Wonderful Gay Club

Who knew that Nice boasted one of the most extensive gay scenes in France, trailing only Paris and Marseille? We were astounded (in a good way) to discover that the picturesque coastal city of Nice, situated on the Cote d’Azur, is home to a bustling gay scene; moreover, in every facet of travel, Gay Nice possesses a great deal to offer LGBTQ+ visitors.

With an abundance of gay bars, clubs, cruising establishments, queer bookstores, saunas, and gay gatherings occurring throughout the year, Nice has discreetly transformed into an exceptional gay destination. We harbor no doubt that as more individuals become cognizant of what it provides, it will achieve comparable renown to other gay locales in Europe, such as Madrid, Stockholm, and Mykonos.

The city itself presents as postcard perfection, exhibiting its own distinct character, culture, and historical background. The city is acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and regardless of where you explore, you will be captivated by Nice; this encompasses its narrow, cobbled lanes, verdant hillside parks and waterfalls, along with the stunning beaches that line the coastline.

In our Travel Guide to Gay Nice, France we will bring to your attention the best gay bars, clubs, cruising venues, and gay saunas, along with recommendations for hotels, places to dine, and a number of unmissable activities to partake in.

Gay Area of Nice, France

The city center itself is rather compact, with everything within a short walking radius; most of the gay bars are dispersed across the city, as opposed to being confined to a specific gay district.

Even though there isn't a clearly defined gay area within Nice (akin to the gay village found in Manchester), we would advise that the optimal starting point would be a gay bar within the old town, since this would serve as the functional core of the gay area of Nice, with possibilities on either side for venturing into a larger club or a cruising club.

What to do in Gay Nice, France?

Comparable to any city across the globe, be it gay or straight-friendly, there exist countless remarkable experiences to delve into, enabling you to learn about the destination's culture, history, and unique character.

Experiencing Nice as a gay duo, we felt a sense of ease, no matter where we explored or what activity we engaged in.

Make certain to incorporate the ensuing points to your checklist of things to accomplish:

Marche aux Fleurs Cours Saleya

Regarded as among the most attractive outdoor markets in France, we advise a visit to Marche aux Fleurs Cours Saleya in the morning; this market is teeming with mesmerizing displays of blossoms and food, including fresh fruit and sweet treats.

There are some iconic items here to taste, including the Socca, which is a chickpea-based flatbread.

Additionally, we sampled a few of the pecan-based snacks, which were mixed with caramel and were, to put it mildly, delicious.

Whether you opt to eat here or not, it's simply a delight to meander and soak up all the lively colors and aromas.

Vieux Nice (Old Town)

Investigate the old town of Nice (Vieux Nice), which is picture postcard perfect.

The Old Town is found at the base of Castle Hill and is also where you will locate Marche aux Fleurs Cours Saleya.

Anticipate narrow cobblestone streets and pastel-hued buildings, where you can easily get lost exploring or drop in to one of the several local Niçoise shops selling soaps and Provençal textiles, in addition to meats and cheeses.

Place Massena

Place Massena encompasses a sweeping plaza adorned with exquisite, ornamental buildings, cafes, a park, and a central fountain that extends towards the coast.

Watch out for the pillars, each topped with a statue of a man. These statues rotate to face each other and illuminate to ‘communicate’ after nightfall.

Take a walk through Place Massena, stop at a cafe, and simply observe the world passing by.

Castle Hill

A close runner-up to our most favored spot in Nice, proceed upwards via the steps next to the Nice sign to Castle Hill for breathtaking perspectives of the coastline and city below.

The hill separates the old port side of Nice, where you will see all the expensive yachts and the old town of Nice, from Castle Hill, providing you with superb views of both sides of the city. Explore all around Castle Hill to ensure you see both.

One of the principal attractions is the artificial waterfall, constructed during the late nineteenth century, accompanied by panoramic vistas of Nice from the observation deck situated above the waterfall.

Promenade des Anglais

Take a leisurely stroll along Promenade des Anglais (the walkway of the English).

The Promenade spans along the coast for 7km and is popular with those wanting to take a relaxed stroll, run, cycle, or even rollerblade. It is bordered on one side with luxury hotels and parks, and on the other by beaches and trendy beach clubs.

Plage Publique des l’Opera

As one of the numerous relaxing beaches, Plage Publique des l’Opera, taking its name from the nearby Opera house, is an excellent location to unwind, swim, or savor some food at the Opera Restaurant.

Gay Beaches in Nice

Staying on the subject of beaches, when it comes to gay beaches in Nice, there are a couple of alternatives to select from. Some, comparable to numerous other gay beaches in Europe, demand a little effort to get to, whereas some are a bit closer to the heart of the action (albeit, a bit less gay as a result...).

Here are four alternatives to investigate:

St Laurent d’Eze Plage

Beginning with the most well-known and, as a result, (unsurprisingly) the most challenging to access, St Laurent d’Eze Plage is a gay nudist beach situated in Nice.

This beach is almost exclusively gay, considering it is hard to access, and few individuals outside of the gay community would even contemplate going there. Like most beaches, it is a narrow, pebble beach located in a beautiful area (with plenty of nude gay guys, so…)

To reach the beach, you need to take the No. 100 bus route, which is currently divided into two routes, No. 607 and No 608. You will want the No.607 route from Nice, headed towards Monaco, and get off at Parking St Laurent s’Eze Plage, then follow the signposts that lead to the beach (or tag along with the gay crowd, especially if it’s a weekend, when it becomes quite busy). Given that it is somewhat out of the way, there aren't any nearby facilities, so make sure you bring an ample supply of food and drink for the day, along with beds/towels, and the like.

Le Plage de Coco Beach

From gay beaches in Nice (of which St Laurent is a must-see) to gay-friendly beaches.

Like everywhere along the coast, another beautiful spot with a rocky public beach area, and very popular with gay sunbathers. Compared to the one mentioned above, this one has more large rocks than a pebble beach, with different areas to lie on or jump into the sea.

This gay beach is situated east of Nice Port; it's possible to stroll for 30 minutes from the old town or hop on the number 38 or 15 bus.

Bring provisions for the day!

Hi Beach

If having no facilities at the other gay beaches in Nice isn't working out for you and you require a little more convenience, maybe a comfortable lounger, then you may wish to consider the private Hi beach.

This beach hosts a mixed group of people but continues to be favored by LGBTQ+ individuals. It also houses a bar and a restaurant, so there's no requirement to pack a whole load of supplies.

You won't need to travel far to reach this beach, as it is right on the main beachfront.

Castel Plage

Similar to Hi Beach, Castel Plage is a gay-popular beach in Nice, immediately in front of the old town, easy to reach and boasting plenty of facilities and a restaurant of the same name.

Should you wish to just relax in comfort on the beach, watch the world go by, and potentially meet some LGBTQ+ locals, this is a solid option (whereas if you are looking for a full-on gay nudist beach in Nice, then put in the extra effort to head to St Laurent).

Gay Bars Nice, France

For a comparatively small city, we were impressed by the count of gay bars in Nice. Some have a more relaxed ambiance; others transition into a dance party, but regardless, given the quantity available, you are pretty much certain to locate something that matches your personal preferences.

During your visit, ensure that you explore a number of the following gay bars before proceeding to one of the gay clubs later in the evening (and gay cruising bars even later...)

Le Six

Le Six appears to be a modest and unassuming gay bar in Nice from the outside, but inside, it overflows with fun, character, and larger-than-life drag queens parading along the bar and perched atop the DJ booth!

The bar itself incorporates a small dancefloor, some seating in the rear, and also a raised area for drinks, which you have to access via ladders! Drinks and ladders may not represent the best combination, yet everyone seemed to manage...

If you choose to begin your evening here, you will likely wind up dancing (to excellent mainstream pop songs while we were there), so it is the ideal warm-up before heading to one of the bigger clubs.

6 Rue Raoul Bosio 06300 Nice, France

Le Couloir

With a super unique and unforgettable style, we are talking about the leopard print wallpaper, this gay bar in Nice, Le Couloir, has been going for over 27 years. In fact it is said to be one of the oldest gay bars on the French Riviera.

Currently Le Couloir is run by Jacques who also is the owner of Eagle the gay cruising bar (see below).

This is one of the more relaxing gay bars in Nice to enjoy some drinks and meet new people, especially for their Afterwork drinks after 6pm.

The bar is open from 18:00 – 01:00 Tuesday to Saturday.

1 Rue Alberti, 06000 Nice

Le Swing

Le Swing is a gay bar, restaurant and cabaret bar open 7 days a week from 18:00 – 02:30.

If you are looking for somewhere to belt out your best diva tune, head to Le Swing on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday for their popular karaoke

They also run nights with some crazy drag hosts that will keep you entertained you on stage and transport you into their unique universes, mixing charm, fantasy, and madness!

10, Rue Defly 06000 Nice, France

Rainbow Bar

Rainbow Bar is a small gay bar in the popular gay area of Rue Bonaparte. It’s a relaxed place to grab a drink and in particular check out their cocktail menu.

9 Rue Bonaparte, Nice, 06300

Coco Vin

Seeking something a little more sophisticated? Coco Vin is a gay wine bar and delicatessen in Nice open Tuesday to Saturday 17:00 – 00:30 (with happy hours until 20:00).

3 rue droite 06300 Nice

La Cave Wilson

La Cave Wilson is a unique cabaret style bar with shows that can transport you back in time. Think piano bar meets gay bar with a hint of diva, comedy and old school acts.

16 Rue Gubernatis 06000 Nice, France

Red Kafe

Just 2 minutes from the beach, one of the newer gay bars in Nice is Red Kafe. This is an LGBTQ popular wine bar which also serves tapas. Head here early evening to relax into your night and if you want something a bit more lively later on, then they often have drag shows and DJs on.

Gay Clubs Nice

Ready to move on from a gay bar to one of the busier gay clubs in Nice? Whilst some of the gay bars certainly get dancy, if you are looking for something bigger, more bustling and with even more hot French guys then consider checking out one of the following gay clubs in Nice.

L’Omega Club

If you are looking for a big dancefloor, hot crowd, good music and super friendly (and generous) bartenders then L’Omega Club has you covered.

L’Omega Club is a gay club in Nice that runs nights with Electro and Electro House music, themed events, drag shows and gay t-dances. Cover charges (which normally include a drink) vary depending on the event.

We had a couple of nights out here, both were super fun and equally a little messy!

8 passage Émile Négrin 06000 Nice, France

Le Glam

Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 23:00 – 04:00 and is host to a number of different parties with various DJs, Go-Go dancers and they also run a Pop’n’Drag night.

With huge glitter balls decorating the tightly packed dancefloor and generous drinks measures (like most places in Europe), you are in for some fun. Head over to their website to learn more.

6 Rue Eugene Emanuel 06000 NICE

Le Klubber

Le Klubber is for those that don’t want to stop. When most gay clubs in Nice close around 04:00, Le Klubber is just opening (around 04:00 – 04:30) for their gay after party which runs until about 10:00.

Expect a techno and house party complete with darkroom and go-go dancers. Cover charges apply, discounts available if you have been to the sister bars earlier on (Omega Club, Le Swing, Red Kafé, Le Code, Malabar and Le Six).

High Club (Host to RainboWorld Events)

RainboWorld events presents Rainbow Power at High Club for a night of 100% pop, over the top decor and drag queens from Drag Race to entertain.

Note High Club is not a gay club, it hosts a gay night.

Gay Cruise Bars in Nice

There are almost as many gay cruising bars in Nice as regular gay bars! And of course we are not complaining.

If you are looking for a heated way to spend the end of your evening, or your whole evening, take a look at the list of gay cruising bars in Nice below:

Eagle Bar

Described as ‘a real gay cruising bar in Nice’ with no half measures, the Eagle is built around a large central bar where you can stock up all night long with soft drinks, draft beers, spirits and above all guys.

Like all good gay cruising bars in Nice, Eagle has a darkroom, cabins, sling, and St Andrew’s cross, enjoy 7 days a week from 22:00 – 03:00.

Le Klubber

As mentioned above, this gay cruising club in Nice opens between 04:00 and 05:00 and has a busy darkroom.

Malabar Station

Lions, tigers and bears! Oh my! This gay cruising club in Nice is popular with bears and their admirers. As the name suggests, it’s giving underground train station vibes mixed with everything you expect from a cruising club including busy darkrooms, cabins, and play zone.

Malabar station is also host to various DJs and has different nights on throughout the week.

10 Rue Bonaparte, Nice, France, 06300

Morgan Cruising Bar

With dresscodes such as jock, nude or sports, Morgan gay cruising bar Nice sounds like a lot of fun. Expect to find a sling, facilities to freshen up, movie lounge, voyeur lounges, mazes and cabins. They also have a full stock of products and toys on site.

The club is open every evening from 22:00 – 02:30 except Monday and costs €14/15 with a drink to enter.

Club Le 7

Club Le 7 is a friendly, local theme bar with dancing, cruising, steam room and showers, where guys come to get friendly.  It used to be Nices first gay sauna but has now been converted (see what saunas are available below).

We like the fact that here you can do everything from dance to play.

Le Code Nice

Somewhere a bit more intense, this gay cruising club has been in Nice since 2011 and is located at 4 Rue Papon between Place Garibaldi and Place du Pin .

Their theme nights, atmosphere and friendliness make CODE a must-see cruising gay club bar on the Côte d’Azur!

Gay Shops in Nice

The are a couple of gay shops in Nice including a clothing store and LGBTQ+ bookshop to check out:

Rendez-Vous Underwear

Rendez-Vous is a gay mens underwear shop selling some great gay underwear brands.

Address: 6 Rue Francis Gallo, 06300 Nice, France

Librairie Vigna LGBT and Feminism

Librairie Vigna LGBT and feminism is currently the only LGBTQ+ literature store in Nice.

Address: 3 Rue Delille 06000 Nice, France

Gay Friendly Hotels Nice

Nice boasts a plethora of exquisite hotels to choose from, and although there aren't any strictly gay hotels, such as you might encounter in exceptionally gay towns like Sitges, we have either lodged at or are aware that the subsequent brands are particularly welcoming:

AC Hotel by Marriott Nice

The AC Hotel by Mariott is a beautiful 4 beachfront hotel steps away from the famous Promenade des Anglais

We love that the hotel features a stunning rooftop terrace and pool and relaxing zen garden.

If you are looking for a little luxury in Nice, get yourself booked.

Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée

Boasting seriously stylish and luxurious rooms, the 5 Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée represents an art-deco style hotel, incorporating an on-site casino, both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a hammam, and a sauna.

The terrace presents panoramic views of the Baie des Anges, and most of the tourist attractions are easily accessible by foot.

Hotel Nice Riviera

Centrally located within the city, the Hotel Nice Riviera Hotel is a 4-star establishment, situated a brief stroll away from the Promenade des Anglais, the flower market, and the old city.

Gay Saunas in Nice

Presently, there's only one gay sauna in Nice; there were others in times past; nonetheless, these have since shuttered, including La Cercle Sauna. The sole surviving gay sauna is:

Les Bains-Douches

With three floors to explore, Les Bains-Douches is among the most sought-after and bustling gay saunas on the French Riviera.

As with most gay saunas, you can anticipate steam rooms, a sauna, whirlpools, playrooms, private cabins, video rooms, etc. Reviews commend the well-maintained condition of the place, a factor that is always a pivotal consideration – much like how well-maintained the largest gay sauna in Berlin is!

To cap it off, they also organize themed happenings…

Gay Events in Nice

Nice Gay Pride – Nice Pink Parade

Nice commemorates Pride annually during July/August, with its Pink Parade, which has been held since 2004 and presently populates the streets with individuals adorned in elaborate costumes, embellished with rainbows, and engaging in celebration.

The parade commences in the late afternoon at La Liberation and culminates at Place du General.

Beyond the parade, Nice becomes lively with numerous pride events, starting with the ‘Pink Drink After Party’ immediately after the parade concludes at the Museum of Modern Art and, of course, with the immense quantity of gay bars in Nice, each has its own schedule of pride party events, featuring DJs, dancers, drag shows, and, naturally, an abundance of alluring guys to celebrate with.

In&Out Film Festival

The In&Out Film Festival is an exceedingly popular LGBTQ+ film festival that has been in operation for over fifteen years, screening various films across numerous locations throughout the city.

The films are showcased in multiple languages and tackle a vast array of LGBTQ+ topics, extending from trans rights to coming out, and even some slightly risqué subjects.

If you are an LGBTQ+ film enthusiast who relishes traveling, be certain to visit during this festival, usually held in April each year.

Queernaval de Nice

Queernaval de Nice launches in February each year, representing the inaugural gay carnival in France, which promotes sharing, inclusion, and harmonious living.

You can expect to see accomplished Niçoise batucadas (a type of samba-like dance), fabulous drag queens, and numerous artists, conveying queer joy!

More than one hundred and fifty volunteer carnival workers, clad in the most awe-inspiring costumes, will set the mood for this extraordinary evening, with a distinct theme selected for each year.

This is a free event, accessible to all members of the public.

Nice So Fetiche

Searching for something a bit more naughty in Nice in November? With so many gay cruising bars, it is perhaps not surprising that, akin to Gran Canaria, Nice organizes a Feti&3359;h event.

The event spans from Thursday to Sunday, encompassing drinks receptions, dinners, a leather brunch, the election of Mr. Evidence Leatherman, and naturally, a wealth of parties hosted at the beloved gay cruising clubs. Enjoy!

Nice boasts a wealth of opportunities to offer LGBTQ+ travelers and constitutes an incredibly picturesque city; we heartily suggest a visit to personally experience this captivating city!