Sous les Pins

Bottles are a quaking in Nice’s backcountry! Partners in grub Juliette Busetto, Pierre-Jean Arpurt and Samuel Victori, better known as the Agitateurs group, are now filling up bellies under the pines at the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul de Vence. At this sunny spot with its four immaculate glass walls, you can take over the terrace with chirping cicadas and Miró sculptures as your backdrop, while digging into the mouthwatering menu (homemade pâté en croûte, ciabatta with generous toppings, cookies…) or simply opting for the lunch set menu. More or less comfortably seated on the Giacometti chairs, we devoured all of the following the day we went for lunch: crispy zucchini blossom tempura; utterly simple eggs mimosa taken to the next level with the addition of anchovies; a tantalizing grilled octopus salad with marinated zucchini, potatoes and cucumber, plus parsley, shallots and spring onions; a volcanic shakshouka that combined stewed tomatoes and peppers with a beautifully runny egg, mint and cilantro; before a baroque Melba melon served with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, raspberry coulis and crushed meringue. // Laëtitia Sayre

FEELING THIRSTY? Wines that are less impressive than the eats: a Burgundy white from Les Deux Roches (€8 a glass), a Var rosé from the Château Léoube (€35 a bottle), a local red from Le Clos Saint-Joseph (€47 a bottle)… 
PRICE: Dish of the day €18, set menus €24-32, snacks €4-16.