Updated May 2026 — by the Pub Crawl Nissa team, who walk into these bars every single night.
Nice has hundreds of bars. Maybe 30 are worth your time. Maybe 15 are where locals and the people who actually know the city go. Here is that list. No paid placements, no fake "best of" filler — just the bars we walk into ourselves when we're not working.
The seafront classic: La Chapa
73 Quai des États-Unis. Sea view, big terrace, music loud enough to set the mood. This is where our Yellow Pub Crawl starts at 9 PM and there's a reason — it's the perfect first drink of the night in Nice. Order a Spritz, sit on the terrace, watch the Prom come alive.
The party starter: Akathor Pub
32 Cours Saleya. Loud, fast, fills up early. This is where our Orange Bar Crawl kicks off at 9:30 PM. If you came to dance from the first round, this is your start point.
The communal taverne: Saint Riquier
The taverne where the night actually clicks. Wooden interior, long shared tables, bar games on every surface. Mixed crowd of locals and travelers. You walk in alone, you walk out with five new contacts.
The Irish institution: Paddy's Irish Pub
Vieux Nice. Live music several nights a week, Guinness on tap, a crowd that gets louder as the night goes on. International atmosphere — expect to hear English, Irish, Italian and French all in the same booth.
The anglo magnet: Wayne's
The most famous anglo bar in Nice. Brits, Aussies and Americans on rotation. Live music almost every night. Smaller than it looks. Get there before 11 PM or you'll wait at the door.
The cocktail destination: Tipsy Bar
The best cocktail list in Vieux Nice. Sit at the bar, ask the bartender what's good. Around €12-14 a drink, which is the local standard for a real cocktail. Quiet until 11 PM, packed by midnight.
The pre-club warmup: Smarties
The DJ bar. Smaller dancefloor, harder beats, the bar where Orange crawl participants warm up before the club. If you want to dance but it's too early for the club, this is it.
The jazz hideout: Shapko Bar
Vieux Nice. Live jazz almost every night, no cover, tiny room, real musicians. Locals come here. The crowd actually listens. Order a whisky, find a stool, don't talk during solos.
The local craft beer spot: Brasserie Artisanale de Nice
For the beer people. Local craft brewery with rotating taps. Less party, more taste. Good early-evening choice before the night gets loud.
The wine bar: Le Comptoir du Marché
Old Town. Small, intimate, mostly local. The wine list is genuinely good and the prices are fair. Perfect for a date or a quiet first drink.
The beachfront aperitivo: Castel Plage
Technically a beach club but doubles as one of the best apéro spots in town. Sunset over the bay, Spritz in hand, feet in the sand.
The hidden speakeasy: Movida
You walk through the main bar, you find a second room behind a curtain. Cocktails are €15+. Worth doing once for the experience.
The rooftop with a view: Aston La Scala
Central, panoramic, hotel rooftop. Cocktails on the pricey side (€15-18) but the view at sunset is worth the markup once in your trip.
The dramatic setting: Le Plongeoir
Built on a former diving platform over the rocks. Closer to the water than any other bar in Nice. Sunset drinks here are the kind of memory people pull out at dinner parties for years.
The late-night pre-club: Le Pompéi
Half bar, half club. Where most nights end. Our partner venue — Yellow and Orange both finish here around 1 AM with guaranteed VIP entry. Open until 2 AM, mixed commercial and house.
How to do these bars right (one night, all in)
If you only have one night and you want to hit the real Nice bar scene, here's the route:
- 9 PM — Apéro at La Chapa, sunset view
- 10 PM — Saint Riquier for the social part
- 11 PM — Paddy's or Wayne's for the energy
- Midnight — Tipsy or Smarties for the warmup
- 1 AM — Le Pompéi for the dancefloor
That's our Yellow Pub Crawl route, more or less. €25, 5 shots, drink deals at every stop, VIP club entry included, and 50-100+ travelers join every summer night. Book here: Yellow Pub Crawl.
Want the full nightlife map of Nice, including clubs and rooftops? Read our complete Nice Nightlife Guide for Summer 2026.
