Nice is one of my favourite French cities. I went there for my 40th birthday with a few friends and hung out in the bars and restaurants during a glorious Autumn weekend. So I was overjoyed to make the aquantance, last week, of Amanda Walker of www.stayyna.com and talk all things Nice: from the the snow-capped mountains glistening in the hinterland to the rich, warm Mediterranean waters of the coast and, of course, the restaurants in between!
So here are five restaurants that we both recommend, for their fine cuisine and their stunning views.
The view from the Negresco during our 40th birthday celebrations. We forgot to take a picture of the view from the restaurant!
Plage Beau Rivage
Everyone likes a jaunt along the sea front and there’s no better spot to walk to than the Quai des
Etats-Unis. This is the quintessential French lounge bar sitting just outside of old town at sea level.
The menu is fresh and ever changing with typical Mediterranean sea food always on the menu. The
sun bathes the streets and, though the prices are a little high, the location is truly sublime.
Reservations: +33 (0)4 92 00 46 80
Le Club Nautique de Nice Restaurant
The sailing club sits on the marina with a second floor restaurant that offers a relaxed view out
across the port to the slopes of Mount Boron. From here you can watch the beautiful yachts and
sailing boats or stare at the Colline du Chateau perched in isolation on Boron. The menu is typically
Mediterranean but the views are unrivalled.
Reeservations: +33 (0)4 93 89 32 97
Le Plongeoir
Le Plongeoir – a striking restaruant in Nice, with a great view
Le Plongeoir actually sits next door to the sailing club, but it offers something completely different to its incredible neighbour. The views are the same but this building has its own charms and
intriguing history. Starting life as a fishing boat tea room in the Belle Epoque, the diving board as its name translates, is now a fine dining restaurant with a sleek modern cocktail lounge. It’s at the higher end of the gastronomic price scale but the food is as beautiful as the surroundings.
Reservations: +33 (0)4 93 26 53 02
Restaurant Le Versailles
This restaurant is a hidden gem on the Avenue de Princesse that few tourists reach. The crowning
glory is the rooftop terrace with its views over the Villefranche bay. You can watch the sweeping
rocks leading to Monaco that lead to Cap Ferrat, where sits the Rothschild’s luxurious Ephrussi
villa. The view at night is equally stunning with the lights of Nice and Mount Baron in the
background. The food is exceptional too.
Reservations: +33 (0)4 93 76 52 52
Le Cabanon
As the name suggests this is a restaurant with a cabin feel. It is perched on the headland just before
you reach Monaco on one of the finest coastal paths Nice has to offer – along the Avenue des
Douaniers. This cabin gives off a typical South of France countryside vibe with its leafy terrace and
a Pétanque ground on its doorstep. The local specialities and the view are well worth the walk and
We’d heartily recommend trying a bottle of rosé whilst you admire the views.
Reservations: +33 (0)4 93 78 01 94
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