Café de Turin

Café de Turin is a seafood brasserie at 5 Place Garibaldi in Nice, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It is a long-established shellfish house on one of the city's arcaded squares, and it is best known for its platters of oysters, crab and langoustines, which have made it a fixture for locals and visitors who want a classic Riviera seafood meal. The cuisine is seafood and shellfish, prepared with minimal intervention so that the freshness of the catch is the point. Signature items include Roumégous oysters, bulots (whelks), shrimp, tourteau (brown crab) and langoustes, served on ice in mixed platters. The restaurant site lists platters at €110 (about $127), €139 (about $160) and €330 (about $380), the last being a showpiece for a large group, so visitors should budget accordingly; the price range is high compared with the old-town street food counters. The atmosphere is that of a classic brasserie: busy, noisy and convivial, with seating that spills onto the square, waiters moving quickly between tables and a steady turnover of diners from late morning. There is no formal dress code. Wine is usually white, with chilled Provence, Loire or Burgundy bottles typical companions to shellfish, and many tables also order a bottle of dry rosé. The restaurant site does not publish a reservation policy and walk-in is the norm, though takeaway and click-and-collect platters are sold online, which is convenient for visitors staying in apartments. Opening is daily from 10:00 to 22:00 according to the restaurant site, while OpenStreetMap lists 08:00 to 22:00. The location on Place Garibaldi puts it a short walk from the old town and the port, and it works well as a lunch stop after the market. Visitors typically arrive early at lunch or early evening to get a table without waiting.