Best bars in Nice
This guide doesn't claim to cover every bar in Nice. It picks five addresses, between Old Nice and the Port district, according to what you are after: well-made cocktails, wine, beer, music or a lively evening.
Listed by the tourism office as a bar de charme in the heart of Old Nice, Les Folies d'Edmonde brings together classic and original cocktails, wine and themed nights in a 17th-century vaulted cellar. The menu includes house creations such as the André and the Ginette, and the bar changes pace from night to night: karaoke, drag show, flamenco, jam session, music trivia or concert. The vaulted cellar or the whole venue can be hired privately for up to 50 guests.
In the Antiquaires district near the Port, Povera starts from the product: a short, seasonal menu with Italian influences, and a genuine cocktail culture. A place to begin the evening with a calmer, more precise drink, away from the livelier spots.
Rouge is closer to a wine bar with food than to a night-out bar. You will find grower wines, organic or biodynamic, and small sharing plates, in an atmosphere suited to a dinner that lingers.
Sailor's Pub is a pub by the book: nautical decor, draft beer, darts, sports screenings and, depending on the week, music trivia or music nights. A place without ceremony, easy for groups.
Vibes draws people who want a real soundtrack with their cocktail. The place cultivates a listening-bar spirit: modern classics, DJ sets and evenings that are more groove-led than touristy.
At the Port of Nice, Zitto keeps things secret: a concealed entrance, a password and a Prohibition-era mood. Under the vaults, exposed brick, leather armchairs and candlelight create an intimate setting, where original cocktails are made with spirits, many of them local, from the sweetest to the most spiced. A confidential address, away from the crowds.
A night out for 20, 30 or 50 people takes some planning. Three things matter: capacity, the quality of service and entertainment that brings the group together. At Les Folies d'Edmonde, for up to 20 guests, a table booked online is enough; beyond that, or to have the place to yourselves, the vaulted cellar or the whole venue can be hired privately on a minimum spend, with karaoke or live music on quote.
This guide is written by the team at Les Folies d'Edmonde, a cocktail bar and evening venue on rue Benoît Bunico in Old Nice. The selection draws on our knowledge of the neighborhood, the bars' official pages and, where they exist, local editorial sources.
Old Nice has most of the lively bars, especially around Rue de la Préfecture and Rue Benoît Bunico. The Port district, which is quieter, leans more toward natural wines and precision cocktails.
In Old Nice, a cocktail generally costs between €10 and €15. At Les Folies d'Edmonde, the house creations are €13 to €15, in line with upscale cocktail bars in France and well below the top addresses in Paris or on the Côte d'Azur.
Les Folies d'Edmonde works well for bachelorette parties: for up to 20 guests, a table booked online is enough; to have the place to yourselves, the vaulted cellar or the whole venue can be hired privately on a minimum spend, with karaoke or live music on quote. Beneath its vault, the cellar offers an intimate setting.
Yes. Nice has many bars with live music, including Atmos Concept, le Shapko, O'Neill's, Bistrot Rossetti and Wayne's Bar. Les Folies d'Edmonde regularly hosts jam sessions, flamenco and concerts in its vaulted cellar.
For themed nights (karaoke, drag shows, concerts), booking at Les Folies d'Edmonde is strongly recommended: these evenings are often full. On weeknights without a themed event, there is usually room.
House creations, great classics and alcohol-free cocktails, served beneath the vault of a 17th-century cellar in the heart of Nice's Old Town.
For 1–20 guests, book a table for drinks, a birthday, or a night out in Nice Old Town.
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.
Gin or French vodka, olive brine and three Lucques olives (a green olive from the south of France), with or without dry vermouth.
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.
Hen or stag party in Nice: reserved table for up to 20 in a 17th-century cellar, karaoke, house creations; up to 50 on private hire.
Celebrate your 30th, 40th or 50th in a vaulted cellar in Old Nice: a table for up to 20 or the private cellar up to 50, karaoke some nights, cake welcome.
Team building in Nice, 17th-century cellar: cocktail workshop, music quiz, karaoke, drag show on quote. Private hire on a minimum spend, VAT invoice.
Team afterwork in Nice, 17th-century cellar: reserved table for up to 20, or private hire on a minimum spend. House creations, live music.
Private-hire Les Folies in Old Nice: vaulted cellar or the whole venue, on a minimum spend, up to 50 guests. We reply within 24 hours.
Venue for workshops, talks, theater, acoustic concerts, exhibitions and ticketed events in Nice. Comfortable seated cellar capacity up to 35 guests.
Cocktail class at 3:45 or 5 pm in a vaulted cellar, Old Nice: mix 2 cocktails, then a house creation. €50 each, 3 to 10, daily, confirmed on payment.
Alone in Nice tonight? Come from 6 pm to play cards with locals at Les Folies d'Edmonde, then stay for the night's program. Vaulted cellar, no cover.
Valentine's Day in Nice, in a 17th-century cellar: a table for two beneath the vault, low light and quiet music. Free bookings open in January.
Halloween in Nice Old Town: drag, horror cabaret and themed DJ sets every year around 31 October, in a 17th-century cellar. Dates and booking online.
New Year's Eve in Nice in a 17th-century cellar: DJ, midnight countdown and house creations. Table for up to 20, or private hire.
Nice Old Town after 6 pm: the alleys, the local bars, where to eat, then a cocktail bar with karaoke and live music until 12:30 am. Not a nightclub.
Cocktails on the French Riviera: a 17th-century cellar in Nice Old Town, 20 min from Monaco and Cannes. House creations, karaoke, live music, open nightly.
Music trivia in Nice in an Old Town cellar: name the song or artist a DJ plays. Three rounds, prizes to win, weekly: the date is on the events page.
Stand-up Nights at Les Folies d'Edmonde: a comedy night once a month in a Nice Old Town cellar, five to six local comedians, in French. Tickets online.
Rainy day in Nice? Find indoor activities, an Old Town itinerary, then cocktails, mocktails and events in a vaulted cellar from 6pm.
Karaoke on stage in a 17th-century cellar, Nice Old Town. Several nights a week from 8:30 pm, with a host, no fixed night. Dates and booking online.
Drag show in Nice at Les Folies d'Edmonde: two nights a month with drag bingo, singing, lip-sync, real dance shows and an LGBT-friendly cellar.
Cocktail bar in Nice Old Town: vaulted cellar, house creations, classics, French and Riviera spirits, themed nights and private hire.
Hire a 17th-century cellar for your intimate wedding in Nice: up to 50 guests, minimum spend, no room fee, late closing available. Reply within 24 hours.
Dirty Martini in Old Town Nice, France: gin or French vodka, olive brine, 3 Lucques olives, extra dirty on request. €14–19. Open daily, 6pm–12:30am.
One hour behind the bar with Marco Stella, formerly of the Mandarin Bar in London: make 2 of his creations. €120 per person, 2 to 10 guests.
16 rue Benoît Bunico, 06300 Nice, France
Every day: 6:00 pm – 12:30 am
Cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Maestro), contactless, Apple Pay, Google Pay, cash