La Civette du Cours

Update Jan 2012

Since my earlier review, the menu has been cut back drastically; snacks such as socca and some of the bruschettas have disappeared, which is a shame – La Civette is now a great place to lunch/brunch and drink, but if you want a light snack, the choice is a little limited.

As ever, friendly staff and a great place to while away an hour or two, especially mid-morning, when the market’s are up and running.

Probably the best spot on the Cours – as mentioned in other (English and French) reviews, it enjoys sunshine throughout the day and is extremely popular – be prepared to wait for a table at lunchtime.

The Civette is a local gay hang-out. During the day, the crowd is pretty mixed; all ages, both sexes. This changes dramatically at night-time, and just about every gay dans la ville is to (or has to) be seen there at some point, so even though there’s no dress code, you’ll feel better if you dress up to dress down.

The Bandol is their best wine; the white is more than a little tart and it’s worth splashing out for a better-tasting bottle. Food is good; the omelets and salads are superb and club sandwiches are enough for two to share (avec frites).

If you’re stuck for somewhere to drink after the fireworks on New Year’s eve, this is a good spot. The staff handed out streamers and other party gear, and we drank until the small hours.

The best terrace on the cours saleya!!! nice vibe, nice staff +++

When in Nice you HAVE to stop on the flower market on Cours Saleya in the heart of the Old Town. There the place to drink your coffee is definitely La Civette. At least this is the place for the locals, opening their Nice-Matin while having coffee or lunching with friends and family. This is particularly enjoyable during the market (every morning) with a South facing terrasse typically bathed by a perfect sun, and during the summer’s warm evenings to chill. The food is also good and reasonnable (compared to most other places around) so La Civette is a good spot for a good value lunch (less than €20). And you can always come back for the aperitif…