Restaurant in Nice, France
Nice's strongest classical French option.
Keisuke Matsushima is Nice's most credentialed classical French address, ranked in Opinionated About Dining's Classical Europe list three consecutive years (including #310 in 2024) and rated 4.5 across 665 Google reviews. Book dinner Tuesday to Saturday for a special occasion; the 90-minute lunch window is better suited to business meals. Booking is rated Easy, so two to three weeks out is usually sufficient.
Without published menu prices in our database, it is difficult to anchor the exact cost, but at a restaurant ranked #310 in Opinionated About Dining's Classical Europe list in 2024 and climbing to #386 in 2025 (a modest drop in rank, though the list grew), you are paying for cooking that OAD's Europe-wide voter pool has consistently recognised for classical technique. For a special occasion dinner in Nice, that external validation matters: it tells you the kitchen is performing at a level that travels well beyond local reputation. If you are planning ahead for a celebration meal, book a Tuesday-to-Saturday slot at least two to three weeks in advance, particularly for the dinner service (7:00–9:30 pm), when demand is highest.
Keisuke Matsushima sits on Rue de France, one of the main arteries running parallel to the Promenade des Anglais, putting it within easy reach of central Nice hotels. The kitchen works within the French classical tradition, a discipline that rewards the chef's Japanese background through precision in preparation and a clean approach to saucing. OAD's Classical Europe ranking is not awarded for creativity or novelty; it reflects rigour, consistency, and technical command. Three consecutive years on that list, moving from Recommended (2023) through #310 (2024), is a signal that the kitchen is not coasting.
The Google rating of 4.5 across 665 reviews reinforces this: at that volume, a 4.5 is not a fluke. It indicates a dining room that delivers reliably, not just on a good night. For the reader asking whether to trust the hype around this address, those two data points together, a respected OAD classical ranking and a high-volume Google rating, make a credible case.
Service runs Tuesday through Saturday, lunch (12:00–1:30 pm) and dinner (7:00–9:30 pm), with the restaurant closed Sunday and Monday. Those are tight windows, particularly the lunch sitting, which runs for just ninety minutes. If you are arriving from outside Nice, plan your travel accordingly: a missed reservation here cannot easily be recovered by walking in, and the shortened lunch slot means latecomers will lose covers.
For a special occasion, dinner is the stronger choice. The longer evening window gives the kitchen more room to pace a multi-course meal properly, and the atmosphere shifts accordingly. Lunch works well for a business meal where you need to keep the afternoon free, but the ninety-minute service window makes it better suited to a tighter format. Reserve dinner if the occasion calls for a relaxed pace.
Nice has a tighter cluster of serious restaurants than its tourist reputation suggests. Flaveur and L'Aromate both operate in the €€€€ bracket with modern French and creative leanings. Les Agitateurs and ONICE are worth considering for a more contemporary register. Le Chantecler occupies the grander, hotel-dining tier. Keisuke Matsushima's edge is its OAD Classical Europe standing, which none of the creative-leaning alternatives share. If you are specifically looking for technically grounded classical French cooking with a Japanese chef's precision, this is the clearest address in Nice for it.
| Detail | Keisuke Matsushima | Typical Nice Fine Dining |
|---|---|---|
| Booking difficulty | Easy | Varies; Flaveur harder |
| Lunch window | 12:00–1:30 pm (90 min) | Typically 12:00–2:00 pm |
| Dinner window | 7:00–9:30 pm | Typically 7:00–10:00 pm |
| Closed days | Sunday, Monday | Often Monday only |
| OAD Classical ranking | #310–#386 (2024–2025) | Not applicable for peers |
| Google rating | 4.5 / 665 reviews | Typically 4.2–4.6 |
If you are building a trip around serious French cooking, Nice is a sensible base. Keisuke Matsushima is the strongest classical option in the city itself. For broader regional comparison, Mirazur in Menton is a 30-minute drive east and operates at a different level entirely, but demands far more planning. Within France, the classical tradition Matsushima works in places him in the same conversation as restaurants like Arpège in Paris, Flocons de Sel in Megève, and Troisgros in Ouches, though those operate at a higher recognised tier. For Japanese-trained chefs working in classical French traditions internationally, the comparison set extends to Les Amis in Singapore and Hotel de Ville Crissier, venues that share a commitment to precision over trend-chasing.
See our full guides: Nice restaurants, Nice hotels, Nice bars, Nice wineries, and Nice experiences.
Dinner is better for a special occasion. The 7:00–9:30 pm sitting gives the kitchen more time to pace a full menu, and the room feels different in the evening. Lunch works if you need to keep the afternoon free, but the 90-minute window (12:00–1:30 pm) is tight — it suits a business meal more than a celebration. If you are visiting specifically for the quality of the cooking, give yourself the full evening sitting to experience it properly.
Specific dishes are not confirmed in our data, so we cannot name them here without risking inaccuracy. What we can say is that the kitchen's OAD Classical Europe ranking reflects rigour in classical French technique. Order the full tasting menu if one is offered — that format is where Matsushima's precision is most evident, and it is the structure most likely to reflect the cooking that earned the ranking. Checking the current menu directly with the restaurant before booking is advisable.
Bar seating arrangements are not confirmed in our database. Given that this is a classical French restaurant in a mid-sized Nice address, a dedicated bar counter for dining is less likely than at larger Parisian establishments. Contact the restaurant directly to confirm seating options. For a bar-forward dining experience in Nice, consider checking our Nice bars guide alongside your restaurant booking.
For modern French and creative cooking in the same price tier, Flaveur and L'Aromate are the closest alternatives. Les Agitateurs and ONICE suit diners who want a more contemporary feel. If your occasion calls for grandeur rather than precision, Le Chantecler operates in a different register. For a sharp contrast at much lower spend, La Merenda is the classic Niçoise choice. Keisuke Matsushima is the only address in Nice with an active OAD Classical Europe ranking, which is its clearest differentiator.
Yes, with a clear caveat: book dinner rather than lunch. Three consecutive years on OAD's Classical Europe list (including a top-400 ranking in both 2024 and 2025) and a 4.5 Google rating across 665 reviews are reliable signals that the kitchen delivers consistently. For a birthday, anniversary, or significant business dinner in Nice, this is the strongest classically-grounded option in the city. For a more theatrical or visually spectacular setting, Le Chantecler offers a grander room, but the cooking at Matsushima is the more technically credentialed choice.
Three practical points. First, the restaurant closes Sunday and Monday , plan your trip around a Tuesday-to-Saturday window. Second, lunch is only 90 minutes (12:00–1:30 pm), so if you are coming for a full experience rather than a quick meal, book dinner. Third, booking difficulty is rated Easy, which means you do not need to plan months out, but two to three weeks ahead is still sensible for preferred slots. The OAD Classical Europe ranking tells you this is a serious kitchen working in a French classical tradition, not a tourist-facing address , arrive with that expectation and you will not be disappointed. See the full Nice restaurants guide to build your trip around it.
| Venue | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Keisuke Matsuhima | — | |
| Flaveur | €€€€ | — |
| L'Aromate | €€€€ | — |
| Pure & V | €€€€ | — |
| JAN | €€€€ | — |
| La Merenda | €€ | — |
What to weigh when choosing between Keisuke Matsuhima and alternatives.
Lunch is the practical choice if you want a serious meal without committing to a full evening. Service runs 12–1:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday, which is a tight window, so arrive on time. Dinner offers the 7–9:30 pm slot with more room to pace the meal. If you are building a day around the Promenade des Anglais, lunch makes the most logistical sense; if the restaurant is the centrepiece of the night, book dinner.
Specific menu items are not confirmed in our database, so we cannot recommend individual dishes. What the OAD Classical Europe ranking (#386 in 2025, #310 in 2024) signals is that the kitchen operates in a formal French register, not a fusion or casual format. Trust the set menu format if it is offered — that is typically where the kitchen's strengths show. Ask the front-of-house what is driving the menu on the day you visit.
Bar seating is not documented in our database for this venue. Keisuke Matsushima operates as a classical French restaurant, a format that typically centres on table service rather than counter or bar dining. check the venue's official channels at 22 Ter Rue de France to confirm seating options before arriving.
Flaveur and L'Aromate are the closest comparators in the Nice fine dining tier, both operating at a similar price level with strong local reputations. JAN skews more contemporary and internationally influenced, which suits diners who want something less classically French. La Merenda is a useful contrast if you want traditional Niçois cooking at a fraction of the price — no cards, no reservations, very different format. Pure & V is the option for plant-forward menus.
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