Keisuke Matsushima

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Kitchen Without Borders, Rooted in Nice

Keisuke Matsushima sits on the Rue de France, a short walk from the Promenade des Anglais, and the address says something about the restaurant's character: firmly placed in Nice, yet drawing from a much wider world. The cuisine here is, as the kitchen puts it, "by definition unclassifiable" — Mediterranean in its products and aromas, French in its values and inspiration, Japanese in its precision of cooking and absolute respect for the ingredient, and Italian in the subtlety of its flavours. That layered identity has earned the restaurant a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, a recognition that speaks directly to the seriousness of the cellar alongside the plate.

The Vision of Chef Keisuke Matsushima

Everything in the room flows from the chef's exacting standards. From market to cutting board, from the heat of the pan to the pairing of flavours, from the palette on the palate to the harmony of colours, from the interplay of textures to the balance of temperatures — the restaurant's own description of its approach leaves little doubt that this is a kitchen where nothing is left to chance. The artistic direction of the space was entrusted to Jean Grisoni, who translated that same rigour into a physical environment: noble materials, sober lines, a warmth that is felt rather than announced. The dining room seats up to 40 guests, a scale that keeps the experience genuinely personal.

Menus That Move with the Seasons

The menu offer reflects the same restless curiosity as the cooking philosophy. A weekly-changing Menu Déjeuner du Marché keeps the midday meal tied to whatever the market offers at its best. Alongside it sit more structured propositions — an Omakase menu that hands the choices entirely to the chef, a Menu Patrimoine, and seasonal formats such as the summer menu and a dedicated menu built around morel mushrooms. The rotating nature of these menus is itself a statement: the Mediterranean larder is always in motion, and the kitchen moves with it.

The Terrace: A Garden Above the City

Beyond the interior, the restaurant's terrace is a genuine draw. Described as a jardin secret — a secret garden — it is shielded from the noise of the city while remaining at the heart of Nice. Mediterranean plants, elegant parasols, and carefully chosen furniture create a setting that suits both a long lunch in the shade and an unhurried dinner under the stars. For a restaurant whose French Mediterranean cuisine is so tied to the pleasures of the present moment, having an outdoor space that encourages exactly that kind of lingering feels entirely right.