20 Best Restaurants in Nice and the Eastern Cote d'Azur, The French Riviera

The back-to-bistro boom climaxed here when Dominique Le Stanc retired his crown at the Negresco to take over this tiny, unpretentious landmark of Provençal cuisine. For decades he has worked in a miniature open kitchen creating ultimate versions of stuffed sardines, tagliatelle with pistou, slow-simmered daubes (beef stews), and the quintessential stockfish (the local lutefisk)—but don’t worry, pizza is an option, too. There are two seatings at both lunch and dinner. You'll have to stop by in person or book via the website to reserve entry to the inner sanctum as there's no phone—and note that credit cards are not accepted either.

You wouldn't expect to find a restaurant with two Michelin stars set in a residential area, 10 minutes by car from La Croisette, but Bruno Oger promises you an unforgettable experience in this très cozy spot surrounded by centennial trees and gardens. Yes, it's pricey (six-course set lunch menu €160 or €175 with drinks, six-course set dinner menu €325 or €395 with drinks), but you'll have bragging rights that you and Robert De Niro have shared the same chef. That's right, Oger is official chef of the Cannes Film Festival. If this is beyond your means, opt for the three-course Formule Bistrot menu (€45) at Le Bistrot des Anges (Michelin Bib Gourmand), under the same management. While waiting, sink into an armchair, and watch the fashion parade at L'Ange Bar.

With a handwritten menu board, wine bottles as far as the eye can see, and a low-key assemblage of chairs and tables that look like they came out of a 1970s-era attic, this is the kind of authentic French bistro people travel to Provence for. Owner Sébastien Perinetti and chef Elmahdi Mobarik source the freshest hyperlocal produce to bring you a parade of taste sensations, all seductively priced. Each selection is described by Sébastien in its entirety, perhaps a Sardinian “fregola” pasta with cuttlefish and peas from the fields of St-Isidore, with a peach soup made with white peaches from St-Martin-du-Var.

Owners Renaud and Marilène Geille pack this popular eatery by offering exceptional surroundings, fabulous food, and flawless service. The fish dishes are supreme, lightly accentuated by seasonal vegetables, and the magret carnard seems reinvented. The desserts may not seem particularly adventurous, but the delicate combination of salty and sweet will knock your socks off (if you’re wearing any). 

Tucked away on a quaint square, this restaurant charms with atmospheric surroundings and menu of delicious classics. The paleron de bœuf (braised beef shoulder) is cooked to melt-in-your-mouth perfection, and the toasted marshmallows in chocolate make the perfect sweet treat. The two-course lunch menu is a good value, and candlelight makes this cozy in the evenings.

This restaurant's unique concept centers around a blind tasting menu, refreshed every two weeks, where you savor each dish without prior knowledge of its components—a fun, innovative approach to gastronomy that encourages a deep appreciation of flavors and textures. Options include €25 three-course set lunch menus on Tuesday and Saturday, as well as €55 six-course tasting menus. Reservation are required.

For a taste of the Amalfi Coast on the Côte D'Azur, head to this chic yet welcoming spot with a prime quayside location. Dine on the terrace by the fountain and olive trees or amid the bougainvillea-draped interiors. There's an extensive pizza menu, the paëlla comes highly recommended, and the oven-baked rigatoni portion is enormous (thankfully, the restaurant provides a box for leftovers—not a given in France home—as it's too good to waste). 

At this restaurant, a beacon to all fish lovers since 1953, well-trained staffers negotiate cramped quarters to lay down heaping seafood platters, shrimp casseroles, and piles of oysters shucked to order. It's always busy, though, so don't expect rapid service. Arrive early (noon for lunch, 6 pm for dinner) to get a table and avoid a line.

The owners of this St-Paul-de-Vence institution have magically created a contemporary bistro, where a few seats on a second-story terrace (book in advance) overlook the street below. Choose the plat du jour, or order from an à la carte menu with everything from an organic egg to a chicken burger to a Jerusalem artichoke and shimeji-mushroom confit with smoked duck breast. Half bottles of wine are available, so sit on the terrace with une verre, and breathe in the views of the fountain square—an experience that more than compensates for occasions when service is slow or the kitchen runs out of certain dishes.

A beach setting with superb views of the Mediterranean and a menu with fairly reasonable prices are among the draws at this restaurant. It's the perfect place to enjoy a relaxed lunch or a sunset dinner, featuring charcuterie sharing boards, tapas, and fresh catches of the day.

La Brouette de Grand'Mère built a following as a charming hole-in-the-wall with a true-blue bistro menu, and although the restaurant has changed its name and location, it has kept its €60 four-course dinner menu that includes a welcome apéritif and wine, as well as surprisingly tasty food. It feels especially right in winter.

Facing the Cocteau chapel with an enviable view of the sea from its terrace, this modern brasserie could easily get away with being merely mediocre. Instead, it serves fresh, colorful Mediterranean dishes ranging from an addictive anchoïade—crudités with anchovy dip—to omelets. It's a favorite of English-speaking expats, and it's easy to understand why, since it brings together all the ingredients that make for a casual yet memorable meal on the French Riviera. Book online ahead to be sure of securing a coveted terrace table.

This charming spot captures rustic Provençal style with its tavern-like interiors. The menu highlights French classics like frog legs in persillade and homemade foie gras with fig jam. Good food and warm hospitality make it a local favorite. 

The Cours Saleya's desirable terrace tables provide an excuse for many of the restaurants along this strip to get away with culinary murder, but that's not the case at Le Safari, which pays more attention than most to ingredients and presentation. Choose from traditional Niçois dishes—the fish soup served with croutons, spicy mayonnaise, and cheese is particularly good—and Italian-inspired fare such as creamy risotto. Inside the colorful dining room is where the locals eat, and some even claim the food is a notch better there. Wherever you'd like to sit, it's a good idea to make a reservation.

Before you plunge into the dense tangle of streets in old St-Paul-de-Vence, stop on the ramparts under the century-old lime tree for a meal or snack at this atmospheric café, where the breezy terrace looks onto the valley and the Alps. The kitchen turns out colorful salads (crispy goat cheese salad with figs) and pastas at lunch and more serious fare in the evening. Pop by for the Salon de Thé (daily 3–6 pm), which offers much more than Mariage Frères tea: red berry tiramisu, crêpes, and coffee on a separate menu. Across the street, Le Tilleul sells freshly made, sorbet and ice cream for takeout in flavors like wild peach and almond milk with sour cherry.

From just outside the walled village, you can see this restaurant that was once a 17th-century oil mill. Owner Frédéric Rossi hired the young chef Olivier Depardieu, who did his apprenticeship at the Colombe d'Or and worked at Château Saint Martin, to create regional dishes like risotto with artichokes and langoustines or sea bass with pole-fried vegetables. This place is best for a hearty dinner rather than a light lunch, especially since the terrace doesn't get much shade.

As the experienced chef (ex-Ducasse) here specializes in meat-focused restaurants, the house special is le boeuf Paradis—finely sliced sirloin steak, seared to perfection, served with the signature Paradis sauce, and accompanied by unlimited homemade French fries.

When you've had enough of the “catch of the day" and need a good old dose of red meat—in various cuts, from rump steak to rib to sirloin XXL—this restaurant in old Antibes is the place to go. The selection includes black Angus American, Australian, or Irish beef as well as veal, chicken, and foie gras, and it's all overseen by Nicolas Rondell, head chef at the Michelin-starred Pecheurs in the Cap. You can even read about where your meat was raised, as well as its breed, age, and feeding methods. If all of this is too much, you can order pasta—you know where that comes from.

The menu at this bistro overlooking the main square in the heart of Vence evolves every two weeks to the beat of the seasons and features modern takes on French and Mediterranean classics. Try the melt-in-your-mouth lamb shank confit with rosemary, mashed truffle potatoes, and candied carrots. The hand cut frites are freshly made that morning and totally moreish. The outdoor terrace buzzes in summer and the interior has contemporary styling.

The culinary experience here is a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian flavors, with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients. Sharing is caring, so kick things off with plats à partager, like the regional favorite socca (flatbread) or the Takoyaki-style croquettes with Japanese mushrooms, followed by an exquisite fish or seasonal beef dish and a dessert temptation such as the Menton lemon tiramisu. The interior, which is a cozy place for candlelit suppers in winter, seamlessly blends modern decor with artistic touches. The shaded cobbled terrace makes for delightful alfresco dining in summer.