Restaurants · Our pick on the Riviera
Eating on the Riviera: the back story
The back story
About Eating on the Riviera: the back story
The Riviera eats on two levels at once. In the lanes of Vieux Nice, socca, the chickpea pancake, comes straight from a wood oven, and Niçoise cooking (stuffed vegetables, daube, pissaladière) has its own name and its own recipes. Along the coast and up in the hill villages are some of the most decorated restaurants in France.
Niçoise cooking
La Merenda, Chez Davia and Olive & Artichaut, all in Nice, hold Bib Gourmands in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide, the guide’s mark for good cooking at moderate prices. At Chez Pipo, near the port, socca has been the whole point for generations.
The great tables
Three restaurants on this coast hold three MICHELIN stars in the 2026 guide: Mirazur at Menton, by the Italian border; La Vague d’Or at Cheval Blanc St-Tropez; and La Villa Madie at Cassis, newly promoted in 2026. Flaveur in Nice, La Chèvre d’Or at Èze, La Villa Archange above Cannes and La Voile at Ramatuelle each hold two.
Book the starred tables weeks ahead in summer; the Niçoise bistros often take no bookings at all, so go early.
Between lunch and dinner
Many restaurants serve lunch until about 2pm and reopen for dinner in the evening, so a late lunch can be hard to find. Cafés, beach restaurants and hotel brasseries are the places to look; check each one’s hours before you go.
Our advice: mix the two worlds. Lunch on socca in the old town, then dress up for one great dinner with a view.
Why it's on our list
- Niçoise cooking
- The great tables
- Our advice
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Eating on the Riviera: the back story before you go.