Best Late Night Eats in Nice, France

The busy Cours Saleya is lined with fast food outlets that are open later than many of the local restaurants, but Pôp-ô-thym stands out. As well as serving a full American breakfast with pancakes and maple syrup from 8:30 am onwards, it stays open until just before midnight. Choose from salmon crêpes or something a little more traditional, like Nutella. The service is friendly and efficient and the reasonable prices will make you want to go back for more.

Wayne’s is an institution in Nice – it has been in business since 1991. It’s open seven days a week offering non-stop food service until 11 pm, with the bar closing at 2 am. The British pub attracts a youngish crowd who arrive for happy hour at 5 pm and stay until late. Cram in to listen to rock bands and watch live sport while filling your belly with beer and great-value food, including firm favourites such as burgers and fajitas. It’s worth noting that they serve an inexpensive weekend brunch.

Socca is a local speciality along this stretch of the French Riviera and it’s particularly popular in Nice. It’s similar to flatbread or a pancake except that it is made with chickpeas and grilled over a very hot heat in a copper pan. Socca is Nice’s street food and a very inexpensive way to fill up on-the-go without spending a lot of money. Lou Pilha Leva serves socca as well as a few other traditional dishes, such as salade Niçoise with cider and jugs of beer, at long tables on the street until midnight.

Ma Nolan’s has three branches, with two in Nice (one in the Old Town and the other in Vieux Port) and another one in Cannes. It has wide wooden tables and offers a large range of food from Sunday lunches to late-night eats, and from burgers and quesadillas to steak and banoffee pie. It’s a laid-back place, where the daily breakfast and brunch menu runs until 6 pm. The drinks menu is expansive covering cocktails, hot drinks, shooters and whiskey. Food is served until 11:30 pm while the bar closes at 2 am.

If you want a little late-night Italian food, Maison Cresci is a chain of four pizza restaurants (two in Nice, one in Cannes and one in Quebec, Canada). The Nice branch on the busy rue Masséna stays open until 1 am (this main thoroughfare has a number of late-night kiosks selling fast food). At Maison Cresci, you can choose from a pepperoni pizza or spicy Arrabiata pasta as well as a wide selection of fish dishes and salads. This outlet is the original branch of the chain and was founded in 1956 to bring a little dolce vita to the French coast. It has even been frequented by French film stars, such as Audrey Tautou.

Chez Freddy is on the Cours Saleya, just off the seafront near Nice’s flower market. It is a ‘service non-stop’ restaurant meaning that it doesn’t take a break after serving lunch as many French restaurants do. It offers food until 11:30 pm, such as moules-frites (mussels and fries), salade Niçoise or lasagna. It’s a convenient and convivial place, which can seat 300 people, often plays loud music and is lively. A sure sign of its popularity is that it also has a branch in Cannes.

The Crepaldi family have established themselves near the Palais de Justice in central Nice providing artisanal ice cream, served in a tub with a spatula, in the true Italian tradition. They don’t add artificial colourings to anything. Oui, Jelato has over 50 different flavours, with fruits such as melon and kiwi or cream flavours ranging from classic chocolate to ricotta cheese. They stay open until 2 am.

La Cucina is a delicious restaurant where the chef is talented, the staff welcoming and the food is homemade using locally sourced ingredients. Choose from one of 10 or so meals on the menu, which might include fresh truffle pasta, sea bass, goat’s cheese salad and strawberry tiramisu. There are not many tables but if you’re aiming to arrive for a late-night bite after the main dinner rush, you might just be in luck without a reservation.