The French Riviera Matchbook List
Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, hotels & stores with matchbooks
Photography by OH, WHAT A MATCH! - Senequier, St. Tropez
Bonjour dear phillumenists!
Euro Summer is in full swing—and what better place to soak it all in than the dreamy, sun-drenched towns of the French Riviera? July is here, and with it comes long lunches under striped umbrellas, the hum of vintage scooters winding through hillside villages, and—if you’re lucky—a perfectly designed matchbook tucked into your tote by day’s end.
This month we’re heading to one of our favorite regions: the French Riviera. From the polished buzz of Monte Carlo to the painterly calm of Saint Paul de Vence, and the coastal ease of Antibes to the party-splashed glamour of St.Tropez, this stretch of France just knows how to do summer. And yes, it knows how to do matchbooks too.
St.Tropez is all about a certain kind of slowness—the good kind. Begin your morning with an espresso at Sénéquier, watching the marina slowly come to life. At Le Club 55, sun and salt linger on your skin while the rosé flows endlessly—keep an eye out for their matchbooks, often slipped discreetly into the check tray. Over at Loulou Ramatuelle, style and seaside chic meet perfectly in their playful, collectible matchbooks. And don’t skip Hôtel La Ponche—elegant and tucked away, it feels like stepping into a quieter time, with matchbooks to match.
Monte Carlo dials up the elegance. At the legendary Hôtel de Paris, everything gleams—from marble floors to the polished matchbooks by the bar. Vesta, sleek and buzzy, captures the new spirit of Monaco and features matchbooks we’ve proudly designed. And Twiga, with its ultra-glam setting, is also on our list of upcoming collabs. They’re expanding fast, with new locations opening this summer in Italy’s Liguria, Sardegna, and Versilia.
Antibes and Saint Paul de Vence are slower, full of soul. At the iconic Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, everything is understated luxury—right down to the timeless matchbooks you might find near the concierge. Then there’s La Colombe d’Or in Saint Paul de Vence, where artists like Picasso and Miró once paid their tabs with paintings. Their matchbooks, much like the inn itself, are humble and poetic—a true piece of history in your pocket.
Whether you're boarding a flight or staying local with a chilled glass of rosé, we hope this little French Riviera edit brings you some inspiration (and maybe a new matchbook to dream about). And as always—check the tray, peek behind the bar, look near the espresso cups. Magic is often hiding in plain sight.
If you’ve found something beautiful along the Riviera, share it with us. We love hearing from you, and your tips keep this series à la mode.
Wishing you sunny moments, easy evenings, and a handful of très chic French matchbooks to treasure.
Bisous bisous <3
xx Nadia & Alice