10 Great Restaurants in Nice

Casa Leya is one of the most popular places to eat in Nice for families. The laidback restaurant serves classic Italian and Mediterranean dishes over 2 floors, right next to the beach.

Known for its no-fuss pizzas, pasta and seafood, everything at Casa Leya is homemade from ingredients gathered fresh on the Côte d’Azur. The restaurant has an impressive selection of wines from some of Italy's and France’s top grape-growing regions. If you happen to be visiting on a Sunday, you’re in luck – Casa Leya offers a great-value brunch, which includes their famous scrambled eggs with mascarpone.

Le Plongeoir is one of Nice’s most iconic restaurants overlooking the harbour. Formerly home to a much-photographed fishing boat perched atop its rocky ledge, Le Plongeoir now offers 3 unique dining areas. Soak in the stunning coastal views from the sea-level lounge bar, find a table set into the cliffside or eat under the gazebo on top of the rocky pillar.

The menu at Le Plongeoir is loaded with local flavours and heavily influenced by the sea – grilled octopus, sea bream and sea bass are among the most popular dishes. Don’t forget to check out the cocktail menu - Le Plongeoir’s signature cocktail is a local favourite.

Peixes is a Mediterranean restaurant just moments away from the Nice Opera House and the Promenade du Paillon. Named after the Portuguese word for ‘fish’, which is the restaurant’s speciality, you’ll have to move quickly if you want to grab a table on Peixes’ popular outdoor terrace.

Mediterranean classics are prepared with French flair, but it’s the clear passion for fresh seafood that really sets Peixes apart. Meals are served tapas style on small plates, with a fine selection of wines to match. If you’re a dessert person, try their special banana-flavoured take on crème brûlée.

Les Sens is an example of a classic niçoise restaurant – serving upscale food in unpretentious surroundings, with a focus on fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. The restaurant is located on the stylish Rue Pastorelli, in the heart of Nice.

Everything at Les Sens is made from scratch, including the bread they bake in-house. Traditional Mediterranean dishes are prepared with a modern twist, from entrées like cucumber mille-feuille with cream, smoked monkfish and red peppers to mains like pan-fried veal liver with capers. You’ll be in good company – there’s usually a mix of discerning travellers and locals celebrating special occasions in the chic, exposed-brick restaurant.

Le Panier is considered one of Nice’s culinary hidden gems, known for its unique tasting menus and flavour combinations. The cosy restaurant is near the Marché aux Fleurs (Nice’s biggest flower market) and Plage des Ponchettes (Ponchettes Beach).

Watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen or grab a space on the relaxed terrace. Dishes at Le Panier are created from the region’s seasonal produce with specially crafted cocktails to pair. Wine connoisseurs will also be impressed with the expertly-matched vintages.

Restaurant JAN is a Michelin-starred restaurant in Nice offering a unique mix of Mediterranean and South African flavours. Diners can choose from seasonal tasting menus of either 4 or 7 plates, paired with excellent wines.

Inside, the vibe is more museum-like than a restaurant, with decadent furnishing and fine artwork on the walls. And that’s before adding the exquisitely presented plates. For a romantic dinner or special treat, few places in Nice can compare to JAN. Find it in the up-and-coming district of Nice Port, close to the Human Palaeontology Terra Amata Museum and the Cimetière du Château.

Le Bouchon is a neighbourhood Bistro in Nice that serves mainly classic French dishes created with fresh, local Mediterranean ingredients. It is a rare thing in Nice – not only is it easy on the purse strings but it’s also known for its unfailingly friendly serving staff. You can find it a little off Nice’s tourist track, to the west of Parc du Vinaigrier.

Don’t be fooled by Le Bouchon’s small size and laidback feel – there are more than a few standout dishes on the menu. Try the appetiser of fresh tomatoes and strawberries served with burrata cheese, continue with the grilled andouillette (coarse-grained sausage) or polenta with mushrooms and black truffle for mains. Then, finish with a Paris-Brest for dessert.

Le Chantecler is one of the most famous restaurants in Nice. The Michelin-starred fine-dining spot can be found inside the iconic, pink-topped Hotel Negreso, just opposite Blue Beach and next to the Villa Masséna Musée.

Inside, the restaurant is decorated in an opulent 18^th-century French style, with glittering chandeliers and glossy wood panelling. The food, on the other hand, has a very modern flavour, with contemporary twists on classic French dishes like roasted blue lobster. For a unique dining option, ask for the chef’s surprise menu, which comes with a selection of hand-picked dishes and wines to match.

Le Millésime is a charming, hidden-away bistro in Nice. It might not look like much from the outside but book a table and you’ll soon discover why it’s such a firm favourite with visitors and locals alike.

Choose the chef’s special tasting menu for a real treat. Featuring 5 beautifully-presented dishes, each meal makes use of truffles in some way, including the optical-illusion dessert – a cool finishing touch for a unique dining experience. The restaurant is just a 5-minute walk from the Palace of Congresses and Exhibitions at Nice Acropolis and 10 minutes from the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum (MAMAC).

At Nuances Restaurant in Nice, there’s no menu to choose from. Instead, the Port Quarter eatery offers diners 6 surprise courses, each presented to high standards. Every dish is carefully created with locally sourced ingredients and fine-quality produce.

Not knowing what you might be served is half the fun but, no matter what arrives on your plate, you can expect it to be served with Nuances’ signature flair. Those with allergies or dietary requirements are also catered for – you’ll be asked as you arrive if there are any ingredients you can’t or don’t want to be included in your creatively prepared carte blanche menu.