Need practical info for Nice
 

We arrive at Nice airport around Noon on a Monday next month. We are staying at a residence in the Hotel Negresco.

I am looking for a place to pick up some groceries and toiletries. We will not have a car, so would prefer something walkable. I see Intermarche and SuperCasino as being nearby [thanks to google map] but am not sure if they are supermarkets.

Any idea what taxi fare would be for 2 of us with 2 carry- on bags?

I understand that we can take a bus as well so that is an option.

And lastly, someplace close by for lunch?

Thanks~

Can't answer all of your questions, but an Intermarché is a grocery store, and I imagine a large one if it's in Nice (ours in the Dordogne is massive). Casinos are small, more like convenience stores, though they carry all the essentials and will vary in size.

Bring your own bags unless you want to pay for them. And don't forget to weight and put stickers on your produce before heading to the cash register.

both Intermarche and SuperCasino are supermarkets.

The Intermarché on Rue Gambetta is not huge but not the size of a corner shop or Seven-11! We used it quite a bit when we rented a townhouse further west on the Rue de France. Not a bad walk but with heavy bags a taxi makes sense. Can't imagine it would be more than 8-10 euros, max.

We had 3 small grandchildren and their parents with us the last time we were in Nice almost 3 years' ago, so no great lunch recommendations, the places along the Promenade were good, particularly the seafood selections. There are some nice-looking smaller cafés and restos on the Rue de France. All these were west of the Negresco.

There is a large grocery store north of your place and I think it's a Casino brand. Also, a nice new Carrefour City is on Meyerbeer very close to your residence, with a great butcher across the street. ButGood patisserie behind the Negresco on corner of Rue France.
Take the airport bus like most travelers, 4€. Very few taxis. It will drop you off ln
Promenade des Anglais. I didn't think we'd use the bus but did both coming and going to airport.

Super Casino is a super supermarket - Intermarches can be much smaller and more limited supply but for your needs...

There used to be a few excellent small produce/cheese shops on rue Meyerbeer. Rue Meyerbeer is just past the Hotel Westminster, which is about two blocks from the Negresco on Promenade des Anglais. There was also an excellent pizzeria/pasta place on rue Meyerbeer, pretty well known, and of course right now I can't think of the name. But it was on the right hand side of Meyerbeer, about one block down from Promenade des Anglais.

Many of the private beach clubs in the area have small very good restaurants. You might try one of those. And of course in Vieux Nice, there's the infamous Safari for amazing seafood creations, etc.

BTW, taxi from airport should be around 35E, I think. Have fun!

The Intermarche is an easy walk from the Negresco. You can just go and pick up what you need everyday plus you will see lots of Patisseries and small groceries in the area. Taxis are pretty pricey in Nice. The Negresco! Lucky you!
We like Chez Palmyre on rue Droite and just down the street,, Acchiardo. Mostly locals at both.

Cab from the airport to the Negresco is less than a 15 minute ride, and shouldn't cost you more than 25 euro. My mom and sister had a choice of the hotel we stayed at (Grimaldi) (further away from the airport than the Negresco) call a cab, and they said it would cost 20 - 25 euro, or use their "house" transport for 30. They opted for the house cab because there was certainty in pick up time.

For food and toiletries, there's a number of small stores close to the hotel, but at least consider a 10 - 15 minute walk to the Monoprix off Bd Juan Juares at Place Garibaldi -- this is perhaps one of the biggest Monoprixs I've seen in France! It has the most amazing food section -- gorgeous produce; outstanding ready made food; great selection of grocery products and a nice selection of wines!

You could walk down the Promenade des Anglais and either take the tram up to the store or walk it.

This is all such great info! Thank you all so much. Counting the days!

Checked my files. The pizza/pasta place on rue Meyerbeer is: Barracuda. Decent handmade pastas/pizzas at a reasonable price. Not "wow" food, but good enough. Just around the corner from Hotel Westminster, which is where we often stayed.


Another restaurant to check out in Old Nice is: L'Ecurie, 4, rue du Marche for a mix of Italian and Provencal dishes. Again, reasonably priced, and good food.

And, if you like Lebanese food, there's a place that used to be very close to Negresco called HABIBI. No idea if it's still there, but it was on one of the side streets close to your hotel. Really excellent and inexpensive food.

That should have read, YA HABIBI, and it is still there! 6 rue du Congress, a little further from Negresco than I remembered, but still close. We really loved the food there!

The airport bus is great , costs 4 euros and stops very clsoe to the Negesco
There are 2 buses outside the terminal, I believe #98 is the one to the town, easy to check as there are signs by the stop.

so excited for you, DebitNM. I love the name Ya Habibi, "Yes, Beloved."

If you are there for a week get the bus pass located to the right as you walk outside of the airport. It is very reasonable and includes the airport bus.

Micheline - we will be there Monday til we pick up a car on Saturday. Do you have a link for the bus pass?

I found the bus info; thanks for giving me the heads up , Micheline.

Hi, Deb. I think you will like Nice. DD and I enjoyed it. We stayed at Hotel le Grimaldi, and there were small markets on that street, as we walked to the promendade. Easy to pick up fruit, cheese, water, wine, etc.

See my trip report on Nice for restaurant recommendations and day-trips to Antibes, the Rothschild estate, and St Jean Cap Ferrat.

DebitNM; With the bus pass, you could consider going to Eze for a superb dinner at www.chevredor.com We had a tasting meal that was wonderful.

Oh my, Richard! Which restaurant did you dine at; we might have to do lunch as it is a "bit" pricey!

Yes, but we were never on that $1000 dollar a meal thread. I think we paid about $250 PP for dinner. Well worth it and that was the most expensive meal we ever had. You know me and coupons.

Not too near, but in Old Town,for dinner, ChatNoir,ChatBlanc,one street in from the Cours Saleya.Order the scallop and lentil appetizer if it's on the menu.

We also ate lunch at Flaveur, a Michelin one star,25, Rue Gubernatis. Both were wonderful.We found them in this article in the NYT Travel section last spring.
http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/05/13...iera.html?_r=0

For a real local spot with a Nicoise menu, La Cantine de Lulu 26, Rue Alberti.For excellent seafood, Le Bistro des Viviers, 22, rue Aphonse Karr which also has a more formal restaurant next door.
Missed dining at highly recommended Keisuke Matshshima, 22 ter Rue de France, Michelin star, Japanese/French fusion. Have to go back!

My favorite "souvenir" from our month-long stay in France is my big bright green Carrefours reuseable shopping bag. I use it often :-)

LOL, I have a black one from Picards that I got in Paris last year. Althought, my favorite souvenir from that trip was my 2011 S40 Volvo~~

These are such great tips, thanks to everyone for sharing.