Peixes (that's "fish" in Portuguese) has been doing something refreshingly different in Vieux Nice since 2015: taking the humble poisson and giving it a modern, globe-trotting makeover. Think ceviche, carpaccio, tartare, and tataki — not your typical Niçoise fare. The young team brings serious energy and the cooking, as more than one reviewer has put it, is simply sublime.
Portuguese-named seafood spot in Vieux Nice turning out sublime ceviche, tataki, and carpaccio since 2015 — a refreshing break from the old-town classics.
Book ahead for dinner — with 4.4 stars across nearly 3,000 reviews, Peixes fills up fast, especially in summer. Go for lunch if you want a calmer experience with the old town at its most charming.
Modern seafood that breaks the Vieux Nice mold
If you're tired of the same old salade niçoise and bouillabaisse that every restaurant in Vieux Nice seems to serve, Peixes is your antidote. The name means "fish" in Portuguese, and since 2015 this place has been on a mission to modernize how Nice eats seafood. The menu leans into raw and lightly-cooked preparations — ceviche, carpaccio, tartare, tataki — and the execution is consistently sharp. The fish is fresh, the flavor combinations are inventive without being fussy, and the plating is genuinely beautiful. More than one reviewer has called the cooking "sublime," and with over 2,700 Google reviews at 4.4 stars, that's not just hype.
The vibe is young and energetic, matching the team behind it. It's a chic, modern space in the heart of the old town — not a stuffy white-tablecloth seafood house but somewhere you'd happily settle in for a long lunch or a proper dinner. Service gets frequent praise for being friendly and attentive. Prices are fair for the quality, though it's not the cheapest meal you'll find in the alleyways of Nice. If you're into natural wine, check out La Cave de Peixes next door — their wine bar offshoot with small plates and a great glass list. Go for lunch when the light streams through and the old town is at its most charming.