To dine at Restaurant Les Épicuriens is to enjoy a family gastronomic experience. We were delighted to dive into the Mathey family’s culinary adventure. Located in the heart of Nice, we were won over by the quality of its cuisine and its elegant setting.
Ideal for spending a pleasant moment with the family, the restaurant offers traditional dishes revisited in the colors of the South of France. Whether you choose to sit on the terrace or indoors, you’ll fall under the spell of Restaurant Les Épicuriens.
In this article, we take you on a tour of the restaurant’s bistronomic table, with photos and an account of our experience.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices, and paying all our bills in full.
Why eat at Restaurant Les Épicuriens in Nice?
Is Restaurant Les Épicuriens worth it? Our review
There’s no room for doubt! Restaurant Les Épicuriens transported us with its fine, generous cuisine. In fact, we’ve listed it among the 20 best restaurants to eat at in Nice. In our opinion, this establishment has 3 assets:
- A family affair: open since 2010, this restaurant is above all a family adventure. Chef Morgan Mathey is surrounded by members of his family: sommelier Claude Mathey, and room manager Julien Mathey. The restaurant offers a particularly warm welcome and impeccable service! We were impressed by the attention paid to customers in the dining room.
- A gustatory journey: the restaurant’s chef is committed to offering a cuisine inspired by his region and its traditions. Between the barbajuans, a Monegasque speciality, the artichoke salad and the lamb mouse cooked for 8 hours, we had a hard time choosing!
However, he also knows how to step out of his comfort zone to offer trendier dishes to which he adds his personal touch. The menu features a burger and a tataki, both with beef. We really appreciated the fact that each dish was paired with a wine directly on the menu, making it easier for us to choose the right wine and food pairing.
- An elegant world: located in the heart of Nice opposite Place Wilson, Restaurant Les Épicuriens is bursting with charm. We particularly appreciated the outdoor terrace and its touch of greenery. When the weather’s nice, this pleasant, spacious area is in high demand!
Once inside, we were pleasantly surprised by the room’s green and gold decor. From our vantage point, we enjoy an unobstructed view of the restaurant’s bar.
As you can see from our photos, the bar blends in perfectly with the elegant, friendly décor. Velvet-effect chairs and colorful plants add softness to the space. In short, we were really seduced by the aesthetics of the restaurant!
DISCOVER Nice
- Best things to do in Nice
- Where to stay in Nice: 15 best hotels
- Where to eat in Nice: 20 best restaurants
- The 12 best museums in Nice
- Best beaches
- Visit the Palais Lascaris
- Visit the MAMAC Museum
- Visit the Museum of Photography
- Itineraries: 1 day – 2 days – 3 days – 5 days – 7 days
- Rent a car in Nice (airport or train station)
- Most beautiful villages around Nice
What you will eat
To whet our appetites, Chef Mathey began with a light and interesting appetizer: a creamy curry with balsamic sauce.
To accompany this appetizer, we couldn’t resist tasting the bread. What a delightful surprise! It was a tasty homemade black olive bread, served while still warm. A real treat!
We were eager to discover the main course after these promising first bites. All the dishes on the menu tempted us. It wasn’t easy to choose between the revisited traditional dishes and the more modern recipes. Chef Mathey’s cuisine showcases fresh, local produce. They make up the signature dishes indicated on the menu by the letter “S”. You’ll find pan-roasted salmon, lamb mice cooked for 8 hours, and artichoke salad.
Among the starters, we were particularly keen on the “pressé de foie gras maison” and the crab millefeuille with its slightly tangy avocado. In fact, the list of dishes was just as appetizing! In the end, we opted for fresh calamari seared a la plancha, served with pommes grenaille and arugula. We recommend it, it was succulent and very well seasoned. It’s also good to know that Chef Mathey can offer vegetarian and gluten-free options for his dishes. In particular, there are salads.
To end our meal on a sweet note, we couldn’t resist a little dessert. The gourmet menu includes a variety of desserts: artisanal ice creams, cakes and a “café très très gourmand”. We finally settled on the giant madeleines and their chocolate pot.
The homemade madeleines were delicious and the melted chocolate not too sweet. For caffeine lovers, we recommend pairing this gourmet dessert with a long cup of coffee. It was a perfect way for us to end our meal.
What you will drink
If you’re a wine connoisseur, you’re in for a treat, as the restaurant offers over 50 bottles of wine on its menu, including wines from Provence. For our part, we didn’t opt for a bottle, but rather for a glass of Côtes de Provence blanc IGP Sainte-Béatrice, combining freshness and balance. The establishment offers 15 wines served by the glass: 7 reds, 7 whites and 1 rosé.
What’s more, we found the idea of directly associating food and wine pairings on their menu to be very pertinent, making it easier to choose the right dish and wine. You’ll be sure to drink a wine that goes perfectly with your dish. We thought it was clever!
To round off our meal, we also had coffee. But you have the choice of several drinks that, for some, help digestion: herbal tea, Irish coffee, digestives, liqueurs or a glass of champagne.
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Restaurant ambience
The atmosphere in the restaurant is friendly and elegant. The softly-appointed decor lends the premises an intimate charm. It’s a place where we felt right at home. Indeed, the Mathey family have succeeded in blending comfort and aesthetics through their decorative choices. The restaurant has a real family atmosphere.
What makes Restaurant Les Épicuriens so famous?
Claude and Chantal Mathey opened Restaurant Les Épicuriens in 2010, with the invaluable help of their sons Julien, in the dining room, and Morgan, in the kitchen. For all these years, the establishment has been well established in Nice and enjoys a solid reputation. Its downtown location also contributes to its success.
As proof of its quality, the restaurant was awarded the official Tables & Auberges label in 2022. It is therefore part of a process of passing on the local culinary tradition. This table is also a reference in the famous Michelin Guide. It’s a testament to the quality of his cooking!
WHERE TO STAY IN Nice
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
On the waterfront, with sea view:
Anantara Hotel – See prices, photos and availability
In the new town, close to the sea:
Hotel Apollinaire, elegant and bright – See prices, photos and availability
In the old town, with all the charm:
AparthotelAMMI Vieux Nice very practical and pleasant – see prices, photos and availability
Practical information about Restaurant Les Épicuriens in Nice
Type of restaurant
Bistronomic restaurant.
Schedules
The restaurant is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 12pm and 2pm and between 7pm and 10pm.
Where is Restaurant Les Épicuriens in Nice?
Restaurant Les Épicuriens is located opposite Place Wilson in Nice. The exact address is 6 place Wilson in Nice (0600), France.
- Driving time from Marseille : 2h20min.
- Driving time from Avignon: 2h50min.
- Driving time from Aix-en-Provence : 2h.
- Driving time from Cannes: 50min.
- Driving time from Antibes: 40min.
These times are approximate and depend on traffic.
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
How to get there
The restaurant is located right in the center of Nice. So you have several options for getting there by public transport. If you choose to take the streetcar, get off at the Durandy stop. This is the nearest streetcar stop to the hotel. If you choose to take the bus, there are several stops nearby, including Wilson, Pastorelli and Alberti / Hôtel des Postes.
To get to Nice, you have several options. The city is easily accessible by car, plane and train. If you choose the train or plane option, you can depart directly from Paris. By train, you can also take a direct route from Lyon, Cannes, Marseille, Toulon, and many other European cities.
See the available schedules and book your train tickets now.
However, we recommend that you travel by car, which is the most practical means of transport in the region. You can easily take the A8 freeway, which links Nice to other towns in Provence.
Finally, the restaurant is very close to the Old Nice. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from the Palais Lascaris – musée des instruments de musique and the Musée de la Photographie Charles Nègre.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO provence
Our articles are coming!
- Most beautiful cities in Provence (coming soon)
- Most beautiful beaches of Provence (coming soon)
- Most beautiful villages of Provence (to come)
- Most beautiful destinations in Provence (coming soon)
Parking
The restaurant does not have a dedicated parking lot.
However, you’ll easily find nearby parking lots in the city center and Vieux Nice. We recommend that you check that the parking lots are secure before parking. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for cars to be vandalized.
We recommend the Nice Étoile parking lot, located 8 minutes’ walk from the establishment on Rue Lamartine. In the old part of town, the Sulzer interparking lot, an 11-minute walk from the restaurant, is also recommended by users. You even have the possibility to reserve your place in advance on their official website. This parking lot offers hourly and daily rates.
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
For people with reduced mobility
The establishment is accessible to people with reduced mobility. It has no upper floor and is located on the first floor. The interior is airy, so you can easily move between the tables.
However, we would like to point out that there are small steps leading up to the terrace.
Is Restaurant Les Épicuriens family friendly?
Absolutely! We really recommend this place for a convivial family meal. This is in keeping with the restaurant’s philosophy: “To be Epicurean is to enjoy the pleasures of life“, Epicure. What could be better than spending some quality time with the family in an exceptional restaurant?
There is no children’s menu on the menu. Nevertheless, there are some dishes and desserts that might appeal to them!
The bill
Restaurant Les Épicuriens offers both à la carte dishes and menus. It offers reasonably priced lunchtime formulas, including a dish of the day and drink combo for under €20. You can also opt for the “Epicurean Lunch” at €27, which includes starter of the day, main course of the day and dessert of the day.
What’s more, we recommend that lovers of local gastronomy try the gourmet menu. It includes a starter, main course and dessert for €43. For the quality of the products and the accuracy of the dishes, the prices are really consistent.
Our entire meal cost around €45 per person, excluding the menu but including drinks. For this price, we enjoyed an original appetizer, a delicious main course, a generous dessert, a glass of white wine and a coffee.
Reservation and contact
We recommend anticipating your visit to Restaurant Les Épicuriens. It’s best to book in advance on their official website or by phone on +33 (0) 4 93 80 85 00.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO provence
Our articles are coming!
- Most beautiful cities in Provence (coming soon)
- Most beautiful beaches of Provence (coming soon)
- Most beautiful villages of Provence (to come)
- Most beautiful destinations in Provence (coming soon)
All our tips in this article were put into words with the help of Elisa.
