La Voglia — Restaurant in Nice

We just had probably one most horrible Nice experience towards the end of our vacation - upon having our dinner at La Voglia. The restaurant was located in a touristy spot and like many others we were attracted by the long queue as we picked La Voglia amongst the many restaurant choices: The long wait was not worth it as we discovered soon upon seating. Firstly, the server asked if we want any drinks , we clearly indicated we basically want “ normal “ water and no sparkling. And next thing we saw a restaurant bottled water placed at our table and clearly they didn’t want to provide the “ normal “ tap water to us. We discovered this “ filtered still water “ was charged to us at 5 euro plus tax when we received our bill. There are tap water being served at other tables. The whole thing felt like a scam! Next , comes the food. The food was served relatively quickly - the pizza is normal and nothing fantastic enough to queue that long for and the price is reasonable enough for a thin pizza . We ordered the warm octopus salad after reading the reviews and felt this dish is totally overrated. The octopus tasted so bland and you wonder if this is a salad at all with no taste of dressing / seasoning. The last straw came when there was still some slices of pizza left and the other server took away all our plates and utensils ; despite us repeatedly telling him we are still working on it. Even if he didn’t understand English well enough, the hand signals and “ no “ said it all . So we had to asked again for new plate and utensils so we can finish the rest of our pizza. We understand there is a long queue but this is no way to chase your customer out of a dining table. While we were rushed to finish the meal , we had to wait another 15 mins to get my bill to pay and this is upon asking repeatedly for our bill from 3 different servers. In conclusion , we felt this is a totally overrated restaurant with a bad service and you walked out feeling scammed as you paid for unwanted item ( restaurant filtered still water charged at 5 euro ! ) For the entire week , we have no issues with any other restaurant in Nice. That says it all for La Voglia - a first try...

The food is absolutely divine! It was in La Voglia that I had best lasagne I’ve ever had (even compared to those I’ve had in Italy). The limonade rose drink was also amazing and so delicious! In our 7 day visit to Nice, we went to La Voglia 3 times as we loved the food so much. The waiters were both very kind and polite the first two times we went, but the third time it was not as good. We had chosen to share the lasagne the 2nd time we visited due to the big portions and it was all fine but the 3rd time, the waiter said it was not allowed and that his manager didn’t allow it. However, we later saw another member of staff (who was higher up than our waiter) resolve an issue for the table next to us and this waiter seemed to be the manager or at least someone in a higher position. But…this waiter had been the one who allowed us the 2nd time to share the lasagne! So it seems very inconsistent. And as a couple staying in a hotel with no microwave or oven to heat up the lasagne, telling us to bring back our leftovers is futile. The waiter did allow us to order dessert as our 2nd dish so we still shared the lasagne (which we appreciated), but still felt annoyed at the inconsistency. It is very wasteful of food I think, why not just do smaller portions of lasagne and we would’ve ordered 2 then if they’re worried about profits? And tbh the price is quite good so I wouldn’t have complained if it was €17 for a portion for one instead of one that could in theory feed a family of 4! Big portions are nice but food waste is just so sad. The restaurant atmosphere is very nice but it would be more pleasant if there was air conditioning...

During our stay in Nice, La Voglia quickly became a dining highlight—an elegant yet welcoming Italian restaurant nestled in the heart of the Old Town, just steps from the Cours Saleya markets and the shimmering Mediterranean. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was lively yet relaxed, with staff offering prompt, courteous, and impressively multilingual service despite the restaurant being consistently busy (a good sign!).

The menu was a delightful showcase of Italian classics with a Mediterranean twist, and portions were generous—almost theatrical in scale. The pasta dishes were the real stars. The seafood linguine, which was brimming with fresh mussels, prawns, and clams, all in a tomato-garlic broth that practically begged to be mopped up with bread. And yes, even the bread basket was worth mentioning—crisp, warm, and plentiful.

What also stood out was how well the team managed the balance between efficiency and warmth. Even during the dinner rush, the wait staff were attentive without ever feeling rushed. They knew the menu well and offered genuine recommendations rather than upselling.

La Voglia isn’t just a tourist-friendly eatery—it’s a culinary experience that manages to satisfy locals, travelers, and food lovers alike. Prices reflect the quality, generous servings, and prime location, and we found it to be excellent value for such a memorable meal.

If you’re in Nice and craving Italian cuisine served with flair and friendliness, La Voglia is a must. Just be sure to arrive early or book ahead—clearly, word...