Best Restaurants in Nice

As a newcomer wandering the foodscape of Nice, stepping into Onice felt like discovering the future of Mediterranean dining in the charming antique quarter near the Old Port. This newest addition to Nice's Michelin constellation isn't just another starred restaurant—it's where Argentine passion meets Italian precision under the creative direction of Florencia Montes and Lorenzo Ragni, two protégés of the legendary Mauro Colagreco. What makes their cuisine so compelling is how they've absorbed the lessons from Mirazur while creating something entirely their own, where South American boldness dances with Mediterranean elegance in dishes that surprise and delight in equal measure. Each plate arrives as a testament to their international journey, yet feels perfectly at home in this historic Niçoise neighborhood, creating a dining experience that bridges continents while celebrating the bounty of the Côte d'Azur.

Signature Dishes

As a newcomer wandering the foodscape of Nice, stepping into Racines felt like witnessing a revolution on a plate. At 70 years old, chef Bruno Cirino has achieved what many thought impossible—earning a Michelin star for purely vegan cuisine, making this the only starred vegan restaurant in all of France. This isn't plant-based cooking as compromise or limitation; it's a bold declaration that vegetables, when treated with the respect and technique usually reserved for foie gras and lobster, can deliver experiences every bit as luxurious and memorable. What makes Racines so extraordinary isn't just the absence of animal products—it's the presence of imagination, technique, and flavor that transforms humble vegetables into fine dining that would impress even the most committed carnivore. Each dish arrives as proof that plant-based cuisine has finally come of age, earning its place at the highest levels of French gastronomy.

Signature Dishes

As a newcomer wandering the foodscape of Nice, stepping into Les Agitateurs felt like joining an exclusive party in the trendy Petit Marais district where culinary boundaries are joyfully shattered. Julie Buseto and Samuel Victori didn't just earn Nice's only new Michelin star in 2021—they created a restaurant that perfectly captures the rebellious spirit of its name, 'The Agitators.' Their cooking refuses to be categorized, blending Mediterranean traditions with Asian techniques and Levantine spices in ways that feel both daring and completely natural. What makes this duo so special isn't just their technical skill or creative vision—it's their ability to create dishes that are simultaneously sophisticated and approachable, where a piece of local fish might arrive dressed in miso and tahini, creating flavor combinations that make you wonder why no one thought of this before.

Signature Dishes

As a newcomer wandering the foodscape of Nice, stepping into Restaurant JAN felt like entering an intimate theater where South African soul meets French sophistication in the most unexpected and delightful ways. Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen made history as the first South African chef to earn a Michelin star, and he did it in this tiny 24-seat jewel box in Nice's old Port. What makes JAN so special isn't just the accolade or the intimate setting—it's how Jan creates dishes that tell his personal story, where memories of the South African veld meet the bounty of the Mediterranean in presentations that are both poetic and deeply emotional. Each course feels like a page from his diary, whether it's local fish enhanced with African spices or French classics reimagined through his unique perspective, creating an experience that's as much about storytelling as it is about exceptional cuisine.

Signature Dishes

As a newcomer wandering the foodscape of Nice, stepping into Pure & V felt like entering a temple where wine worship meets culinary excellence under one sophisticated roof. Vanessa Massé isn't just any sommelier—she's Michelin's Best Sommelier 2021, and her passion for wine has created an experience where every sip is perfectly matched to Danish chef Mads Thomsen's refined cuisine. This dynamic duo has earned both a Michelin star for the restaurant and special recognition for the wine program, creating a dining destination where oenophiles and food lovers unite in perfect harmony. What makes Pure & V extraordinary isn't just the awards or the impressive wine list—it's how Massé's deep understanding of wine elevates Thomsen's already stellar cooking, creating pairings that reveal new dimensions in both food and wine, making each meal feel like a masterclass in the art of dining.

Signature Dishes

As a newcomer wandering the foodscape of Nice, stepping into La Petite Maison felt like joining the most exclusive dinner party on the Riviera—one where French Presidents, Hollywood stars, and rock legends all know to reserve their regular tables. This legendary Old Nice institution doesn't have Michelin stars, and it doesn't need them; its currency is something rarer—the fierce loyalty of the world's most discerning diners who return again and again for Mediterranean cuisine that defines the very essence of Niçoise cooking. What makes La Petite Maison so magnetic isn't just the celebrity sightings or the buzzing atmosphere—it's how this restaurant has maintained its soul and quality while becoming a global phenomenon, serving the kind of simple, perfect dishes that remind you why Mediterranean cuisine conquered the world in the first place.

Signature Dishes

As a newcomer wandering the foodscape of Nice, stepping into Bistro d'Antoine felt like discovering the neighborhood secret that locals guard jealously—a tiny gem in Vieux Nice where Mediterranean soul food gets the respect it deserves. This beloved bistro doesn't chase trends or Michelin stars; instead, chef Antoine Crespo focuses on what matters: transforming the best local ingredients into dishes that make you close your eyes on the first bite. The squid with chorizo and tangerine dressing sounds simple on paper, but when it arrives, the interplay of smoky Spanish sausage, tender seafood, and bright citrus creates the kind of flavor harmony that explains why securing one of the 30 seats here requires persistence and patience. What makes Bistro d'Antoine essential isn't just the food—it's the way this restaurant captures the essence of Nice's dining culture, where quality trumps pretension and every meal feels like a celebration of Mediterranean life.

Signature Dishes

As a newcomer wandering the foodscape of Nice, stepping into Olive et Artichaut felt like discovering what happens when a passionate chef decides to challenge everything you thought you knew about French dining. Chef Thomas Hubert has created something remarkable here—a restaurant that earned its Michelin star not despite being vegetarian, but because of it. This isn't plant-based cuisine as limitation; it's vegetables elevated to fine dining through technique, creativity, and deep respect for ingredients. When their signature artichoke preparation arrives, transformed through multiple cooking methods and paired with olive tapenade that sings of Provence, you understand that this is cooking that happens to be vegetarian rather than vegetarian cooking trying to be special. What makes Olive et Artichaut extraordinary is how it's quietly revolutionizing Nice's dining scene, proving that vegetables deserve the same reverence as any protein when treated with proper skill and imagination.

Signature Dishes

As a newcomer wandering the foodscape of Nice, stepping into Le Chantecler at the legendary Hotel Negresco felt like entering a time capsule where Belle Époque grandeur meets contemporary culinary excellence. This isn't just dining—it's theater, with crystal chandeliers, Versailles-worthy décor, and service that makes you feel like royalty. Under chef Virginie Basselot, one of France's most celebrated female chefs, Le Chantecler has reclaimed its position among the Riviera's finest restaurants. Her cuisine walks the tightrope between classical French technique and modern innovation with remarkable grace, creating dishes that would impress both Escoffier and today's most adventurous diners. What makes Le Chantecler exceptional isn't just the Michelin stars or the opulent setting—it's how Basselot has breathed new life into this historic institution, creating food that honors the past while confidently striding into the future.

Signature Dishes