French Riviera dining: My top10 restaurants in Nice

The best tables in Nice, from neighborhood canteens to Michelin starred restaurants.

Le Lavomatique

With Hugo and Grégoire Loubert, two brothers passionate about bistronomy, in charge this former launderette is now a beautiful tapas bar tinged with French influences. Here you will find a seasonal menu crafted according to the findings of the market. Delicious dishes such as roasted pumpkin with spaghetti and peppers or and smoked leeks can all be enjoyed with a glass of organic wine. Mélanie Tuz has dreamed up a selection of gourmet deserts such as a roast pear tartest, ginger whipped cream or a candied ginger biscuit.

11, rue du Pont Vieux, 06300 Nice

La Merenda

To taste the famous pesto pasta by Dominique Le Stanc, you’ll need to get lost in the alleys of Old Nice, to stumble upon the La Merenda micro-hostel without a phone number or a credit card machine. The place is tiny and you have to dine while sitting on small stools side by side with other clients, however, the food is so good that regulars don’t abandon this true temple of the Nicoise cuisine.

4, rue Raoul Bosio, 06300 Nice

https://lamerenda.net

Jan

You can find South Africa a stone's throw from the old port of Nice. Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen's (24 seats) starred table looks like an 18th-century villa. The decor with arcades in stone, candelabrums on the tables, wicker seats creates a romantic atmosphere that surely will thrill couples. Over a candlelit dinner, you can savor a wild wolffish, carrots, and quince followed by a confit peach and condensed milk. I recommend trying one of the bottles of divine African wines.

12, rue Lascaris, 06300 Nice

http://www.restaurantjan.com

Le Bistrot d’Antoine

In search of a good restaurant serving local cuisine at low prices, consider visiting Le Bistrot d'Antoine. With Armand and Sophie Crespo at the helm, who are already at the head of two other restaurants in Nice, the address has the charm of southern tables where your meal is served with a singing accent. À la carte, you will find dishes that will delight meat-lovers such as pan-fried foie gras, black pudding or duck breast. Le Bistrot d’Antoine is a beautiful culinary discovery.

27, rue de la Préfecture, 06300 Nice

La Part des Anges

The very first dining cellar in Nice, opened in 1988, deserves its place in this selection. From young winemakers to the great classics of enology, the good bottles unearthed by Olivier Labarde could be paired with mischievous dishes. The recipes such as pacchieri with anchovies and broccoli, razor clams with parsley, ravioli with chanterelles pay great tribute to bistronomy. Among the 300 references of the wine cellar, I recommend the bottle of Chablis de Moors (2015).

17, rue Gubernatis, 06000 Nice

http://lapartdesanges-nice.com

Maïdo

It’s possible to find a piece of Japan in Nice. Matthieu and Kanako have made Maïdo the best Japanese canteen in the city, with traditional dishes from the Land of the Rising Sun. On the menu, there's no sushi, but a home-baked Don Buta Kimchi, mini Okonomiyaki ("Japanese pancakes"), lotus roots in tempura or a salmon chirashi with edible flowers. A favorite for ultra-gourmet dessert lovers is a cherry blossom cake with strawberries and matcha cream.

29, rue Tonduti de l'Escarène, 06000 Nice

https://restaurant-maido.fr

O'Quotidien

Just a stone's throw from the harbor, in the Bonaparte district, the coolest grocery store in Nice is the place to go for healthy food. Market-oriented, the dishes celebrate fruit and vegetables as they should be, from arancinis squash with mozzarella to risotto verde with purple artichoke cream and spinach topped with roasted nutmeg and cheese. For dessert, apples stuffed with cashews are a must.

2, rue Martin Seytour, 06300 Nice

Le Chantecler

The sumptuous decor and the woodwork dating from 1751 pronounce the color. On the Promenade des Anglais, the legendary palace of the Riviera is home to a two-starred restaurant. Chef Virginie Basselot's "surprise" menu seduces with its perfect combination of flavors, like scallops with celery and green apples, pomegranate foie gras and hibiscus flower, or savory honey pear, creating an idyllic culinary escape.

37, promenade des Anglais, 06000 Nice

https://www.hotel-negresco-nice.com

La petite Maison

The concept of La Petite Maison (LPM), which already took over London, Miami and Dubai, originated in Nice, where Nicole Rubi serves sundrenched cuisine to the local elite. On the terrace of this address halfway between a restaurant and a private club, the hand-picked clientele enjoys linguine lobster, truffle scrambled eggs or the famous little stuffed delicacies alongside Bono or Elton John. This is a festive restaurant reserved for the crème de la crème of fashion, arts and politics.

11, rue Saint-François de Paule, 06000 Nice

Pure & V

The six tables of this micro-bar are stormed by clients every night. The reason for that? The Danish chef Mathias Silberbauer (ex-Relæ in Copenhagen) and Vanessa Massé serve creative cuisine, outgoing and above all to die for! Composed at the mercy of the market, the plate evolves between a grouper with parsnip chips, coffee and blood orange, a wolffish with celery and emulsion of chestnuts, or hay ice cream, mushrooms, pecans and confit cep butter. A must-try for all of those who think outside the box.

15, rue Bottero, 06000 Nice