What began as a €3 lunch offer during a crisis is now a movement transforming the daily lives of seniors in Nice – and sending a message to cities across Europe.
One meal, one table and one city’s commitment to ageing with dignity
In July 2023, the City of Nice quietly launched a new initiative – a cheerful, welcoming space where older residents could enjoy a healthy three-course meal for just €3, surrounded by friendly faces.
The idea was simple, but the result? Transformational.
Less than two years later, the city is running three solidarity restaurants – Alegria, La Pignata and La Maiouneta – each offering something more than just food. These are places of connection, culture, laughter and care. And with more than 10,000 meals served and 100% daily occupancy, the initiative is now being recognised across Europe – and now shortlisted for a Eurocities City Initiative Award.
But this story isn’t about just a food programme. It’s about rethinking how cities treat older residents – not as burdens, but as essential, vibrant members of the community.
“Let’s eat – and let’s belong.”
The vision came from Mayor Christian Estrosi, in response to a perfect storm of inflation, isolation and ageing demographics. Residents over the age of 60 represent almost one-third of Nice’s population of 350,000, and in 2023, skyrocketing prices and social fragmentation were pushing many into isolation.
“We live in an individualistic society,” said one diner. “People of a certain age are often left behind. But this made me feel human again.”
Jennifer Salles, Deputy Mayor for Seniors and Solidarity, has overseen the initiative. “We wanted to offer more than a safety net,” she explains. “We wanted to offer a reason to get up in the morning. A place to go. A place to be seen.”
At the first restaurant, Alegria, seniors arrive early, often dressed for the occasion. Meals are served at noon, but the socialising begins well before. The dishes are fresh and local – prepared by the city’s own central kitchen – and the room is laid out like a real bistro, with white tablecloths, flowers on the tables and friendly faces.
Older citizens aren’t a cost. They’re an investment.
After lunch, bingo, quizzes and musical events often take place. “We call it a restaurant,” says Salles, “but it’s really a community centre disguised as a dining room.”
A handshake, not a handout
The €3 price tag may be symbolic, but it’s also meaningful. It protects pride and ensures access. The actual cost of each meal – including food, labour, logistics and rent – is over €15 per person. The City of Nice absorbs this difference, investing public funds in what Salles calls “preventive care through dignity”.
“In times of inflation, older people are hit hardest,” says Mayor Estrosi. “So we decided to support them in a way that’s visible, tangible and daily.”
From loneliness to laughter – that’s the journey we’re serving, one plate at a time.
Early on, the programme received start-up co-funding from Malakoff Humanis, a mutual insurance partner known for its commitment to elderly care. Now, the city funds 100% of the costs. “It’s a public good,” says Salles. “And one that more than pays for itself – socially, emotionally, even fiscally.”
A recent independent social impact study by LARIIS (the Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory in Social Intervention) confirmed what staff had already seen first-hand – that seniors who regularly visit the restaurants experience lower rates of anxiety, loneliness and health decline. This, in turn, reduces strain on local healthcare systems.
One restaurant became three, by popular demand
After Alegria’s success in Nice West, seniors began asking for locations closer to their own neighbourhoods – and the city responded.
In June 2024, La Pignata opened in the east of Nice, operating one day a week inside a municipal autonomy residence. In December 2024, La Maiouneta opened in the north at the AnimaNice Centre – a lively community hub offering language classes, wellness programmes and cultural workshops.
Each site was carefully chosen not just for population density, but for proximity, accessibility and ability to connect into existing community networks. All three locations now operate with near 100% occupancy.
Across the three sites, Alegria serves up to 50 meals daily, La Pignata 20 meals per week and La Maiouneta another 50 meals per day. And the demand isn’t showing any signs of slowing.
Ten thousand meals. But what we’ve really delivered is ten thousand moments of joy.
Cross-sector collaboration – The secret sauce
What makes the Nice model especially relevant to the Eurocities City Initiative Award is the extent of multi-level, cross-sector coordination involved – from inception to daily operations.
Departments involved include:
- Senior Services (identifying needs, maintaining the Over-55 Pass registry)
- The Central Kitchen (meal planning, sourcing and delivery)
- Community and Cultural Affairs (organising events and partnerships)
- Communications (engagement, outreach and neighbourhood mobilisation)
- Public Transport (ensuring easy access to the venues)
Additionally, Nice initially involved university students as volunteers during meal services, building intergenerational bonds and giving younger residents a hands-on role in the city’s ageing strategy.
Even as the students phased out, municipal animators now bring joy to mealtimes, leading games and conversations.
“Our animators don’t just run bingo,” says Salles. “They spark friendships.”
A city that learns and adapts
But the project is not without challenges. From adapting menus for elderly nutrition needs (lower salt, higher calcium) to managing logistics across three kitchens and locations, the learning curve has been steep.
The 2023 heatwave also forced a sudden pivot with vulnerable seniors unable to dine in non-air-conditioned rooms. “We had to find new venues, quickly, that met both comfort and access standards,” Salles says. “But we did it.”
Let’s eat – and let’s belong.
The city also relies on direct feedback from diners. One participant told a staff member, “Before this, I hadn’t spoken to anyone in two days. Now I come every week, and I always see someone I know.”
Scalable as well as replicable
Nice’s solidarity restaurants have already inspired other cities across France. But Salles insists that the model is adaptable to any urban context, large or small.
Her advice to other cities is to start with what already exists, such as a school kitchen, a community space or a transport network. Then, engage multiple departments from day one, including food, housing, health and community services. Keep the offer simple, with one meal, one price and one welcome – and prioritise proximity by locating restaurants in areas where seniors already live, shop and travel. Finally, Salles advises cities to listen and adjust constantly through feedback loops that keep the service people-centred.
“It doesn’t have to be perfect from the start,” she says. “It just has to be real.”
Recognition and a reminder
For Salles and her team, being shortlisted for the Eurocities City Initiative Award is both an honour and a prompt.
“It reminds us that senior citizens deserve visibility,” she says. “Too often, older residents are seen as passive recipients. But they’re vibrant, opinionated and talented. All they need is a space to reconnect.”
We’re not building a programme. We’re building a community.
At the celebration of the programme’s 10,000th meal in January 2025, staff and seniors gathered for cake, bingo and stories. “It was never just about the food,” one said. “It was about feeling like someone was waiting for me.”
What’s next?
The City of Nice is already exploring ways to expand the model, including:
- On-site health screenings and dental checks
- Digital literacy workshops
- Collaborations with mental health professionals
- Mobile solidarity lunches for homebound seniors
And most importantly, Salles wants to keep expanding the idea of what a city can do for those who built it.
“If we truly believe in stronger cities and fairer societies,” she says, “then investing in seniors isn’t charity, it’s the foundation.”
This initiative is shortlisted in the ‘Inspiring City’ initiative category at the Eurocities Awards 2025. This year, for the first time, Eurocities member cities are involved in selecting the winners of the awards. Our members can now vote to choose the best city hero and the best city initiative.
You can view the full awards shortlist here.
Results will be announced on Thursday 5 June at Eurocities 2025 Braga.
