What People Drink on the French Riviera: 10 Summer Cocktails from Southern France
If you spend a summer on the French Riviera, you quickly learn that cocktails are less about elaborate mixology and more about slowing down and enjoying the moment. Whether overlooking the Mediterranean in Nice, gathering with friends in Saint-Tropez, or enjoying apéro on a shaded terrace in Bandol, drinks in the south of France are simple, refreshing, and deeply connected to the region.
TL;DR
- What is it? This collection of French Riviera summer cocktails is a celebration of the relaxed, sun-soaked lifestyle of southern France. These are the drinks you'll actually find on café terraces, beach clubs, and family apéros from Nice to Saint-Tropez. Simple, refreshing cocktails and apéritifs made for lingering conversations, salty sea air, and long Mediterranean evenings.
- How you'll make it? Each drink comes together with just a handful of ingredients and very little effort. Simply combine chilled wines, apéritifs, or spirits with sparkling water, citrus, fresh herbs, or seasonal fruit, then serve over plenty of ice. Most can be prepared in just a few minutes, making them perfect for effortless summer entertaining.
- Why you will love it? If you've ever dreamed of bringing a little piece of the French Riviera home, these cocktails do exactly that. They're elegant without being fussy, wonderfully refreshing on warm days, and designed to be enjoyed slowly alongside olives, cheese, seafood, and good company. They're less about complicated recipes and more about embracing the beautiful simplicity of French summer living.
- Difficulty: Easy
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I lived in Nice for nearly eight years after marrying my husband, Sébastien, who grew up in Toulon on the Mediterranean coast. Some of these drinks became part of our everyday life, while others are staples at beach clubs, cafés, and family apéros throughout Provence and the Côte d'Azur.
If you're wondering what people actually drink on the French Riviera in summer, these are the cocktails and apéritifs you'll most often find.
What Do People Drink on the French Riviera?
The most popular summer drinks on the French Riviera include rosé wine, pastis, spritzes, Lillet, champagne cocktails, and light citrus drinks. Most are served during apéro, the French ritual of gathering before dinner for drinks and small bites.
Unlike heavier cocktails and martinis, Riviera drinks tend to be lower in alcohol, refreshing, and designed to pair with olives, cheese, seafood, and Mediterranean flavors.
1. Rosé Piscine
Rosé Piscine simply means "pool rosé." A large wine glass filled with ice and chilled rosé is one of the most common summer drinks along the Mediterranean coast. You can also add a splash of sparkling water to make it more refreshing. See below for the St Tropez drink of the summer, Piscine Pêche
Best served with:
- Olives
- Tapenade
- Salty snacks
- Apéro boards
2. Lillet Rosé Spritz
Lillet is a French apéritif wine that has become increasingly popular throughout Provence.
Ingredients:
- Lillet Rosé
- Sparkling water
- Orange slice
- Ice
Light, floral, and refreshing, it is perfect for warm evenings.
3. Pastis
No drink is more closely associated with southern France than pastis.
Made with anise and herbs, it is diluted with cold water and often served before dinner. In Marseille and throughout Provence, ordering a pastis is practically a cultural institution. Add Almond syrup (sirop d'orgeat) and it becomes a Mauresque.
4. French 75
The French 75 combines:
- Gin
- Lemon juice
- Champagne
Elegant and celebratory, it remains popular for entertaining and special occasions.
5. Kir Rosé
A southern variation of the classic Kir.
Ingredients:
- Rosé wine
- Crème de cassis
Elevate your Kir into a Kir Royale with Champagne instead of Rosé.
The result is fruity, refreshing, and ideal for summer entertaining.
6. Saint-Germain Spritz
While not traditionally Provençal, this elderflower spritz feels perfectly at home on Riviera terraces.
Ingredients:
- Saint-Germain
- Sparkling wine
- Sparkling water
- Lemon
7. Citron Pressé
Technically not a cocktail, the citron pressé deserves a place on every French café table.
Fresh lemon juice is served separately with water and sugar, allowing you to create your own lemonade.
It is one of the most popular non-alcoholic summer drinks in France.
8. Monaco
The Monaco combines:
- Beer
- Lemonade
- Grenadine
This colorful drink is particularly popular in southern France and beachside cafés. Very refreshing.
9.Martini Blanc
One of the tastes I miss the most from the French Riviera that I can't seem to find in the US (if you have a source, let me know!). Martini Blanc is an apéritif (different than White Vermouth) that is slightly sweet yet bitter and refreshing. Served straight over ice with a twist of lemon. Absolute perfection on a Riviera evening.
10. Riviera Gin and Tonic
A Mediterranean-inspired twist on the classic.
Garnish with:
- Lemon
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Fresh herbs
It pairs beautifully with grilled fish, olives, and summer dinners.
What Is Apéro?
Apéro, short for apéritif, is one of the most beloved French traditions. Friends and family gather before dinner to enjoy drinks and small bites such as olives, nuts, cheese, charcuterie, or tapenade.
On the French Riviera, apéro often stretches into the evening as people gather outdoors to enjoy the cooler temperatures and beautiful views.
What to Serve with French Riviera Cocktails
These drinks pair beautifully with:
- Tapenade
- Marinated olives
- Salted almonds
- Goat cheese
- Fresh melon
- Crudités
- Seafood
- Socca
- Pissaladière
Frequently Asked Questions
Rosé wine is by far the most popular summer drink on the French Riviera, followed by pastis and various spritz cocktails.
Pastis, rosé wine, Lillet, and sparkling wines are all commonly enjoyed throughout Provence and the Côte d'Azur.
The traditional French apéritif, or apéro, may include wine, pastis, cocktails, or sparkling beverages served with small snacks.
Light, refreshing drinks such as rosé spritzes, Lillet cocktails, and citrus-based drinks are popular during summer.
The French Way
What I miss most about summers on the Riviera is not necessarily the cocktails themselves but the ritual surrounding them. The gathering of friends, the bowl of olives on the table, the fading light, and the understanding that there is nowhere else to be.
These drinks capture a little of that spirit and bring a taste of the south of France to your own summer table.
10 Easy French Cocktails
Here are 10 Easy French Cocktails that you can make at home for a sophisticated start to a dinner party or simply a refreshing apéritif with friends. Transport yourself to a bistro in Paris or a seaside café on the French Riviera. The world of French cocktails is really fun because they are often simple to make
Kir Royale Cocktail
The Kir Royale Cocktail is chic and refreshing. My favorite cocktail, made with crème de cassis and champagne, as seen on Emily in Paris.
Olivette Cocktail Recipe (A French Martini with St-Germain)
The Olivette Cocktail is a French Gin martini with the addition of St-Germain liqueur for a sweet, floral note that cuts the bite of the gin. If you wish that you loved a dirty gin martini but find them too strong, the Olivette is for you! A softer alternative to a classic dirty martini that looks exactly the same in the glass.
Authentic Olive Tapenade
Authentic Provençal Olive Tapenade, is a delicious spread of olives, garlic, capers and often anchovies, that is served in the South of France.
Sparkling Rosemary Peach Piscine Cocktail
Rosemary-infused peaches topped with crushed ice and Prosecco make for a refreshing summer cocktail that evokes the South of France.
What Is an Apéro? The French Ritual of Cocktail Hour
How to host an apéro - the French cocktail hour that makes entertaining at home effortless and fun for guests of all ages.
Other posts you will enjoy:
- 10 Easy French Cocktails
- What Is Apéro?
- What Is French Riviera Cuisine?
- French Dinner Party Timeline
- French Riviera Roast Chicken
- French Vinaigrette
- La Sauce Vierge
ALL ABOUT LE CHEF'S WIFE
Bonjour! I am Anina Belle. I translate the fancy cooking of my Michelin-star trained French Chef Husband, Le Chef, into easy to make dishes that busy people with no culinary training (like me!) can make at home. We have two young kids (8 and 5) and I run a marketing firm and a non-profit in addition to this blog. I strongly believe that even busy people deserve to eat well at home.
Look inside our Kitchen with this Washington Post Article. We were featured on the TODAY SHOW for our recipes of French Onion Soup Gratinée and Moelleux au Chocolat. You can watch our full segment below.
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