French Riviera Travel News

It’s not all frilly parasols and fruity drinks on Nice’s beaches this summer. Regular beachgoers have been stunned to discover that some of Nice’s most stalwart beach restaurants have been replaced. Goodbye Sporting, Lido, Miami, Voilier and Neptune beach restaurants. Near the end of 2019 the owners were notified that their concessions, which run for 12 years, were not going to be renewed. Even after a lawsuit, the reasons for the termination remain murky but surely quality control had a lot to do with it.

Given a global pandemic that has decimated travel to the Riviera this year, it seems not to be the best time to forge ahead with a tourism-dependent business. Still, the new winners of the beach concession auction have been furiously hammering away at floors and bars, carting in beach equipment and setting out the tables. As of the past weekend, all the restaurants are finally ready to meet and greet whosoever drifts in. Because of dwindling numbers, few are prepared to serve dinner but are open for lunch and cocktails. It’s best to call first in case there’s a private party. These establishments are so new that reviews are sparse. Why not try one and leave a review at one of the links below?

Here are the new beach restaurants in Nice this year:

La Baieta

La Baieta means “the kiss” in Nissart, Nice’s ancient language. This new restaurant kissed goodbye to the former Lido beach restaurant (which had definitely gone downhill in recent years). The menu is reasonably priced and they offer an afternoon price of €15 for a beach lounger. Get more details and leave a review here.

Le Temps d’Un Eté

Replacing the former Sporting Plage the Le Temps d’Un Eté beach restaurant is now run by the Servotel Hotel Nice. At €25 for a lounge chair and parasol it’s not cheap but the decor is pleasant. Get more details and leave a review.

Bella Nissa

Bella Nissa beach restaurant replaced the former Neptune plage in front of the venerable Negresco hotel. The prices are good. A sun lounger and parasol starts at €18/12 for a full/half day. The menu is also priced reasonably but expect service that is thoroughly French and not in a good way. Get more details and leave a review here.

La Vela

La Vela beach restaurant replaced the former Voilier plage. Prices are reasonable at €20/16 for a full/half day at the beach. As its owners currently run Le Grand Balcon restaurant in Old Nice, the food should be good. And it’s open for dinner.  Get more details and leave a review here.

Les Canailles

Hands down the most stylish beach restaurant in Nice, the decor here is class all the way. Yes, it is pricy but there are loungers, sunbeds and tables placed right on the jutting pontoon for a total sea experience. On weekend nights there’s live music too. Get more details and leave a review here.

See All Private Beach Restaurants in Nice 

Nice’s transport infrastructure is undergoing massive changes and it’s all good. When work is completed around the end of the year Nice will be cleaner, greener and much easier to get around. But we’re not there yet! The east-west tramway, Ligne 2, has now been extended to av Jean Medecin but work is continuing well into the fall when it will finally reach its terminus at Nice Port. Meanwhile, there are important changes that have taken effect right now and others that will take effect September 2. Here’ what you need to know:

1. Although tram line 2 is in service, hours are shorter than they will be this fall. From Sunday to Thursday, the trams from CADAM start running at 5.30am with the last train leaving the station at 8.45pm. The trams from the Airport start at 6.10am from Terminal 2 and the last one leaves at 7.49pm. From Jean Medecin the first tram leaves at 6.02am and the last at 9.20pm.

   On Fridays and Saturdays the last tram leaves Jean Medecin at 1.05am and the last tram leaves CADAM at 12.31am. From Terminal 2 the last tram leaves at 12.10am. (Get details on Nice tramways)

2. Airport buses 98 and 99 have been eliminated. Instead there is a new line, Aeroport Direct, that will provide service to the airport but only when tram line 2 is not running. Here are the schedules:

3. The price stays at €1.50 (€1 with a 10-voyage card) for all trips. The former airport buses cost €6 but now a journey to or from the airport costs the same as any other trip.

[Get ALL information about getting to and from Nice Airport]

4. Keep your ticket! There are now machines at the Jean Medecin and Alsace Lorraine exits; you’ll need to insert your validated card in order to leave.

5. On September 2 an entirely new bus network will go into service. Designed to complement the new tram line 2, the new system will keep some buses, combine the routes of others and launch entirely new lines. Nice’s night buses, the Noctambus, will be eliminated because a handful of lines will run as late as the tram lines and coordinate with them. Check out the 2019 changes in Nice buses, see maps of the old and new Nice bus routes, and download the new schedules (in French) on the Lignes d’Azur website.