Riviera Pebbles Blog: Top 25 Riviera celebrity hotspots - Part 5

Posted on 26th Feb 2015 in Nice News

Week 5 - Rockstars

21) Keith Richards

The London-born hellraiser is man with an enviable lifestyle. Richards fled the British taxman in 1971 to Villefranche-sur-Mer. He settled in the seafront Villa Nelcotte, which can be seen on the Beaulieu to Villefranche coastal path. Stones’ fans may also rent a Nice Pebbles apartment nearby.

‘Keef’ moored his speedboat, the good ship Mandrax, at the adjoining beach of Plage Passable on Cap Ferrat. On sunny mornings Richards would rip across to Italy – with no passport, boat license or lifejackets. Our guests may charter a fully legal (and slightly less powerful) boat from Dark Pelican for €180 per day instead.

22) Johnny Hallyday

The ‘French Elvis’ has been rocking the Riviera for 55 years. In the early days he sang live at Juan-les-Pins’ yearly music festival, which this year hosted Jamie Callum and Stevie Wonder. In the 1970s the Franco-Belgian rocker would roar his Lamborghini Miura from Marseille to Monaco.

Hallyday recently disposed of his Mexican-themed villa in St Tropez, La Lorada, in favour of tax exile in Switzerland. That didn’t stop him returning to Monaco – another fine tax haven – for his 70th birthday party at celebrity music venue Le Sporting.

23) Paris Hilton

Hotel heiress Paris Hilton acts as a beacon to the Cote d’Azur’s coolest spots. She trundles out of Cannes superclub Gotha. How glamorous! She attends a charity ball at the Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc. How Kind! She DJs at Monaco’s VIP room – above sea view bistro Café Llorca where main courses cost just €12). How cheap?

Pebbles guests can copy Paris’ moves all the way to St Tropez, where she is a habituée of both Nikki Beach and Moorea Beach. Her party spent a reported $350,000 on Champagne at the latter beach bar. Cheers!

24) Mick Jagger

One Rolling Stone fled the British government's punitive 93% tax rates in 1970…straight into the arms of Nicaraguan actress Bianca Pérez-Mora Macias. Mick and Bianca Jagger were hastily married in the Provençal village of Gassin in 1971. According to the BBC: "Hippies turned up on foot and on bicycles, mingling with members of the international jet set who arrived in Rolls Royces".

Today Gassin is medieval gem with views down to neighbouring St Tropez. We recommend lunch alfresco in Restaurant Au Vieux Gassin (set lunch €22).

25) Elton John

The Rocket Man and husband David Furnish lord it over all and sundry from the villa atop Mont Boron. It’s the highest one you can see if you peek across from the Colline du Chateau. The Beckhams have been known to drop by, with father David jogging down to the Port.

The pint-sized pianist is a regular at Niçoise-specialist La Petite Maison. Prices are outrageous and the service is execrable, but it’s still the place to be seen.