One of the most popular vacation spots in France for tourists from all over the world, Nice is for anyone who loves the seaside ease and oceanic smells of the Mediterranean. Here’s a list of our favorite restaurants in Nice. We hope it comes in handy!
The Top 10 Places to Eat in Nice
Chabrol
Photo courtesy of Chabrol
€€€ | Intimate | Mediterranean
One step inside this cozy, Mediterranean spot and you are immediately ushered to one of the well-worn wooden chairs and comfortably spaced tables. You are greeted by the sight of the work of local artists and photographers, depicting the seaside ease that permeates every corner of Nice. It’s a lovely place to sit and stay a while.
Like many of the restaurants in Nice, the seafood offerings here are some of the best. Starters like the Carpaccio of sea bream, redfish, melon & port wine combines some of the best flavors from local sources. We recommend the guinea fowl with artichokes or the pork rib with beets and horseradish for your mains. They are both fantastic dishes that are bursting with flavor in every bite.
Combining a local café atmosphere with great French cuisine, Oliviera was certainly our favorite of the restaurants in Nice for lunch, owing especially to the atmosphere. Looking around the restaurant, it’s nice to see the locals enjoying a cup of coffee and catching up with friends. Views of the tiny kitchen are a wonderful touch that make the whole experience that much more authentic.
They’re always trying new things at Oliviera. For instance, the Aubergine Oliviera is a wonderful appetizer of grilled eggplant, mixed with sweet goat cheese, yoghurt, and lemon garlic. It’s a wonderful opener before a main course of Minced Lamb and Zucchini or the house’s absolutely divine Ratatouille.
Our favorite of the Italian restaurants in Nice, Il Vicoletto brings the best from across the Mediterranean right to your plate. We loved sitting outside in the awninged patio, and enjoying the refreshing breeze roll in from the sea. It’s a one of the best restaurants in Nice for lunch and close to the beach.
We began our meal with Cooked veal carpaccio and tuna cream with Brandy, a delicately spiced introduction that had us very excited for the meal ahead. If you’re looking for a great fish dish, then definitely try the Half-cooked Yellowfin Tuna with sesame and sunflower seeds. It’s a summery dish that balances buttery flavors with an Asian flair. The Beef Tongue here is wonderful as well!
As you can imagine, Japanese restaurants in Nice benefit greatly from the locally caught, fresh fish that the city is famous for. La carpe koï is certainly our favorite. Transporting the Japanese sushi bar look straight from Tokyo to the French shore, the atmosphere here is lively, despite the small size. The revolving door of hungry guests keeps the energy up late into the night.
You would be unmistaken to go for your personal favorites when it comes to sushi, but we have a few off-the-beaten path recommendations as well. The California Shrimp Curry roll, for instance, ingeniously places Korean curry flavors into a sushi roll that explodes with flavor. They also have incredible Braised Eel here that is the perfect combination of salty and umami. Of course, if you want to see everything they’ve got, an order of mixed sashimi is an excellent choice.
Focusing on the Niçoise tradition that makes this region special, Lou Pistou achieves its spot on this list with its commitment to local ingredients and commitment to craft. The checkerboard table cloth, and gentle color scheme of sea blue and red, create the classic French café atmosphere that you close your eyes and dream about.
The offerings here are constantly switched out according to seasonal flavors, and are worth exploring with your servers’ recommendations. Ordering the Pâté is always a good idea, and always features the best in seasonal fish, meat and vegetables. The Bouillabaisse, a fish soup featuring a rotating cast of seabream, monkfish and conger, is a flavorful window into the best that Nice has to offer.
South African cuisine may not be the reason you came to Nice, but it’s certainly a great reason to visit this lovely and inventive restaurant on le Rue Lascaris. Though reservations are advisable to secure a seat in the beautiful oak and cobblestone dining room, so you can enjoy one of the most unique dining experiences on offer in Nice.
Coming out to around 127 euros, the Diamond Tasting Menu is our recommendation for anyone looking for everything that South African cuisine has to offer. Thought the offerings rotate on a seasonal basis, offerings like Twice Cooked Pork Belly with Cauliflower Puree, Cabbage Roulade and Green Bean Stew establish JAN’s well-respected stature. The story of every dish is relayed in detail before every course, and really makes the experience that much more special.
Keeping the simplified seafood tradition alive, Le Safari is exactly the place to go for your first night in Nice. Welcoming guests late into the night, this lowkey spot’s décor tastefully combines a modern orange-and-black color scheme with paintings and photos depicting the restaurant’s maritime roots. It’s the perfect combination of trendy and traditional, with some of the best seafood in town!
Le Safari has been in business for 47 years. In that time, they have perfected every offering on their peerless menu. To begin, a salad of chopped fresh artichokes and lemon serves as a light, breezy palate-prep for the meal ahead. To keep things simple, the grilled Salmon Steak perfectly demonstrates how quality ingredients and deep tradition can raise the simple to the sublime. If you’re a bit tired of fish, the Roasted Stuffed Pork is as filling as it is delicious. Make sure to order some white wine as well! They have some of the best of any of the restaurants in Nice!
The nightlife in Nice is so lively and fun, we didn’t want to leave. One of our favorite spots for a late-night drink is the seaside bar, Babel Babel. Whether you’d like to dance in the moody, bustling interior or enjoy a view of the waves from Babel Babel’s expansive patio, you’re sure to have a great time.
Though an €11.00 price-tag may seem hefty, the cocktail drinks here are tall, strong and absolutely worth the price. From simple concoctions like the house Aperol Spritz or more the Mediterranean-infused Mai Taï with apricot rum, you can almost taste the breezy fun that attracts so many to Nice. The food here is great too. Definitely check out the miso-infused Eggplant Confite, a cultural mashup that pays off wonderfully.
Many of the restaurants in Nice pride themselves on fine dining, starched tablecloth and years of tradition. That’s why a simple hamburger joint like Big Fernand had to make it on to our list. Serving hungry customers in its wood-lined, picnic-inspired interior, this place provides the same warm and friendly atmosphere that we love about Nice.
Every element of the burgers here is made with care. From the fresh, artisan-baked buns, the French beef, and local vegetables, every element raises the burgers here far above average. We had the classic Big Fernand, which included juicy purebred beef sourced from the plains of Charolais, melted raw milk cheese, sundried tomatoes and flat-leaf parsley. It was, bar-none, the best burger we’ve ever had. There are tons of options on the menu, ranging from veal to portobello mushrooms. You simply can’t go wrong!
Rounding out our list, here’s a lovely place to stop for desserts on your way out of Nice. This tiny bakery has been in service since 1940, and in that time has earned local prestige for the craft applied to every morsel. So step beneath the beautiful chandeliers, take a look through the wrap-around glass display and make your choice. We assure you that you can’t go wrong!
We recommend grabbing as much as you can. The 3 chocolate “Amadeus”, a crunchy biscuit aux noix baked to golden perfection was our favorite. Yet passing up on the chocolate macarons, tutti tartes, and chocolate and cream biscuits was a mistake we hope to never make again. So come hungry, sample what you can, and take as much with you as you can carry. Enjoy!
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