The focus of nightlife, as elsewhere on the Côte d'Azur, is the casino. The streets buzz at night, particularly around La Croisette and along la rue du Dr Monod and la rue Saint Antoine in Le Suquet. Many restaurants double up as bars and clubs. On the whole, the Cannois like to dress up to go out, but visitors will feel at ease in anything from jeans to evening wear, depending on the venue. Restaurant and bars serve drinks until about 0200, casinos remain open until about 0400 and discos and nightclubs until the small hours. The legal drinking age in France is 16 years of age.

Entertainment listings and information is available online (website: www.cannes.fr) and in Le Mois à Cannes, a monthly listings magazine published in French and available at the Cannes tourist office. However, for all its excitement, Cannes is a small town and long-term residents and revellers are often tempted to make the trip to Nice.

Bars: Z Plage, 73 boulevard de la Croisette, is a current favourite of the designer clad beach fraternity. The popular New York-style Loft bar, 13 rue du Dr Monod, is ideal for a relaxing drink. La Chunga, 24 rue la Tour Maubourg, is a stylish and sophisticated piano bar. Le Légend Café, 9 rue d'Oran, plays chilled music in the early evening, before progressing to techno later on. Morrison's, 10 rue Teisseire, with its entire décor imported from Ireland, acts as a magnet to Cannes' youthful foreign crowd. There are plenty of reasons to join them - not least the wide choice of beer and drinks. Le Zanzibar, rue Félix Faure, is Cannes' oldest gay bar. For romantic nights, head for seaside La Frégate, boulevard Jean Hibert, to watch the sun slowly rise - this restaurant/bar is open 24 hours.

Clubs: The Palais Club, Palais des Festivals (website: www.palais-club.com), is one of the trendiest and most happening clubs in Cannes. Jimmy'z, at the Casino Croisette, has a bar, a thumping dance floor and a large terrace for the older crowd. Gays and straights converge at Disco 7, 7 rue Rouguière (website: www.discotheque-le7.com), known for its techno music, transvestite show and party atmosphere.

Live Music: Within the palatial hotels on La Croisette, there are many piano bars, such as Le Bar des Célébrités, Hotel Carlton, 58 La Croisette, and the wonderful L'Amiral, Hotel Martinez, 73, La Croisette. Or try Le Brumel's piano bar, 3 boulevard de la République, as an alternative. Irish pubs are particularly good for live music, including Morrison's, 10 rue Teisseire (website: www.cannes-nightlife.com). Salsa and Latino groups play at restaurant/bar El Caliente, 84 boulevard del la Croisette, also excellent for Cuban cocktails and spicy meals.