7 Best Restaurants in The French Riviera, France

Although lunch and dinner are delicious, this the place to come for a breakfast of freshly sliced country breads, mouthwatering Ö Jardin Sucré jams (say, raspberry and violet or apple-pear with hazelnut), and organic yogurts—all made in France. Sure, you can still have your flaky croissant, but here the friendly owners deliver a toaster to your table to grill the bread exactly to your liking. Throw in Alain Milliet vineyard juices and creamy café au lait, and you’ll be planning to come back before you can wipe the jam off your chin.

You won't find any "concept" cooking here, just pure French bistro fare at its finest—beef salad with anchovy dressing, butter risotto with truffles, sliced leg of lamb, and traditional pork casserole. Save room for the day's dessert, such as the wonderfully warm peach-and-frangipane tart. The prices here are as appealing as the menu. If you can't score a reservation, try Peixes 3, chef Antoine Crespo's delightful, seafood tapas restaurant at 4 rue de l'Opéra.

Part of a tiny Old Town enclave determined to resist the press of tourism, this casual tavern has tables scattered across a sunny terrace on Place Safranier. Chef Gaïatto Olivier is in charge of a refined menu that reflects his five years in the kitchen at the celebrated Eden Roc—think roasted catch of the day with chickpea stew, chorizo, mussels fennel, and coriander—but at a fraction of the price.

Specializing in salads, pizzas, and pastas—prepared on the spot from local produce—this place offers a refreshing, light alternative to all those heavy French dishes. But Attimi is as hot as the lasagna Bolognese it serves, so you'll need to reserve or eat early. A seat on the terrace next to the fountain at the end of Place Masséna lets you dine with a side order of people-watching.

The best place to grab a bite in Place Garibaldi, this café has an eclectic feel that's as appealing as the food and friendliness—and it's a fabulous location for people-watching.

This wineshop with some 300 labels and a few tables and chairs at the back is really about vins naturels—unfiltered, unsulfured wines made by small producers from hand-harvested grapes—but the often-simple food served here also happens to be excellent. Whether you choose a charcuterie or cheese plate or one of the handful of hot dishes (like spaghetti with razor clams or octopus cooked in red wine), you can expect it to be generous and fresh. No corkage fee is charged for wines off the shelf, a rarity for a wine bar. Reservations are advised for Friday and Saturday night. The bilingual owner Olivier has opened a second wine bistro with lots of food, La Mise en Verre, at 17 rue Pastorelli.

All that perfume sniffing can build an appetite and this is just the place to refuel on cheeses, olives, charcuteries, tapenades, and chuntneys. It's open daily, and you could spend hours lingering over a half bottle of wine and sampling the delicious regional selections that are part of a shared platter (three to four people) for only €30.