Peixes in Nice's Carre d'Or near the Opera is Armand Crespo's Mediterranean seafood counter, a tiled blue and white room of ceviche, tartare and Japanese tataki on the daily catch from the Cours Saleya fish market.
Why locals love it: Armand Crespo's stand-up ceviche counter on Rue de l'Opera, no reservations and morning catch from the Cours Saleya fish market.
Tip: Arrive by 12:30 or 19:30 to land a stool; tapas from EUR 7 and mains at EUR 25.
Address: 4 Rue de l'Opera, 06300 Nice
Why locals love it: The Loubert brothers' natural wine and tapas bar on Rue du Pont Vieux in Vieux Nice, a quiet alternative for a second drink off the busy Cours Saleya.
Tip: Open after dinner from 21:00; the natural list rotates every week and runs deep on small producers.
Why locals love it: Helical diving board restaurant at Cap de Nice, the city's most photographed dining room with a market driven Mediterranean menu over the Baie des Anges.
Tip: Book the sunset service for the bay light; the lounge bar below the restaurant is the cheaper way to drink on the rock.
Why locals love it: No telephone, cash only, two sittings, books in person at the door earlier the same day for the lunch service in Vieux Nice.
Tip: Arrive in person at 11:00 or 18:00 to write your name on the booking sheet for the same day's service.
Why locals love it: Open only Friday to Sunday lunch service, weekly changing menu and a small Vieux Nice room locals book a week ahead.
Tip: Reserve by Wednesday for the weekend menu; bookings fill up the same day they open.
Why locals love it: Bellet wine bar with the world petits farcis championship, four generations of Gazan family running the Vieux Nice room since 1947.
Tip: Champ runs every autumn at the granite counter; book a stool the same morning.
Why locals love it: One of only three Nice addresses still firing socca in a 1867 wood burning oven, weekday morning stall on Cours Saleya.
Tip: Arrive at the Cours Saleya stall by 09:00; the kitchen runs the wood oven hot at 300C between 06:00 and 13:00.
