From €14
€14 with our French vodka, €15 to €19 with one of our 10 gins.
Old Town Nice · French Riviera, France
Dirty Martini in Nice, France
Gin or French vodka, olive brine and three Lucques olives (a green olive from the south of France), with or without dry vermouth.
You can get a Dirty Martini in Nice, France, at Les Folies d'Edmonde, a cocktail bar at 16 rue Benoît Bunico in Old Town Nice (Vieux-Nice). We make it with gin or French vodka, olive brine and three Lucques olives, with or without dry vermouth: €14 with vodka, €15 to €19 with gin. We're open every day from 6pm to 12:30am.
Menu by Caroline, co-founder and lead bartender · Updated September 2026
Dirty Martini in Nice
Three Lucques olives
French Lucques olives in every Dirty Martini: a green variety grown in Languedoc, in southern France. Extra dirty on request, at no extra cost.
Vermouth: your call
With dry vermouth or without, on request. Say “no vermouth” for bone dry.
Old Town Nice, France
16 rue Benoît Bunico, 06300 Nice, France, a 5-minute walk from Place Masséna. Open every day, 6pm to 12:30am.
Ordering a Martini in France
In France, “un Martini” usually means a glass of Martini-brand vermouth, red or white, often over ice, and “un martini sec” can get you the brand's Extra Dry vermouth. In French bars, the cocktail keeps its English name: ask for a “Dirty Martini” or a “Dry Martini,” and say gin or vodka. That's how both appear on our menu, so here, you'll get the cocktail.
What to say at the bar
« Un Dirty Martini au gin (ou à la vodka), s'il vous plaît. »
How we make it
Four elements. The spirit and the vermouth are your call, and so is how dirty you want it.
Gin or vodka
Any of the 10 gins on our list, or our French vodka, made from wheat and distilled five times.
Dry vermouth, or none
With or without dry vermouth, on request. For a bone-dry Martini, just say “no vermouth.”
Olive brine
Olive brine (some say olive juice) is what makes it dirty: salty and savory. Extra dirty, with more brine, is available on request at no extra cost.
Three Lucques olives
Every Dirty Martini is garnished with three Lucques olives, a green olive from Languedoc, in the south of France.
The vodka: French, wheat, distilled five times
Our vodka is French, made from wheat and distilled five times. Vodka brings no juniper or other botanicals, so in a vodka Dirty Martini the olive brine sets the tone: in our view, the version to pick if you like the savory, briny side up front.
Dirty or Dry Martini with our French vodka: €14
Lucques olives: the green crescent of Languedoc, in southern France
Lucques is a green olive variety from Languedoc, in the south of France, grown mainly in the Hérault and Aude departments. The name is French for Lucca, in Tuscany, and tradition says the variety came from Italy. It has been grown in Languedoc as a table olive since at least the 18th century.
A Lucques has an asymmetric crescent shape and a bright green color that stays bright after curing. It's a fleshy olive, firm without being crunchy, and the flesh comes away easily from the pit. Expect light notes of buttered avocado and fresh hazelnut, sometimes almond, with little or no bitterness and medium saltiness. It's picked by hand, still green, from late August to October, and in France it's nicknamed “le diamant vert,” the green diamond.
Why the Lucques? It's a matter of taste, and our choice: we like a mild olive with little bitterness, one that lets the gin or vodka lead instead of covering it.
Good to know in Nice: the local olive is the small, dark Cailletier, known as the “olive de Nice.” The Lucques is a different olive: green, and from Languedoc.
Our 10 gins, and what each one brings to a Dirty Martini
Any gin on our list can be made into a Dirty or Dry Martini. The price is that gin's price on our gin & tonic list plus €1, so €15 to €19. As a rough guide, savory and saline gins sit closest to the brine, while floral and citrus gins show more of their character in a Dry Martini.
Three are made nearby: Gin aux Agrumes in Monaco, about 7 miles (12 km) away; 44°N in Grasse, about 19 miles (30 km); and Poulpe Bleu in Taradeau, in Provence, about 45 miles (75 km).
Bombay Original London Dry · 37.5%
Bombay · England, UK
A classic London Dry from a 1761 recipe: 8 steam-infused botanicals, juniper-led, dry and balanced.
Dry or Dirty Martini: €15
In a Dirty Martini: Juniper leads, with lemon peel, coriander and angelica behind it: a clean, classic London Dry base, and the brine adds a savory, salty edge.
Gin aux Agrumes — Distillerie de Monaco · 40%
La Distillerie de Monaco · Monaco, about 7 miles (12 km) from the bar
Sweet, fresh blend of juniper and local citrus: Monegasque orange, Menton lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, citron and thyme.
Dry or Dirty Martini: €15
In a Dirty Martini: Local citrus (bitter and sweet orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, bergamot, citron) meets the brine: salt against zest, with lemon thyme, Sichuan pepper and ginger in the background. As a Dry Martini with a lemon twist, the citrus comes through more clearly.
Poulpe Bleu — Liquoristerie de Provence · 41%
Liquoristerie de Provence · Taradeau (Var, Provence), about 45 miles (75 km) from the bar
A maritime gin with delicate salty notes: lemon zest, iris root and rose petal.
Dry or Dirty Martini: €15
In a Dirty Martini: Sea fennel (criste marine) gives this Provençal gin a maritime, saline side, and the olive brine leans right into it. Thyme, rosemary and rose keep it herbal and floral.
Umami Gin — Audemus Spirits · 42%
Audemus Spirits · Cognac, France
French spirit with Sicilian capers and Parmigiano-Reggiano, rested in ex-cognac barrels: salty notes.
Dry or Dirty Martini: €15
In a Dirty Martini: Sicilian capers and Parmigiano-Reggiano make this a savory gin, rested in ex-cognac casks: “saltiness without the salt,” in its producer's words. The brine layers olive on top; in a Dry Martini, the savory notes come from the gin alone.
CAP Gin · 43%
CAP Gin · created on the French Riviera
Born on the French Riviera, a sunny London Dry: juniper, citrus zest, mimosa, orange blossom and rose. Fresh and floral.
Dry or Dirty Martini: €16
In a Dirty Martini: Juniper, coriander, angelica and pink pepper give it a firm backbone at 43% ABV, and the brine adds salt on top. Its orange blossom, mimosa and rose come through more clearly in a Dry Martini with an orange twist.
Bloom London Dry · 40%
Bloom · England, UK
Sweet and creamy: juniper, chamomile, citrus and herbs.
Dry or Dirty Martini: €15
In a Dirty Martini: A light, floral gin with chamomile, honeysuckle and pomelo: the brine gives it a savory edge, and the florals step back. As a Dry Martini, the chamomile and honeysuckle stay up front.
Bloom Jasmine & Rose · 40%
Bloom · England, UK
Slightly earthy: elderflower, jasmine and rose petals.
Dry or Dirty Martini: €15
In a Dirty Martini: Rose petals and jasmine meet the olive brine: an unusual floral-and-salty contrast. Its floral, slightly earthy profile comes through most fully in a Dry Martini with a lemon twist.
Old Tom Gin — Esprit de Ruche · 42%
Esprit de Ruche · distilled in Île-de-France (Paris region), France
Organic Old Tom-style gin, distilled with 11 botanicals then rested with chestnut honey from Isère: juniper, Corsican grapefruit zest, Pyrenean fir cone, warm spices and a lingering honeyed finish.
Dry or Dirty Martini: €16
In a Dirty Martini: An Old Tom gin rested with chestnut honey, with Corsican grapefruit and fir cone: in a Dirty Martini, the brine meets the honey for a sweet-and-salty contrast. Old Tom is the gin style of the Martinez, the 19th-century cocktail often seen as the Martini's ancestor, so this gin also works as a Dry Martini with a twist.
Monkey 47 · 47%
Monkey 47 · Black Forest, Germany
Dry gin distilled in Germany's Black Forest with 47 botanicals.
Dry or Dirty Martini: €17
In a Dirty Martini: Made with 47 botanicals, including Black Forest spruce shoots and lingonberries, and bottled at 47% ABV. Its spruce notes carry through the brine, which adds a savory, salty note.
44°N de Grasse · 44%
Comte de Grasse · Grasse, about 19 miles (30 km) from the bar
Citrus freshness, Provençal florals and a soft musky finish.
Dry or Dirty Martini: €19
In a Dirty Martini: Samphire gives this Grasse gin a saline note of its own, which the olive brine picks up. Citrus and Provençal flowers sit further back, over a soft, musky finish.
Rather skip the brine? The Dry Martini
Our Dry Martini has no olive brine: gin or French vodka with dry vermouth, garnished with an olive or a lemon, lime or orange twist. It's priced like the Dirty Martini: €14 with vodka, or the gin's price + €1 with gin (€15 to €19).
Prices
- Dry or Dirty Martini with French vodka: €14
- With a gin from our list: that gin's price + €1 (€15 to €19)
- Extra dirty: no extra cost
Service is included in the price, as it is everywhere in France, and there's no cover charge. Tipping isn't expected, though it's appreciated.
L'abus d'alcool est dangereux pour la santé. À consommer avec modération. — Please drink responsibly.
Not drinking alcohol tonight?
Our mocktails are €10, and the signature and classic cocktails marked with a star on our menu can be made alcohol-free for €11. The full list is on the menu.
Where to find us in Nice
16 rue Benoît Bunico, 06300 Nice, France — Old Town (Vieux-Nice)
On foot: 8 minutes from the Promenade des Anglais, 5 minutes from Place Masséna and 3 minutes from the Cours Saleya market.
Open every day, 6pm to 12:30am
Book online for 1 to 20 people until 9pm; after 9pm, just walk in. We're a cocktail bar with no kitchen: come after dinner or have food delivered by the neighbouring restaurants.
Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Maestro, plus Apple Pay, Google Pay, contactless and cash.
Dirty Martini in Nice: your questions
Where can I get a Dirty Martini in Nice, France?
At Les Folies d'Edmonde, a cocktail bar at 16 rue Benoît Bunico in Old Town Nice (Vieux-Nice), France, open every day from 6pm to 12:30am. We make the Dirty Martini with gin or French vodka, olive brine and three Lucques olives, with or without dry vermouth. It's €14 with vodka and €15 to €19 with gin.
Why did I get a glass of vermouth when I ordered a Martini in France?
In France, “un Martini” usually means a glass of Martini-brand vermouth, red or white, often served over ice, and “un martini sec” can get you the brand's Extra Dry vermouth. To get the cocktail, ask for a “Dirty Martini” or a “Dry Martini” and name the spirit, gin or vodka; that's how both appear on the menu at Les Folies d'Edmonde, a cocktail bar in Old Town Nice. A “French Martini” is a different drink altogether: vodka, raspberry liqueur and pineapple.
How do I order a Dirty Martini in French?
The cocktail keeps its English name in France, so say “Un Dirty Martini au gin, s'il vous plaît” (a gin Dirty Martini, please) or “Un Dirty Martini à la vodka, s'il vous plaît.” Avoid asking for just “un Martini,” which usually gets you a glass of vermouth. At Les Folies d'Edmonde in Old Town Nice, the team speaks English and the menu is available in English, so you can simply order in English too.
Is a Dirty Martini better with gin or vodka?
It's a matter of taste. Vodka lets the olive brine set the tone; gin adds its botanicals, and savory or saline gins sit closest to the brine. At Les Folies d'Edmonde in Old Town Nice, you can choose our French wheat vodka (€14) or any of our 10 gins (€15 to €19).
Can I get a Dirty Martini bone dry, with no vermouth?
Yes. At Les Folies d'Edmonde in Old Town Nice, the Dirty Martini is made with or without dry vermouth, on request: just say “no vermouth” when you order.
Can I order a Dirty Martini extra dirty?
Yes. At Les Folies d'Edmonde in Old Town Nice, extra dirty (more olive brine) is available on request, at no extra cost.
What olives do you use in your Dirty Martini?
At Les Folies d'Edmonde in Old Town Nice, every Dirty Martini comes with three French Lucques olives. The Lucques is a green, crescent-shaped olive from Languedoc, in the south of France: firm and fleshy, with light notes of buttered avocado and fresh hazelnut and little or no bitterness. It's not the local Nice olive, which is the small, dark Cailletier.
How much is a Dirty Martini in Nice at Les Folies d'Edmonde?
At Les Folies d'Edmonde in Old Town Nice, a Dirty Martini is €14 with our French vodka and €15 to €19 with a gin from our list (that gin's price + €1). Extra dirty costs nothing more, and the Dry Martini is priced the same way. Service is included and there's no cover charge.
Do I need a reservation at Les Folies d'Edmonde in Nice?
You can book online for 1 to 20 people until 9pm at Les Folies d'Edmonde in Old Town Nice; after 9pm, just walk in. There's no cover charge.
Do you take American cards? Should I tip?
Yes: Les Folies d'Edmonde in Old Town Nice takes Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Maestro, plus Apple Pay, Google Pay, contactless and cash. Service is included in the price, as it is everywhere in France, so tipping isn't expected, though it's appreciated.
Where does the Dirty Martini come from?
Cocktail historian David Wondrich traces the idea to 1901, when John E. O'Connor muddled olives into a Martini at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. The first written recipe with olive brine dates to 1930. In Old Town Nice, Les Folies d'Edmonde makes it with gin or French vodka and three Lucques olives.
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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
Apple Pay, Contactless Payment, Eurocard/Mastercard, Cash, Visa, American Express, Debit Card