HUG Café Nice — Restaurant in Nice

Not for me. I really don't understand why this place has so many good reviews. I've been meaning to go here for a while because of it's nice location and on account of how cute it appeared. Unfortunately, like many things (not all!) on Jean Med, it was a tourist trap. High prices for drinks and snacks, no syrup for coffee.

I ordered an iced coffee with almond milk, (granted, the coffee itself was quite nice, very strong, but it wasn't a massive portion either) and a slice of banana bread, and my total was 12€. The banana bread was not only surprisingly dry and dense, but also had coconut in it, which I hate. Of course, I should have asked and assuming isn't great, but shouldn't cafes disclose something like that on the menu/sign?

My friends ordered teas and a pain au chocolat, and the tea was "self serve" which is fine, but it was honestly the weakest tea I've ever seen. As an avid fan of black teas, the water not being boiling hot, and sub-par tea bags, definitely contributed to the fact that it was the most watery tea I've seen at a cafe. Her pain au chocolat was also quite dreadful, almost seeming like something packaged. There was a massive air hole in the middle that was painfully obvious once you bite into it. I've had better pain au chocolats for cheaper at a supermarket. Maybe it was a bad batch, but still quite disappointing, especially after so many raving reviews.

The staff were nice enough.

Anyways, if youre a tourist and want a spot to sit outside in a relatively quiet spot, it's fine. I should note that it has many lovely vegetarian and gluten free options. If...

A Gem in Nice — Café Hug

What an absolute delight Café Hug is! This charming little spot is a haven for true coffee lovers. Their selection of fresh, locally roasted beans is impressive — a thoughtful balance of single origins and blends, all treated with real care and skill.

We treated ourselves to a washed Kenyan, brewed perfectly in an Origami dripper — the pour was precise, the cup clean, bright, and beautifully expressive. It’s clear they know exactly what they’re doing behind the bar — every sip felt like a small celebration.

The service? Warm, gracious, and genuinely passionate about good coffee. Add to that their inviting seating — cozy yet airy, ideal for lingering — and you have a café that feels like a gentle hug indeed.

It was just what we needed after lunch, but honestly, I’d return to Café Hug at any hour, for any excuse. A tiny treasure that lifts Nice’s café scene to another level.

Highly...

Superb specialty coffee place with lovely staff. Ramon is incredibly accommodating and his recommendations have been excellent. My fiancée, who is not as into coffee as I am, said that the cold brew was to die for and even highlighted immediately the clear raspberry notes in it! Definitely the cleanest brew we've had in the entire Côte d'Azur area. The filter coffee we tried was also super tasty, complex and well extracted. And the recommended espresso was an absolute flavour bomb of fresh cocoa beans whilst still being very well balanced. Ramon then went ahead and answered my questions - of which I had many - about the local beans. Not only is he very knowledgeable about the topic, but he also enthusiastically recommended some local roasteries, among other places. Oh, and the pastries were also fantastic, the salmon broccoli quiche was delicious and filling, the macaron had the perfect level of sweetness...