The Newest Hot Spot in Nice: The Old Port

Yes, it’s nice in Nice. North Americans are discovering that it can have even more advantages over Paris as a second home. It’s my second home and it couldn’t be more ideal as an urban environment that offers everything, including milder, warmer, sunnier weather, beautiful landscapes and vistas, an elegant and cultural lifestyle as well as gourmet fare of a Mediterranean kind. The Nice airport is international with flights to just about anywhere, the TGV is serviced here as well as ferries to Italy, Corsica and beyond. With each excursion to Nice and environs, which is about once a month, I am impressed with the progress that is made to bring Nice to a world class standard.

My apartment, “Le Matisse” is located in the city’s chicest neighborhood: Le Carré d’Or, just two short blocks from the ocean, steps from transportation, in the heart of the finest shopping and a short walk into Old Town. No doubt, it’s ideal for living as well as renting and it will always maintain its value, but there are other up and coming districts in Nice to consider when making an investment.

The district to watch and in which to invest right now is the Old Port. Known as the Lympia port (although no one ever uses the name), it is as old as 1745, with it currently being the main port from which the Corsican and Sardinian ferries operate. Living with views on the port is as heavenly a Niçois lifestyle as it can get.

Until now, transportation to the Old Port was dependent on the bus system and not as well serviced as the Carré d’Or. All that is changing with the construction currently underway of the Nice Tramway Line 2 that will extend from the airport to the Old Port. This is an indication of what is to come for the district. New and easy access to the Port will greatly increase the value of the property within walking distance of the Port station.

Our trusted associate agencies in Nice, Chez Riviera and Attika International, offer this description of the Old Port from a real estate perspective:

The Port is an up-and-coming area of Nice that offers an interesting blend of down-to-earth, local French atmosphere as well as the modern luxury of yachts, quality restaurants and renovated buildings which line the harbor front.

The Port extends from Place Garibaldi right up to the prehistoric Terra Amata museum at the foot of Mont Boron. It is an area that has refused to lose its Niçois roots despite the successful recent renovation of the harbor front. Apartments for sale on the Port of Nice have superb views over the Port itself, the harbored yachts and the Mediterranean Sea. The views mean     apartments for sale on the Port tend to command top prices, only slightly lower than the Promenade des Anglais.

 Yacht owners who dock their boats in the Port of Nice, often choose to stay in this area too. This is reflected in the influx of top quality local entertainment facilities including fine dining restaurants and exclusive bars. The historic Yacht Club de Nice, founded in 1883 is located just to the east of the Port front, on Boulevard Franck Pilatte. Boulevard Franck Pilatte is one of the Port’s most exclusive areas and property prices are     high because of the spectacular sea views which its apartments offer. The Port front boasts some luxury apartment buildings which offer residents Port and sea views, often accompanied with modern amenities such as elevators and air conditioning.

The Port is just a short stroll from the Old Town, but there is a far greater chance of finding apartments here with large, sunny French windows and even some outside space, making this area a good alternative to the Vieux Nice. The Port shares some of the authentic charm that attracts so many visitors to the Old Town. The history of the Port is visible from the Genoese architecture illustrated by the arches on some of the buildings on the Port front, but also a visit to the Terra Amata museum provides a fascinating insight into the city’s prehistoric past.

The Quai Rauba Capeu, at the foot of the Colline du Chateau, translates fromthe Niçois dialect as ‘where the wind steals your hat’ and despite the sometimes bracing wind, the views out to the endless Mediterranean Sea are breath-taking. The Quai Rauba Capeu divides the Port area from the Promenade. On the East side of the chateau, facing the Port, lies the imposing war memorial, honoring the dead from World War One and World War Two.

Those who can ‘taste’ the progress are opening new businesses and prospering from not only what’s to come, but what’s already happening in the area. One of my daughter’s long-time friends from Paris has just, within the last two weeks with a partner, opened a new sushi bar and Asian restaurant called “Asian Factory” at Place du Pin, 19 rue Bonaparte, in the heart of “Le Petit Marais” just north of the Old Port, steps from Place Garabaldi. The area has become the center of Nice’s gay community and is they city’s new hip corner. Our meal there last night was exceptionally delicious and there is no doubt he and his partner will have a huge success.

Real estate professionals and amateurs alike secretly follow the gay community trends which are indicators of an area’s growth in value. This community has more disposable income than the average and tend to heavily invest in property by purchasing well and gentrifying it, thereby increasing its value rapidly. This is yet another small sign that property in the Old Port is worth a serious look.

Properties on and around the Old Port have not yet reached their peak in price and are selling quickly. Purchasing here means acquiring a part of Nice’s history, with the typical colors of the façades in harmony with the blues of the sea and sky. The fronts of the houses are usually ochre with blue or green shutters. The boats docked on the water are traditionally bright colors and combined with the neon lights of the restaurants and cafés reflect on the water to create a real light show. The area is bustling with local shops including some of the best “socca” makers in town.

Apartments for sale have huge potential with a genuine “niçois” touch —  balconies on the upper floors and even small roof terraces. The area, including rue Bonaparte and Place du Pin where Asia Factory sits, was recently renovated as pedestrian and is attracting the city’s young and hip crowd.

Living around Place Garibaldi, steps from the Port and Place du Pin, renovated just a few years ago, it is now mainly a pedestrian zone where one strolls under albizzia trees or stops for a coffee on the sunlit terraces. The archways are home to shops and restaurants, in particular the hotspot for seafood in town, Le Café Turin, but also an art cinema house, The Mercury. The facades are “trompe-l’oeil,” created by over twenty fresco artists, add to the charm of the district and the beautifully gentrified Place.

There is not as much property on the market in the Old Port as one might like. It’s popularity is attracting smart investors. In order to find exactly what you are looking for, be sure to let us assist you in performing an independent search. We work with trusted associate agencies and individuals to ferret out every property possibility…never easy to do in an environment such as this with no Multiple Listing Service and thousands of agencies from which to choose!

A bientôt ,

Adrian Leeds
The Adrian Leeds Group

(with Lionel at the Asian Factory)

Respond to Adrian: [email protected]

P.S. Making last minute plans for a visit to Paris? Did you know you can rent an Adrian Leeds Group/Paris Sharing apartment for only 3 nights? If you’re booking less than 30 days in advance, we will wave the 4 night minimum stay! There is still availability at some of our most popular apartments. Book your Parisian apartment today!