I have been fortunate enough, you see, to experience the set-up, progress, and growth of the beach restaurant—and the brand—from the first day it opened its doors on Psarou Beach, or rather from when it was just an idea in Zannis` mind. So, I will always feel deeply proud of how my friend has achieved his dream.
And 22 years later, there is talk about the impact of Nammos and its share in the Dubayization of Mykonos, but that doesn`t change the fact that even today, most beachside shops in the country are still trying to emulate Nammos even if they fail. Those of us who spent the glorious summers of 2000 in Mykonos remember very well how Zannis was the first to introduce everything we now take for granted regarding luxury beach services. The first wooden sunbeds, the first fabric shaded umbrellas, the first beach towels with the restaurant`s logo, the first impeccably organised service, the first live saxophone on the sand, the Riva to shuttle customers to and from their yachts, the first Antonis Remos by the beach concert, and a whole lot more that I don`t remember anymore. That`s why, when the mayor of St Tropez first visited Nammos a few years later, he was so excited that a few days later, he sent Zannis his thanks along with his flag, which flew proudly on the Mykonian beach for the rest of the summer.
So you would think that Nammos was destined but also absolutely appropriate to take its next step on the Cyan coast. I was inquisitive to see how Zannis Frantseskos, Sammi Ibrahim, Petros Stathis and their team ( under the umbrella of Alpha Dhabi, which acquired a majority stake three years ago) managed to adapt their—now international—brand to the most famous and traditionally posh French tourist destination.
Our opportunity came at the beginning of September, and the same night we landed in Nice, we dropped our things off at the Martinez Hotel and walked through the impressive entrance to the Palm Beach where Nammos Cannes is housed. The Palm Beach is a new multi-purpose space at the end of the Croisette that houses several restaurants - Nammos, La Petite Maison, Zuma and a nightclub - a few boutiques, a gym, and a members club. And from what we`re told, a casino will open next year. I think it was from this private club that the creators of our own 91 Athens Riviera were inspired, except that in Cannes, the perks offered to members are much more interesting since the project is already almost complete.
A private elevator leads the visitor to Nammos at the end of the long central corridor. Before the hostess, you are greeted by a series of display cases showing off costly wines, spirits and champagnes of various sizes, a meat ageing fridge, and a cigar collection. As you walk through the door, you realise that although its core is the same as its Mykonian sibling, you are in another quite different place.
First, it`s very beige, the shade of the sand, especially in the gorgeous interior with its impressive crystal chandeliers and huge glass windows overlooking the beach, which will be open during the winter. It also has a lot of French people who would be there since we were in France, but they give the place their vibe, a vibe different from what we`re used to. And, of course, the sea is that of Cannes and not that of the Aegean, with all that implies.
Otherwise, the decoration of the outdoor area is the same as that of Mykonos, except for a gazebo, which might be a prerequisite in the restaurants in the area since almost all of them have one. The striped blue umbrellas are there, as are the beach chairs and the wooden deck and palm trees; the list is the same, the service is wound up like a Swiss watch as always, the music interspersed with French tunes and impeccable in sound, and later, a young man and two girls - the Goldsingers as we learned - put on an excellent show of singing and dancing and got everyone going with their brio, including us. So much so that we got their contact information to see if we could bring them to a Christmas FNL event. Also, the place was utterly packed.
Our next visit was at noon a few days later, so we could see it in the daytime and get a full view of the project. Under the bright sun, everything seemed more familiar. After trying the chicer part of the menu the first time - with sushi, spicy crab salad, shrimp, and lobster risotto - I ordered more Greek. I asked for my favourite meatballs, fries and saganaki. So Sami has managed to bring the Mykonian menu to Cannes. Everything is impeccable, just like on the beloved little island, with the exception perhaps of the meatballs, which are a notch below, which probably no one will understand except me, who over the years has consumed kilos of what I consider to be the most delicious delicacy in the universe by far.
So I`ll say that Nammos Cannes is beautiful and has successfully combined Mykonos with the French Riviera. You realise the differences, but they feel organic, which is very difficult to happen, and when it does, it hides serious planning and fine-tuning behind it. And of course, what the "ordinary" guest sees is unfortunately not the most impressive part of it, since upstairs is the super wow and breathtaking pool area and by the pool restaurant, which only private club members have access to.
It`s a great shame because it would answer the question of many as to where all that money went to pay for the place, which, by all accounts, was close to 50 million euros. So the money is upstairs. And whichever reading you choose, you`re in.