From Nice to Monaco, a new generation of sweet and caffeinated establishments is reinventing taste, hospitality, and everyday rituals. From natural sourdough to sculpted desserts, masterful chocolate, reimagined tea rooms, and accessible haute couture pastries, these establishments are paving the way for a gourmet Riviera where technique meets emotion. Here's an overview of the places that make up today's must-visit sweet spots.
Hello Love, Nice: Coffee, sweetness, and natural yeast
Born from the partnership between Paul Occhipinti, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, and Riccardo Buricchi, a Tuscan pastry chef, Bonjour Amour cultivates precise expertise around a sourdough starter that is fed every day, giving the puff pastry its softness and depth. The maritozzo reigns supreme: a generously filled Roman brioche, available in a variety of flavors. Alongside it, perfectly executed French pastries — crispy croissants, fragrant pains au chocolat, citrus or vanilla variations — and filled cornetti reflect the French-Italian hybridization of the place. At lunchtime, the establishment offers a selection of savory items — stuffed maritozzi, puff pastries, pizzette — while coffee, prepared using an Italian Marzocco machine, remains an essential ritual. It has become an indispensable morning stop for the people of Nice, with homemade panettone when winter approaches.
9 rue du Maréchal-Joffre, Nice
@bonjouramour_caffe
Cédric Grolet, Monaco: Sweet excellence in an exceptional patio setting
Cédric Grolet has set up shop in the heart of the Hôtel de Paris, transforming the patio into a luminous showcase dedicated to his sculpted fruits and iconic pastries. Crowned the world's best pastry chef in 2018, he now creates all the sweet treats at the palace (except for Louis XV), with an approach that is clear, precise, and poetic. The establishment offers a detailed breakfast menu, savory options, miniature sweet treats for teatime, and a cake shop for sharing. The 200 m² space, designed with SBM, reflects a contemporary luxury focused on the ingredients. During the holidays, an enchanting tea time is offered every afternoon, with reservations at the tea room, click & collect 24 hours in advance, or a queue for spontaneous visitors.
Hôtel de Paris, Place du Casino, Monaco.
Reservations via Monte-Carlo SBM
@cedricgrolet
Marlow, Monaco: The spirit of a British tea room with a Mediterranean twist
In the heart of the Mareterra district, Marlow offers a refined interpretation of the tea room, combining English inspiration and marine light. Designed by star architect Hugo Toro, the venue evokes an elegant club revisited, where Victorian woodwork, Murano glass, pastel marble, and a curiosity library create a warm and cozy atmosphere. From morning to dusk, guests can enjoy English-style teas, fine pastries, scones, finger sandwiches, and a particularly refined tea time. On weekends, brunch and British-inspired specialties complete the offering. The terrace overlooking the marina extends this pleasant interlude, ideal for an elegant break facing the sea.
Mareterra, Monaco
@montecarlosbm
Le Petit Café Robuchon, Monaco: Robuchon's art in everyday Monegasque life
Le Petit Café Robuchon brings the philosophy of the most Michelin-starred chef in history to everyday dining: refined, minimalist cuisine focused on the ingredients and the perfect technique. In this contemporary café, French classics are given a modern twist through masterfully prepared daily specials, elegant snacks, and meticulously crafted desserts that carry on the Robuchon legacy. During the festive season, Yule logs, gourmet gift boxes, festive meals, and takeaway menus showcase the establishment's expertise, while the group's other Monaco locations complement this generous, consistent, and demanding offering.
7 rue du Portier, Monaco
@robuchonmonaco
Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse, Nice: The quintessence of artisanal cocoa
In Old Nice, Manufacture Alain Ducasse unveils its world: a place dedicated to chocolate made entirely by hand, from bean to bonbon, a unique craftsmanship carried out for ten years in Paris, now transposed to the south. Led by Quentin Francis-Gaigneux, the company perpetuates an extraordinary savoir-faire: roasting, grinding, conching, and assembling without industrial machines, guaranteeing a raw, direct, almost sugar-free character. Pure origin bars, chiseled pralines, fine ganaches, gourmet bars, and iconic nuggets make up a collection that has become a benchmark. Labeled an “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” (Living Heritage Company), the Manufacture offers the people of Nice a rare sensory journey, where each piece tells the very essence of cocoa. For the holidays, melt for the enchanted pods, the advent calendar, the gift boxes, or the iconic Christmas bonbonnières.
17 rue de la Préfecture, Nice
@lechocolatalainducasse
Lilian Bonnefoi, Antibes: A signature style that combines precision, emotion, and tradition
An iconic figure in Antibes, Lilian Bonnefoi has always focused on creating pastries centered around the right ingredients: ripe fruit, exceptional hazelnuts, and expressive chocolate. His VIP dessert with soufflé pancakes, his Paris-Brest hazelnut praline éclair, and his raspberry-pistachio tart are testament to his expertise, honed at Troisgros and then perfected at Cap-Eden-Roc. Today, his Maison is embodied in three locations: Le Safranier, a bright workshop-boutique where his creations are born and where you can enjoy a generous brunch; Robert-Soleau, a temple of timeless French pastries; and République, a contemporary version dedicated to high-end snacking. A sincere and elegant vision of gourmet delights.
2 place du Safranier / 7 avenue Robert-Soleau / 50 rue de la République
@lilianbonnefoi
La Maison de Céline, Nice: A modern tart shop with bright charm
Just a stone's throw from Avenue Jean-Médecin, La Maison de Céline reinvents the tart, in both sweet and savory versions. Led by Mathieu Ansquer (formerly of the Grand Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc and Hôtel Hermitage) and Flavia Carvalho, the establishment combines technical expertise, a keen sense of the product, and a warm, informal welcome. Lemon meringue pie, generous flans, Roman maritozzo brioche, seasonal creations, quiches, pies, and savory New York roll-style puff pastry sandwiches: these are just some of the signature dishes at this contemporary pie shop where everything is homemade. Upstairs, bathed in light and overlooking the street, the setting is perfect for breakfast, tea, or a quick break. A delicate, precise, and deeply accessible establishment. This year, it won the award for best pain au chocolat in the Alpes-Maritimes.
24 rue de la Liberté, Nice
@lamaisondecelineofficiel
Julien Dugourd, Nice: Haute pâtisserie with an intimate touch
Located on Rue Catherine-Ségurane, Julien Dugourd unveils a boutique that reflects his personality: bright, fruity, and easy to understand. After more than ten years as pastry chef at La Chèvre d'Or and stints with some of the greatest chefs — Marc Veyrat, Jean-Georges Klein, Alain Ducasse — the chef, who also appeared on the TV show Top Chef, wanted to make excellence accessible. Fragrant cakes, golden cookies, artisanal ice cream, homemade chocolates, and a collection of delicate cakes make up a fresh and light range. His shop, bathed in light and designed like a contemporary pastry house, extends this vision: a refined, open, and welcoming place where high standards meet conviviality. Known for his fruity creations — from the iconic lemon to the Vanilla Diorama created for Dior — he offers an elegant, technical, and affordable range.
4 rue Catherine-Ségurane, Nice
@julien.dugourd
@juliendugourdpatisserie
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