A Veggie Friendly guide to Cote D’Azur

With a long stretch of blue beaches, an easy life style and all the glitz and glamour, Cote D’Azur remains a popular holiday destination for many. There is awful lot of Michelin-starred faffing in the French Riviera and thanks to fresh seasonal produce from the land and sea, food quality is really high. However, eating out can be tricky for vegetarians. With only 10% of the population here having embarked on the vegan journey, the awareness of various diets is very limited. On several occasions we had to smile gently and repeat “no fish s’il vous plait”. Definitely feeling the gnocchi overload as we prepare our hand-picked guide to a Veggie Friendly Cote D’Azur.

Have breakfast at Paper Plane: If you are an early riser, head to Paper Plane for an all vegan breakfast. Veganism is on an upwards trend in Nice, making the city more vegan friendly than rest of the country.

 

 

Try the beaches:  Head to Anjuna Beach in Eze for a swim. Beware! this is a party beach. If you are after something more downbeat try Le Galet in Nice or Beach Les Pecheurs in Juan Les Pins (comes with a Michelin starred restaurant). These are private beaches and they seemed to have caught up on the Californian vibes, vegetarian poke bowls available. There are also plenty of gorgeous public beaches for a quick dip.

 

Eat where locals eat: Try Socca, a local delicacy, at L’Atelier. Mingle with the locals while trying a modern take on Nicoise specialties. Socca, as a dish, was a great discovery for us. A chickpea-flour based thin flatbread which can be topped with a salad of choice and voila - a vegan delight.

 

 

Veggie To Go:  If you are in a rush, head to The Healer for their healthy food boxes. This is a tiny take away cafe on the edge of the old town. Their delicious super salads are daily prepared.

 

 

Have a long lazy lunch at Colombe D'or: Drive up to Alpes-Maritimes, the quiet Riviera, for a lush lunch at Colombe D’or. Start with a vegetable basket served with vinaigrette while enjoying a priceless collection of art. Simple but chic in the best possible way. This place is very popular and booking several weeks in advance is required.

 

 

Go to Le Canon for natural wines: For young and hip - as we like it - head to Le Canon. The only ‘natural’ wine bar in Cote D’Azur serves only the best of Nice’s countryside have to offer. Recommended by our good friends at Noble Wine.

 

Give Eqvita a try: If visiting casinos in Monte Carlo is your thing, give Eqvita a try. Excellent plant-based and health-enhancing cafe owned by the tennis superstar Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena.