'SEEN by Olivier' - A remarkable restaurant with a view of the Baie des Anges

A visit to Nice has multiple rewards, including fine dining at one or more restaurants offering exquisite French and Mediterranean cuisine. Many of the upscale options have breathtaking views of the Baie des Anges that may make you shed tears of joy. One such restaurant is the rooftop 'SEEN by Olivier' on the 6th floor of the Anantara Plaza Hotel.

In my previous post about our Nice tour, I mentioned I spent more time at Anantara Plaza Nice than I did at the hotel I was staying, Le Negresco Hotel. It certainly wasn’t because I wasn’t happy with Le Negresco.

Raquel was staying at the Anantara Plaza, which happened to be between my hotel and the hotel the media coordinator stayed in (we chose to try different hotels so we could offer opinions about each one). Since Anantara Plaza was central, it ended up hosting all our meetings.

All that time at Anantara Plaza cost me an opportunity to dine at Le Negresco’s Michelin-starred Le Chantecler restaurant. But I’ll console myself by adding that to my list of reasons why I need to go back to Cote d’Azur for an encore.

Now, I won’t claim to be an experienced foody, but I do enjoy dining at a great restaurant and 'SEEN by Olivier' qualifies on many fronts. Stepping out of the elevator on the 6th floor, you face the host area, where you’re greeted and then assigned a table and waiter. The chic look, which uses circular designs generously, is the work of the world-renowned David Collins Studio. It leaves an impression right away.

Our first meeting was on the day we arrived. It was late, so the darkness deprived us of the sublime views from the exterior dining area of the restaurant. The décor was both impressive and inviting—certainly, an ideal place to relax and enjoy a good meal after flying across the Atlantic.

Subsequent visits revealed the exterior dining area, which overlooks Promenade Du Paillon, Jardin Albert 1er, and offers a glimpse at the border of Vieille Ville. Looking past Jardin Albert 1er, you’ll witness the key feature of the restaurant: a breathtaking view of the Baie des Anges.

Beyond the ambiance, a few things in the restaurant will catch your attention (assuming you’re not too hungry to notice). The first is the boat sail-inspired chandelier in the center made from woven mesh. The hypnotic wavy pattern may cause you to stare at it longer than you should.

Another is the corner table covered in beautiful Wisteria that’s likely to be popular with couples looking for a romantic dinner. It offers a semi-private dining experience. The open kitchen is a nice touch too. It’s always nice to see a restaurant that’s not afraid to show you how your meal is prepared.

But tasteful furnishing and alluring décor aside, a fine dining establishment is judged by how the food tastes, and I’m happy to say the restaurant doesn’t disappoint.

Portuguese chef Olivier de Costa has 25 years of experience exciting the taste buds of diners across multiple countries. He currently has a collection of 25 restaurants in seven countries offering an assortment of delightful cuisine.

While I won’t try to go through individual menu items, I will say that every option I chose during each visit was delightful. One thing that did stand out on the menu was the sashimi plate Raquel ordered. I’m not a sushi/sashimi fan, but the arrangement of the sashimi looked so beautiful it felt wrong for anyone to eat it.

With a beautiful environment and well-presented, delectable Mediterranean cuisine, 'SEEN by Olivier' is a restaurant you should try during your visit to Nice, even if you choose not to stay at the Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel.