Nice is a city located in the French Riviera, also known as Cote d’Azur, a coastal area in the south-eastern tip of France. With its beautiful location and year-long sunny weather, the French city has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country and in the whole of Europe. In fact, Nice welcomes an average of 4 million tourists annually, with that number constantly growing over the years.
One of the challenges as a plant-based tourist is looking for a place where you can get good vegan food. Luckily, the city has a growing plant-based community and there’s now a plethora of vegan-friendly restaurants in Nice to choose from. From French and Chinese to Italian and American, you won’t run out of options when dining in the city.
Here are our top picks for where to get the best vegan food in Nice. This list includes both exclusively-vegan restaurants as well as those with vegan-friendly options. For a hassle-free dining experience, deposit your bags and other heavy items at a luggage storage locker in Nice before heading to your chosen eatery.
1. Utopia
Although having opened only in 2019, Utopia has already become one of the most popular vegan restaurants in the city of Nice. The restaurant’s owner, who also practices the plant-based lifestyle, is originally from Italy, which is why the restaurant specializes in Italian cuisine.
The restaurant has two menus – the regular and seasonal menus – that are made up of vegan dishes such as vegan carbonara with smoked tofu and ravioli. They also serve desserts, hot drinks, and organic wines and have a good selection of gluten-free meals.
2. KOKO Green
Owned and operated by self-declared passionate foodies Nicolas and Melinda, KOKO Green is an all-organic and fully-vegan café located in the city’s Old Town. The restaurant focuses on raw food and drinks that are all organic, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly. KOKO
Green’s menu changes every week so diners won’t have to worry about eating the same thing over and over again. Some signature dishes at KOKO Green include raw “spaghetti and meatballs”, beet ravioli with vegan cheese, raw chili sin carne, and vegetarian sushi with black rice. They also offer baked goods, raw cakes, smoothies, cold-pressed juices, coffee, and tea.
3. Vegan Gorilla
Vegan Gorilla is the pioneer of plant-based dining in Nice and is one of the go-to restaurants for vegan locals and tourists (it’s so popular that it’s even included in the Michelin Guide).
Owned by the husband-and-wife team of Willy and Camille, who are also both vegan chefs, this restaurant serves all-has a regularly-changing tasting menu comprised of all organic and gluten-free plant-based dishes. The ingredients they use are sourced locally from small producers in nearby areas.
4. NOT DOG
Established in July 2019, NOT DOG has already established itself as a favorite dining spot for both vegans and non-vegans. The restaurant aims to take the hot dog and to offer it in a plant-based and gourmet meal, which they call a “not dog”.
These vegan hotdogs are all produced using organic ingredients and are loaded with flavor; the bread is also homemade. You can choose from a variety of toppings, including common and uncommon items – from onions and mustard to maple syrup and hummus. They also sell beer in case you want to pair your meal with a cold one.
5. Badaboom
Situated on Rue François Guisol, just a few steps away from the Nice Port, is Badaboom, a 100% vegan café and bistro that has been around since 2016. The dishes served here are all organic and completely plant-based.
The menu is made up of items such as sandwiches, salads, soups, cold-pressed juices, hummus, and baked treats as well as a variety of beverages such as organic wine, artisan beer, teas, and their signature homemade kombucha. The restaurant has gained quite the following, with loyal patrons being referred to as “Badaboomers”. Badaboom also occasionally hosts holistic and wellbeing events, such as super clubs and poetry jams.
6. Le Pékin Restaurant
Located near the prominent street of Jean Medecin, a stone’s throw away from the Notre Dame de l’Assomption, is the Le Pékin Restaurant. The Asian eat-all-you-can restaurant has been around for years but converted to being an all-vegan restaurant only in 2018.
Diners are treated to a buffet with a variety of vegan dishes to choose from, such as veggie dumplings, fried tofu, sweet potato tempura, and more. You can also create your own main course by picking out the ingredients yourself, which the chef can stir-fry on the spot.
7. The Healer
The Healer is a vegan superfood café situated near the Place Garibaldi in Old Town and is one of the hippest places to get plant-based delights. The owner of the café converted to veganism while he was living in New Zealand and decided to bring some of his newly-discovered dishes to his hometown of Nice.
The café serves all-organic vegan creations such as smoothie bowls, avocado toasts, raw cakes, cold-pressed juices, and other light meals that are perfect for those on the go.
8. Copper Branch
Copper Branch is a chain of vegan quick-service restaurants that originated in Montreal, Canada, and has since branched out to international locations such as France, including the city of Nice. This dining spot offers an array of vegan fare, including burgers, sandwiches, bowls, chili, and smoothies.
They also offer a plant-based version of Montreal’s most beloved street food – poutine. Copper Branch is located in Nice’s la Piétonne district, which is one of the most vibrant parts of the city.
9. Pizzeria da Francesco
If you are craving pizza when in Nice, Pizzeria da Francesco is definitely the go-to spot. Founded in 1988, da Francesco is among the most popular dining spots in the city, whether you’re vegan and non-vegan.
While the restaurant isn’t exclusively plant-based, it is well-known for its selection of vegan pizzas, which are created using eggless dough and vegan cheese. Don’t forget to pair your delicious plant-based pizza with a bottle of cold beer.
10. Amour Patisserie
Amour Patisserie is arguably the most renowned vegan bakery in all of Nice, and for good reason. Brought by the same team behind Vegan Gorilla, the patisserie has a vast selection of vegan baked goods and pastries, including cakes, breads, and a whole lot more.
They also serve organic vegan breakfast meals and sell vegan products in case you feel like making your own meals, such as vegan cheese, plant-based seasonings and the like.
