Looking for the best restaurants in Nice? My guide has some incredible restaurants in the city that showcase the best of classic Niçoise cuisine. The city has a rich culinary history and there are so many amazing local dishes that you have to try during you stay.
The stunning azure water, the buzzing city atmosphere and of course the fantastic cuisine make it for a perfect summer French Riviera destination. Whilst there are plenty of tourist traps in the city centre, there are equally as many authentic, local dining spots that you need to know about.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit the city every summer for the past 8 years so I’ve had the chance to try a lot of restaurants. This list is my own personal recommendations that have come over the years from my French speaking foodie friends and Chefs who work in Nice.
The Best Restaurants in Nice
This list include restaurants that I’ve visited personally (most of them numerous times) and I think are definitely up there as the best restaurants in Nice. I update this list regularly so bookmark it for your next trip! Restaurants are in no particular order.
Epiro
Away from the old town, just off the Port Lympia, you’ll find a gem of an Italian restaurant. Given the city’s close proximity (and the fact that it was once Italian), you won’t be surprised to find some great cuisine from Italy here.
As with all really good Italian restaurants there’s a focus on quality, local and seasonal produce. Combined with some killer fresh pasta made daily and some modern technique, they serve some really well made, tasty food.
The small menu focuses on their fresh pasta mains and their tasting menu. There have a modern take on a Cacio e Pepe with a parmesan foam on the side which is pure umami. Their pate du moment varies but during my last visit it was fresh linguine with seasonal tomatoes, mussels and clams – delicious.
If you’re going in the evening try their tasting menu – there’s 4/5 courses revolving around pasta, fresh fish and Italian classics. Finally they’ve got a fantastic natural wine menu with some great bottles from small producers.
What to know before you visit
- You can reserve online
- They’re closed Mondays and Tuesdays
- Open for dinner only Wednesdays and Thursdays
- Open for lunch and dinner Friday – Sunday
Address: 53 Bd Stalingrad, 06300 Nice
Tel: 04 83 39 51 89
Website: https://www.instagram.com/epironice/
Babel Babel
Babel Babel is located on the sea front – on the Promenade des Anglais – giving their terrace amazing views over the bay. It’s a great spot for craft beer, natural wine and of course, incredible food made with the best fresh, local ingredients. Open non stop during the Summer, Babel Babel brings New York funk to Nice with DJs spinning vinyls every evening until late.
The food here is modern Mediterranean with nods to Niçoise & Provençale cuisine. The kitchen use amazing fresh produce from the local markets in their ever changing, seasonal menu. Whole fish can be ordered and comes directly from the local fishermen each morning and boy is it good. The wine list is substantial and is only natural wine. There’s also a great cocktail menu and they have a couple of craft beers on tap.
What to know before you visit
- You can reserve online
- I’d recommend doing so at least the day before during the Summer
- The food is non-stop during the Summer
- They’re open until 2am Friday & Saturday
Address: 2 Cr Jacques Chirac, 06300 Nice
Tel: 04 93 55 74 19
Website: https://www.babelbabel.fr
La Merenda
La Merenda is a temple of Niçoise cuisine that is owned by formed 2 Michelin star chef Dominique Le Stanc. Located in the Vieux Ville (old town) and a one minute walk away from the Marché aux Fleurs Cours Saleya and the Promenade des Anglais. The menu revolves around seasonal produce with the local markets supplying the restaurant’s kitchen with the freshest ingredients.
The menu has multiple entree and main course options – all classics from Nice and the surrounding areas. For starters you can try the pâtes aux pistou which is a pasta dish with a pistou sauce which is a Niçoise version of pesto. There’s also crispy courgette flowers and an amazing tomato tart if you go during the summer. The main courses are hearty but very well cooked – you can try tripe with panisse or Italian sausage with delicious stewed lentils.
What to know before you visit
- You can reserve online via their Instagram page
- You’ll need to reserve 1-2 weeks in advance during the summer
- They only accept cash
- They only have small stools so bare this in mind if you have mobility issues
- They have an annual closure usually for 2 weeks mid-June – check their Instagram page for exact dates
Address: 4 Rue Raoul Bosio, 06300 Nice
Website: https://www.instagram.com/lamerendanice/
Chez Davia
Located between the main train station and the Promenade des Anglais, Chez Davia is a fantastic French bistro that brings a modern twist on classic Niçois cooking. The bistro itself is full of charm with red gingham tablecloths, vintage furniture and mismatched light fittings.
First opened in 1953 by Chef Pierre Altobelli’s grandmother, the restaurant has continued through the generations serving up incredible local cuisine to locals and in-the-know foodies.
The food changes daily according to what comes in from their suppliers. It’s seasonal, fresh and full of passion. For starters you can expect raw, marinated prawns, anchovies along with crispy courgette flower tempura and fresh, marinated artichoke. On the main course side there’s an incredible Soupe au Pistou (fresh seasonal vegetable soup), Osso Bucco and steamed cod with Provençal vegetables.
What to know before you visit
- You can reserve online via they’re website
- It’s about a 10 minute walk from the Promenade des Anglais
Address: 11bis Rue Grimaldi, 06000 Nice
Tel: 04 93 87 91 39
Website: https://www.chezdavia.com
Hôtel Amour
Nestled in the stylish boutique hotel ‘Hôtel Amour’ lies an incredible Greek restaurant. As well as having their own beach club (which also serves killer food), their main restaurant serves up some classic yet precisely cooked Greek dishes. The main dining room is classic boutique hotel design with a large green-house style wall of plants. It’s light and airy with a large glass roof and retractable awning covering the main dining area.
The food is awesome – it’s precise, well thought out yet unpretentious and certainly wouldn’t look out of place in a fine dining restaurant. To start their freshly cooked pitas are crispy yet fluffy inside and are perfect to dip in their house tzatziki.
For mains, their vaguely described ‘spiced chicken’ is a perfectly cooked, tender piece of chicken breast which is lathered in a rich roast chicken jus. It’s the sort of cookery that you would expect in a 1* restaurant, not in a boutique hotel.
Their confit lamb shoulder is crispy yet incredibly tender inside. On the drinks side, they’ve got an awesome natural wine list with many excellent Greek wines.
What to know before you visit
- Open every day
- At lunch food is served until 4pm
- You need to call to reserve a table
Address: 3 Av. des Fleurs, 06000 Nice
Tel: 04 65 27 10 10
Website: https://www.hotelamournice.fr
Le Canon
Le Canon is all about natural wine, local fish and seasonal fresh produce from the surrounding area. The restaurant-cum-wine shop is popular with locals and has a really cool vintage Paris bistro vibe.
The ever changing menu revolves around the seasons and what’s being produced & caught locally. Whilst not particularly huge, the menus that I’ve seen feature some killer high-end ingredients. Local fish including Red Mullet and the ubiquitous John Dory are featured and come with well thought-out sauces. The meat options can include confit pork shoulder and Provençal style lamb.
What to know before you visit
- They’re closed Wednesday evening
- Reservations by phone only
- Closed in August
Address: 23 Rue Meyerbeer, 06000 Nice
Tel: 04 93 79 09 24
Website: http://www.lecanon.fr
