Cafés, tearooms and pastry shops in Nice: our picks
Century-old chocolatiers, artisan gelato makers, coffee roasters and tearooms: fourteen verified addresses in Nice, with specialities and indicative opening hours to make the most of a sweet break.
Artisan chocolate, candied fruit, ice cream you won't find elsewhere and coffee roasted on site: in Nice, the sweet break is an institution.
Here are fourteen verified addresses, historic chocolatiers and confectioners, pastry shops, gelato makers, coffee roasters and tearooms, to help you choose where to stop between two visits. The times given are indicative and subject to change: several shops close at midday or in summer, and dropping by the day before is still the safest habit.
Historic chocolatiers and confectioners
Three houses that are part of Nice's history, between Old Nice and the port district.
- Maison Auer: 7 rue Saint-François-de-Paule, Old Nice. A confectionery and chocolate shop founded in 1820, taken over in October 2024 by the Dolfi family (À la Mère de Famille), which keeps the house recipes: candied fruit, chocolates and amandes princesses to take home. Indicative hours: Monday to Saturday 9am-6pm, with a possible midday break depending on the season.
- Confiserie Florian: 14 quai Papacino, on the port. A house born in 1921 and based on the port since 1974; it offers a free guided tour of the workshops with a tasting, to see candied fruit and almond paste being made. Indicative hours: 7 days a week 9am-6.30pm, shop closed between 12pm and 2pm.
- JP Paci Chocolatier: 19 avenue Notre-Dame. The specialist in "chocolate ravioli", halfway between confectionery and a nod to Nice. Indicative hours: Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am-1pm and 2.30pm-7pm; the Nice shop closes in summer (11 July-18 August, dates to be confirmed off-season).
Pastry shops
- Pâtisserie Canet: 25 boulevard Gambetta, with two other addresses (7 rue Longchamp and 3 rue Maccarani). A house founded in 1927, now run by the third generation. Indicative hours (recorded in 2024): Tuesday to Saturday 8am-7.30pm, Sunday 8am-1pm, closed on Monday.
- Lac Chocolatier: 12 rue de la Préfecture, plus 18 rue Barla, 49 rue Gioffredo and Cap 3000. Since 1995 the house has been a member of the Relais Desserts network; fine pastries and crafted chocolates. Indicative hours for the Old Nice shop: Monday to Saturday 9.30am-7.30pm, Sunday 9.30am-1pm and 3pm-7pm.
Gelato makers
Old Nice is where the artisan gelato makers cluster: four safe bets for an ice cream on the go.
- Glacier Fenocchio: 2 place Rossetti and 6 rue de la Poissonnerie (production kitchen in La Gaude). Since 1966 the house has made around 90 flavours, from the classics to the most surprising. Sources differ on the hours: the simplest thing is to ask on site.
- Azzurro Artisan Glacier: 1 rue Sainte-Réparate, Old Nice. Artisan gelato since 1997 and more than 50 flavours. Open from spring to autumn, closed in winter: hours vary with the season.
- Arlequin Gelati: 9 avenue Malaussena, also at 43 avenue Jean-Médecin and at César Milano. An artisan gelato maker since 2006, with original flavours that change with the seasons. Hours unconfirmed: ask on site.
- Papilla: 7 rue Saint-François, Old Nice. A recent gelato maker, ranked No. 1 for ice cream in Nice by Tripadvisor in summer 2026; at the height of the season it's best to come early, as the queues build up quickly. Hours to check on site.
Speciality cafés and coffee roasters
Historic roasters and speciality coffee shops now share the city.
- Cafés Indien: 35 rue Pairolière, with a workshop at 2 bis rue Sainte-Réparate. The oldest coffee roaster in Nice, run by the Torre family for three generations; the house is also an official partner of OGC Nice. Hours to be confirmed depending on the shop.
- HUG Café: 2 rue de Suisse, right in the centre. A speciality coffee shop open since 2021, working with beans roasted in Antibes; a favourite stop with enthusiasts. Indicative hours: 7.30am-7pm.
- Caffè Orso: 7 avenue du Maréchal-Foch. A resolutely Italian café: cappuccino, focaccia and homemade Italian pastries, for a quick and careful lunch break. Hours unconfirmed: check on site.
- Selah Atelier: 23 rue de Dijon. A speciality café combined with a flower workshop, with homemade pastries; a cosy spot to work or read in peace. Indicative hours: Tuesday to Saturday 9am-5.30pm.
Tearooms
- Au Goût Thé d'Antan: 31 avenue Borriglione, Valrose district. A retro tearoom faithful to old-fashioned service: teas, thick hot chocolate and homemade cakes, with vegan options. Indicative hours (recorded in 2024): Tuesday to Saturday 12pm-7pm.
Our tips
- In the morning, aim for the markets. After a stroll through the cours Saleya market or a neighbourhood market, the chocolatiers of Old Nice open in the late morning: enough to combine sightseeing and treats (see our article The markets of Nice and the tour of cours Saleya).
- Avoid the 1pm-2pm slot. Many shops close at midday (Florian in particular) and some houses take a midday break: plan your sweet break before 12.30pm or after 2.30pm.
- In summer, adjust your pace. The gelato makers of Old Nice are stormed at the hottest hours and after dinner; early morning or early evening is more comfortable. Pastry shops and tearooms, for their part, offer an ideal shady break in the middle of the day.
- To go further. Fancy a full sweet-and-savoury meal? Our guide to brunch in Nice takes over. And to understand what you're tasting, head for Niçoise cuisine, without forgetting our addresses for eating cheaply in Nice.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you eat the best ice cream in Nice?
Old Nice is where the safe bets cluster: Fenocchio (place Rossetti, around 90 flavours), Azzurro (rue Sainte-Réparate) and Papilla (rue Saint-François), ranked No. 1 for ice cream in Nice by Tripadvisor in summer 2026. Arlequin Gelati, avenue Malaussena, also offers original flavours.
Can you visit a confectionery or a workshop?
Yes: Confiserie Florian, on the port, offers a free guided tour of the workshops with a tasting (7 days a week 9am-6.30pm, shop closed between 12pm and 2pm). A good way to understand how candied fruit is made before you buy.
Are the shops open on Sundays and Mondays?
It depends: Canet is closed on Mondays, Lac opens on Sunday morning and in the late afternoon, while Selah Atelier and Au Goût Thé d'Antan close on Sundays and Mondays. Go by the posted hours, which change with the seasons.
What is the best time for a sweet break?
In the morning for the markets and the chocolatiers, avoiding the 1pm-2pm slot when many shops are closed. In summer, favour early morning or evening for gelato, quieter than in the hottest hours.
What sweet souvenirs can you bring back from Nice?
The candied fruit and chocolates from Maison Auer, the amandes princesses, the coffee roasted by Cafés Indien or the creations of Lac Chocolatier. To place these specialities in the local cuisine, see our article on the specialities of Nice.
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