Best Brunch in Nice: The Definitive Guide
France is justifiably famous for its food. And Nice, the French Riviera town that is the fifth-largest city in the country, is no exception. Known as a playground for the international jet set, Nice has an astonishing variety of cafés and restaurants where you can try French cuisine and simple good food at its very best.
However, sometimes nothing beats a good brunch. If you get up too late for breakfast and get hungry before lunch, or if you're just in the mood for a leisurely midmorning meal at a good cafe, you can't go wrong with Nice's brunch scene. If you're in the mood for a fabulous brunch in Nice, here are some of the best brunch spots in the city.
While you're getting to know the place, check out our Nice neighborhood guide. And while you hunt for the most delicious brunch in the city, don't forget to make things easier on yourself by dropping off your bags at a Bounce luggage storage in Nice. Not being weighed down with heavy bags will make it far easier to find the best food in this beautiful city.
Kililie's Resto-Brunch
When you're looking for brunch in Nice, this restaurant has it all in the name. Located uphill from the beach close to the Cimiez area of the city, Kililie's offers a bright and airy dining room with outdoor seating where you can spread out and enjoy yourself. Kililie's serves an à la carte brunch during the week, and you can choose from sandwiches, eggs, bacon, pancakes, pastries, and other classic breakfast food. However, on the weekend, they do away with the different brunch menus in favor of a buffet where you can get a hot plate of as much food as you want for the same price as any of their regular dishes. This gourmet brunch comes with all the coffee and orange juice you might want, and represents one of the admittedly rare good deals to be found in this often expensive city.
La Femme du Boulanger
This restaurant, which translates into English as The Baker's Wife, is located in the Old Town just a few blocks from the Promenade des Anglais. Located on a quiet street in the usually busy city center, this restaurant qualifies as a true hidden gem. And although the food offered here isn't cheap, a relaxing brunch here is an experience to be savored. The restaurant is known for its homemade jams, and they also offer excellent French toast with maple syrup for those who like to combine sweet and savoury. Take your breakfast on the pleasant outdoor terrace for extra enjoyment while you tuck into fresh French bread, pastries, delicious caramel spread, eggs, good coffee, and fresh fruit juice.
Déli Bo
Déli Bo, located on the edge of Old Town, is known as one of the best brunch spots in Nice for a reason. Déli Bo operates as both a restaurant and a pastry shop, so you can enjoy a leisurely brunch in the calm and intimate atmosphere of the restaurant, or grab one of their delicious pastries to go. The menu here is forever changing with the seasons, but you'll find traditional brunch classics like freshly squeezed orange juice, fresh fruit, delicious hot drinks, scrambled eggs, and other savory dishes at this bakeshop-turned-brunch-spot. If you're in a hurry to get out and explore the city, you can also order their meals to go so you can take them with you while you explore everything Nice has to offer. They also accept reservations, which might be a good idea considering how busy this place gets. Their Bonaparte location opens every day at 7 AM except on Sundays and Mondays, and serves brunch right through the day. The food here isn't particularly cheap, but pricing is more or less in line with what you would expect to pay in the rest of Nice.
Le Makassar
A short walk downhill from pleasant Place Garibaldi, you'll find Le Makassar located right in the heart of Nice, close to the Cours Saleya Flower Market. Brunch here is available from Tuesday to Friday starting at 10AM and on weekends from 11 AM, and if you can make that work for your schedule, it's definitely worth it. If you're looking for savory dishes, you'll find them here. The deluxe menu includes eggs, smoked salmon, sausages, fresh fruit, cheese, and even champagne, making it an excellent choice for those with a big appetite. They also offer a vegetarian plate as one of their full brunch options, which can be hard to find in France. But what really sets Le Makassar apart is the donut menu. The donuts are made fresh in-house and are known as some of the best in the city.
The full brunch will cost you 23 Euros, while the deluxe menu is only a little more at 25 Euros. You can also opt for the Little Savory Brunch, which is ideal for smaller appetites and easy on the budget at only 12 Euros. Le Makassar is an extremely popular place, and they strongly recommend you make reservations before showing up for brunch.
Le Bistroy
Located in the upscale Carre d'Or neighborhood, a centrally located district that's a haven for shoppers, Le Bistroy is the perfect place to take a break from some retail therapy. While we're on the subject, here's everything you need to know about shopping in Nice.
Le Bistroy offers an impressive range of scrambled eggs, including avocado scrambled eggs and eggs with organic trout. They also offer an all-inclusive brunch menu which is little on the pricey side at €28. However, it includes freshly squeezed juice, your choice of scrambled eggs, cold cuts, trout, a selection of cheeses, French toast, pancakes, fruit salad, and a hot drink of your choice. As a result, it's enough to keep you going for a long day of shopping or sightseeing, and the quality of the food, combined with good coffee, is hard to argue with. They also offer a vegetarian version for those who don't eat meat. If you spend too much money in the glitzy shops of Nice, you can also opt for cheaper a la carte options like a quinoa bowl or a range of freshly made sandwiches, all of which come in at under €14.
Brunch is served from 9 AM until 2 PM on weekdays and Saturdays. However, on Saturdays, Le Bistroy also offers its near-legendary all-you-can-eat brunch buffet. You'll want to make a reservation for this, as places go fast. Not surprising when you consider it's one of the best deals in Nice.
Plage Beau Rivage
If you would like your lunch to be a quintessentially French Riviera experience, Plage Beau Rivage can make that happen. This beach club is hard to miss as you walk along the Promenade des Anglais, with its iconic blue-and-white sign recalling the charm of Old Nice. And the location, right on the pebble beach of the city with the dazzling blue waters of the Mediterranean in front, is absolutely unbeatable.
What about the food? Although this beach club is better known for dinner and cocktails, they do serve a good selection of breakfast foods, including bread and jams, scrambled eggs, sausages, and other traditional breakfast food. You can dine at a table overlooking the Baie des Anges or take your breakfast to one of their sun loungers and catch some morning rays with your meal. Whatever you choose, you'll be getting a real taste of Nice along with your brunch and having an experience of the city you're unlikely to forget.
Au Goût Thé d’Antan
Less of a traditional brunch spot and more of an old-school teahouse, Au Goût Thé d’Antan is located outside of the heavily-touristed heart of Nice, close to the train station. If you're a fan of hot drinks, this place has to be on your list. They offer an extensive menu of tea from around the world, along with a similarly impressive list of coffee, hot chocolate, and just about every other hot drink you could imagine. While they don't offer a classic brunch menu, they do have a small selection of pies and cakes you can nibble on to take the edge off your hunger. The pie crusts are made in-house and are the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea or other hot drink while you prepare yourself for a fun day in Nice.
Conclusion
Exploring everything this magical French Riviera city has to offer will certainly work up an appetite. Hopefully by now, you have a better idea of the best brunch spots in Nice so you can plan where to eat on your trip. Few things beat a relaxing brunch in a city as beautiful as this, and the right meal can set you up for a long day of exploration. So give these restaurants a try, and enjoy your trip to Nice in the best way possible.