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Best Cafés in Nice (2026)

Nice's café culture leans as much towards sweet shops and bakeries as towards coffee. Fenocchio on Place Rossetti has been making ice cream since 1966 and is famous for unusual flavours such as tomato and basil, while Maison Auer, founded in 1820, sells candied fruit and chocolates in a rococo-style shop near the Opéra. Down at the port, Confiserie Florian offers free tours of its kitchens with tastings, and Pâtisserie Lac on Rue Barla is known for award-winning chocolates and refined entremets.

For a sit-down breakfast or brunch, Café Paulette in the port district serves farm produce, heritage-flour bread and natural wines in a bright room with a terrace, and Boulangerie Zielinska in the old town bakes sourdough loaves and cinnamon rolls to take away. Many of these are shops rather than cafés, so plan to buy and eat on the go, perhaps on a bench by the port or on Castle Hill. Morning is the best time for bakeries, before the bread sells out, while ice cream queues are longest on summer afternoons. Edible souvenirs such as candied fruit and crystallised flowers travel well and make good gifts.

6 places · Updated October 27, 2026

Our top 3 cafés in Nice

  1. Fenocchio Artisan ice cream parlour, Vieux NiceA family ice-cream maker founded in 1966, serving more than 90 flavours on Place Rossetti, including Niçois oddities such as tomato-basil and Swiss chard tart.
  2. Maison Auer Historic confectioner and chocolatier, Vieux NiceA confectioner and chocolatier founded in 1820 opposite the Opéra, famous for its candied fruit and its rococo-style shop, run by the Dolfi family.
  3. Café Paulette Brunch café and bistro, Le PortA bright café-bistro in the port district serving farm-produce brunches, a lunch menu and evening sharing plates with natural wines.

Café

1. Fenocchio

Artisan ice cream parlour$Vieux Nice

A family ice-cream maker founded in 1966, serving more than 90 flavours on Place Rossetti, including Niçois oddities such as tomato-basil and Swiss chard tart.

View details — Fenocchio

Café

2. Maison Auer

Historic confectioner and chocolatier$$Vieux Nice

A confectioner and chocolatier founded in 1820 opposite the Opéra, famous for its candied fruit and its rococo-style shop, run by the Dolfi family.

View details — Maison Auer

Café

5. Pâtisserie Lac

Pâtisserie and chocolatier$$Le Port

A renowned Nice pâtisserie and chocolatier founded in 1995, known for refined entremets, award-winning chocolates and macarons, with a shop on Rue Barla.

View details — Pâtisserie Lac