La Merenda

La Merenda is a small bistro in Vieux Nice that, according to its website, has been part of the city's food heritage for more than 60 years. What makes it special is the chef: Dominique Le Stanc, who once held two Michelin stars at the Negresco, left the world of grand hotels to take over this simple restaurant and cook the traditional food of Nice. In 2026 it holds a Bib Gourmand from Michelin and two toques from Gault&Millau.

The menu changes with the market and the seasons. Expect the classics of Niçois home cooking: pissaladière, the onion, anchovy and olive tart; courgette flower fritters; stuffed sardines; pasta with pistou; stockfish, the dried cod dish beloved in Nice; slow-cooked daube; and Swiss chard tart. The Michelin and Gault&Millau recognition reflects careful cooking of traditional recipes.

The dining room is tiny, with space for about 24 guests so meals are informal and close together. That intimacy is part of the charm, and it is a good place to try dishes you will not find on tourist menus.

Booking is essential and is done online through the restaurant's website or in person, not by telephone, as the restaurant does not publish a phone number. It opens on weekdays for lunch and dinner and is closed at weekends; the tourism office and the restaurant's own site differ on Mondays, so check before you go. It also closes for short holidays during the year. Payment by cheque and cash is listed by the tourism office; bring cash to be safe. There are no high chairs, and large suitcases and large dogs are not accepted, so it does not suit families with toddlers.

La Merenda is ideal for food-minded travellers, couples and small groups who want to taste real Niçois cooking from a chef with a remarkable career. Plan for a relaxed meal of an hour and a half or so.

The restaurant is on Rue Raoul Bosio, a short lane near the Opéra and the Cours Saleya, in the western part of the old town. Afterwards, walk through the lanes to Place Rossetti or down to the seafront.