Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Nice

Located on the French Riviera, the beautiful city of Nice, France, didn't actually become part of France until as recently as 1860. Prior to that, it was ruled by Italian aristocrats. And sitting as it does close to the border between France and Italy, the city has always had a strong Italian influence in its culture, language, and cuisine.

If you're imagining that history would make Nice a great food city, you'd be right. Italian and French culinary traditions combine here to make something uniquely Provençal, and this glamorous city is home to some truly exceptional restaurants catering to the international jet set.

However, as famed as French cooking is around the world, it often falls short when it comes to options for vegetarian food. Finding vegetarian and vegan options on the menu of French restaurants can be impossible, and even though attitudes to vegetarian dishes are slowly changing in France, it can still be a challenge to find some tasty food to eat that doesn't involve meat. That difficulty is compounded if you're looking for vegan food.

Still, French culinary tradition notwithstanding, things are changing. And because Nice caters to such a tourist crowd, it's getting easier with each passing year to find vegetarian restaurants in Nice. Here are some of the best of them.

Drop off your bags at a Nice luggage locker and get ready to explore the vegetarian options in this fabulous French city. The truth is, you can enjoy some of the city's best cooking while eating only vegetarian fare or vegan food. You'll just need to plan ahead. And after all, that's what we're here for.

Utopia

What's it like:

Not only one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Nice, this is actually a fully vegan restaurant, making it something of a rare breed in France. This restaurant joins many others in the city by offering Italian food cooked to traditional recipes, except with a vegan twist. Expect to find all your classic Italian favorites such as risotto, an impressive array of pasta, and classic dishes like saltimbocca. However, the chefs here also branch out from time to time to experiment with dishes from other cuisines such as goulash, hummus, and babaganoush.

The joy of eating in a fully vegan restaurant like this one is that you know you can order anything off the menu with confidence. Therefore, this is an excellent place to go to get a plat du jour and enjoy a leisurely multicourse lunch the way the French do without having to peer at ingredient lists or ask your server to confirm you're not eating meat.

Our Recommendation:

Being able to enjoy several different courses in true Mediterranean style can be a rare thing for vegans, so you shouldn't miss the opportunity to try the plat du jour in the knowledge you won't be breaking your diet.

Location:

35 Rue Bonaparte, Nice

Vegan Gorilla

What's it like:

Another vegan restaurant in Nice, Vegan Gorilla offers a warm and welcoming environment with plenty of raw wood and eco-friendly touches like fabric hand towels and recyclable utensils. This restaurant is serious about its commitment to zero waste and eco-friendly practices, so you can feel good about eating here. But it's not just the philosophy that brings customers flocking here. It's a combination of great service and excellent food, including gluten-free and lactose-free options that ensure everybody can find something to eat here.

This was the first vegan restaurant in France to receive the Maitres Restauranteurs award, which recognizes restaurants that source their food locally and cook from scratch. From the first bite, you'll see the incredible attention to detail the owners, Willy and Camille, devote to their food and to the restaurant. No wonder this little gem is one of the most popular vegan-friendly eateries on the entire French Riviera.

Our Recommendation:

What could be more French than foie gras? Try this restaurant's take on the dish that uses no animal products, and you'll be celebrating French culinary tradition without the cruelty.

Location:

7 Rue de Lycee, Nice

Alounak

What's it like:

Not a strictly vegetarian restaurant, Alounak is nonetheless vegan and vegetarian-friendly and offers delicious vegan and vegetarian food alongside more traditional meat options. There's nothing fancy about this restaurant. Instead, what you'll get is friendly service and traditional Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on flavors from North Africa and the Arab world. The vegan options here cover starters, mains, and desserts, so you can enjoy a full meal without wondering what you're eating. In fact, there are more vegetarian options on the menu than there are for meat-eaters, but it's still a great option if you're in a group with a mix of dietary requirements.

Our Recommendation:

If you've never tried the slow-cooked North African dish known as tajine, you're in for a real treat. This iconic menu item can be made with or without meat and is served with couscous or rice for an authentic and delicious treat for the senses.

Location:

3 Rue d'Alsace-Lorraine, Nice

Koko Green

What's it like:

As well as being fully vegan, Koko Green takes an even harder path by serving only raw food. Still, you may be impressed by the variety of flavors and textures you can experience here even with those restrictions. Known among health-conscious eaters in the city for their delicious food and creative approach to cooking, Koko Green offers a range of dishes that changes according to what's in season. One thing you can always rely on, though, is that the food will be fully organic, vegan, and gluten-free.

The menu here changes each week, so keep an eye on Koko Green's social media if you want to see what they're making before you go. Or, you could just show up and see what surprises the menu has in store today, because whatever they serve, you know it will be plant-based, fresh, completely organic, and delicious.

Our Recommendation:

It's hard to recommend specific dishes in a place that changes its menu so often. However, if you get the chance to try their raw pizza, you should definitely take it. You won't miss the oven at all.

Location:

1 Rue de la Loge, Nice

La Belle Saison

What's it like:

In business since 2018, La Belle Saison is another Nice restaurant that changes its menu on a weekly basis to take advantage of the incredible seasonal produce of Provence. That means even locals never get tired of visiting here to see what else the chefs have concocted. With a focus on local and organic products, you can rest assured that the vegetarian food here is as healthy as it is delicious. The clean lines and minimalist decor of the dining area are designed to let the food speak for itself, and you won't need fancy bells and whistles to have a great experience here.

Our Recommendation:

This popular restaurant often fills up, and it's closed on Sundays and Mondays, so it's always a good idea to call ahead and make a reservation.

Location:

17 Rude Benoit Bunico, Nice

Paper Plane

What's it like:

Eating plant-based cuisine goes hand-in-hand with living a more ecologically friendly lifestyle, and the popular vegetarian restaurant Paper Plane adopts this philosophy wholeheartedly. The food here is handcrafted from refined ingredients made using organic farming practices, creating dishes that are as good for you as they are for the planet. This cozy breakfast and lunch joint offers free Wi-Fi and friendly service, and their lighter meals are ideal for punctuating a busy day of sightseeing without weighing you down. Most dishes here are vegan, but some recipes do use animal products such as eggs and cheese. Rest assured that this will be clearly marked on the menu.

Our Recommendation:

This is a great restaurant to grab something to go and take it to a park to enjoy a sunny day in Nice. Take advantage of their biodegradable take-out containers and head to nearby Place Wilson or Jardin Albert I to enjoy lunch under the Provençal sun.

Location:

14 Rue Gubernatis, Nice

Not Dog

What's it like:

If you're looking for something with more of a street food slant, Not Dog is the ideal place to get some of the best street food in Nice without consuming animal products. This hole-in-the-wall restaurant serves inventive takes on hot dogs and burgers that are completely vegan, making it an excellent food to grab while you're in the middle of exploring the city. Along with just about anything they can get in a bun, Not Dog also serves burrito bowls and desserts like brownies. But it's the meat-free hot dogs and burgers that keep customers coming back for more.

Our Recommendation:

You can't go wrong with l'Originale hot dog, served simply with caramelized onions and pickles for classic street food that's completely plant-based.

Location:

18 Boulevard Jean Jaures, Nice

Badaboom

What's it like:

This smoothie and juice bar is all about light, healthy options that don't sacrifice flavor. Ideal for a quick breakfast or light lunch, Badaboom serves small plates of food and offers a tapas brunch for €20 which includes a great selection of what they make. And if you're just looking to recharge with a smoothie, there's no better place to do that than here.

Our Recommendation:

The green curry is a popular favorite here and comes as part of the tapas brunch so you can try it along with a variety of other menu items.

Location:

11 Rue Francois Guisol, Nice

Caju Vegan

What's it like:

Located close to Cours Saleya and Nice's iconic flower market, this popular restaurant offers both dining and take-out options, all of them plant-based and vegan friendly. Offering a great alternative to traditional heavy Provençal dishes, Caju focuses on superfood juices and lighter plates such as vegan burgers and curries. It's the perfect place for lunch in Old Nice and makes for a change from the Indian food or falafel vegetarians are so often forced to rely on while traveling.

Our Recommendation:

The refreshing juices and smoothies are a great way to stay hydrated and energized while you explore this fascinating part of town.

Location:

1 Rue Jules Gilly, Nice

La Table de Maman

What's it like:

Translating as Mama's Table, this Ethiopian restaurant offers something a little different from the juice bars that dominate vegan food and the rest of the city. Veganism has been part of Ethiopian culture for centuries, and this restaurant stays true to that tradition by offering a wide variety of vegan and gluten-free dishes made from whole foods. This restaurant does serve meat, but the vegan and vegetarian options are at least as plentiful and just as delicious, if not more so. This is a great place for a hearty meal from another culture while you explore the fascinating attractions of Nice.

Our Recommendation:

Take a culinary tour through Ethiopia without leaving your seat with the assorted vegetarian plate. This allows you to try several different classic Ethiopian staples to see which you like best.

Location:

20 Rue Vernier, Nice

Conclusion

Compared to many other Western nations, France has been slow to adopt vegetarian cuisine. However, that's changing quickly, especially in the bigger cities. And Nice is no exception. This list of the best vegetarian restaurants in Nice is by no means comprehensive, and you'll find a vegetarian or even a vegan option in many parts of the city so you can enjoy the cuisine of the French Riviera without consuming animals.

Drop off your bags at a Bounce luggage storage in Nice, and get ready to enjoy the best vegetarian and vegan food Provence has to offer.