The Best Breakfast And Brunch Spots In Nice According To A Local Food Expert

From pastries on a seaside patio to Vietnamese bites in the city’s Old Town, here are the best breakfast and brunch spots in Nice according to local culinary expert Rosa Jackson.

Just like many meals in France, breakfast and brunch are as much a social opportunity as they are a time for sustenance. Expect brunch spots to be packed, full of families and friends catching up over fresh seafood, flakey pastries and espresso. Culinary expert Rosa Jackson, a Nice-based food writer and owner of Petits Farcis culinary school, knows the city’s markets and restaurants like the back of her hand. Ranging from picturesque seaside restaurants for fresh fish to buzzing coffee shops, these are her picks of the best breakfast and brunch spots in Nice.

1. La Casa di Nonna

Restaurant, Italian

“An offshoot of a popular spot in Cannes, this recently opened café and tea room serves fresh and generous Italian-inspired food. It is a welcome addition to an area known for its designer boutiques,” says Rosa. Portions here are hearty and healthy, and food comes quickly for travellers short on time. “It’s also unusually spacious for Nice,” describes Rosa, “with two airy floors and a boutique selling handmade pottery from Puglia and other carefully selected objects for the home.” Stop in for a healthy salad bowl or a filling pasta dish, then pick up souvenirs to take home.

2. Café Marché

Cafe, French, European

Look for the sunny yellow storefront right in the heart of Nice for a brunch filled to the brim with Niçoise on the weekends. “Open for lunch only during the week and a popular brunch on Sundays, this family-run café serves veggie-centric food straight from the nearby Cours Saleya market,” describes Rosa. Expect dishes like carrot and parsnip soup and colourful fresh salads. The menu changes frequently, so the café can serve fresh and locally sourced seasonal produce. Rosa warns, “Check online before going, as their opening days can be unpredictable, especially during the off-season.”

4. Marinette

Cafe, French

“Hidden behind the main cathedral in the Old Town (Vieux Nice),” Rosa explains, “this former art gallery with painted tiles is the most popular spot for breakfast in the area, serving good cappuccinos, stacks of pancakes and smoothie bowls.” In the airy, Provençal-style space, the restaurant is outfitted with rustic wooden tables decorated with fresh flowers. Alternatively, diners can sit outside, as the restaurant is located on a quiet, sun-dabbled alleyway in the Old Town. “You can choose from a blackboard of bistro dishes at lunch, and the gargantuan cakes bring in a teatime crowd.”

5. Bar des Oiseaux

Bar, Restaurant, French, Snacks

“One of several restaurants run by the enterprising Armand Crespo, this contemporary French bistro specialises in fresh pasta from the nearby shop Maison Barale, often served alongside meat or fish,” describes Rosa. “I go here for their great-value three-course lunch menu, with remarkably sophisticated fare inspired by the day’s market produce.” Tucked away in a corner of Old Nice, the eclectic spot turns into a hotspot for comedy and live music once the dinner service is over.

6. Banh Mei

Restaurant, French, Vietnamese, Fusion

If you’re looking for an easy, convenient bite, head to Banh Mei. “Around the corner from my cooking studio in the old town, this Vietnamese canteen is my go-to for a quick lunch,” describes Rosa. “There is a short list of dishes offered daily, including bánh mì for €6.50 (£5.90), but I like to try the owner Hieu’s creative plat du jour, a fusion of French and Vietnamese inspiration.” A traditional bánh mì (Vietnamese sandwich) is served on a crusty french loaf and filled with fresh vegetables. Alternatively, opt for a large portion of pho, a delicious and warming bowl of noodles with broth.

7. Acchiardo

Restaurant, French

“This lively, family-run restaurant is a must for anyone visiting Nice,” Rosa exclaims. “You’ll find classic and local cuisine here, including fish soup, petits farcis (stuffed vegetables) and ravioli filled with beef and chard. The French fries are also excellent!” Come for brunch, or alternatively stop in for dinner and stay late into the night. The restaurant is located right in the heart of the Old Town, making it an ideal spot for a bite after touring the area. However, be sure to call in advance, as this spot is known to get very busy.

8. Piexes

Restaurant, Mediterranean

Decorated with Mediterranean-inspired tiles, and always filled with plenty of natural sunlight, Piexes is an excellent place to spend a day inside. However, the coastal cuisine by chef Armand Crespo is the real draw at Piexes (pronounced pêche, French for fishing). The menu includes a delicious ceviche dish, carefully cooked fish and rich gnocchi with stewed octopus. While the fish is caught locally right from the bay, flavours are inspired by Japanese and Peruvian cuisine.

9. Le Plongeoir

Restaurant, French

This seaside restaurant is one of the city’s most unique. Perched on a large freestanding rock in the sea, the restaurant is just below the city’s municipal diving boards. The space has an interesting history as it was first built during the Belle Époque, when the restaurant was in the shape of a ship. The restaurant was renovated in 1941 and now, 80 years later, sits on the two rock pillars, where diners can order pastries and fresh seafood on the seaside patio. On the shore, wind down to sea level and sit back in the more relaxed lounge area. Prices are on the higher end, but the views alone are worth the price tag.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.