Flaveur

Flaveur is the most highly decorated restaurant in central Nice. It holds two Michelin stars, first awarded in February 2018, and four toques from Gault&Millau, and it is run by two brothers from the Nice area, Gaël and Mickaël Tourteaux. Before opening their own place they cooked at the Negresco under Alain Llorca and in the teams of Michel Del Burgo.

The brothers spent part of their childhood in Guadeloupe, and that background shows in the cooking. The base is local, with produce and regional specialities from the Nice hinterland and the coast, but the seasoning travels, with spices and flavours borrowed from other continents. The menu changes from season to season, so there is no fixed signature dish to chase; the tourism office sums it up as warm, creative cooking that reinvents itself.

Meals are built around set menus. In the evening, the Exploration menu runs to six or seven courses, with a lobster supplement, and the longer Toutes Latitudes menu has nine. A shorter four-course menu is served at lunch, which is the most accessible way to try the cooking. Wine pairings by the glass are offered with each menu. The dining room is small, with space for about 24 guests, and is decorated with contemporary art and displays of tableware.

Flaveur opens from Tuesday to Saturday and is closed on Sundays and Mondays. With so few seats, book well ahead, especially for Friday and Saturday dinner; reservations can be made by email or through the online booking link on the official site. The restaurant is accessible for wheelchair users. There is no parking for guests, so it is easier to arrive on foot or by tram. Smart casual dress fits the setting.

It suits food lovers and couples marking an occasion rather than families with young children. Expect a long evening: a full tasting menu is a meal of several hours.

The restaurant is on Rue Gubernatis, in the grid of streets between Avenue Jean Médecin and the Promenade du Paillon, a few minutes' walk from Place Masséna. If you want a drink before dinner, the old town and the bars around the Opéra are a short stroll away.