Le Safari

We all have very mixed feelings about this place. The waiter was very very nice, friendly and helpful...but the food just wasn't something we can remember positively. It was too strange for all four of us and we all wished we ordered pizza. We had swordfish, fish nuggets, porchetta and tripe and definitely wouldn't order any of these dishes again. And it wasn't cheap...

Good food but bad service. We had to ask for a basket of bread and for an ice bucket for the wine in 31 degrees celsius (something other tables got). We were treated like the absolute lowest priority, probably because we hadn’t reserved a table.

Place is great for being central, there are indoor and outdoor options to sit. Probably the best pesto pasta I’ve ever had. It was light and fresh. I will definitely make it a point to come and get the same dish. Price is reasonable. Only issue I have is that eating outside, you will smell smoke from the cafe/bar next door. Though they have a glass wall in between the restaurants, the smoke is still noticeable.

We had an incredible dining experience here! We ordered the pasta with seafood, fried calamari, and the aioli de la mer — and every single dish was absolutely amazing. The seafood was fresh and flavorful, the pasta perfectly cooked, and the aioli was a standout with its rich, savory depth. But honestly, as great as the food was, the best part of the entire evening was our waiter, Pierre. Attentive, warm, and genuinely enthusiastic — he elevated the whole experience and made us feel truly welcome. We definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for top-tier food and exceptional service. Can’t wait to come back!

I really appreciate that this restaurant is open in the afternoon. The staff was not really enthusiastic but they were polite. Food (pizza) was completely okay.

Simply superb. We had the dish of the day (tortellini with half a lobster, beef ravioli and seafood with aioli. Chefs kiss. It was recommended by Rick Steves and this man never misses.

I've been meaning to have lunch at Le Safari for ages. We finally squeezed it in on this last trip, after spending some time shopping in the market. We had an excellent lunch. My spouse had a seafood platter and I had gambas à la plancha. Service was good and the terrace offers excellent people-watching. Not all restaurants on the Cours Saleya are good. Many are tourist traps. This one really stands out.

Le Safari in Nice, France, offers a genuine taste of Mediterranean cuisine. Every dish is made with fresh ingredients and delivers an authentic, well-balanced flavor. From the seasoned seafood to the pasta, the quality and care from the kitchen are clear. Located in the bustling Cours Saleya market, the restaurant has a warm, inviting atmosphere that enhances the meal. The decor reflects Riviera style, and the staff are friendly and attentive, creating a relaxed dining experience. At Le Safari, great food and a charming setting come together for a memorable experience in the heart of Nice.

Excellent pizza & salad. Ordered the mushroom, ham, etc pizza. Enough to share. The server brought a bottle of oil with spices to drizzle on the pizza. It was DELICIOUS!! The salad was Nicoise with Tuna. Very good with olive oil & balsamic dressing. Our Hôtel recommend this restaurant. We will go again!

The food and service was outstanding! Better Italian then some places in Italy, but it was a great atmosphere!

I think the address may have changed based on mapping. It is on the Cours Saleya. We were walking around trying a find a spot to eat at about 5, a difficult time in Nice where most fine dining restaurants are closed until 7. Of the open spots this seemed the best bet based on the menu and vibe. Did not disappoint! Attentive service, and fine food. Had a whole artichoke special appetizer with a Dijon dipping sauce, and calamari with an aioli. For entrees a Niçoise salad, a pasta with pesto, and a simple grilled salmon with sautéed squash and mashed potatoes. Everything was truly delicious and fresh.

First dinner in south of France, everything was great however the pizza was a little too salty. We got the napoleon but it was still a good pizza. I got a Niçoise salad for myself and I liked it! my mom and her bf loved their steak a lot. We want to come back!!

We found this place by accident in the afternoon period when most restaurants along the riviera close between lunch and dinner. We didn't expect much since it's in a very touristy area in old town, but we found the food to be delicious. They had s fes vegetarian options. We ended up splitting a pizza and mozzarella do búfala salad, both were incredibly fresh and delicious. The service was very friendly as well and like most restaurants along this street, the patio was super cute

Service was okay, ambience was nice, food was mediocre or worse. I had a pizza with prosciutto and tomatoes and it had absolutely no taste. My wife had the linguine in pesto and we could barely eat it. My son had a pizza also with cheese and anchovies and it was decent. The place was packed and we were recommended to this place one of the France guides we read before we came but the author must have been greased by the shop as I would never eat here again. Sorry but it was subpar and Terrible. We are foodies and always have something good to say about where we eat.

Liked the steak the first night I went there. I ended up going's the second time and had pizza. We enjoyed the pizza too.

I've tried their ravioli and it was SOOOO delicious that I couldn't take a picture hands down the best dish I've tried in this area!

The host who sat us seemed nice enough. Otherwise mediocre all around. We wanted to try authentic Nice cuisine, but in all fairness, we're not eggplant fans. Our appetizers, some kind of not very flavorful oily pepper and anchovy dish and stuffed eggplant and pepper with salad, were just OK. My husband had the stewed beef and ravioli entrée, which he says was tasty if you're into such things. My margarita pizza was decent but nothing special. Prices were decent. And we had the pleasure of sitting between two tables of smokers There are so many good restaurants in the area, you can do better.

Not giving 5 stars because they have to have something to thrive for. The pizzas are really good, the fried calamari is awesome. Great staff, very friendly, would recommend.

I'm going back again before my trip is over! I found this place quite by accident. I was on my way to a famous pastry shop when I walked by. As I walked by a waitress delivered to some guests what looked like thee most delicious fish plate ever! It stopped me in my tracks, it looked that good!! After the pastry shop I went back and asked her for that same fish. I've traveled all over the world, I'm not joking when I say that fish is the best I have ever tasted! Perfection Chef, PERFECTION! I'll add a pic when I go back!

Racist table manager. The table manager treated us badly because of our race. First he pushed us to the back when there clearly was a free table at the front. He seated us in the back in an impolite and disrespectful manner. Then the he seated Caucasian people at the table in the front with a big smile. Then another table in the front was free and we asked to be changed. He again treated us in a disrespectful manner and left us waiting. He never came back with an answer and suddenly seated again other Caucasian people at the free table in the front with a big smile. We asked for a better treatment and he refused to admit his racist manners. He treated all Caucasian people with a big smile and all others in a bad way. At the end I tried to talk to the manager but his only answer was to say that the table manager is a regular. I can't believe this can happen at all, let alone in such a touristic city. It is very sad. The food was good and the waitress treated us well but that kind of treatment is unbelievable in this day and age.

Don't go here! We were so hungry and stopped at Le Safari for dinner. The pasta and pizza tasted like straight up oil. the gnocchi was not cooked through. We were very disappointed. This was the most expensive meal we had that day and the most unsatisfying. Don't even think about it. Also- the staff was rude.

This place was amazing! High quality food! Really tasty. The stuffed pork (stuffed with vegetables) was so good. Stuffed veggies (stuffed with meat) so good, should of ordered a whole order, not half. Great service despite the fact that it was packed. Nice location. Local recommended we go there.

Pretty sure this is where the locals tell all the American tourists to go to keep us out of the spots they frequent. We tried several dishes and while they weren't bad, nothing was notable. Actually, I take it back, don't order the fish soup. The soup aside, it got the job done. I think the gnocchi was the best thing we ordered. Also, I just returned from Rome, so maybe I was a bit jaded at the offerings. It's a decent spot with good people watching, but I bet there's better.

Wow. Tasty and well served. Had lesser expectations, this being in a well-toured area, but was delighted with the meal and service. The French cuisine was favored by other French visitors, which spoke well to me, and the food finished that conversation nicely. Even the Italian was great. The pace was slow and gentle, which suited our headspace nicely. Push customers should either drink some of their well-mixed beverages or pick somewhere faster. We'll go back here instead.

Located overlooking the flower market, Le Safari was just not up to the hype I had heard and read about it. While the servers were very accommodating- the food just wasn't good and with so many places competing for my money, I wish I had spent it somewhere else. We went with a larger sized group and given we had reservations, we were seated on the patio right away. This was the best part of the evening as we could people watch to our hearts content. The wine was quite good so that was a plus. But the appetizer plate which was a combo of a few things including a really bitter undercooked artichoke salad. I had some kind of beef stew served over ravioli and one in our group had the lamb chops. The lamb chops were not of high quality ( a bit stringy) and my beef stew was also tasteless. And for dessert- my apple tartin was bland and soggy- all I all not a great experience. If you go- try something else on the menu as the steak and frites the next table over was enjoying looked pretty good. Nice accommodating servers- too bad the food wasn't as good.

We got a table in the middle of the road outside of the restaurant - and we thought that the waiter will forget us amongst the crowd. Surprisingly, he was attentive, did not get our order wrong, and took care of us. The lamb here was heavenly and the fish soup was good too. I had the fixed price menu that I had 4 choices each for a 2 course meal (plus one desert). The price was more than reasonable. Good food, good atmosphere, and good price - how can you beat that! PS. the wine is cheaper than coke... go for the wine!

Yummy pizza and vibrant atmosphere. Service was great and very accommodating

The food is A+++ but the service is slow and not very attentive. Example: we got our Coca-Cola soda orders AFTER we'd finished eating, and that was after 3 reminders! However, the food is worthwhile and the location is perfect.

The food is good, little slow of a service and they even accommodate my vegetarian husband

This establishment was suggested as a place where locals eat to get authentic Italian food. Where can I start. The house white wine tasted like Yeast - yes you read that correctly. The aroma, the taste, the look was of a wine which had turned. When I mentioned something to the waiter he apologized and said the house wine is very bad. Didn't replace it just apologized. The basil pasta was just greens on an olive oil soaked pasta. No flavor at all. Some garlic, some salt, a little onion and there could have at least been some flavor. I've eaten Italian food all over the globe - US, Asia, Australia, and yes Italy. I'm not sure what this was but can only think that someone thought that boiling spaghetti meant Italian food. The service was slow and the restaurant very hot. Do not waste your vacation dollars to be disappointed here.

Le Safari is right beside a busy market in the old town of Nice. We just wanted a quick bagette for lunch, but couldn't find anywhere for a take away. This restaurant appealed because it was nicely shaded from the hot sun. I ordered the mozzarella and tomato salad and wine. The dressing was a lovely pesto dressing and the mozzarella was smooth and tasty. I wish we had been hungry enough for the fish soup which looked lovely and seemed to be s speciality in Le Safari. Around €15 for salad which was average, drinks were cheaper than the main restaurants in Nice

Do not go here if you are American - even if you speak French. The staff will be rude and ruin your experience of Nice. A used set of silverware was left at the table and the waitress did not replace it so we asked in french if we could get a new set as it had already been used and handed her it wrapped in its napkin. She dropped it by the table and made noises of disgust. She glared at us the entire time and spoke rudely even to my children who said merci ever time came by. It was obvious even to the owner she was being rude and he did nothing to make us feel more comfortable or welcome. Traveling this far to be together as a family And have angry and mean people ruin your time and you paying for it is unacceptable. It changes how I view Coming to Nice.

I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. The ambience in the square was nice, but the food was nothing to write home about. Would go probably anywhere else. It was expensive and felt like someone was playing a joke on me. Ordered the soupe de poissons which had zero fish, the ravioli a la nicoise which were definitely made elsewhere and were previously frozen and the parillade de poisson grilled was the worst, fried fish, langostine that was not cleaned, utter chaos. Rick Steves did me wrong.

Pretty good treated us well . Blonde female server was hands down best service I had experienced in Nice . Food was good didn't dove in too much steak and fries cooked perfectly... dessert I had creme brulee .. lacked vanilla bean but was very good .. beer was cold and tasty .. definitely worth a try.

This restaurant was recommended to me by a local. I enjoyed the food and the experience immensely. Our waiter was quite the opposite of rude. He was gracious, attentive and helpful. He enhanced our experience humoring us with his weak English speaking skills and our weak French speaking skills. I broke a glass. I clumsily knocked it off the table a centimeter away from the manager/owner's? foot. It shattered loudly. He smiled, and told me no worries. When I asked the waiter for a new glass, he brought a gigantic bucket of ice. I forgot the years of french I took as a student. Anyway... While I am not a professional taster, trained chef or official reviewer, I have eaten in a handful Michelin rated establishments. My wife and I try to visit some of the better known restaurants in any city we stay in. During the past two years, this includes cities such as Rome, Venice, Paris, New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans etc... we ordered the big appetizer sampler. It was all very good. Everything was fresh, local and not the slightest bit over-seasoned. You could taste the South of France in every bite of the eight different appetizers. We ordered the signature artichoke and fresh calamari dish. It was sublime. I have never eaten calamari that melted in my mouth like this. There were no heavy or powerful sauces to mask the flavor of the calamari. If I could eat this every night I was in Nice, I'd be very happy. My wife ordered the $28 steak. I forget the name of the steak. In any case, it was cooked more than she asked for. The waiter offered to get her a new one. The steak was adequate. The best steaks I have ever eaten come from the United States. It's our specialty right? I typically avoid ordering steak outside of the USA. I warned her, but she went with the steak anyway. It was quite good. It was a gorgeous piece of meat. It just wasn't as special as the more complex offerings on the menu. Desert was awesome. It was a rather large offering of profiteroles. In an area where its difficult to tell the difference between great food and tourist traps, le Safari is a unique experience with some really unique and delicious dishes.

I had the most amazing service and meal here! I got the fish soup and was blown away by the complex flavors and textures. I highly recommend it. My waiter was so kind and knew I was traveling (obviously a tourist) and brought me a guide book and asked me back for the next time I visit Nice. I plan on coming back!!

I'm a veteran of many Restaurants in Provence and elsewhere in the South of France, I speak proficient french, and I always felt indignant or skeptical on reading Anerican tourist complaints about French waiters. However, after lunch at Safari I finally encountered for myself a place with careless, surly waiters. I ordered les petits plats farcis, which was a good dish taste wise but insubstantial for the price, but at each step of the meal was treated to huge wait times and indeed became concerned that I had become invisible. It was a solid half hour from when I asked for the check until I got it, my original waiter having completely disappeared. As an alternative please consider Bar des Oiseaux, an excellent eatery on Rue St Vincent.

Fish soup is good but not hot enough for cheese to melt. Scampis were fresh but way over cooked !!!

This is a great place to watch people "faire une promenade" in the Cours Saleya while munching on your fritto misto. Service is friendly and there are quite a few selections on the menu. You shouldn't walk away hungry!

In the heart of old town Nice, this establishment is cute & the food is good! There are so many outdoor restaurants in this area, it's hard to know what's going to be a good meal vs a touristy meal. I happened upon this place and I had good service, good food & good wine. I did have other meals while in Nice that were slightly better so I'm giving this 3 stars instead of 4. I hope to return for another good experience.

Delicious, authentic taste of what French Riviera cooking should be. There are a lot of touristy restaurants in this part of Nice, but this was my favorite restuarant while on my own dime (not work's). I had a delicious local fish - (I'm not able to recall the name) tender, flakey and flavorful white fish and the portion was quite generous. My waiter was running around like crazy - he was left solo to take care of about 12 tables outside. He did a fantastic job, and never forgot about my table for one. Everything on the menu sounded good, and the surrounding tables' food made me wish I had a bigger appetite. If I find myself in Nice again, I will make it a point to have a meal here.

We got the black (from squid ink) spaghetti seafood dish for lunch. These dishes were huge so we split it and they had no issues. Location was superb and waitstaff was excellent. The dishes and wine were excellent. I would be coming back to this place.

Excellent spot, especially if you are in the mood for a leisurely brunch alongside the flower market on a Sunday. Good food, accommodating staff. Definitely not a place to go if you are in a hurry. Slow!

Possibly the best restaurant on the Cours Saleya (though we didn't by any means go to them all). There are a lot of tourist traps around that area, but Safari is a real find. It has genuinely good quality French food (and indeed, a lot of French customers when we were there) and excellent Italian food if you want a break from French food. The service was a little slow, but all part of the atmosphere.

Beautiful location. Nicoise salad, lamb, and gelato. YES. gelato. After a month tasting gelato all over Italy I still remember this was my favorite. Lovely ambiance, staff were delightful. Would not have changed a thing.

This place is conveniently next to the market full of antiques and used goods. Good view, I suppose. It's also about a block from the beach. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the wait from getting seated to ordering to the food actually arriving was about an hour or more. Maybe it's just how they typically eat in France, but we were definitely impatient. Also, we had so much left over since we couldn't finish and we asked them to box it. They took our plates to the back and said they don't do boxes. I was so frustrated since there were so much left over, but they were kind enough to accommodate us in the end. I got the shrimp scampi pasta and man! It was so good! Authentic and yummy!

We, my family and I, had fried calamari and pizzas ( Reine and Provencale) and it was all very good. The waiters were very friendly and professional, and we could not have been happier with the service that they provided.

One of my favorite spots on the seleya. Even in the tourist area some things are decent!

Very expensive.. but some of the best calamari I have ever ever had and I've eaten so many places. The pasta is delicious and so is the salad. I might have to come back AGAIN even though I've come here twice already lol. Great location and great service.

Very expensive but the food was not corresponding for the big price. Ordered traditional French fish soup which was below average. Good wines. Will not be included to my favoris restaurant. Mostly business people

For a restaurant in a touristy section of Nice, the food here is very decent! Not a bad place for an easy, casual dinner. The wood fired pizzas are easy to share and very good. It does fill up fast, but might be worth the wait in comparison to other restaurants in the square.

We had our last dinner in Nice here. The service was great and the staff was working hard. The wine selection was not as robust, but the food was great! I had the risotto which was great with two massive shrimp. My wife had the gnocchi which was well prepared but we didn't think as good as the risotto. Our waitress spoke fantastic English, but I don't know if that holds true for the rest of the staff. The calamari was great! Desert here was average but when we ordered a creme brûlée and they said they were out the waitress went to another restaurant and got us one! Thanks for the great experience! C'est tres bien!

The ambience is Mediterranean and the food is excellent. But the service, man they need a lesson in service and manors. I don't know if it's a French thing but it's almost jaw dropping to see.

Impeccable service and awesome actual niçois food. The petit farcis are an absolute delight as are other local specialities such as the daube with the house made raviolis. The interior of the restaurant is also very nicely decorated and the waiters have been very welcoming to us.

This is a real tourist spot in Nice. The restaurant is at the end of the pedestrian street in old town, big, crowded and full of tourists. You should not expect too much from the service. I do not think the waiters are qualified nor very friendly. However the food was not that bad, I had calamari with artichokes which tastes really nice, but I expected it to be warmer. I think it waited sometime on the counter before served to table. My husband had rabbit which I refused to eat that cute animal. But I couldn't stop myself and tasted it and surprisingly it tasted very nice. We had the house wine which I did not like that much. But wine is wine and we drank it all. The best thing with regard to the restaurant was that if you are lucky to find a nice table facing the pedestrian way, it is really enjoying to watch people passing by while you are eating. Of course the weather should be nice like we had that day.

Horrible rip off on Cuisine is the best way to describe this place everyone should pass by. The pizza was at best chef boyardee on a bad day. No taste, on the reine pizza which takes work. Stuffed pork was anything but. Couldn't get any olive oil for the bread and the staff was walking away while you were talking. Had the absolute best pizza two nights before just 100 foot away wish I had gone there again. This deserves a 0 rating. Get it together!

Great spot to grab pizza! Out of all the pizza spots we tried in Old a Town, Le Safari was our favorite.