Weekends were made for brunch, and Nice now proudly boasts plenty of places to satisfy that not-quite-breakfast, not-quite-lunch craving.

Even though the concept is slowly catching on in France, Nice is definitely ahead of the posse, boasting a healthy selection of cafés and brasseries that brunch. So to help you find the right spot, Riviera Buzz has compiled a list of our five favorite places for brunch in the city.

Le Coin Quotidien for brunch in Nice, France
Le Coin Quotidien may have recently changed name (it was formerly known as Le Pain Quotidien), but still remains one of the best places for a weekend brunch, both for the atmosphere and the quality of its products.

With its prime location, right by the Cours Saleya and its famous market, it is impossible to miss. On sunny days, people can eat outside and witness the bustle of Vieux Nice, while on colder months, they will sit around big communal tables, in a rustic wooden setting that will make them feel at home.

By the entrance, a little sign proclaims that the price has not changed since 2002, and despite the years, the success and the new ownership, the quality hasn’t faltered a bit. Le Coin Quotidien has put some organic products on its menu and for €19.50, you will have more than enough to eat: a soft-boiled egg, a mixed salad, a basket of bread and viennoiseries, served with jams and marmalade, 2 hot drinks and a fresh juice.

Café Marché for brunch in Nice, France
There is nothing pretentious about this quaint little restaurant, tucked away in the backstreets of Old Nice. A convivial place, where customers can lounge on sofas, read the newspaper, or simply hang out with friends while nibbling on food, Café Marché offers a cuisine based on fresh produce from the morning’s market.

One of the best brunches in Nice at Café Marché Already quite popular for its vintage atmosphere, its American pastries and its burgers, the restaurant has also become a little paradise for brunch lovers. Every Sunday, from 9am to 5pm, customers are spoiled with a large choice of breakfast and lunch items, always made with the best quality ingredients.

For example, try the sweet brunch for just €12, which includes a hot drink – Café Marché has a very good selection of teas – a freshly squeezed juice, bread and jam or honey, and some pancakes or brioches. For the same price, you can also have a savoury brunch which includes a hot drink, a fresh squeezed juice, a club sandwich, a salad or a soup and a plate of eggs. And for just €6 more, you can have a combination of the two. Sunday, gourmand style!

THE MAKASSAR for brunch in Nice, France
Just a few blocks away from the craziness of the Cours Saleya, you will find the Makassar, a little restaurant that is slowly but surely becoming one of the trendy places for brunch. When the clock strikes 11am on Sunday, the place welcomes you for its ‘retro brunch‘, prepared by Itsuki, a young Japanese-American chef.

Different versions of brunch are on offer. For €10, you can eat as many donuts as you like, accompanied by coffee and orange juice, or if you prefer, you can select your items à la carte.

There is also the ‘Brunch complet‘, priced at €20, with a variety of delicious and original dishes. You will start with some coffee and orange juice, of course, but also some pastries, the sweet dish of the day (cake, French toast…) and some bread, butter and jam. Then it will be time to move on to the ‘heart’ of the meal, with either bacon, sausage, beans and tomatoes or the ‘fish’ plate, consisting of some salmon, tarama and tuna. After the huge cheese platter, you will end with a homemade yogurt and some seasonal fruits.

And if you really want to treat yourself, you can always choose the Deluxe champagne option, with a glass of champagne and pancakes among other delicacies.

KILILIE'S CAFÉ for brunch in Nice, France
Kililie's Café in Nice Entering Kililie’s Café, you can be forgiven for thinking that you have left the French Riviera, and been whisked away to New York City! Located in the heart of Nice, just a few blocks away from the old town, the little coffee place would almost feel more at home somewhere between 5th Avenue and Times Square. Its walls are painted red, and decorated with pictures of the city that never sleeps, the food typically American (burgers, pastries, bagels…)

On weekends, brunch is served from 10:30am to 3pm. Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer savory food, you will not be disappointed by the quality of the dishes and by the quantity. After all, we are talking about America here! On the menu of the all-you-can-eat buffet: homemade pancakes, scrambled eggs, toasts, potatoes, French toast, bacon, onion rings, cheesecakes, muffins…all this for just €19.50, and you won’t need to eat for the rest of the day!

PLAGE BEAU RIVAGE for brunch in Nice, France
Granted, this brunch is slightly more expensive that the ones offered by the other places we have checked out, but in all honesty, can you dream of a better location? Right on the beach, just meters away from the Mediterranean, on a gloriously sunny day?

Plage Beau Rivage in Nice Every Sunday, from 11am to 3pm, the Plage Beau Rivage becomes THE place in Nice for a gourmet experience in a relaxed atmosphere. You will be able to bask in the sun on the terrace on one of the nicest hotels in the city, enjoy a superb view, and feast on culinary delights.

For €25, two options are available; the Petit-déjeuner Complet, which includes a hot drink and a freshly squeezed juice, a as well as a selection of breads, viennoiseries and pancakes served with butter, jams, Nutella and maple syrup (for children, the price is only €10), or the Grande Assiete Complète, which includes some scrambled eggs with bacon, Italian ham and mini-sausages, a portion of portion of potatoes, and a mixed salad of tomatoes, goat’s cheese, topped off with pine nuts and cottage cheese. Bon appétit!

CONTACT DETAILS

Le Coin Quotidien
1, rue St-François de Paule
06300 Nice

Tel : 04 93 62 94 32

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Café Marché
2, rue Barillerie
06300 Nice

Tel: 09 81 84 92 49

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Kililie’s Café
21, rue Delille
06000 Nice

Tel: 04 93 91 35 65

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Le Makassar
5, rue Alexandre Mari
06300 Nice

Tel: 08.99.23.45.69

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Plage Beau Rivage
107, quai des États-Unis
06300 Nice

Tel : 04 92 00 46 80

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Photograph of Kililie’s Café courtesy their Facebook page; photograph of Plage Beau Rivage courtesy their website; all other photographs © Riviera Buzz

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