At an Engage! event, lunch is never ‘just lunch.’ Over the years, these midday gatherings have become some of the most anticipated moments on the itinerary. They’re immersive, sensory experiences that celebrate the spirit of a destination through meticulous design and delicious dining. They also offer something different to keynotes and panel sessions: the chance to connect with new and old friends in a more playful setting.
Attendees experienced lunches at Engage!26 French Riviera as two entirely different expressions of the South of France. One unfolded on the glittering coastline at La Môme Riviera, where striped umbrellas, flowing rosé, and live music turned a beach club luncheon into a full-scale celebration. The other transported guests to the medieval village square of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, where market carts, fresh baguettes, and a surprise musical performance transformed a quiet afternoon into something magical. Distinct in atmosphere, both lunches celebrated what the French Riviera does best.
Beach Club Glamour: Lunch at La Môme Riviera
If there was ever a lunch designed to tempt guests into staying all afternoon, this was it. Set at La Môme Riviera, The Maybourne Riviera‘s private beach club, it is steeped in the mythology of Édith Piaf and the particular glamour of the Côte d’Azur in its golden era.
Theme & Décor
La Môme’s iconic orange striped umbrellas set the creative direction, and the creative team ran with it. Pattern on pattern, sunwashed tones, orange threaded boldly throughout. The kind of setting that instantly makes you want to order another spritz and cancel your plans for the afternoon.
Guests arrived in beachy stripes to find tables layered with Maison Margaux tabletop pieces that echoed the colors of the coastline. Hand-painted ceramics with terracotta florals sat alongside embroidered hem-stitched linens, floral shell and raffia accessories, bamboo cutlery, and amber-speckled glassware. Bright floral arrangements in citrus tones spilled from shell-inspired white ceramic vessels, while a dramatic floral arch on the pier created a Riviera-perfect photo moment against the sea.
But what really defined the afternoon was the atmosphere. After a laid-back start, the bongo drums picked up, and somewhere between the second course and dessert, the tables became dance floors. Soon, guests were singing, waving country flags, and fully embracing the joyful chaos. La Môme, it turns out, just has that effect on people!
The Menu
The food matched the mood: indulgent, vibrant, sun-drenched. The first course began with a series of dishes made for sharing and grazing: Focaccia di Recco with truffle, sea bass ceviche with passion fruit, and figliata cheese with tomatoes. The second course brought a trio of citrusy tuna tagliata, Argentinian Beef Picanha cooked over coals, and rich truffle macaroni. Dessert brought a final flourish with tiramisu and fresh fruit. Meanwhile, Champagne Cuvée Carat flowed alongside Aperol Spritzes, margaritas, rosé, and crisp white wine.
Guests left having enjoyed the classic Riviera beach club lunch experience – one that will go down in Engage! history!
Market Day in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin: Lunch on the Square
Just ten minutes from The Maybourne Riviera, the medieval village of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin sits at the highest point of the hillside, its stone arches and covered passageways unchanged for centuries. After days of sea views and champagne, this lunch revealed the Riviera’s quieter, more romantic side.
Theme & Décor
The concept was a French country market-style picnic in the village’s historic medieval square. Crates and baskets overflowed with bright lemons and bunches of fragrant lavender. Herbs, greenery, and trays of juicy seasonal produce also helped to recreate the look and feel of market day. A wall of baskets, each stamped with the word ‘J’ADORE’, invited attendees to personalize theirs with a choice of adorable handcrafted leather charms and silk ribbons. A second display of curated condiments included Moutarde de Dijon tins, glass jars filled with local jam, and AOP Olives de Nice, and bottles of local olive oil. The perfect gifts to tuck into their suitcases and take home for a taste of France.
The Menu
Guests wandered between food carts filling their baskets with baguette sandwiches, charcuterie, cheeses, salads, and seasonal fruit tarts, creating their own picnic lunches as they explored the square. An ice cream cart served glace in a variety of flavors. Rosé and St-Germain spritzes kept the mood light, refreshing, and unmistakably Riviera.
A Surprise Performance
And then came the pièce de resistance. What initially appeared to be ordinary market vendors and servers were, in fact, performers. A voice rose from an upstairs window. Another answered from across the square. And then, in a matter of moments, the entire village seemed to erupt into song, with guests clapping and laughing as the square came alive in the afternoon sun.
Looking back down the hillside toward The Maybourne Riviera, shimmering against the coastline was a reminder of just how remarkable the setting for this retreat truly was. Roquebrune offered perspective in every sense.
Though completely different in style, both lunches reflected what Engage! events are all about. That is, that the destination is not a backdrop but an active ingredient, and that every detail, from a hand-stamped basket to a bongo drum solo, is a chance to make the ordinary unforgettable. Head to the gallery to see both in full color!
