The French cooking tradition is universally known as one of the world’s most refined and elegant. It skilfully combines classic ingredients with a dose of experimental solutions and local influences. Each region in France has its own way of preparing and seasoning national dishes, and Southeast French cuisine shows a clear inspiration from Spanish, Catalan and Italian traditions, and is strongly based on vegetables, herbs and olive oil. Typical starters are vegetable salad and cheese.

As for etiquette, there's a small set of rules that you need to observe when visiting a French restaurant. Biting on a whole piece of bread might raise a number of eyebrows. Locals usually tear it into small pieces with their hands and then only eat the bits. When dining at a French friend's house, remember to let your host commence the meal.

The sunny boulevards of Nice are lined with exceptional restaurants for every taste and budget. The sparkling Promenade de Anglais is home to some of the most prestigious establishments in the city, all featuring a wonderful view of the sea. Visitors eager to taste an interesting take on the traditional delights should stop by Don Camillo in Nice's Old Town. Barale and Au Rendez-vous des Amis offer lesser-known regional specialities. Baud et Millet is a great traditional wine cellar, where you can also taste some of the finest local cheeses. Le Chantecler and Le Mélisande, both located in luxurious hotels, offer more classy meals in a sophisticated environment. For excellent fresh fish, book a table at Boccaccio or at Coco Beach. When you tire of sampling French specialities, drop by Zucca Magica and Québec to try their wonderful pizzas and Italian pasta.

Looking for a nice place to spend the evening over a glass of beer and a snack? Vieux-Nice, in the Old Town, is a labyrinth of vibrant pubs and bars. Dutch De Klomp serves a variety of beer from various countries in northern Europe. Master Home is an Irish pub serving their own variation of Irish Coffee. To see interesting local bands playing live in the evening, stop by Big Ben, MacMahon's, Chez Wayne, La Douche, or O'Neill's Irish Pub.