The story
Nizza is the Italian name for Nice — a city that spent centuries as a borderland between French and Ligurian Italian cultures, founded by ancient Greeks as Nikaea in honour of Nike, goddess of victory. Café Nizza on Åsögatan draws on exactly that layered, cross-cultural identity. The White Guide, which recognised the restaurant at a very fine level in 2026, put it well: this is an emphatically social space, a southern French bistro functioning as meeting point and melting pot, animated by a relaxed mix of guests and — during warmer months — a wonderfully charming outdoor terrace at a peculiar little street corner where Åsögatan meets Borgmästargatan.
The cooking sits squarely in Mediterranean territory, moving between French bistro and Italian trattoria with the ease of someone who grew up on both sides of the border. Snacks set the tone — sardines with toast and lemon, Comté, Chorizo Basque — before a concise menu of starters, pastas and mains takes over.
Among the starters, a pissaladière nods directly to Nice, while burrata with tomato, wild garlic and basil and a salade de poulpe façon St Jean de Luz speak to the broader coastal Mediterranean pantry. The pasta section is quietly ambitious: a fermentata cacio e pepe, tajarin with beurre blanc, trout roe and chives, and agnolotti filled with braised lamb, olives and preserved lemon. Main courses include halibut with new potatoes, sorrel, bottarga and crème crue, roast chicken with shiitake, sage and chard, and a ratatouille with egg, croutons and wild garlic oil for those eating without meat.
Desserts stay in the same register — a semifreddo of Gariguette strawberries, chocolate mousse with raspberry and olive oil, almond cake with rhubarb.
Beyond the main dining room, Café Nizza extends into Cave Nizza — also known as Trattoria Sperandio — a back-pocket wine bar open Wednesday through Saturday. There is also Chambre Nizza, a private room for parties of seven to twelve, currently temporarily closed for individual bookings but available through the restaurant for larger groups. Walk-ins are always welcome; the online reservation system handles parties of up to six.
Recognition
Details
History
Nizza is the Italian name for Nice, once a border town and subject to various cultural influences. Primarily, it has been the French and Italian Ligurians who have strolled along the Riviera and laid their claims. But in fact, it was the ancient Greeks who founded the city under the name Nikaea, as a tribute to the goddess Nike—the goddess of victory, kin to strength, power, and zeal. Södermalm’s Nizza version had long ago lived up to this borderland analogy through its distinct social atmosphere, with the South French bistro serving as a meeting place and melting pot. This was greatly enhanced by the relaxed vibe among the clientele—and not least the wonderful outdoor terrace during the summer months, situated in a peculiarly charming street intersection.
Location
