Where were you born?

Nice.



Where do you live?

I still live in Nice, next to the harbour, just a 10-minute walk from the old town and the city centre.



What’s best about your neighbourhood?

The atmosphere. It’s like a small village but at the same time it’s very lively.



If money was no object, where would you live?

In New York or on an island in the Caribbean.



What are your favourite Nice shops?

Loft on rue de la Buffa because the furniture there is amazing; Cap Code on rue Alphonse Karr for brands such as Cheap Monday and Paul Smith; Louis Vuitton on avenue de Suède, just because I love bags; and WindyChou, my favourite jewellery designer, who also has a corner on the Cours Saleya during the summer.



And your favourite restaurants?

Le Papayou on rue de la Préfecture, one my favourite restaurants, where the food and the atmosphere are fantastic. Lou Balico on avenue Saint Jean-Baptiste is the best place to eat local specialities. Saison on rue Gubernatis offers good Japanese food, the Bar du Coin on rue Droite has the best pizzas ever and I like Emilie's Cookies on rue Alberti and rue de la Préfecture for the atmosphere and for the cookies and bagels.



Do you have a favourite local café or pub?

Le Master Home on rue de la Préfecture for live jazz on Sundays, Les Distilleries Idéales, also on rue de la Préfecture, an unusual place for sampling beers, and Ma Nolan’s Irish pub on quai des deux Emmanuel – what a pub!



Any recommendations for dishes to try?

Try the local specialities from Nice like raviolis à la daube (ravioli with meat cooked in red wine), socca (a chickpea pancake), pissaladière (onion pie) or farcis Niçois (vegetables stuffed with meat).



Where do you take out-of-town friends?

This is a very difficult question because the Riviera is full of beautiful places, but my favourites include the rose garden in Cimiez, the Château for its amazing view of Nice, the old town and the Observatory.



Where do you like to celebrate?

Hi Hotel on avenue des Fleurs, a spa hotel where you eat macrobiotic food and drink Champagne.



Do you have a favourite walk in Nice?

My favourite walk is from the harbour to the old town by the sea.



What are the city’s best landmarks and buildings?

The Prieuré du Vieux Logis, the Palais de Marbre, the Russian cathedral and Henri Matisse’s house on the Cours Saleya.



And the best museum?

The Museée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain, of course! We have a great collection of works by Yves Klein and Niki de Saint Phalle.



Any secret spots you don’t want out-of-towners to know about?

A special area in Mont Vinaigrier where my friends meet for picnics. It’s a little beach next to the harbour. Also la Villa Emmanuelle, a private guest house.



Any places you’d recommend visitors avoid?

The discos!



And your advice for visitors?

Enjoy Nice and take time to discover it.