Idyllic, festive, family friendly... There is no shortage of beach clubs around Nice, and there's something for everyone! Here's a compilation of the most beautiful restaurants / beach bars with an energetic or more relaxed atmosphere.
The most idyllic: Paloma Beach
Lagoon-coloured water, freshly grilled fish and a cove surrounded by greenery… at Paloma Beach, the dream comes true.
Since 1948, this beach restaurant built by architect Andrée Deperi has attracted locals and personalities from all over the world; Roger Moore, Sean Connery, Matisse, Cocteau, Elton John and even Tom Cruise are some of the stars who have already succumbed to the beauty of Paloma Beach.
The cove owes its name to Paloma Picasso, the daughter of the famous painter, who used to bask with her friends in this little lost paradise far from the hustle and bustle of the Côte d’Azur.
Today the club is still an institution. For several generations customers have enjoyed the delights of the beach, organising weddings, engagement parties, birthdays, etc.
At the beach bar it is possible to sip a drink or have a simple coffee. Deckchairs are also available for a “nap” in the shade of the pine trees.
The Little Extra: the irreproachable service of the restaurant. The fish are presented to you, then grilled and sliced in front of your eyes.
Price: Deck chair €40. Paddle 1/2 heure €15. Meals between €30 and €50 per person.
Address : 1 Chemin de Saint-Hospice, 06230 Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
Hours: Monday > Sunday, from 09:00 to 23:00.
Reservation: 04 93 01 64 71
The most trendy: Hôtel Amour à la plage
If you like to see and be seen, then the Hotel Amour beach is for you.
With its enchanting decor tinted with pastel blue and candy pink, its warm pebbles and the sea as a backdrop, this beach restaurant attracts locals, the fashionable, and Parisians in need of relaxation.
At the table you’ll taste local dishes with the flavours of the South; grilled sardines, fillet of sea bass with fennel salad, fish carpaccio with coriander and lemon, and Greek salad. The dishes are refined and the tastes are straightforward, but for the most hungry it is good to also order a side dish.
As for drinks, the hotel plays the local menu: natural wines, lagers, lemonade and “house” iced tea allow you to hydrate under the shade of the parasols.
The restaurant regularly organises events (exhibitions, shows, and concerts). To not miss any of their programming visit their Instagram account: www.instagram.com/hotelamourniceplage.
The Little Extra: the trendy decoration.
Price: Starter: between €9 and €17. Dishes: between €14 and €35. Dessert: €9 . Cocktail Amour: €14.
Address: 47 promenade des anglais, Nice.
Hours: Monday > Sunday, from 09:00 to 23:00.
Reservation: 04 97 14 00 83
The most festive: Les Canailles
From a distance we can already hear the music. The Beach Club les Canailles lives up to its name, mischievous and festive, it makes you want to dance as soon as you arrive.
On the menu, you’ll find rather simple yet somehow sophisticated dishes concocted by chef Thomas Roux. A giant cold meats board, truffle pizza, mezze to share, creamy burrata, mango, pesto and foccacia, California crispy sushi with wasabi and pomegranate. Something to feast on between two sips of chilled rosé. An ideal beach club for celebrating with friends – with or without an occasion!
The Little Extra: the isolated table at the end of the rock, facing the sea, which offers a spectacular panorama.
Price: Meals: between €25 and €60 per person.
Address: 197 Promenade des Anglais, Nice.
Hours: Monday > Sunday, from 10:00 to 01:00.
Reservation: 04 93 51 47 74
The most family friendly: Baia Bella
It is a beach well known to locals for its unspoiled character, translucent waters and pines. But la Petite Afrique is not just a bay it is also home to a colourful Beach Club – La Baia Bella.
This elegant flashy orange & sea-blue restaurant welcomes young and old in a most exotic setting in the heart of nature. XXL deckchairs, cream parasols and wicker seats flirt with southern codes and invite you to linger.
At lunchtime we recommend the starter of clams and mussels in white wine and parsley, then one of their signature dishes: whole sea bream grilled over a wood fire or grilled chicken, marinated in red chimichurri. For dessert try the orange cake, or their ice cream with yogurt, lavender, toasted almonds and honey. But beware, the bill goes up quickly!
Coffee is then enjoyed facing the mountain with your feet in the water. A timeless break that is good for body and soul.
The Little Extra: the family atmosphere of the beach club and its commitment to the planet. The Baia Bella is vegetated with endemic plants requiring a minimum of water, it recycles rainwater and uses solar panels. Most of the restaurant’s decorations were also handmade by local artists.
Prices: Deck chair: €20 / Parasol: €5 / Starter: between €9 and €22. Dishes: between €14.50 and €75. Dessert: between €9.50 and €13.50.
Address: Plage de la petite Afrique, Beaulieu-sur-mer.
Hours: Monday > Sunday, from 10:00 to 22:00.
Reservation: 04 93 01 11 00
The most refined: Papaya beach hôtel
A name that makes you dream, crystal clear water, and a chic-relaxed atmosphere. The Papaya beach hotel is one of the places where you feel good and where you dream of returning.
A summer scent emanates from this cozy white-tinted restaurant-bar, where you will be greeted with a smile. You can choose to sink into in the hollow of the enormous sofas, sit down for lunch with your feet in the sand, or bask in the sun on a deckchair.
Papaya beach serves “world” cuisine with Mediterranean influences; semi-cooked foie gras caramelised with kumquat, octopus tentacle with pomegranate, spaghetti al limone, lobster roll, and fresh summer truffle tartare.
Although we are a bit lost among all these tempting suggestions one thing is certain, the cuisine is “home made” and the chef focuses on the presentation of the dishes. The selection of organic wines is also appreciated.
In the end the hardest part is leaving the premises. When the sun goes down the usually quiet beach club turns into a chic and festive bar. A 3-in-1 place that definitely won us over!
The Little Extra: the adorable staff who serve you with a smile.
Prices: Beach: €32 per day /€25€ per half-day / Dishes from €19 to €35.
Address: 28 Avenue de la Liberté, 06360 Èze.
Hours: Monday > Wednesday, from 10:00 to 18:00 and Thursday > Sunday, from 10:00 to 23:00.
Reservation: 04 93 01 50 33
By Louise Ballongue
Photos: Papaya beach hôtel, Les Canailles, and Louise Ballongue
