22 Best Restaurants In Nice To Try In 2024

Nice, nestled on the French Riviera, beckons as a culinary haven that transcends the ordinary. This picturesque destination is not just about the stunning Mediterranean coastline; it’s a treasure trove for gourmet enthusiasts. In 2024, whether you’re strolling along the Promenade des Anglais or exploring the charming streets of Old Town (Vieux Nice), the city promises an unforgettable gourmet experience. From Michelin-starred finesse to authentic local specialties, here’s your guide to the 22 best restaurants in Nice that cater to every palate, ensuring a dining experience that’s as diverse as it is delicious.

Best Restaurants in Nice

1. Le Chantecler

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Nestled within the illustrious Hotel Negresco, Le Chantecler is more than a restaurant; it’s a testament to culinary excellence.

With its refined ambiance and a menu that celebrates the richness of Provence region ingredients, dining here is a journey through exquisite French Mediterranean flavors.

The Michelin-starred chef’s creations marry innovation with tradition, offering dishes that are both visually stunning and palate-pleasing. Whether you’re starting your day with a sumptuous breakfast or indulging in a leisurely brunch, Le Chantecler ensures that every morning is a culinary delight.

2. Hotel Amour

At Hotel Amour, the experience is all about the Mediterranean’s sunny southern charm. This eatery stands out for its vibrant atmosphere and a menu that’s a nod to coastal cuisine. 

Here, the focus is on fresh, seasonal ingredients, transforming simple meals into memorable gourmet dining experiences.

Need Help Planning Your Trip to the French Riviera?

Nice, or Nizza in Italian, is more than just a charming city; it’s a culinary adventure waiting to be explored. 

When planning your trip, consider diving into the local culinary traditions by booking food tours or cooking classes to truly understand the culinary legacy of this region.

3. Yose

Yose is a hidden gem that offers a fusion of flavors, blending traditional French techniques with global influences. This restaurant is a favorite among food lovers looking for a unique gourmet experience. The chef’s creativity shines through in dishes that are both innovative and comforting.

Coming to Nice Soon? It’s Time to Book Your Tours

Exploring Nice’s culinary traditions goes beyond dining. Consider booking a culinary tour to discover the gastronomic heritage of the French Mediterranean, from wine tastings to olive oil mills.

4. Bocca Mar

With its stunning views of the Mediterranean coastline, Bocca Mar is the epitome of sea-inspired dishes. The restaurant specializes in fresh seafood, offering a menu that’s as refreshing as the sea breeze. It’s a must-visit for those seeking the true flavor of the Mediterranean.

5. La Favola

La Favola brings a slice of Italy to the heart of Nice. This bustling trattoria is renowned for its authentic cuisine, serving hearty Italian favorites with a focus on quality and simplicity. It’s the perfect spot for gourmet enthusiasts craving Italian classics.

Looking for the Best Places to Eat, Stay, and Explore in Nice?

Combine your culinary journey with the exploration of Nice’s picturesque streets and sunny beaches. The city offers a range of accommodations, from luxury hotels to charming B&Bs, making it easy to find the perfect place to complement your dining adventures.

6. Le Plongeoir

Perched on a cliff overlooking the sea, Le Plongeoir offers an unparalleled dining setting. This restaurant is celebrated for its innovative approach to French Mediterranean cuisine, offering dishes that are both daring and delicious. 

The view alone is worth the visit, but the food will keep you coming back.

7. JAN

JAN, a Michelin-starred haven, introduces diners to a fusion of South African and French cuisines. Chef Jan Hendrik’s masterful creations are a homage to his roots, offering a culinary experience that’s both exotic and familiar. This is a must-visit for culinary aficionados seeking culinary excellence.

8. Babel Babel

Babel Babel is the city’s answer to global cuisine, offering a menu that travels from the Mediterranean shores to the heart of Asia. 

This restaurant is perfect for food connoisseurs looking to explore indigenous flavors from around the world.

9. La Merenda

This no-frills bistro is a sanctuary for those seeking traditional dishes made with love and care. 

La Merenda offers a dive into Nice’s culinary legacy, serving up local specialties that have stood the test of time. It’s a testament to the city’s rich gastronomic heritage.

10. Chez Acchiardo

Chez Acchiardo is a family-owned gem that has been serving authentic Niçoise cuisine for generations. Here, the focus is on simplicity and flavor, with dishes that reflect the heart of Nice’s culinary traditions. It’s a warm, welcoming spot that feels like home.

For generations, it has been serving up authentic Niçoise cuisine, becoming a beloved spot among locals and visitors. The restaurant prides itself on simplicity and flavor, offering dishes that truly reflect the culinary traditions of Nice. 

With a warm and welcoming atmosphere, Chez Acchiardo makes everyone feel like part of the family. It’s the perfect place to enjoy hearty, traditional meals that taste like home.

11. Cafe de Turin

Renowned for its seafood, Cafe de Turin is a staple in Nice’s dining scene. This bustling eatery offers the freshest oysters, mussels, and seafood platters, making it a paradise for Mediterranean seafood lovers.

A bustling atmosphere and the promise of the Mediterranean’s finest catches draw diners from all over. This staple in Nice’s dining scene offers a taste of the sea in every bite, making it a paradise for seafood lovers seeking authentic flavors in a lively setting.

12. Le Canon

Le Canon stands out for its commitment to local specialties and sustainable dining. This premier dining destination on the Côte d’Azur offers a curated selection of wines and farm-to-table dishes that showcase the Provence region’s bounty. Its vibrant ambiance and focus on fresh ingredients make it a favorite for those looking to enjoy the Mediterranean’s natural flavors in a responsible, yet delightful way.

13. La Pêche à la Vigne

This quaint restaurant offers a blend of French Mediterranean and modern cuisine, focusing on regional delicacies and indigenous recipes. La Pêche à la Vigne is a celebration of Nice’s sunny southern France flavors, perfect for epicurean travelers. 

La Pêche à la Vigne is a traditional French game played outdoors. Participants form a circle and hold hands, except for one player in the middle (“the fisherman”). The fisherman tries to break through the circle, while the other players prevent them by moving their arms. If the fisherman succeeds, they swap places with the player they caught. It’s a fun game that promotes teamwork and agility.

14. Le Bistrot d’Antoine

Le Bistrot d’Antoine is a testament to the charm of traditional French bistros. Offering a cozy atmosphere and a menu filled with classic dishes, it’s a favorite among locals and tourists alike, seeking authentic flavors and traditional cooking.

15. Maïdo

At Maïdo, the culinary excellence of Japanese cuisine meets the French Mediterranean. This restaurant offers a unique dining experience, with sushi and Japanese delicacies prepared with a French twist.

16. La Part des Anges

Known for its extensive wine list and gourmet small plates, La Part des Anges is a haven for wine enthusiasts and food lovers. This spot is perfect for those looking to enjoy regional delicacies in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. 

Angels are believed to take the alcohol that evaporates during aging in barrels. This term is often used in the context of whiskey production, where a small amount is lost to evaporation each year. It adds character to the drink and is seen as a sacrifice to the angels.

17. Comptoir du Marché

With its vibrant ambiance and focus on fresh, local ingredients, Comptoir du Marché is a reflection of Nice’s lively market culture. This eatery offers a taste of the Mediterranean in every bite, celebrating the culinary traditions of the South of France.

18. Mamma Mia Saleya

Mamma Mia Saleya is celebrated for bringing the heart and soul of Italy to Nice through its repertoire of Italian classics. From sumptuous pizzas to rich, flavorful pastas, each dish is crafted with authenticity and love, embodying the spirit of Italian cuisine. 

The restaurant’s lively setting, often buzzing with energy and the warm chatter of satisfied diners, perfectly complements the vibrant flavors served on each plate. It’s a slice of Italy in Nice, offering a culinary escape to the Mediterranean’s other coast.

19. Carmela

Carmela is a gem that shines brightly with the rich culinary traditions of southern Italy. This restaurant takes pride in its selection of handmade pastas, each a testament to the artistry and tradition of Italian cooking. 

The menu is a homage to the robust flavors of the South, featuring dishes that are both comforting and complex. Carmela’s dedication to authentic southern Italian cuisine provides diners with a deeply flavorful and heartfelt dining experience, making it a must-visit for lovers of Italian gastronomy.

20. La Carpe Koï

La Carpe Koï stands as a unique culinary venture in Nice, offering an exquisite blend of French and Japanese cuisines. This fusion restaurant marries the delicate precision of Japanese gastronomy with the robust flavors and techniques of French cooking, resulting in dishes that are both innovative and harmonious. 

The menu is a creative exploration of these two culinary worlds, offering diners a chance to experience the best of both. La Carpe Koï is a testament to the possibilities that arise when diverse culinary traditions come together, creating a dining experience that is both enlightening and delicious.

21. Lou Pistou

Lou Pistou serves as a culinary ambassador for traditional Niçoise cuisine, offering a menu that celebrates the rich flavors and simple elegance of Nice’s local dishes. The restaurant’s homely atmosphere adds to the charm of dining here, making every meal feel like a cozy gathering among friends. 

From classic salads to hearty stews, each dish is prepared with care and respect for tradition, offering diners an authentic taste of Nice. Lou Pistou’s commitment to showcasing Niçoise cuisine in its most authentic form makes it a beloved spot for both locals and visitors eager to explore the region’s culinary heritage.

22. Le Safari

Le Safari is an institution in Nice, known for its iconic status and diverse menu that draws inspiration from the Mediterranean and beyond. This restaurant has long been a favorite among locals and tourists alike, thanks to its lively ambiance, exceptional service, and a menu that offers something for everyone. 

From fresh seafood dishes to expertly prepared meats and vibrant salads, Le Safari’s culinary offerings are a reflection of Nice’s gastronomic diversity. Dining at Le Safari is not just about enjoying a meal; it’s about experiencing the heart and soul of Nice’s dining scene.

Michelin-starred Restaurants in Nice

Nice is home to several Michelin-starred restaurants, each earning its stars through exceptional culinary artistry, innovation, and dedication to quality. These prestigious establishments, such as Le Chantecler and JAN, stand out for their unique approaches to cuisine, blending traditional techniques with contemporary influences to create unforgettable dining experiences.  

Michelin-starred restaurants in Nice are celebrated for their meticulous attention to detail, from the sourcing of ingredients to the execution of each dish and the overall dining experience. 

These accolades are a testament to Nice’s vibrant culinary scene and its position as a premier destination for food enthusiasts seeking culinary excellence. 

Dining at any of these Michelin-starred restaurants offers a glimpse into the high standards and creative passion that define the best of Nice’s gastronomy.

Conclusion

Indulging in Nice’s culinary landscape is like embarking on a gastronomic tour of the world, right from the heart of the French Riviera. From the Michelin-starred elegance of Le Chantecler, where Providence’s finest ingredients are transformed into French Mediterranean marvels, to the bustling, vibrant atmosphere of Hotel Amour, where the sunny charm of the Mediterranean is served up with every dish, each restaurant tells its own unique story. Yose offers a creative fusion that tantalizes the taste buds with a blend of French and global flavors, while Bocca Mar captures the essence of the sea with its stunning views and fresh seafood.

La Favola transports you to Italy with its authentic cuisine, and Le Plongeoir offers a daring take on French Mediterranean dishes from its cliffside perch. JAN adds a touch of the exotic with its blend of South African and French cuisines, and Babel Babel invites diners on a culinary journey from the Mediterranean to Asia. Traditionalists will find solace in La Merenda’s no-frills approach to local specialties, and family-run Chez Acchiardo serves up Niçoise cuisine with heart.

Nice’s dining scene is a testament to the city’s rich culinary heritage, offering everything from the simple pleasures of Café de Turin’s seafood to the innovative French-Japanese fusion at La Carpe Koï. Whether you’re seeking the comfort of Lou Pistou’s Niçoise dishes or the iconic diversity of Le Safari’s menu, Nice caters to every palate. The city’s Michelin-starred restaurants, with their commitment to culinary excellence, set the standard for gourmet dining. Nice is not just a picturesque destination; it’s a paradise for food lovers, inviting you to discover the flavors that make the French Riviera’s culinary scene truly exceptional.