The Must-Try Food in Nice, France: Cuisine Nissarde
Want to know more about cuisine Niçoise and the specialty food in Nice, France, that you can’t miss? Here’s our Top 12 Nice Food List! Not only will you know which local Nice foods to try, but you’ll have a list of fabulous Nice restaurants and other eateries in which to enjoy cuisine Nissarde—some of the best food Nice has to offer!
What Is Cuisine Nissarde?
Although Nice belongs to the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Nice gastronomy is unique. Cuisine Niçoise reflects Nice’s geographical location on the Mediterranean Sea, its strong historical ties to Italy, and the local ingredients of Provence. In 1998, in order to preserve the authentic Nice cuisine, the French designated the appellation “Cuisine Nissarde.”
Nissarde refers to the old time dialect of the region, which today very few people still speak. Nice restaurants earn the "Cuisine Nissarde" label by adhering to traditional Nissarde recipes and ingredients. One of the prerequisites for being awarded the label even requires the restaurants to provide customers with a warm welcome. And they do!
Cuisine Nissarde is, therefore, the part of cuisine Niçoise that refers to specific authentic Nice recipes and traditions. When you see the Cuisine Nissarde label, rest assured that you will be able to find at least some of the dishes on our list of Must-Try Food in Nice, France. And just to make it even easier, at least one Nice restaurant or eatery is given for each of the Nice foods on our list.
An assortment of traditional food in Nice, France, and Cuisine Nissarde specialties
Must-Try Food in Nice, France
Why eat these foods in Nice? Because even though a few of these dishes are among the most famous foods in France, when you leave this region, you will not be able to find most of them, even in Paris!
While the food in Paris includes French food specialties from across the country, most of the old world Nissarde cuisine dishes can only be found in Nice, or, if you’re lucky, in one of the neighboring cities.
Socca: The #1 Street food in Nice
What is Socca in Nice? Socca looks like a huge thin pancake on a copper griddle. Made from ground chickpea flour, the outside edges are best crunchy while the inside will be soft and almost custard-like. This savory snack appears on sit-down restaurant menus, is sold as street food in Nice through restaurant windows, and at stands across the city. Socca in Nice is as common as hot dogs in New York.
The best place for Socca in Nice, Chez Theresa at the Cours Saleya
Where to eat Socca in Nice, France
Because it’s a popular Nice street food, you should try it on the street! For the best Socca in Nice, head to the Cours Saleya market in Vieux Nice. You’ll find a small cart from Chez Theresa where they still cook Socca in a wood-burning oven. Walking around this Old Nice market eating fresh hot Socca is a quintessential foodie experience in Nice.
By the Old Port of Nice, Chez Pipo at 13 Rue Bavastro is the place for Socca. If you’re in west Nice, stop at the window of La Socca at 215 Avenue de la Californie.
Pissaladière: A Simple Classic Food of Cuisine Niçoise
This simple food of Nice cuisine has been called everything from a pizza to a flatbread to a tart. An authentic Pissaladière will have a thicker dough than pizza that will be slow-cooked so it doesn’t brown. The toppings do not vary: caramelized onions, anchovies, and olives.
A simple classic of cuisine Niçoise, Pissaladière
Where to eat Pissaladière in Nice, France
Some Nice restaurants specializing in Nissarde cuisine will serve a small piece before lunch or dinner. You can also find excellent versions of this classic Niçoise food at most local bakeries. However, my favorite places for the best Socca in Nice (above), are also my picks for the best Pissaladière.
Beignets: A Savory Nice Food
Been to New Orleans and think you can skip this Nice food? Nope! It may surprise you to know Beignets in Nice contain veggies and are savory. Definitely not part of French breakfasts! The three main types are zucchini (courgettes), zucchini blossoms (fleurs de courgette), and eggplant (aubergine).
The zucchini blossom beignets were very nostalgic for me. I remember the Italian side of my family preparing them ever since I was a little girl. We considered them a special treat we had only a few times a year.
But in Nice you can eat them every day. I never saw zucchini blossom beignets offered in the abundance that they are in Nice restaurants and food stands.
Beignets are a savory food in Nice, France
Where to eat Beignets in Nice, France
Often served as appetizers, Beignets can be found at most restaurants serving cuisine Niçoise. For some of the best Beignets and Nissarde cuisine in general try La Merenda, at 4 Rue Raoul Bosio. If you need a quick grab-and-go version, Lou Pilha Leva, at 10 Rue du Collet, makes a decent snack.
Salad Niçoise: The Most Famous food from Nice
The most famous food from Nice, the Salad Niçoise, can be found all around the world, but you should still try a traditional one as it will most certainly differ from those found in your home town. The main ingredient will still be tuna, but a Niçoise Salad in Nice will not contain potatoes or cooked green beans unless it’s at a tourist restaurant.
French food fact: A true Niçoise Salad combines raw tomatoes, Niçoise olives, anchovies, and hardboiled eggs with an olive-oil-based vinaigrette. Even Niçoise culinary experts disagree on possible additional ingredients. The most widely accepted include artichoke hearts, onions, shallots, radish, peppers, and raw green beans.
Beautiful Salade Niçoise from the popular Nice restaurant Lou Balico
Where to eat Salad Niçoise in Nice, France
Salad Niçoise can be tossed or arranged. I think the restaurant in Vieux Nice that serves the most beautiful version of this traditional salad is Lou Balico, at 20 Avenue Saint-Jean-Baptiste.
Pan Bagnat: Nice’s Most Popular Sandwich
When you have a good thing, stick with it, right? The Pan Bagnat, pronounced pan-bah-nyah, basically take’s the Salad Niçoise and makes it into a sandwich. A really, really big sandwich!
This popular food in Nice uses a whole small round loaf of bread. Translated as “bathed bread,” the loaf is cut and drenched in olive oil and vinegar, then piled with tuna, egg, olives, onion, anchovies, and tomatoes.
The most popular sandwich in Nice, Pan Bagnat
Where to eat Pan Bagnat in Nice, France
You will see pre-made sandwiches at bakeries and market stalls throughout Old Town Nice. But if you can make it to Lou Balico; A Buteghinna, at 11 Rue du Marché; or Kiosque Chez Tintin, at 3 Place du Général de Gaulle, you’ll receive a better one that’s freshly made.
Daube Niçoise: Nice Food Fusion
The traditional Nice specialty, Daube Niçoise, is a perfect example of melding French and Italian cuisines. Braised beef stew with French flavors of red wine, mushroom, carrots, and onion are usually served over meat raviolis. The meat should be melt-in-your-mouth tender and should fall apart easily with a fork.
The traditional Nissarde dish Daube Niçoise
Where to eat Daube Niçoise in Nice, France
Of course, the Michelin recognized Nice restaurant La Merenda makes an amazing Daube Niçoise. Le Safari, at 1 Cours Saleya, serves a generous portion of this tasty Nissarde dish as well. Don’t let the location fool you. This Cours Saleya restaurant caters to many locals who know where to find the best food in Nice, France.
Tourte de Blettes: Most Unusual Food in Nice
Nissarde cuisine includes 2 versions of Tourte de Blettes or Swiss chard tart. The first is savory and quiche-like: veggies, eggs, crust, no big deal.
The second is sweet, Tourte de Blettes Sucrée. Yes, still with Swiss chard! Wait, it gets better: Add raisins and pine nuts, a top and bottom crust, and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Definitely not your typical French breakfast pastry!
Of all the Nice foods I ate, this was the one I expected not to like, but I did! Surprisingly, although it’s loaded with Swiss chard, the vegetable does not overpower the sweetness of the raisins and crust. It even made a delightful breakfast.
Tourte de Blettes Sucrée for breakfast in Nice
Where to eat Tourte de Blettes in Nice, France
Tourte des Blettes can be found at many of the same places you’d find Socca in Nice, and at most bakeries. My favorite version was from La Socca in West Nice.
Petit Farci: Typical Appetizer of Nice Cuisine
As the name implies (“petit” meaning small, and “farci” meaning stuffed), the Niçoise specialty Petit Farci refers to small stuffed vegetables. They can be served hot or at room temperature and are usually so small that each one is just a bite or two.
Many types of vegetables can be stuffed, such as peppers, onions, tomatoes, and zucchini. However, it is typically not a vegetarian dish. This staple food from Nice is stuffed with sausage meat, so if you don’t eat meat, ask before you order!
A typical appetizer of Nice cuisine, Petit Farci
Where to eat Petit Farci in Nice, France
You’ll find Petit Farci fully prepared at butcher shops, at the market stands at the Cours Saleya, and on Niçoise menus as a side dish or appetizer.
Ratatouille: Quintessential Veggies of Cuisine Nissarde
Ratatouille originated in Nice relatively recently, in 1877, and became a familiar word globally 130 years later when the movie of the same name was released.
The traditional Niçoise recipe for Ratatouille simmers together tomatoes, onions, garlic, zucchini, eggplant, and red bell peppers with seasonings like herbs de Provence to make a vegetable stew. Served as a side or main dish, this veggie-based dish usually remains vegetarian.
Famous food of Nice, France, Ratatouille
Where to eat Ratatouille in Nice, France
The best Ratatouille in Nice can be found at the restaurants that focus on the traditional Nissarde food of the region. In Old Town Nice, try Chez Acchiardo, at 38 Rue Droite; La Rossettisserie, at 8 Rue Mascoinat; or one of my all-around-favorite Nice restaurants, Le Bistrot d’Antoine, at 27 Rue de la Préfecture.
Panisse: Provençal Chickpea Fries
Don’t leave the South of France without trying Socca’s cousin, Panisse. I think of Panisse as Provençal chickpea fries, although they come in different shapes and textures. Traditionally, Panisse will be cut into the shape of a French fry, and the outer layer will be crunchy with a soft center.
Panisse, or chickpea fries, are commonly served as a side dish at Nice restaurants
Where to eat Panisse in Nice, France
You can find excellent Panisse as a side dish at traditional Niçoise restaurants like La Merenda and the more-than-100-year-old seafood restaurant, Cafe de Turin, at 5 Place Garibaldi.
Niçoise Olives (& Tapenade): At Most Nice Restaurants
The small, black olives native to the Provence region are Niçoise olives. They taste similar to Kalamata olives, but with a little less brine. They find their way into many Niçoise recipes, like Pan Bagnat, Salad Niçoise, and, of course, Tapenade.
If you eat lunch or dinner at restaurants in Nice, most likely you’ll be served these tiny olives and a bag of bread shortly after you are seated.
Less often, your bag of bread may be accompanied by Tapenade, a tasty spread made from Niçoise olives, anchovies, and capers.
Niçoise olives are often served before dinner at Nice restaurants
A snack of Tapenade and bread at an outdoor cafe in Nice
Where to eat Niçoise olives & Tapenade in Nice, France
With hearty portions of Niçoise olives given at some of the best Nice restaurants like Le Bistrot d’Antoine and Comptoir du Marché, at 8 Rue du Marché, you probably won’t need to seek out Niçoise olives. But if you do, head once again to the stalls at Cours Saleya where you will find plenty.
Vendors selling souvenir food from Nice, France, will also have small jars of Tapenade available. Or stop for a drink at Brasserie Le Magenta, at 1 Place Magenta, where you’ll receive some Tapenade as a bar snack.
Pistou: Versatile Niçoise Specialty
The Provençal sauce Pistou appears on many menus in Nice restaurants, and no guide to food in Nice would be complete without it in some form. In Niçoise cuisine, it can be used in soups or as a sauce for pasta, beans, or vegetables. It shares its 4 basic ingredients—basil, garlic, olive oil, and salt—with its Italian sister sauce, Pesto, which also adds parmesan cheese and pine nuts.
A specialty of Niçoise cuisine, Pistou soup
Where to eat Pistou in Nice, France
The Pistou Soup at La Merenda is hard to beat, but I’ve seen lots of locals sharing the big pots at Lou Balico.
Cuisine Niçoise
Are these foods of cuisine Nissarde the ONLY foods of Nice you should try? Of course not, but they are the essence of Nice, so I hope you try them!
Some of the best restaurants in Nice do not serve the old world Nissarde specialties, but they still offer wonderfully inventive cuisine Niçoise that use local ingredients. Le Bar des Oiseaux, at 5 Rue Saint-Vincent, for example, should not be missed!
You’ll also find lots of traditional French food in Nice, France. And as the second largest city on the French Riviera, Nice has restaurants that serve all kinds of cuisines.
However, if you’re wondering where to eat in Nice, I would suggest sticking to the local cuisines. If not cuisine Niçoise, you will find the Mediterranean cuisine and Provencal restaurants are pretty reliable. And even though it’s another country, Italy is less than an hour away, so Italian restaurants in Nice tend to be very popular.
What to drink in Nice, France
No matter what you’re eating, or where you’re eating in France, the answer to drinking is usually wine. So it’s no surprise that in Nice, France, wine is still the obvious answer. To be more specific, local wine from the Provence wine regions. Rosé reigns as queen among Provençal wines, and if I see anything from Bandol, I usually get it, especially at the market.
At the restaurants in Nice, we found we were happy with even the cheapest white or rosé wine as long as it was local. It became a challenge for us, and over the entire course of a month, the cheap Provence wine never disappointed us.
Drinking the local rosé Provençal wine on the balcony of our Nice, France, Vrbo rental
Where to Stay in Nice, France
Want to know where to stay in Nice, France? How about a place where you can wake up to spectacular sunrises and drink your Provençal rosé wine on a balcony overlooking the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea? Check out this apartment in Nice!
If you want a room with a view in Nice, you won’t find a better deal than this Nice, France, Vrbo rental right on the Promenade des Anglais! I could not get enough of this view of the French Riviera coastline!
Just a short bus ride to Vieux Nice, this Nice apartment has everything you need, and is steps to the beach, a market, bakeries, and some of the best Socca in Nice! We also had easy access to transportation for our day trips from Nice to Antibes, Saint Paul de Vence, and Villefranche-Sur-Mer. Or if you prefer to rent a car, check rates here.
Sunrise from the rental apartment in Nice, France
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