Dining: I went to Nice a while ago, and unfortunately never recorded the names of restaurants I went to. I can, however, tell you that the dining experience in Nice is as follows: if you find somewhere good, the food is amazing. However, these places are hard to come by. A lot of restaurants in Nice, especially those around touristy areas, claim to have "authentic French Riviera cuisine", when in reality their cuisine is centered around salad Niçoise and fish. One dish that is a specialty in Nice is socca, which is essentially a very thick crepe with salt and pepper. I would go so far as to say the street food in Nice is almost as good as the food served in restaurants.
Shopping: While in Nice I saw a lot of good shopping. Once you venture slightly out of the tourist area you can find designer clothing and independent boutiques that sell cool and distinctly French fashion.
Entertainment: Nice is a vibrant city, which no shortage of things to do. The Matisse Museum is great for any fan of the artist's work, as well as art lovers in general. While I was underage and unable to attend them, I saw quite a few clubs and bars on the streets, although I overheard someone at my hostel say that clubbing is much better in Cannes, a short trip away. Speaking of short trips, the independent republic of Monaco is a half an hour bus ride from Nice's city center. While Monaco has very little to offer if you aren't a billionaire, it's fun to walk around and admire the wealth, as well as take a dip in the ocean, as Monaco does have a lovely beach.
Overall: Nice is a great city. It's beautiful, stylish, eclectic, fun, and just a bit gritty. It's a short ride away from neighboring Cannes, Marseilles, and Monaco, but in my opinion the majority of your time in the area should be spent in Nice, exploring neighborhoods like the promenade and the Old Town. 10/10
Photo credit:http://www.naviquan.com/html/img/0000221A/nice_chateau_25b.jpg
