Where to eat in Nice: what to order and where to book
Nice eats Niçoise, not generic French: socca, pissaladière, salade niçoise and stuffed vegetables. The best places are in the Old Town's back streets, around the port and near the Liberation market, not on the main terraces. Lunch is easy to walk into, and dinner at the small places is worth booking.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- The back streets of Vieux Nice for Niçoise cooking, Port Lympia for fish, and Libération for local places.
- Order this
- Socca, pissaladière, salade niçoise, petits farcis, and a glass of rosé from Bellet.
- When to eat
- Lunch from noon, dinner from 7.30pm. Socca is a street snack for any time of day.
- Book or walk in
- Walk in for lunch and socca. Book dinner at the small restaurants, especially from Thursday to Saturday.
- Tipping
- Service is included. Round up or leave a few euros for good service.
What to eat in Nice
- SoccaA thin chickpea pancake baked in a wood oven and eaten hot with black pepper.
- PissaladièreAn onion tart with anchovies and olives, sold by the slice from bakeries.
- Salade niçoiseTomatoes, tuna, egg, olives and anchovies, with no cooked potato in the traditional version.
- Petits farcisSmall stuffed vegetables, served warm or cold.
- Pan bagnatA round bread roll with salade niçoise inside, a classic picnic lunch.
- Daube niçoiseA slow-cooked beef stew with red wine, often served with ravioli or gnocchi.
- Socca and roséA local pairing: the rosé from Bellet is the local wine to try.
- Tourte de blettesA sweet or savory tart made with chard, found in bakeries.
Where to eat in Nice, by neighborhood
Vieux Nice
Tiny restaurants serving Niçoise dishes, with the most choice and the most tourist traps. Walk beyond Cours Saleya.
Port Lympia
Fish restaurants and cafes around the harbor, calmer than the Old Town.
Libération
A local neighborhood around a covered market, with bakeries and everyday restaurants.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Chez Pipo
€Socca house · Port Lympia
OrderSocca and a glass of rosé
A long-running socca shop with a wood oven near the port.
- Book
- Walk in
- Closed
- Monday
Confirmed open: lefooding.com
-
Chez Theresa
€Street stall · Cours Saleya
OrderA cone of socca with pepper
A market stall serving hot socca in the morning and at lunch.
- Book
- Queue at the stall
Confirmed open: chez-theresa.fr
-
La Merenda
€€Bistro · Vieux Nice
OrderDaube niçoise or petits farcis
Small Niçoise cooking in a tiny dining room, with no phone and a blackboard menu.
- Book
- Book in person, since there is no phone
- Closed
- Saturday
Confirmed open: guide.michelin.com
-
Le Safari
€€Brasserie · Cours Saleya
OrderSalade niçoise or the fish of the day
A busy Niçoise brasserie with a terrace on the market square.
- Book
- Book for dinner
Confirmed open: restaurantsafari.fr
Food markets in Nice
- Cours Saleya marketFlowers, fruit, olives and local cheese, with food stalls and cafes.Tuesday to Sunday mornings, a flea market on MondaySource: bestofniceblog.com
- Marché de la LibérationA local covered market with fish, produce and cheese.Tuesday to Sunday morningsSource: explorenicecotedazur.com
How Nice eats
- Meal timesLunch from noon to 2pm and dinner from 7.30pm. Socca stalls open at midday.
- TippingService is included in the bill. A few euros extra is a thank you.
- ReservationsBook dinner at small restaurants, and walk in for lunch.
- RoséRosé is the usual drink at lunch, and the local Bellet is worth trying.
Signs of a place to walk past
Terraces on Cours Saleya with large photographs and a server calling out.
Menus with paella, pizza and burgers alongside Niçoise dishes.
A salade niçoise with cooked potatoes and tuna from a tin at a tourist price.
Eating in Nice: questions people ask
What food is Nice known for?
Socca, pissaladière, salade niçoise, pan bagnat and petits farcis. They are best from Old Town bakeries and small restaurants.
Where can I eat socca in Nice?
Chez Pipo near the port, or at a stall on Cours Saleya in the morning.
What is a real salade niçoise?
Tomatoes, tuna, eggs, olives and anchovies, without cooked potatoes or lettuce.
Do I need to book in Nice?
For dinner at small restaurants, yes. Lunch and socca stalls usually take walk-ins.
Is it expensive to eat in Nice?
The seafront terraces are. Bakeries, stalls and small restaurants in the Old Town cost much less.
What wine should I drink in Nice?
Rosé from Provence, or the local Bellet wines in white, rosé or red.