The cuisine of the Côte d'Azur, a gustatory voyage!

Published on July 16, 2024 at 4:00 pm

The Côte d'Azur, an internationally renowned tourist region, can pride itself on offering its visitors a remarkable and distinctive cuisine!

In fact, in this part of France, gastronomy is a perfect blend of French and Italian influences.

In this south of France, where the sky remains blue for a good part of the year, fruit and vegetables are everywhere in the local markets, fresh fish is the delight of connoisseurs, and you won't know where to look!

What's more, every town and village in the region has its own weekly market. A friendly meeting place where fresh produce is the basis for a memorable picnic!

As an added bonus, during your gastronomic journey, we'll give you some emblematic addresses you won't want to miss!

So make the most of your stay in the land of the cicadas, and try some sunny, healthy food!

Fresh produce from the Côte d'Azur on market stalls

Summary

The culinary specialities of the Côte d'Azur
The Côte d'Azur, a land of markets
A few places to treat your taste buds on the Côte d'Azur
Where to stay in a luxury hotel in Nice with a restaurant?

The culinary specialities of the Côte d'Azur

🍴 The region's main city, Nice will surprise you with its many unusual specialities.

Have you ever heard of socca? In fact, it's simply a chickpea cake.

Otherwise, pissaladière (a kind of pizza topped with onions and anchovies) or pan-bagnat (the hamburger of southern France) will give you a delicious taste of the sunny flavours of the south.

Near Menton, you'll discover barbajuans, a kind of rectangular ravioli made with chard.

Finally, in the Antibes region, polenta au gratin is a perfect winter dish!

The pissaladière, a monument of Nice gastronomy

The Côte d'Azur, a land of markets

🥕 🍐 The Côte d'Azur has a large number of markets. Every town and village in the region offers one or more markets a week.

As in neighbouring Provence, the market is a real local event. Very early in the morning, the stalls are set up and loaded with fresh local produce.

Often held under a beautiful blue sky, in the shade of plane trees and palm trees, the market attracts locals and tourists alike.

Some of the most beautiful and famous markets on the Côte d'Azur include :

the Halles market in Menton
the Place Saint François fish market in Nice
the Forville market in the Suquet district of Cannes
the Provencal market in Antibes and its hall on the Cours Masséna

Antibes market hall

A few places to treat your taste buds on the Côte d'Azur

📍 🍴 Chez Acchiardo is one of the must-visit restaurants on the Côte d'Azur. A meal here is a real festival!

In fact, this Niçoise institution on Niçoise since 1927 welcomes you to experience a typical moment.

The atmosphere here is very local, with staff speaking in Nissart, the local dialect, and dishes with a typically southern flavour! Among the various specialities of the house you can enjoy gnocchi, tripe à la niçoise, or farcis niçois.

📍 🍴 For a unique and unforgettable culinary experience, head for the Michelin-starred Le Mirazur restaurant in Menton!

This exceptional address, ranked among the best restaurants in the world is well worth the trip! The creative, inventive and utterly addictive cuisine is a perfect match for the restaurant's bright surroundings and sublime views.

Where to stay in a luxury hotel in Nice with a restaurant?

⭐ Le Negresco, the emblematic palace of the city of Nice boasts several restaurants. Open since 1913 the hotel remains an inseparable image of the Côte d'Azur.

🛌 Le Negresco boasts exceptional standing, with these rooms offering extreme comfort.

The suites accommodate up to 4 people (2 adults and 2 children).

🏖️ A fitness centre as well as a private beach allow you to combine relaxation and unwinding during your stay.

🍴 The hotel has a gourmet restaurant, Le Chantecler, where you can enjoy cuisine made from carefully selected produce. The modern cuisine blends flavours to the delight of privileged guests.

Negresco also has a brasserie, La Rotonde.

🚗 The hotel has a private car park with valet parking.

Booking.com

Château Saint-Martin & Spa - an Oetker Collection Hotel

Located in Vence, 24 km from Nice, the Château Saint-Martin & Spa - Oetker Collection Hotel occupies a 12th-century Templar castle with panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea.

9.3 Fabulous

From

£388 / night

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Practical information

⏰ When should you come and discover the gastronomy of the south of France and the Côte d'Azur?

The south-east of France and its legendary gastronomy await you all year round!

In fact, the Côte d'Azur remains an unmissable holiday destination. It attracts tourists all year round.

However, it's in spring and summer that the market stalls are at their most resplendent.

🚌 How do you get to the Côte d'Azur to experience gastronomic moments?

🚘 By road, the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes and the whole of the Côte d'Azur are accessible by several major roads.

The A8 motorway remains the main route linking Nice to Italy and Nice to Paris via Aix-en-Provence.

🚈 If you choose to travel by train, the SNCF provides several connections from Paris. Indeed, from the capital, the route takes around 6 hours to Nice, other cities are also served.

✈️ The region is linked to the capital by air. Nice Côte d'Azur airport is just a few kilometres from the Côte d'Azur's main points of interest and restaurants.

Once in the heart of the city, you can use the public transport networks.

🚗 Where can I park near the Côte d'Azur's famous addresses?

Most car parks on the Côte d'Azur are subject to a charge, especially in fine weather. In fact, the tourist season is in full swing from May to September.

If you want to park easily, come early in the summer!

by Faustine PEREZ

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Côte d'Azur