Le Pirate is an institution, for many years the most famous 'boite' on the Riviera, owned by the late and ever shirtless Charles Viale. The photos that adorn the walls (Gunther Sachs carrying his trophy - Brigitte Bardot, Rainier and Grace, Agnelli, Alain Delon, Catherine Deneuve, Cocteau, Belmondo, Jane Fonda, Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall, Gregory Peck, Nat King Cole, Gina Lollobrigida, Kirk Douglas - and Sinatra of course - and most have Charlie or his wife - who still runs the place - in them as well) are testament to its legendary star drawing power. Following his death, it's now 'just' a restaurant, but still with an aura that one could cut with one of Charlie's cutlasses.. Always thoroughly and wonderfully ramshackle, it looks like a pirate's lair but turns our seriously good food, cooked mostly on the enormous open fire always burning near the entrance. Crudites came dressed with just a sweet olive oil and the huge plate of sardines was so fresh and crisp that one could eat them whole. The grilled sea bass was large and perfect. All the food is freshly cooked and so the menu is short - and the wines surprisingly reasonable: a meal for three with a good bottle of rose was Eur 125. I first went there in 1964 and am amazed that it's still standing. Go before the place falls down! read more