So Nice
ON the surface, Nice, France appears to have more in common with beachside Los Angeles than its sophisticated urban cousin to the north, Paris. Along the palm-fringed Promenade des Anglais—a Mediterranean doppelganger for the Santa Monica beach boardwalk—bronzed locals whiz by on rollerblades and bicycles, joggers dodge tiny dogs on leashes held by impeccably dressed grande dames, and tourists hover around menus posted outside the beachfront restaurants whose open-air dining rooms offer prime sea-facing views. It’s these elements—sun, sea, and fresh, salty air—that drew Victorian-era English to Nice in droves every winter to take the Mediterranean cure and escape the oppressive gray skies of home.
Today, Nice’s reputation as a haven for health-oriented, sun-worshipping types of all ages lives on, with its fast-growing crop of natural food stores, juice bars, and plant-based restaurants popping up throughout the city. Unlike the northern French capital, the food traditions on the Côte d’Azur are less about rich sauces and animal protein, instead borrowing more from Mediterranean neighbors
