6–8 pm · Aperitif hour
The terraces of Cours Saleya and the squares fill up first, then the alleys at dinner time. Les Folies opens at 6 pm; you can book online until 9 pm.
Bar & nightlife in Nice Old Town
Going out in Old Nice: guide to the alleys, bars and nightlife
After dark, Old Nice turns into a maze of ochre alleyways, squares that fill up from aperitif hour, and concept bars on every corner. Here is our guide: where to have a drink, where to dine, where to end the evening. It comes from the founders of Les Folies d'Edmonde, on rue Benoît Bunico since 2022.
Not a nightclub: a cocktail bar with karaoke and live music, open until 12:30 am.
Is there a terrace?
Yes, a terrace of about ten tables (around 20 seats) on the pedestrian alley, away from cars. In fine weather, it looks onto the old façades, narrow lanes and neighborhood life of Old Nice.
Nightlife in Nice: how an evening in the Old Town unfolds
In the evening, the Old Town is the part of Nice with the most bars and restaurants, and everything is within walking distance. Les Folies d'Edmonde is at 16 rue Benoît Bunico, 4 minutes from Cours Saleya and 8 minutes from Place Masséna. In the surrounding alleys, several bars run their own program: karaoke, jam sessions, comedy, quizzes. The Port area has venues of its own, gathered in our selection of the best bars in Nice.
8 pm–12:30 am · Programmed nights
In the neighborhood bars, it's time for karaoke, jam sessions, music trivia, stand-up or drag shows, depending on the venue and the night. The program at Les Folies is in the events calendar; after 9 pm, just walk in.
After 12:30 am · Late night
Les Folies closes at 12:30 am: it is not a nightclub. The neighborhood stays lively until around 2 am; each venue keeps its own hours, so it's best to check before you go.
See what's on tonight
The program is refreshed every two weeks. Karaoke, live music, jam sessions, drag and other themed nights return regularly to the cellar, with a DJ set about once a month. Each event lists its exact date and time.
Karaoke nights in Nice
At Les Folies d'Edmonde, karaoke means taking the stage. A 17th-century vaulted cellar in the heart of Nice Old Town, warm lighting, a host to lead the evening, the house cocktails and over 10,000 songs to choose from, in a room that feels closer to a cabaret.
Live music bar in Nice
Les Folies d'Edmonde brings several kinds of music together beneath the vault of the same 17th-century cellar, at 16 rue Benoît Bunico in Nice Old Town. People come for karaoke led by a host, a U.NICE.ON jam session, an occasional concert, a music trivia night or a DJ set; the stage, the bar and the audience are only a few steps apart.
Jam session in Nice
A jam session is never quite a concert. A stage opens up, musicians answer one another, the audience is close by, and a song sometimes changes direction halfway through. This guide gathers the jam calendar for Nice, with links to the venues and organizers, to check before you head out.
Drag show in Nice
At Les Folies d'Edmonde, the drag show comes down into the vaulted cellar, in the heart of Nice Old Town: drag bingo, singing, lip-sync and real dance numbers. Millena B Rose, Azémylia, Laka-Naïa, Kiki Frog Show and LunaBelladonna have left their mark on this stage in recent years, in an LGBT friendly place where there's plenty of laughter and everyone is made welcome.
Best bars in Nice
This guide doesn't claim to cover every bar in Nice. It picks six addresses, between Old Nice and the Port district, according to what you are after: well-made cocktails, wine, beer, music or a lively evening.
Book a table at Les Folies
For 1–20 guests, book a table for drinks, a birthday, or a night out in Nice Old Town.
Good to know
- On foot, Cours Saleya is 4 minutes from Les Folies, Place Masséna and Place Garibaldi 8 minutes; the tram stops at Cathédrale – Vieille Ville, 2 minutes away.
- No entry fee, one drink per person.
- No kitchen at Les Folies: have dinner in the neighbourhood first, or get it delivered to the cellar by the neighbouring restaurants.
- At Les Folies, the team speaks French and English, and the menu is bilingual.
An offbeat stop en route
Les Folies d'Edmonde sits at 16 rue Benoît Bunico, 4 minutes' walk from Cours Saleya and 8 minutes from Place Garibaldi. Our cellar, with its medieval walls and 17th-century vault, occupies a building of the former Giudaria. Bare stone, a vaulted ceiling, natural acoustics: the room lends itself to music nights.
In Old Nice, Les Folies is a stop that brings together crafted cocktails, an evening program (karaoke, drag show, jam, DJ depending on the date) and a real mix of locals and travelers. If you're coming from Cours Saleya early in the evening and want to move on to a programmed night around 9-10 pm, ours is the cellar to head down into.
Travelers who want to discover Old Nice by night in a few hours
Nice locals looking for a fresh address in their own neighborhood
Groups who want aperitifs, dinner and a night out without leaving the neighborhood
Old Nice, the night-time version
Ochre alleyways, medieval façades, small squares: the old neighborhood has kept its setting. It comes into its own in the evening, as you move from an aperitif on Cours Saleya to dinner in the alleys, then on to a bar around the corner.
A rare density of concept bars
More than thirty venues fit into a few streets, a density rare on the French Riviera. Each has its own personality: community-run bars, including Le Béthel, set inside a church; themed pubs such as Sailor's Pub; comedy clubs such as Bobar; mixology at Les Folies; wine bars and craft breweries.
A neighborhood where locals and travelers meet
Old Nice has kept its regulars: students from Saint-Roch, office workers from the Garibaldi area, lifelong Niçois. In the bars, they share the room with travelers passing through.
Other addresses in the neighborhood
Old Nice has plenty of other bars. Here are three addresses with a character of their own, to choose according to the mood of the evening and turn your night out into an itinerary.
Le Béthel, a charity bar in a church
Set inside Église Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur (also known as Église du Gesù), Le Béthel is a charity bar where all proceeds fund the church's restoration. It opens only in summer, for evenings under the nave.
The Sailor's Pub, a nautical port of call
Portholes, rigging and navigational details: The Sailor's Pub brings the world of great sea voyages to the heart of Nice's old streets. A relaxed pub with a faraway feel.
Bobar Comedy Club, laughs and mixology
Bobar has established itself as Nice's go-to stand-up venue. French-language shows on weeknights, the English Comedy Club on Sundays: the audience is both local and international.
Going out in Old Nice: a practical guide
Which neighborhood should you pick for a night out in Nice?
Old Nice, which has more bars, restaurants and places open in the evening than any other neighborhood in Nice. You can do it all on foot, from Cours Saleya to Place Garibaldi, through the alleys that link Sainte-Réparate cathedral to Castle Hill.
What time does Old Nice come alive?
The aperitif hour starts around 6-7pm on Cours Saleya, then the alleys come alive from 9-10pm, especially on Fridays and Saturdays; many bars also run a program midweek. The hour-by-hour guide is further up this page.
Old Nice or Cours Saleya: what's the difference for a drink?
In high season, Cours Saleya is very touristy: sunny terraces, market views, prices to match. The surrounding alleys (rue Benoît Bunico, rue Droite, rue de la Loge) are livelier at night and are where the concept bars cluster: live music, mixology, comedy clubs.
Is Old Nice safe at night?
Yes. The neighborhood stays busy until 1-2am, the main alleys are well lit, and the density of bars and restaurants keeps people around all evening. As in any nightlife area, the usual precautions are enough (keep an eye on your belongings, etc.).
What's an unusual bar to discover in Nice?
Les Folies d'Edmonde is an unusual bar in Nice: a 17th-century vaulted cellar at 16 rue Benoît Bunico in the heart of the Old Town, where a few steps down lead to a cocktail bar with a stage. Karaoke, drag shows, jam sessions and music trivia nights take turns beneath the stone. Far from the seafront bars, it's the offbeat spot locals bring their guests to discover.
Where to go out in Nice tonight?
Les Folies d'Edmonde, at 16 rue Benoît Bunico in the Old Town, is open every day from 6 pm to 12:30 am; its events calendar lists tonight's program (karaoke, jam session, music trivia, drag show…). Online booking is open until 9 pm; after that, just walk in.
Contact
Live music bar in Nice
Les Folies d'Edmonde brings several kinds of music together beneath the vault of the same 17th-century cellar, at 16 rue Benoît Bunico in Nice Old Town. People come for karaoke led by a host, a U.NICE.ON jam session, an occasional concert, a music trivia night or a DJ set; the stage, the bar and the audience are only a few steps apart.
Karaoke nights in Nice
At Les Folies d'Edmonde, karaoke means taking the stage. A 17th-century vaulted cellar in the heart of Nice Old Town, warm lighting, a host to lead the evening, the house cocktails and over 10,000 songs to choose from, in a room that feels closer to a cabaret.
Drag show in Nice
At Les Folies d'Edmonde, the drag show comes down into the vaulted cellar, in the heart of Nice Old Town: drag bingo, singing, lip-sync and real dance numbers. Millena B Rose, Azémylia, Laka-Naïa, Kiki Frog Show and LunaBelladonna have left their mark on this stage in recent years, in an LGBT friendly place where there's plenty of laughter and everyone is made welcome.
Jam session in Nice
A jam session is never quite a concert. A stage opens up, musicians answer one another, the audience is close by, and a song sometimes changes direction halfway through. This guide gathers the jam calendar for Nice, with links to the venues and organizers, to check before you head out.
Book a table at Les Folies
For 1–20 guests, book a table for drinks, a birthday, or a night out in Nice Old Town.
What guests say
Google rating: 4.9/5 from 652 reviews (as of September 2026) — source: Google Business Profile.
I've traveled to nearly 25 countries, been in hundreds of bars. This may be the best bar I've ever been to in the world. The owners are incredibly kind, the service is great, the drinks are incredible, and the fun and vibe downstairs is just unmatched. Karaoke with people from all over the world is a fun experience I'll never forget!
So happy we stopped here during our bachelorette trip! The cocktails were unique and delicious, and the vibe was perfect. Highly recommend!
Genuinely nice owners and staff and truly great cocktails. I enjoyed what I drank here more than some of the top 100 bars in the world. Unpretentious and great energy.
J'ai fêté mon pot de départ aux Folies d'Edmonde, et cette soirée restera gravée comme un moment absolument inoubliable. Les cocktails étaient tout simplement délicieux, hyper originaux, préparés avec soin et créativité. On sent une vraie passion derrière le bar. Une véritable petite perle nichée dans le Vieux-Nice — à découvrir absolument.
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Practical info
Address
16 rue Benoît Bunico, 06300 Nice, France
Hours
Every day: 6:00 pm – 12:30 am
Payment methods
Cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Maestro), contactless, Apple Pay, Google Pay, cash