Insight Guides: Explore Nice & the French Riviera (Insight Explore Guides) (2015)
Nightlife
The Riviera’s cultural programme is strongly concentrated on Nice, and to a lesser extent Monaco, while St-Tropez and Cannes lean more towards clubbing. Nightclubs will often describe themselves as ‘club privé’, meaning they can pick and choose who they let in; there are also plenty of less elitist DJ bars, though.
Le Croisette Casino Barrière
Lucien Barrière Hôtels & Casinos
MUSIC AND DANCE VENUES
Opéra de Nice
4 rue St-Francis-de-Paule, Nice; tel: 04 92 17 40 00; www.opera-nice.org
Nice’s ornate opera house was entirely rebuilt in the 1880s, according to plans approved by Charles Garnier, after the old Italian theatre caught fire during the overture of Lucia di Lammermoor in 1881. It is used for opera, ballet and symphony concerts, with an emphasis on popular opera classics.
Palais Nikaia
163 route de Grenoble, Nice; tel: 04 92 29 31 29; www.nikaia.fr
Nice’s big stadium venue can seat over 6,000 in its indoors configuration and stand up to 52,000 in its open-air version, so this is the place for farewell tours and comebacks by rock giants like Johnny Hallyday or U2, along with crowd-pulling musicals and stars of the stand-up comedy circuit.
Salle Garnier
Place du Casino, Monaco; tel: +377-98 06 28 28; www.opera.mc
Designed by Charles Garnier, Monte-Carlo’s sumptuous opera house was added onto the casino building in 1879 to encourage gamblers to stay in town longer; it has a prestigious history of opera and ballet premieres, and often features big-name soloists.
Théâtre de Grasse
2 rue Maximin Isnard, Grasse; tel: 04 93 40 53 00; www.theatredegrasse.com
A striking modern venue that puts on a multidisciplinary mix of dance, theatre, circus and music from visiting companies that are usually in town for just a night or two. Closed August.
Théâtre Lino Ventura
168 boulevard de l’Ariane, Nice; tel: 04 97 00 10 70; www.tlv-nice.org
Since opening in 1992, the 700-capacity Lino Ventura has proved to be one of the most dynamic venues in Nice, showcasing a broad spectrum of current rock and pop trends from international names and local groups, along with circus and contemporary dance.
Les jeux sont faits
Lucien Barrière Hôtels & Casinos
THEATRES AND CINEMAS
Cinémathèque de Nice
Acropolis, 3 esplanade Kennedy, Nice; tel: 04 92 04 06 66; www.cinematheque-nice.com
The offshoot of the Paris Cinémathèque screens both classic and more recent movies in themed seasons and retrospectives of great actors and directors.
Théâtre Antibea
15 rue Georges Clémenceau, Antibes; tel: 04 93 34 24 30; www.theatre-antibea.com
This 120-seat theatre on the site of an old chapel puts on a varied and energetic programme ranging from Racine and other French classics to modern European drama, including occasional pieces in English.
Théâtre National de Nice
Promenade des Arts, Nice; tel: 04 93 13 90 90; www.tnn.fr
The region’s most important venue for contemporary drama is renowned for premiering new plays both by visiting companies and by its own troupe directed by Daniel Benoin.
NIGHTCLUBS AND CASINOS
Le Bâoli
Port Canto, La Croisette, Cannes; tel: 04 93 43 03 43; www.lebaoli.com
This all-night restaurant, sushi bar and discothèque with a tented Arabian Nights and palm trees setting draws a VIP crowd and Cannes’ gilded youth.
Casino Ruhl
1 promenade des Anglais, Nice; tel: 04 97 03 12 22; www.lucienbarriere.com
Where gambling combines with glitz: Baccarat chandeliers, gaming tables, 300 slot machines, plus a cabaret revue at weekends.
Le Croisette Casino Barrière
Palais des Festivals, Cannes; tel: 04 92 98 78 00; www.lucienbarriere.com
A panoply of roulette, black jack and other table games, poker and slot machines in the heart of the Palais des Festivals, with a brasserie overlooking the port.
Les Marches
Palais des Festivals, Cannes; tel: 04 93 39 77 21; www.lesmarches-club.com
On the first floor of the legendary Palais des Festivals, this fashionable club which attracts top DJs overlooks the harbour. The terrace is the perfect place for a sunset cocktail.
Papagayo
Résidence du Port, St-Tropez; tel: 04 94 97 95 95.
St-Tropez’s party people have flocked to this two-level club by the port for more than 40 years. Closed mid-Nov-mid-Feb.
La Siesta
Route du Bord de Mer, Antibes; tel: 04 93 33 31 31; www.joa-casino.com
This big, brash seafront complex on the eastern edge of Antibes spans the casino/club/restaurant spectrum including a vast open-air beach disco in summer and a refreshingly unpretentious attitude compared to some of its snootier rivals.