Fine-dining Restaurants & Dining in Nice

Asian Fusion restaurants

There are plenty of sushi restaurants in Nice, including the Planet Sushi and O'Sushi chains which each have three branches scattered through the town.

100% Sushi in Vieux Nice does a special 20€ all-you-can-eat menu, which is always popular and surprisingly good quality.

Cafes and bakeries

Nice is full of pavement cafés and boulangeries, so you’re never short of options for a coffee and croissant. Grab a seat along the Promenade des Anglais and watch the sunrise over the Baie des Anges whilst the joggers go by – proper holiday vibes.

French restaurants

The superb service and great food at Chez Acchiardo makes this family-run restaurant a favourite with locals and tourists alike. A traditionally French menu with very attractive prices, all served up in a cozy environment with packed-in tables. A lovely atmosphere, with the hum of conversation and waiters who get the level of attentiveness just right. Enjoy Provencal specialities such as daube stew, baked fish and local wine straight from the barrel. You can eat cheaply and very well here, thoroughly recommended.

Chez Pipo is the local's favourite, specialising in that most Nicois of dishes - socca. Located near the port on Rue Bavastro, it has been serving all the traditional cuisine such as tapenade, pissaladiere, daube and ratatouille since the 1920's.

L'Escilanada in Vieux Nice is always busy and for good reason; they are renowned for serving up excellent Provencal cuisine. Some of it may be a bit too "authentic" for some people's tastes - breaded sheep's testicles, anyone? - but there are plenty of other delicious dishes on the menu to choose from and good daily specials. Tucked into a atmospheric corner of the old town with outdoor tables and plenty of charm, they have been in business for over 50 years - so they must be doing something right!

Mediterranean restaurants

Nice is packed with Italian restaurants serving up everything from rustic pasta to crisp pizzas - no surprise given its Italian heritage. Beachside and portside spots offer fresh seafood, good wine, and great people watching, often at more reasonable prices than other Riviera towns. Whether you're after a long rosé lunch or a cosy bistro dinner, there’s no shortage of places to enjoy delicious Mediterranean flavours.

Michelin starred restaurants

The best restaurant in Nice, according to the revered Michelin Guide, is the two starred Chantecler at the iconic Negresco Hotel. This hotel has a sense of history about it - you feel it when you see its majestic dome rise above the palms on the Promenade des Anglais, you feel it in the hotel’s piano and jazz bar with its walnut and velvet décor. You certainly feel it when you move into the elegant dining room, where wood panelling, damask curtains and pink upholstery give the restaurant a regency feel harking back to 1913, when the Negresco doors opened for the first time to welcome royalty and stars from all over the world. Chef Jean-Denis Rieubland defines his cuisine and his style as ‘inspired by Provence, with the respect of its products and traditions’. Sounds simple, but this is French gastronomy at its finest, with meals like ‘studded scallops with black truffle, glazed with beetroot juice and Perigeux sauce with duck fois gras’. There are, of course, spectacular prices to match the spectacular menu - don’t expect much change from 100 for a steak. If your budget allows, try the Chef’s discovery menu at 180 euro to get the most of this culinary experience.

L’Amorate is another Michelin starred restaurant that delivers sensational flavour, with each meal presented like an artwork on a plate. Chef Mickaël Gracieux trained with the greatest French chefs and opened up his restaurant with Elise Morselli-Lourtet, only two years later the young couple were rewarded with a Michelin star. The meals here are a visual and gastronomic treat, a delight for the senses. You can get a menu for around the 60 euro mark.

Le Bistro Gourmand has quickly made a name for itself with its light-filled, chic décor and fresh, sophisticated French gastronomy. This Michelin starred restaurant was described as ‘delightful’ by the Michelin inspectors, who applauded their use of fresh produce, expertise and enthusiasm. The prices are quite reasonable too - you can order off the a la carte menu with main meals between 23 and 40 euro, or take advantage of the excellently priced lunch menus, starting at around 25 euro. This is definitely one worth visiting, but it fills up quickly so book well ahead!

Modern European and international restaurants

Nice is a vibrant multi-cultural city with lots of different cuisines to choose from; you'll find good Lebanese, Indian, Chinese, Middle-Eastern, Thai and Japanese restaurants as well as the usual burger bars and pizza joints.

Delhi Belly in Vieux Nice is a good curry house staffed by friendly waiters who understand that the Brits generally like their curries with a bit more kick than the French. Similarly, look out for the colourful rickshaws outside Indian Lounge just round the corner where you'll receive a warm welcome and a good feed that won't break the bank.

For something a bit different, try Pamir, an Afghan restaurant on Rue Sainte-Claire in the old town. The menu has lots of options for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike and the owner is a very friendly chap who loves to chat to people from different countries.

For good contemporary cuisine in a lively spot, Papayou on Rue de la Prefecture in the old town is a great spot. Their small menu serves a range of local and international dishes made from fresh seasonal ingredients. You can't reserve, you just have to turn up and wait for a table, but it's worth it.

Pubs and gastropubs

If you’re craving some familiar international food, then the pub scene of Nice has what you’re looking for.

The Snug & Cellar is a popular gastropub, offering very good versions of English classics - roasts and fish and chips and the like. They have live music of an evening and is in a very lively spot in the heart of Nice old town.

Meanwhile, Chez Wayne’s caters well for the expat, yachtie and tourist crowds with live music and a good international menu of pub classics.

Ma Nolans is another pub serving up English and Irish classics, with a young fun vibe. They have two restaurants in Nice, one by Cours Saleya and the other by the port.

Steaks, burgers, grills and BBQs

Takeaway restaurants

There are take-aways on every corner in Nice, particularly in the old town where they anticipate lots of hungry revellers once the bars close.

Check out Pili Pizza on Rue Benoit Bunico for fresh pizzas served from a hatch. There's always a queue but you can order and come back later to collect.