose of sunstroke a couple of years ago (which resulted in a journey of self-discovery in a beach chemical toilet), I now know to respect the human body’s need for water. And nowhere am I more conscious of this than on holiday. This trip I got into the habit of waking up and drinking a 50cl dose of the good stuff, and then keeping it coming throughout the day until my bladder could take no more. If sunstroke taught me anything it’s that there are worse things than needing the loo all the time.

I’m pregnant so hydration is a constant agenda item for me at the moment, but it’s also just good sense. I prioritised it particularly on holiday because I was keen not to feel rough whilst away, but what about the rest of the year? Feeling good at home is just as important, so let’s keep that H2O a-flowing.

2. Using your phone in a more considered way

Despite having written my own set of rules for a healthier relationship with your phone, I’ve still been spending too much time with mine. But on holiday I’m much stricter. Every moment we’re away feels precious and cannot be wasted scrolling mindlessly through timelines. I didn’t have a complete cut off – I’d use it in the evening to post a photo or two on Instagram and to respond to messages – but I didn’t spend half as much time on it as I do usually. And I was so much happier and calmer for it.

But as soon as I got home, I had my phone in hand and was flipping from app to app for no apparent reason; it was just habit. Time is just as valuable here as it is on holiday, so I’m determined to introduce more of my vacation attitude to technology into everyday life.

3. Reading, glorious reading

And very much connected to the aforementioned mobile phone time cut down is the excuse holidays bring to indulge in books. Of course, this treat is in fact available to many of us everyday, but I for one do not make the most of it. I read all the time when we’re away. Every day we went to the beach I’d leave my phone in the hotel and sit reading under our umbrella (until I had to go back inside to use the bathroom again, that is).

Reading is the most wonderfully calming form of escapism, so why don’t I do more of it? Again, I think it comes down to the amount that we value our time on holiday. We’d never sit in our hotel room scrolling through TV channels for no reason – this is time we’ve secured to rest so we must make the most of it. Well, now I want to do that with the rest of my life, too.

4. Having a right good look at everything

Exploring new places is one of the best things about going on holiday. The slow pace lets you take in the sites in your own time, with only the occasional need to remark about how very sweaty you’re feeling to interrupt your activities.

When I’m on holiday, I’m there to look at all of the things. The views, the buildings, the sites, the colours. But I don’t think I give the world anywhere near as much attention the rest of the time. I’m too busy needing to get on the train or to the shop or back home for Coronation Street. And while it’s reasonable to move a little faster in your everyday life, it doesn’t do you any harm to try to do just one thing at a time. To walk down the street, not to do it whilst also looking at your phone. To have dinner with your husband, not to sit there looking over his shoulder at an episode of Friends you can already recite word for word.

I’m person #857849 on the internet to talk about the joy of being present and mindful and whatnot. But there is a reason it’s such a popular subject. Injecting a little of that holiday pace and focus into real life can only make it more enjoyable.

5. Listening to what you need

It’s wonderful to go away or just to take time off at home. For once you have the freedom to not just do what you want but what you need, too. You can lie down when you’re tired. You can have a dip in the sea when you’re hot. And you can get away with eating a pain au chocolat for breakfast every morning because “that’s what the baby wants”.

Time is in your gift when you’re on holiday, which makes all of this easier to bring about. But by taking a break you’re also giving yourself permission to look after yourself. And I don’t see why we can’t apply the same rules at home. We don’t have to go out tonight if we’re not up to it. Nor do we have to answer that email or tackle that nasty mark on the hobs until we’re feeling more energetic. We can go to bed if that’s what we need. Nobody is going to say anything (and you’ll be asleep anyway, so).

You’ll never regret doing what you need to feel well, rested and ready to face the world. Only you really know what that is anyway, so it’s OK to make it happen.

I think we should start bringing more of the kindness we show ourselves on holiday home with us. I started today –  I took on one task at a time, I thought twice before picking up my phone, and I ate ice cream because I felt like it. As to how it’ll go when I have a more to do than a pile of washing I don’t know, but the determination to try is a good start.

Holidays may be a once-a-year treat, but the lessons they can teach us about how to get better at relaxing are there for the taking any time.