Star of the Riviera - City Guide Nice

Foreign flair

You often find fascinating foreign chefs in Nice such as Finnish chef Jouni Törmänen, who revived La Réserve de Nice. Jan Hendrik from South Africa has a popular one-star harborside restaurant that is luxurious yet cozy, with excellent and unusual food.

Restaurant Jan

Locally minded

The most typical dish in Nice is undoubtedly socca, a thin, crispy chickpea crepe that is often eaten straight out of the pan with a twist or two of freshly ground pepper. Locals enjoy it at the cozy Chez Pipo, which has been in the harbor area since the 1920s.

Chez Pipo

Quintessential Nice

The most typical place to visit in Nice is the Cours Saleya in the old part of town. The food and flower market is open every day except Monday. The Sunday market in particular is a folk festival that appeals to everyone, locals and visitors alike.

Happy harborside

In recent years, the harbor district in Nice has been given a comprehensive facelift. Today, it’s the only part of town that can justifiably be called trendy, with fun stores, delightful bars and restaurants. The street that stands out is Rue Bonaparte, but Rue Lascaris and Rue Emmanuel Philibert are also delightful to explore both day and evening.

Main drag

Cours Saleya, the main artery of Vieux Nice, is packed with restaurants. Many can be dismissed as tourist traps, but one, Le Safari, has managed to hold its head high for over 40 years. Attracting both locals and tourists, you can always rely on the quality of the food. Why not try local dish la merda de can? The name means dog droppings but is actually green ­gnocchi made with spinach or swiss chard.

Restaurant Safari

The landmark

The Hotel Negresco is a pink cream cake of a building that has been a Nice landmark since 1913. The hotel felt a bit faded for a time, but its erstwhile sheen has been restored. A visit to the beautiful bar is a must.

Hotel Negresco

Yesterday and today

Booking a spot on the Promenade des Anglais overlooking the sea still gives a special feeling. The Hotel Westminster has stood for 130 years. Its 2016 overhaul elegantly transformed it into a super­modern hotel.

Hotel Westminster

Fun and games

Sport might not be the first thing you associate with Nice, but according to the local media, over 60 percent of the population engages in sport of some kind. A warm, welcoming and fascinating museum for sports fans opened in 2014 and it’s an educational French museum that’s so good you might have a hard time tearing yourself away. Musée National du Sport is housed in the large Allianz ­Riviera arena near the airport.

Musée National du Sport