Mediterranean Seafood€€€port-lympiaThu-Sun 12:15-13:45, 19:45-21:45; Mon 12:15-13:45; Tue-Wed closed
Le Bistrot du Port on Quai Lunel runs Jose Orsini's Mediterranean seafood room on the Port Lympia, large terrace tables facing the boat basin and a kitchen.
Signature: Daily catch, Whole sea bream
Order: The whole sea bream from the morning catch; the wine list leans Bellet.
Tip: Book a quayside table for sunset. Closed Mondays; busy at lunch with port traffic.
Modern French Bistro€€carre-d-orMon-Thu 10:00-17:30; Fri-Sat 10:00-15:00, 19:00-22:30
L'Alchimie on Rue Maccarani in Nice's Carre d'Or holds the Michelin Bib Gourmand under Arnaud Collin, the modern bistro popular with city locals for sensibly.
Signature: Daily blackboard, Wine list by the glass
Order: The lunch menu blackboard; Collin moves the kitchen daily with the produce that lands.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday 11:00-18:00, Thursday and Friday after work until 23:00. Book ahead at lunch.
French Brasserie€€carre-d-orSun-Thu 12:00-14:30, 19:00-22:45; Fri-Sat 12:00-14:30, 19:00-23:15
Felix on Avenue Felix Faure faces the Coulee Verte garden in Nice's Carre d'Or, the historic city brasserie reopened under a new name with French.
Signature: Brasserie classics, Niçoise salad
Order: The classic salade nicoise at lunch; the pizza, pasta and wine by the glass anchor the value menu.
Tip: Open 7 days a week, 11:45-01:30; continuous service through the afternoon, a rare thing in Nice.
Mediterranean Brunch and Lunch€€vieux-niceMon-Tue 12:00-14:00; Thu-Fri 12:00-14:00; Sun 11:00-15:00; Wed and Sat closed
Cafe Marche on Rue Barillerie just off Cours Saleya runs Emilie Bargin's morning room in Vieux Nice, the Sunday 11:00-15:00 brunch the city's most.
Signature: Sunday brunch, Eggs and toast plate
Order: The Sunday brunch of scrambled eggs, jams and honey toast, club sandwich and Provencal salads.
Tip: Open Sunday for brunch when much of the city is closed; arrive by 11:00 for a terrace table.
Modern Bistro€€place-garibaldiDaily 08:00-00:00
Little Boho on Place Garibaldi is the boho chic daytime room Melissa and Jean opened in the Petit Marais quarter of Nice, terrace tables on the arcaded.
Signature: Daily lunch plate, Apero board
Order: The daily lunch plate at the terrace, then an apero board on the square at sunset.
Tip: Continuous service through the afternoon; closed Monday. Good fallback when Cafe de Turin is full.
Cuisine Nissarde€port-lympiaWed-Sun 12:00-14:00, 19:00-23:30; Mon-Tue closed
Chez Pipo on Rue Bavastro between Place Garibaldi and Port Lympia has fired socca in wood-burning ovens since 1923, the canonical Nicois address.
Signature: Socca, Pissaladiere, Tourte de blettes
Order: Two slices of socca and a glass of Bellet rose at the bench seat.
Tip: Open Wednesday to Sunday 11:30-14:30 and 17:30-22:00; no reservations, cash and card both accepted.