bmibaby - Destinations: Nice

best rooftop aperitif :
Plaz’Art Kafé
Perch on one of the sleek modern stools at Plaz’Art Kafé, located on the Boscolo Hôtel Plaza’s rooftop terrace. Mojito in hand, let your gaze sweep 360-degrees: from Mont Boron in the east, to the stream of airplanes in the west, landing against the splashy sunset sky. From autumn through springtime, a massive ferris wheel lends its striking silhouette to the boulevard out front.
Where > Plaz’Art Kafé, 12 avenue de Verdun, Nice, Tel: +33 (0)4 97 03 19 00. view map

best croissant:
Boulangerie Hervé Martinez
As the sun slowly nudges its way above the Mediterranean, Nice’s early morning air is thick with the buttery scent of hot croissants. Start your day at the tiny Boulangerie Hervé Martinez to pick up a couple of the city’s most melt-in-your-mouth creations.
Where > Boulangerie Hervé Martinez, 24 rue Cassini, Nice, Tel: +33 (0)4 93 55 32 75. view map

best veggie food:
La Zucca Magica
Red, white or rosé is the only choice you’ll make at La Zucca Magica, a restaurant in the city’s Old Port. With an interior packed full of its namesake pumpkins, lit by softly flickering candles, this vegetarian restaurant serves up exclusively five-course, seasonal set menus. Both scrumptious and ever-popular, reservations are essential.
Where > La Zucca Magica, 4 Quai Papacino, Nice, Tel: +33 (0)4 93 56 25 27. view map

best midnight tango:
at Quai Rauba-Capeau
On weekend evenings, head to Quai Rauba-Capeau, the rounded promontory between the city’s Old Town and picturesque port. Temperate nights see couples of all ages tango around a portable stereo, with fantastic views over the Promenade des Anglais in the distance.
Where > Quai Rauba-Capeau

best postcards:
Martinetti
If cheesy beach pics tend to leave you cringing, head to Martinetti, in Nice’s Old Town. Postcards (and posters) on sale feature artistic shots of the French Riviera over the past 100 years, as well as a colourful selection from the proprietor-cum-photographer’s travels in Cuba. Check out Charles Nègre’s early 20th century black and white photos, including La Réserve and Nice’s old Brightonesque pier, destroyed during World War II.
Where > Martinetti, 17 rue de la Préfecture Nice, Tel: +33 (0)4 93 85 61 30. view map

best view:
from Colline du Chateau
For stunning vistas from Cap Ferrat to Cap d’Antibes, clamber up to the Colline du Chateau. Although Louis XIV may have leveled the chateau in 1706, the hilltop park still boasts an artificial waterfall, rambling children’s playgrounds and plenty of petanque runs. A word of warning – every day at noon, the midday hour is marked by a deafening cannon blast from the Colline’s peak. Be prepared.
Where > Colline du Chateau; access by stairs from rue Rossetti, rue Catherine Segurane and place du 8 Mai; access by lift (€0.80 single) from place du 8 Mai view map

best romantic night out:
Le Bistrot de la Réserve
Far from the tourist crowds, Finnish masterchef Jouni Tormanen creates some of the Riviera’s finest cuisine in the Art Deco environs of Le Bistrot de la Réserve. Located on the east side of the port, Le Bistrot’s terrace sits directly above the waves, lapping gently at the Cap de Nice’s base. The food is divine – try Jouni’s signature calamars à la plancha (squid, lightly fried and slightly spicy) – and the service by maritime-clad waiting staff simply adds to the experience.
Where > Le Bistrot de la Réserve, 60 Boulevard Franck Pilatte, Tel: +33 (0)4 97 08 29 98. view map
Website > www.lareservedenice.com