What and where to eat in Nice?

If you are visiting the French Riviera, you are definitely going to be wondering what to eat; which restaurants are good and cheap in Nice, and preferably even those recommended by residents. So to answer these questions, here is a list of verified places and a description of traditional regional dishes. Now you know what and where to eat in Nice!

The eternal problem for every tourist is the question what and where to eat in Nice? I am one of those people who like to eat well, and my mood later on depends on it. The French Riviera is overflowing with great food, so a visit to almost any restaurant should end in a satisfying feeling of fullness. Unfortunately, it is also easy to find unpleasant service and, definitely, high prices.

That’s why I have prepared a list of selected restaurants in Nice where I or my friends have eaten. These are not always the cheapest places, but we have always been happy with the food and service in them. First, however, it is worth knowing what to order. Especially if you like culinary tourism.

Short answer: for socca, go to Chez René Socca or Lou Pilha Leva; for French and local classics, Acchiardo or Du Gésu; for seafood, Café de Turin; for Italian, Illia Pasta or Di Più; and for ice cream, Fenocchio. More addresses, drinks and tips below.

What to eat in Nice and on the French Riviera?

The most traditional local dishes are simple and not very sophisticated. However, this does not deprive them of taste. Being in Nice it is essential you try a dish called Socca. It’s a pancake made from chickpea flour, olive oil, and salt, generously sprinkled with pepper before serving. At the fair, it is sold haphazardly cut into pieces in paper tubes, but in restaurants you usually get a whole pancake on a wooden board or plate. Socca is also found in a version with olives and anchovies.

A second and equally simple dish is Pissaladiere – caramelized onion on a cake that is reminiscent of a slightly thicker pizza. Here, anchovies or olives can also be added. When ordering Pissaladiere you will usually get a sizeable piece cut out from a larger piece.

Beware the olives! On the Cote d’Azur, olives that are added to pizza, socca, or other dishes, most often have seeds!

My favorite regional dish is Petit Farcis. It resembles meatballs on grilled vegetables and is always served straight from the oven – you have to be careful not to get burned. In one serving there are usually three Petit Farcis, but of course you can order more. The ingredients of these small snacks is minced meat, egg, garlic, and spices. This is the stuffing that fills the vegetables, for example, zucchini, tomato, eggplant, and then the whole thing is baked. Tiny, but how delicious!

The last of the simple dishes is basically an addition to a baguette. I mean tapenade – something like an olive paste. You do not need to be a genius to know that green and black tapenades are made from olives. But it would be remiss of me if I did not mention the Nicoise salad too. Its ingredients are freely chosen by different chefs, but it always contains tuna. When ordering a Nicoise salad on the French Riviera, you should expect a really solid portion.

In addition to specifically regional cuisine, it is worth adding that the most popular dishes on the French Riviera also include pizzas, pasta, seafood (including mussels always served with fries, which surprises all my guests), steaks, and pancakes (usually sweet, and most often with Nutella).

Where to eat in Nice – recommended restaurants

Below you will find a list of restaurants and small bistros in Nice, recommended by me and by my friends. We have eaten at all these places and liked them. I have divided them into several categories.

Traditional regional food in Nice:

• Lou Kalu, 10 Rue Saint-François de Paule. You can order a sample board of local delicacies (without Petit Farcis, which can be ordered separately), or local dishes in portions. The service is quite slow, but the place is in the city center, and the food is tasty.
• Lou Pilha Leva, 10 Rue du Collet. Another place that has cheap local food in the Old Town. You eat on the benches set on the street and you often have to wait in a queue for your portion.
• Chez René Socca, 2 Rue Miralheti. Going from the Old Town to Garibaldi Square, you pass a small place where there is always a big queue. This is probably the most popular place with traditional local food. I do not like queuing, but if you don’t mind, why not try it?
• Chez Pipo, 13 Rue Bavastro (near the port). A socca institution, a little away from the crowds of the Old Town.
• Thérésa, 28 Rue Droite and a stand on the Cours Saleya market. Socca baked in a wood-fired oven, as it should be.
• Le Safari, 1 Cours Saleya. A restaurant on the market square with a good lunch menu, where you can put together a set of local dishes at a good price.
• Du Gésu, 1 Rue du Jésus. An Old Town restaurant with local and French food and great desserts.

French cuisine in Nice:

• La Rossettisserie, 8 Rue Mascoïnat (near the Cathedral of St. Reparata in the Old Town of Nice). A place for carnivores – everyone will come out happy. Unfortunately, the place is very small so you have to make a reservation a minimum of 24 hours in advance, or hope for luck. There are always several different meats to choose from, vegetable ingredients in various forms, and of course a fresh baguette and great wine. The service is very nice and they also speak English. Prices are moderate. Website: larossettisserie.com.
• Acchiardo, 38 rue Droite. A family restaurant, an institution and one of the best-known restaurants in the city. It is only open on weekdays: since they are always full, they apparently don’t have to work on the weekends. It’s worth reserving a table to eat here. Delicious food, a bit more expensive, but definitely worth the price. They serve local, French and Mediterranean dishes. Their specialty is Provencal goulash (daube), which I definitely recommend!
• Le Flore, 9 Cours Saleya. The market on Cours Saleya is one of the places in Nice’s Old Town. In Le Flore restaurant you can enjoy food and observe people haggling for the best goods. They speak English here, the service is nice and efficient, and the food served is fine. You can also order a plate of regional dishes like those described above in “What to eat”.
• Lavomatique, 11 Rue du Pont Vieux. Modern French cooking served as small, tapas-style plates. Don’t forget to book!
• Le Bar des Oiseaux, 5 Rue Saint-Vincent. Excellent French cooking in the Old Town.
• Olive & Artichaut, 6 Rue Sainte-Réparate. French cooking from local produce.

Other places:

• Cafe de Turin, 5 Garibaldi Square. This is one of the oldest restaurants in the city, and at the same time quite expensive. However, they serve delicious seafood, they speak English, and are kind. This place is recommended in many guides.
• Illia Pasta, 4 Rue Droite. A tiny place run by an Italian who serves pasta made from his own production on the spot. Friendly service, tasty food and moderate prices. Nothing more is needed!
• Le BanThai, 29 rue Droite. If you like Thai food then you can not go past this address in Nice! The menu has only 10 traditional Thai dishes and 2 desserts of the day to choose from. I have visited this place several times, and I always leave happy. The only downside is the lack of air conditioning in the summer. The staff speaks English, so there is no problem with ordering. Moderate prices.
• La Pizza Cresci, 34 rue Massena. This place is also in Cannes, right on the Old Port. You will eat sensational pizza here, but I do not recommend ordering the pasta. I have never been happy with it. There are always a lot of people in Cresci in Nice, and the service is nice and fast. Moderate prices for a place in a tourist area.
• Big Fernand, 52 Rue Gioffredo. My favorite burgers! I eat there every month and I’m always happy. They also have delicious fries and a great ketchup, and can deliver orders with fast delivery.
• Le Barbecue, 3 rue du Four. A restaurant serving Portuguese-Nice dishes. I have never been to Portugal, so it’s hard for me to judge if dishes from that country are served here properly. I know, however, that the food here is delicious and the service is nice, but the portions are a little too big for me. They also speak English here. Moderate prices. Meat and fish dishes, pizza.
• Di Più, 85 Quai des États-Unis. An Italian restaurant on the seafront. They take no reservations, but the line moves fast; big, tasty portions and quick service.
• L’Antica, 13 Avenue Auber. A great place for meat lovers, grilled over the fire and served with delicious vegetables.

Ice cream in Nice

After a good meal, go for ice cream. My favorites are AZZURRO Artisan Glacier (1 Rue Sainte-Réparate), Cesar Milano (43 Avenue Jean Médecin) and Oui, jelato (5 Rue de la Préfecture). The widest choice of flavors, from classic to surprising, is at Fenocchio (several shops, for example 2 Place Rossetti).

Where to have a drink before dinner

• Movida, 41 Quai des États-Unis – a bar with a balcony overlooking the Promenade des Anglais and the Bay of Angels; its neighbors have equally beautiful views.
• La Cave du Cours, 24 Rue Barillerie – a wine bar with local organic and natural wines, served with small free snacks.
• Le Bateleur, 12 Cours Saleya – a huge choice of beers from many countries.
• Les Distilleries Idéales, 24 Rue de la Préfecture – a colonial-style bar.
• Rooftop bars of the hotels: La Terrasse (Le Méridien, 1 Promenade des Anglais), Farago on the roof (AC Hotel by Marriott, 59 Promenade des Anglais), Calade Rooftop (Radisson Blu, 223 Promenade des Anglais), Le Moon Bar (Aston La Scala, 12 Avenue Félix Faure) and Skylounge (Mercure, 28 Avenue Notre-Dame).
• Rue Bonaparte near the port is lively and full of bars and restaurants.

Tips for eating out in Nice

• Tipping: service is included in the prices, so a tip is not expected; leave a few euros if you were happy.
• Water: tap water is free and good; ask for a carafe d’eau.
• Times: lunch is from noon to about 2pm, dinner from about 7:30pm, and many kitchens close in between. Lunch menus (formules) are the best value.
• Reservations: small Old Town restaurants fill up fast, especially in summer and on weekends; book a day ahead.

Have you eaten at one of the above places? Maybe you have your own favorite restaurants in Nice or the Cote d’Azur? Describe them in a comment below! Together, let’s make a list for tourists visiting the French Riviera.

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