If you fancy a nice, quiet evening in Nice, away from the crowds, the heat and the usual hubbub… then the intimate live concerts and craft beers at Brasserie de Castillon may well appeal to you.
I discovered this place thanks to a local shopkeeper who, after running into my English boyfriend a few times, smiled and said to me:
“Hey, if your boyfriend likes beer (I suppose he does, he’s English after all!), I can highly recommend the Brasserie de Castillon. What’s more, they do live concerts!”
I reply, won over by his words , “Ah very interesting… I’ll make a note of it!”
When summer arrived and my Brit finally came to visit, I didn’t miss the opportunity to book a table for a concert evening.
The concept
Located just a stone’s throw from the port of Nice on rue Cassini, Brasserie de Castillon is both a bar serving craft beers brewed on the premises using organic and local ingredients, and a small restaurant serving seasonal, tasty home-cooked food.
The love of beer
What makes this place so special? The beers, of course. Artisanal, organic, local and without any additives. Even I, who’s not much of a beer drinker, was surprised by their delicate flavours. My boyfriend thought they were fantastic (and even recommended a second round, of course).
Some of the beers have already won awards, like their Belgian blonde, which has won several awards. You’ll also find a white with Menton lemon, an IPA with vine peach, and a very smooth Flanders red. And depending on the season, original creations make their appearance: apricot sour, lavender mead… A real playground for the curious.
A short map to make the most of it
The cuisine is homemade with local produce, and you can feel it. The menu is deliberately short, which for me is a real guarantee of quality (I’m always wary of long menus…). The smiling, enthusiastic waitress gave us excellent advice. On the menu for us: courgette flowers in tempura, home-made burger and fish & chips. A special mention for the courgette flowers: crispy, melting, fragrant… a starter that’s a must-try! Prices are very reasonable: expect to pay around €20 per dish.
A gentle live concert
But the detail that set the restaurant apart from other restaurants in Nice was the live concert. That evening, Lena Marino, an artist from the south of France, seduced the small audience with her soft, deep voice. A few busy tables, subdued lighting, glasses clinking gently, and above all… a respectful silence during each song. I was particularly touched by her performance of ‘Creep’ by Radiohead, one of my favourite songs!
But above all, what I appreciated most was the intimate, simple, authentic feel of the evening. There was no fuss, just a beautiful voice, emotion and a captivated audience with plenty to eat and drink. The kind of suspended moment that’s hard to forget.
Practical info
Address: 17 rue Cassini, 06300 Nice
Telephone number: 06 47 71 28 59
Opening times : Open every day from 5pm to midnight
