In Nice, cheese is never far away. Between the cheese shops in Old Nice, the market stalls, and producers from the hinterland, the city and its region are an ideal playground for enthusiasts. Here’s how to enjoy a wonderful tasting experience, from an impromptu cheese board to a guided workshop.
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Addresses to Know
In the heart of Old Nice, the cheese shop La Pêche à la Vigne has established itself as a must-visit address: a carefully curated selection of artisanal cheeses, often offered with a glass of local wine. It’s the perfect place to truly understand the art of wine and cheese pairing.
Around it, several Nice wine bars play the same tune: each glass is accompanied by a regional cheese, in historic vaulted cellars where the intimate atmosphere already accounts for half the pleasure.
At Markets and in the Hinterland
To taste as close to the producers as possible, head to the markets. The more popular Libération market and the well-known Cours Saleya market offer a true immersion in local culture — with passionate small producers always ready to offer a taste.
And if you venture into the Nice hinterland, you'll find farms where you can taste fresh, authentic cheeses, often enhanced with a drizzle of honey or a slice of charcuterie. It's there, far from the sea, that Nice's other gourmet face is hidden.
The Art of Tasting
Tasting cheese is a skill that can be learned. Some workshops teach you to recognize textures, aromas, and the stories behind each cheese — a fun way to go from amateur to connoisseur. And once you've mastered the basics, you can experiment with pairings:
- cheese and dried fruits, for crunch;
- cheese and local jam, for the sweet-savory contrast;
- and of course, olives, charcuterie, artisanal bread, and wine, which enhance the whole experience.
That's the beauty of a good cheese board: each bite calls for the next, and conversation flows along with it.
For an Occasion, or Just for Pleasure
Cheese also knows how to be festive. For a birthday, a bachelor or bachelorette party, you can book a private tasting, sometimes led by a sommelier, focusing on the finest cheeses from France and beyond. And throughout the year, Nice and its surroundings host gastronomic fairs and events where cheese is celebrated — an opportunity to discover new varieties and meet those who make them.
Did you know?
General de Gaulle is credited with this famous quip: how can you govern a country that has as many cheeses as there are days in the year? France is said to produce over a thousand — which means you can enjoy tastings without ever repeating yourself.
From the cheese shop in Old Nice to the small producer in the hinterland, each tasting is an encounter with the terroir. The simplest way to start? A cheese board and a glass of Bellet — just like at La Pêche à la Vigne, right in the heart of Nice.
