Aventuras gay en Nice 🏳️‍🌈

The French Riviera is one of the top destinations for LGBTQ+ people worldwide. With many famous and fabulous gay bars, clubs, hotels, and events, you’ll be sure to feel welcome here.

France & LGBTQ+ Rights

France has a long history of LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance. In 1791, France became the first country in the world to decriminalize homosexuality, and it has continued to be a leader in the promotion of equal rights for gay people. France has laws in place to protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, it allows same-sex couples to marry and adopt children, and so-called ‘conversion therapy’ is illegal.

There is a thriving LGBTQ+ community on the French Riviera, mostly centered around Nice, with a vibrant culture and numerous events and organizations dedicated to supporting and celebrating gay people.

La escena gay en Nice, Francia

Every day of the week, LGBTQ+ travelers have fun choices for gay-friendly outposts, starting with Rue Bonaparte in Vieux Nice. This rainbow-painted street is lined with gay-centric restaurants and cafés, with plenty of outdoor tables to soak up the city’s 300 days of sun a year.

You’ll find gay club Malabar on this strip, and nearby are plenty more gay bars like Le Six, Le Couloir, Glam, y Le Swing, each serving cocktails and occasional drag shows, karaoke, and DJs into the wee hours.

Just beyond the historic center in Carabacel , browse a wide array of LGBTQ+ and feminist books and magazines (in both French and English) at lesbian-owned Librairie Vigna . A block away on Rue Delille , don’t miss tasty rum drinks and unexpected Latin-inspired dining at new queer-owned Hacienda . French speakers will appreciate compact L’Alphabet Theater on the same street, with a LGBTQ+ performances and other live shows.

Porque la oficina de turismo de la Nice Costa Azul es un socio global de laInternational LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA), you can dive right into local gay culture with a stop at the Nice Centro LGBT Costa Azul . The Centre offers classes, meeting spaces and more for queer locals and visitors, and you can expect to get plenty of hot travel tips from these friendly folks.

The Centre is integral to Irisée Naturellement, el programa de hospitalidad para visitantes LGBTQ+ de Nice que se asocia con hoteles, tiendas, clubes nocturnos, restaurantes y otras empresas. Ese programa apoya muchos eventos anuales importantes, incluidos Lou Queernaval, the queer version of Nice’s grand late-winter Carnival celebration.

Huge, Annual Gay Events

Cada año se celebran varios eventos y festivales gay importantes en Nice. No te pierdas el Pink Parade, the city’s annual mid-summer Pride celebration, as well as the Dentro y fuera Nice queer film festival, lesbian programming through Les Culottes, and more cultural events and soirees cropping up throughout the year.

The Pink Parade (Gay Pride)

The Pink Parade es el desfile oficial del Orgullo. Miles de personas acuden a la ciudad cada verano en todo su esplendor gay, con toneladas de artistas drag y grupos de activistas queer que se reúnen para celebrar las festividades. Nice tiene una de las escenas gay más grandes de Francia, fuera de París, y el Pink Parade anual ha sido una celebración popular y animada de la vida LGBTQ en la ciudad desde 2004.

The parade begins at 3:30pm in the Port of Nice. It will move through the city streets, briefly join the Promenade des Anglais, and end with a “celebration “Pink Party” at the Théâtre de Verdure (open-air theater). Everyone can join the parade rather than just watch, making it a memorable experience.

After the parade, the fun continues at the “Pink Drink” party at the front of MAMAC , with awesome DJ sets, singers, and dance acts!

Carnival: Lou Queernaval

Imagine is the world’s best carnival had a baby with a gay pride parade, and it turned out more fabulous than you could ever imagine. That’s Lou Queernaval.

Cada mes de febrero, como parte de el famoso Nice Carnaval, for one night the carnival gets even more fabulous. The night is called Lou Queernaval — el primer y único carnaval gay en Francia. Con DJ, músicos y artistas drag actuando ante grandes multitudes, las calles de Nice están llenas de reinas del baile, los disfraces más fabulosos que jamás hayas visto y parejas homosexuales disfrutando felices del glorioso ambiente festivo.

Gay Film Festivals

For lovers of film, don’t miss two LGBTQ+ film festivals. These unique festivals open the competition to LGBTQ+ cinema each year and very often offer us true masterpieces.

El In&Out Festival is held for a week each year in April. The films are from both well-known writers, directors, and actors along with innovative beginners, many of which will be in attendance for not only discussions but also question and answer periods.

El ZeFestival is held in October and November and the majority of films do not yet have commercial releases so expect the unexpected; these films will definitely give you plenty to talk about.

Gay Beaches

Along the famous Promenade des Anglais, there is the miles-long city beach of Nice. A pebble beach, fragmented into various private or paid beach sections (run mostly by hotels, restaurants and beach clubs) and a few free public beaches.

Toda la ciudad y todas sus playas son acogedoras para los gays, pero Nice tiene una zona de playa específicamente gay con un fabuloso club de playa (Playa Castell ) at the far east side of the main beach. There’s also a more private gay beach (Coco beach ) a short walk away, but be aware that unsuspecting tourists also often end up there. If you want more, there are another two gay beaches are just outside of town.

Castel Plage is a chic and elegant beach club, that attracts mixed crowds but is extremely popular amongst gay men, so it is an ideal spot to meet guys in a chic way. It is a restaurant and beach club on a sheltered beach (the last beach club on the far east side of Nice’s long Promenade beach) with a private deck that extends down to the edge of the water. Be prepared to pay for the sun beds (sunbeds with shade umbrellas cost around €20 per person/day), other amenities, food and drinks.

Gay Bars

Red Kafé es un bar gay en Nice que sirve crepes hasta tarde (está abierto desde las 5 p. m. hasta las 2:30 a. m. todos los días). Podrás encontrar eventos especiales, espectáculos drag y temas variados cada fin de semana. Si estás visitando Nice y quieres conocer gente nueva, el Red Kafé es uno de los lugares perfectos para hacerlo. El personal no solo es atento, sino que también está bien informado sobre lo que sucede actualmente en la escena de la ciudad, y a los clientes parece gustarles charlar con otras personas, lo que les ayuda a hacer nuevos amigos. Es un gran lugar para tomar un refrigerio de camino a la playa, cenar y ver un espectáculo, o tomar una copa o dos antes de dirigirse a las discotecas.

blitBarra z Es un bar de temática retro. Es un lugar animado para ir a disfrutar de un espectáculo y bailar con una embriagadora mezcla de la mejor música de los 80, 90 y la actualidad.

Coco Vin es un pequeño bar gay en el casco antiguo de Nice (Vieux Nice) es un gran lugar para tomar vino, mojitos y aperitivos.

Malabar Station is a bar with a nice outdoor terrace open during the warmer months. It’s a gay bar from 6pm until 10:30pm, then the cruising starts and goes until late (more on that below).

Le Swing is a LGBT bar with drag shows and karaoke nights.

La Cave Wilson is a gay bar with cabaret and drag shows.

Gay Night Clubs

Le Glam is probably the most popular gay club in town, always hopping on the weekends with a nice and varied crowd. Glam is a medium-sized club with a large bar and decent size dance floor featuring cute go-go dancers showing off under rotating glitter balls with the word GLAM projected onto the walls in bright pink. It doesn’t seem to matter if it is one of their popular Bear events taking place, Cabaret or Pop Star events, everyone is welcome and every night is fun. It’s not unusual to see drag queens, twinks, men in leather, lesbians, and bear groups together without attitude. The staff are super friendly and they pack their drinks strong, so if you’re a lightweight you’ll feel the love very quickly!

Le Six es un acogedor club nocturno Belle Epoque de dos pisos en Nice que es uno de los favoritos entre la multitud. También hay un gran entretenimiento drag, con artistas feroces como Holly White subiendo al escenario en toda su fabulosidad andrógina. Abre a las 10 p. m. y, por lo general, puede estar tranquilo durante el primer rato. Pero llega la medianoche y el lugar está a reventar. Está abierto hasta muy tarde para que puedas pasar un buen rato, si llegas.

L’Oméga is an intimate, yet fierce night out. The flashing, neon lights echo the rave halls from the 1990s. The drinks are delicious, and the bar staff aren’t bad looking either. The drag shows here are super campy and fun. They generally happen on Saturday nights, with resident queens battling it out on stage.

Le Klubber is where you go if you still want to party in the wee hours after going out on Friday, Saturday or Sunday night. It only opens its doors at 4:30am and closes them at 10am. The club itself is hardcore – it would have to be considering how late it opens! Techno music blares from the speakers, guests strip down to their underwear, whilst others roam around in leather gear. This is a place where you can push boundaries. Also, if you have been out all night, namely at L’Oméga Club or Red Kafé you can get a €5 discount at the entrance of Le Klubber!

Gay Parties

The Rainbow Party, which is generally hosted in Le High Club , is a fabulous gay event occasionally thrown to paint the town with glitter. These epic parties are rare, so you’ll need to keep an eye on the RainboWorld Facebook page (and check our Calendario de eventos) to know when the next one is happening. You don’t want to miss out, as it’s an incredibly fierce night with LGBTQ DJs, stunning performances, and everyone wearing amazing costumes as they dance the night away.

Cruising Bars

Malabar Station es un bar de cruising popular en Nice, pero también tiene una bonita terraza al aire libre abierta durante los meses más cálidos. Está diseñado como el calabozo de una estación de tren subterránea, con zona de bar, cuartos oscuros, cabañas y zona de juegos. El bar organiza regularmente eventos de temática gay, incluidas fiestas de ropa interior. Está ubicado en el barrio gay, cerca de muchos otros bares, tiendas y restaurantes gay. Por lo general, aquí encontrará gente de mediana edad a partir de 30 años o más.

Morgan Club is a gay cruise bar with small labyrinth, cabins, sling and video room. Theme nights with dresscodes (naked, jockstrap, underwear). Naked dance parties. Cruising mixers. Boxer nights. There is always something happening at the Morgan Club. Everyone here is so friendly. The drinks are fabulous, and the music is a little less intense than some other cruising bars in the city. There are even some sexy go-go dancers that really help liven the place up. With a boutique adjoining the bar that sells an assortment of items, from handcuffs to jockstraps, you won’t have to worry about coming up short-handed here. After you’ve stocked up on some items, the next step is finding a hideout. There are private cabins that you can sneak off into, though some don’t even make it that far. The best part is, no one really cares. It’s all about being free and loving yourself.

Eagle es un bar de cruising gay cerca del puerto de Nice, con cuarto oscuro, cabinas, sling y sala para fumadores. ¡Los papás de cuero, los demonios fetichistas y los osos se regocijan! El Águila te celebra en todo tu esplendor. Con ritmos tecno palpitantes que rebotan a través de las paredes cuando entras, hombres musculosos parados detrás de la barra y muchos otros tipos bailando con ropa S&M, te recordarás claramente que ya no estás en Kansas. La barra tiene un “come as you are” mantra. Just have a drink, do some flirting and enjoy the evening. The Eagle Bar isn’t for the fainthearted. So be prepared going in. There are loads of hideaways and glory holes to lose yourself in. Also, labyrinths where you could literally get lost. As always, don’t be pressured into doing anything you don’t want to do. Just be safe and have fun!

Le Code is a fetish-friendly gay cruising club. Black walls lit up in neon red lights line the corridor as you enter. The words LE CODE are shone across the walls. Burly men in tight leather bondage move ferociously across the room. You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d wandered into a spy film. Throw in all the dark rooms and glory holes, labyrinth and whip cracking, and you’ll feel like you’re in a Bond movie…‘Bondage… James Bondage!’ A night at Le Code is exciting. With themed events like naked parties, you’ll feel totally liberated after spending an evening here. With toys and whipped cream available at the bar, you’ll have all you need to make this visit a truly memorable one. Though don’t be intimidated walking in. Curious cats are just as welcomed as eager beavers – and you won’t be made to feel bad or uncomfortable if you don’t want to indulge in any activity yourself.

Club Le7 is an extensive themed cruise bar, spread over 3 floors, that welcomes locals and tourists. Facilities include a bar, dance floor, original art deco cinema, private cabins, dark room, lockers, steam room, showers. It’s located within an impressive Niçois building in the city center.

Gay Saunas

Les Bains-Douches es la sauna más popular de la Riviera francesa. Está distribuido en 3 plantas y, aunque la decoración puede ser bastante sencilla, el personal es servicial y amable. Lo que sea que le guste, lo encontrará fácilmente en Les Bains Douches, y eso se aplica a una clientela diversa de todas las edades y tipos de cuerpo, desde la sauna húmeda, el porno, el hammam, el jacuzzi, etc. Encontrará que toda la sauna está impecable. Limpio, cómodo y muy bien mantenido. La sauna está ubicada discretamente en una calle comercial/residencial muy segura en el centro de Nice.

Sauna du Chateau has clientele that are particularly buff and sexy. There is also quite a diverse age range, though most guests tend to be slightly older. Picture yourself, in a pool, chatting with some hot tourists and locals whilst knocking back a cocktail or two… This is the fantasy that Sauna du Chateau delivers, with a Finnish sauna, Turkish hammam, swimming pool, jacuzzi, and videos to help you relax.

Gay-Owned Restaurants

In the mood for a tasty treat? Then head to a delightful, gay-owned pastry shop, Le Fabrik des Garcons . Each of the delectable and creative pastries at this charming pastry shop is lovingly handmade daily and truly out-of-this-world delicious. Looking for a gourmet French meal? Make a reservation at their chic restaurant, Chez Les Garcons for a meal you won’t soon forget.

Puesta de sol Nice is a gay-owned restaurant and bar is perched right on “Le Prom” overlooking the sea. This charming restaurant is very popular with the gay crowd and serves burgers, pasta, seafood, and Asian-inspired dishes; with an upstairs lounge for pre- or post-dinner drinks.

La Provenzaga Es un bar de tapas y vinos que también cuenta con frecuentes espectáculos y actuaciones de drag. Ubicado en el centro del parque, este encantador salón tiene un público divertido, en su mayoría gay. Es un gran lugar para conocer gente nueva, disfrutar de un cóctel único, especialmente durante sus animadas sesiones de karaoke, copas después del trabajo, noches de bingo gay o mientras vives sus espectáculos drag estilo cabaret.

Gay Tours

Si realmente quieres llegar al corazón de la escena gay en Nice entonces te encantará unirte a uno de los Gaily LGBTQ friendly walking tours. ¡Puedes elegir entre un recorrido a pie gay amigable durante el día o un recorrido nocturno que visita los mejores bares y clubes gay de Nice! Si nunca has visitado Nice antes o quizás te sientes un poco tímido al salir por tu cuenta, esta es una manera maravillosa de explorar y relajarte con tus nuevos amigos homosexuales. Cualquiera que elijas, podrás aprender sobre la historia gay de Nice con un amigable guía local que conoce los mejores lugares para comer y beber.

Fuera de Nice

Gay beaches:

• Mont Rose Beach near Marseille is the oldest gay beach in France and maybe one of the most popular ones. Both LGBTQ+ residents and travelers, prefer this rocky nudist beach with its beautiful coast and deep sea. Popular cruising spots in amphitheatrical rock placements are ideal for fun times.
• Plage d’Eze-sur-Mer is a gay beach about 20 minutes outside of Nice. This is probably one of the most popular gay nudist beaches on the French Rivera though it’s notoriously difficult to reach. This is a 100% gay beach and mostly nude. Be sure to bring your own drinks and snacks since there are no services in this area. It gets particularly busy on the weekends. You can reach the beach by taking the #100 bus that travels towards Monaco. You disembark at “Parking St Laurent d’Eze”, and just follow the signposted trail until you reach the beach. You’ll know you’ve found the right place when you see loads of casual, naked men all about the place!

Gay-only accommodation:

• Le Connexion is a 100% gay men and gay-owned boutique holiday B&B with a heated, clothing-optional swimming pool. Set in beautiful countryside of rivers, olive groves and forest, they can host 16 guests in 5 self-catering apartments and studios, all with a kitchen, private entrance and terrace.