How to find out more about a foreign city without sightseeing and communication with local people? Perhaps, the most pleasant way is to learn about it through the culinary traditions. A gastronomic trip is a very exciting adventure! After trying national dishes, you discover the culture and customs of the locals. As you know, new tastes give birth to new feelings. And it’s not without a reason that the way to the heart lies through the stomach.

After arriving to Nice, you will find a great variety of cafes, restaurants, bistros and bars. Well, the best ones are included into the following list…

Le Chantecler

Probably, there is no better place to feel the charm of Nice than Le Chantecler situated in the legendary Negresco Hotel. It features a truly royal interior: the walls are decorated with unique wooden panels. Also, there are luxurious curtains on the windows, lamps in silk lampshades on the ceiling, as well as graceful bronze figurines on each table. Awarded Michelin stars, Le Chantecler offers dishes that turn ordinary food into a real gourmet paradise.

Address: 37 Prom. des Anglais

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 7am-10pm, Sunday and Monday closed

Average bill: 80-90€/person

La Terrasse

In La Terrasse you can eat delicious food, and at the same time admire the amazing views of the sea and Promenade des Anglais. The restaurant is placed on Le Méridien’s top floor. Comfortable and soft sofas, snow-white sun umbrellas and breathtaking seascapes: what else do you need for a perfect evening in Nice? You only need fragrant wine, a plate of the freshest seafood and airy lemon mousse. All dishes served in La Terrasse fit the atmosphere – they are simple and flawless.

Address: 1 Prom. des Anglais

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 12pm-10pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm-10.30pm

Average bill: 40-50€/person

L’Univers de Christian Plumail

At first glance, L’Univers de Christian Plumail is a fairly inconspicuous establishment. However, actually it’s a very elegant restaurant with a wonderful cuisine, which was awarded a Michelin star. Traditional dishes of Nice in the excellent performance of the chef (lamb in dense sauce with olive oil, fried duck with peaches, berry sorbet) are offered at very affordable prices: the cost of lunch at Christian Plumail starts from 23 Euros. Great selection of wine will emphasize the delicate taste of dishes, and a cup of aromatic coffee will harmoniously complete your dinner.

Address: 54 Boulevard Jean Jaurès

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 12pm-10pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm-10.30pm

Average bill: 30-40€/person

L’Escalinada

In Nice you can eat delicious food not only in expensive establishments, but also in small home restaurants. L’Escalinada is the best evidence. This is one of the best Nice’s restaurants with Mediterranean cuisine. Delicate homemade gnocchi with a stewed beef will restore your strength after a tiring walk around the city. In addition, free snacks and aperitif is another pleasant surprise in L’Escalinada.

Address: 22 Rue Pairolière

Hours: Monday-Sunday 12pm-2.30pm, 7pm-11pm

Average bill: 25-30€/person

Le Safari

Le Safari is very popular among locals, so it’s better to come early at lunch, and book a table for dinner. The secret of the establishment is simple: high-quality cuisine and affordable prices. By the way, in Le Safari you can try one of the best variations of ‘salade niçoise’ in Nice. Of course, delicious roasted rabbit, stuffed Farsi vegetables or grilled fish are also available. Le Safari is situated near the Promenade des Anglais, a few steps away from the flower market.

Address: 1 Cours Saleya

Hours: Monday-Sunday 12pm-11pm

Average bill: 25-35€/person

Café de Turin

Seafood is served in almost each restaurant of Nice, but there’s a place where it’s cooked in the best way. If you are crazy about fresh shrimp or big oysters, dream of trying an excellent crab or snails in Provencal sauce, Cafe de Turin will be the greatest choice for a dinner. By the way, in case you want to try everything at once then order ‘marine set’: a huge dish with a plenty of various sea delicacies. It costs only 35 Euros, which is an advantageous option for a small company.

Address: 5 Place Garibaldi

Hours: Monday-Sunday 8am-10pm

Average bill: 35-45€/person

Acchiardo

In Nice, there is an opportunity to try not only dishes of authentic French cuisine, but also Italian ones, because it’s much closer to Italy than to most cities in France. Therefore, there are so many Italian restaurants in Nice. Most of them are simply good, but Acchiardo is a real jewel. You won’t find anywhere so perfectly cooked spaghetti, as in Acchiardo. And don’t let the Italian name of the owners mislead you: the Provencal dishes served in Acchiardo are just incredibly tasty too.

Address: 38 Rue Droite

Hours: Monday-Friday 12pm-2pm, 7pm-10pm; Saturday and Sunday closed

Average bill: 15-30€/person

A culinary trip to Nice is a great way to see this fabulous city from the other side. Local restaurants serve amazing masterpieces of French cuisine, which show a true taste of Cote d’Azur. So, don’t miss an opportunity to rent a car in Nice and enjoy a culinary journey by visiting several establishments from this list.