Sunflower Books: WALK & EAT NICE

3rd edition (2009); updated 12/01/12

(To visit the web page for this book on our main site, click here )

Updates for the walks, restaurants, shops and recipes in Nice and the surrounding area given below supplement those provided in the guidebook. It is vital that this Update is read in conjunction with the text of the book, but note that the Update applies only to the edition stated and not to any earlier editions. (If you have an older edition of this book and want to "upgrade" to the latest edition at half price, click here.)

Information has been forwarded to us by users of the book, and Sunflower Books offers the data in good faith but cannot be held responsible for any misleading or inaccurate content in the Update. Unless indicated otherwise, what appears here has not been verified by the author or publisher, so please allow due caution when new or amended routes are suggested. Each piece of information is dated; bear in mind that some of the older observations may have since been overtaken by events or further changes. If, during your holiday, you are using the current edition of the guide and are able to provide any additional updating to add to this page, we will be pleased to hear from you. Please send information, preferably in hard copy, by post, to Sunflower Books, PO Box 115, Exeter EX2 6YU (or if you prefer, by e-mail, to mail@sunflowerbooks.co.uk).

General: Dear John and Pat, I've been over to Nice a few times in the past 12 months and on 3 of those occasions I have taken walks from your wonderful book. I have done "Rooftops of Nice" (Walk 1), "Around Cap Ferrat" (Walk 4), and most recently "La Turbie and Eze" (Walk 6). I have really enjoyed the walks, they have all been beautiful and your guide is excellent. So I just wanted to say thank you for writing such a great book, it has really opened up my eyes to the wonderful views, scenery and character of the area - plus the tranquillity of the walks is a therapy in itself! (User, 8/08)

Restaurants: See Walk 4.

Walk 4, base restaurant: Le Pot dEtain as described is no more! Michelle got "an offer she couldn't refuse" and has sold (very quickly, just as we were going to press!) to a young couple who apparently plan to do soups and salads. Perhaps it will be more of a lunch-time venue. Will report after next visiting Nice. In the meantime, fortunately we had already found a second 'base', Aux Gourmets, and included it in this edition. In the meantime, a user had written just as Michelle sold up, that she found Le Pot d'Etain closed so went across the street to 11e Art. They did a GF/DF meal for her, which she says was terrific, without giving any details. They also told her they had another customer the night before, asking for GF/DF - so maybe they will be geared up for it. (John and Pat, 4/09) + Regarding restaurants at Cap Ferrat, a user says that she likes to be where the action is, and finds 4 courses at Le Sloop too much. Of course since we never eat the "menu", but instead order just one or two light courses a la carte, we didn't notice this... but then Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Michael Winner obviously have super-large appetites. In any case, our correspondent prefers the nearby La Goelette (closed Mondays). + The Restaurant Aux Gourmets appears to have closed for good. (User, 10/10) + Your suggestions on where to eat don't mention our favourite, L'Espad'or on the Mt Boron side of the Port. Excellent value and outstandingly well cooked by the new 22 year old chef. (User, 4/11)

BUSES
Posted on December 27, 2010 by Best of Nice Blog (an English-language blog about Nice)
The depressing Nice Bus Station is gasping its last raspy breath. January 5th is its final day and demolition will start a week later. Well, it's about time! Oh, but wait - there is just one small problem - the modern new Nice Bus Station near the airport (along with the new tramway line to service it) has not actually been built yet. Ah yes. But not to worry! There is an interim (that is, for the next 5 years or so) solution: we'll just spread the bus stations out all over the place - that won't be a problem, will it?

So as of January 5th, take a compass, your cellphone, this summary, and a few maps when you forge out to go look for your bus:

Popular buses such as and Monaco/Menton, Antibes/Cannes, the Sophia Express, and Cimiez have all been dispersed within a few blocks of the old bus station, so whereas you won't have to go far, it will still be a trick to find where your particular ride is hiding. There is a map to help you out at www.lignesdazur.com/ftp/documents_FR/Plan%20gare%20Routière%20%20v11%20BD.pdf. The Airport Express bus will now leave from Riquier! But don't despair; it will make stops at the Port, Place Garibaldi, and Lycee Massena (just across from the old bus station) on its way. The ski and mountain buses will now leave from the train station. The tram stop Vauban (Saint-Jean d'Angèly) will be the new home of Phocèn Cars (Nice-Marseille-Aix), the bus to Grenoble, as well as the bus to Eze, Peille, and all towns along the Paillon. International buses, including Eurolines, can be found in the Arenas area at the Lindburgh stop, which is a 10 minute walk from both the Airport and the Nice St-Augustin train station. If you have a smartphone, here is a link which could be handy: http://mob.lignesdazur.com.

Sunflower recommends that you go to the Ligne d'Azur office at 3 Place Masséna as soon as you arrive, to collect whatever maps of the new bus stops for intercity travel are available.

Near Walk 1: A spectacular footpath is now open around the cliffs from Nice to Villefrance.It starts near the now closed Hotel Maeternink and ends at La Darse in Villefrance.It's well worth a hike in either direction. (User, 7/11) + Regarding the comment on the extension to Villefranche, there is indeed a lovely coastal path to the Cap de Nice. You follow Boulevard de Franck Pilatte east out of Nice and opposite a small woody park there is a sign off the road. The path has been renewed recently and is easy to walk, apart from the risk of waves coming over in sections! At the end there is a two-part steep set of stairs that bring you out onto the Basse Corniche. If you then turn right and walk along the pavement for about 500m., there is another sign off to the coastal path to Villefranche. However, when we tried this on 30/12/11, part of the path had been washed away and you had to drop onto the rocks and haul yourself back up to the next section of path. Two members of our party suffer from mild vertigo so we decided not to do this. Instead, we walked along the Corniche for about another 1km (lovely views out to sea and then into Villefranche). Shortly after the Escalier de Verre comes down from Mont Boron on the opposite side of the road, we dropped down a signed pedestrian flight of steps to the Villefranche marina and walked into town past the fort (unfortunately the path to the seaward side of the fort was barred to walkers but it was hard to tell if this was merely temporary). The whole walk without the Villefranche section would take about 2 hours and is highly recommended. (User, 01/12)

Walk 6: the highlight for us. Without your book we wouldn't have known about this fabulous route. Note that at the start, the road number has been changed from D2204 to D2564. Also at the start of the walk it would be safer not to cross over the
road as the pavement gives out after a short way. On the other side of the road however the pavement continues all the way to the turning, Chemin de la Forna. On page 74 you describe the "pretty path descending through tall grass....". Here it would be helpful to add.." Keep straight ahead ignoring the path turning down to the left." The people behind us took
this LH path. Luckily we didn't and soon came to the concrete drive you describe. (User, 4/11)

Walk 8: I'm afraid your statement to take the 100 bus to Roquebrune-Cap Martin stop failed to mean anything to the bus driver or passengers. The correct name for the bus stop appears to be "2 eme Escalier." (User, 4/11)