10 Of Provence's Top Bars

It’s not hard to find a decent drinking establishment in Provence. After a hard day visiting the beaches or vineyards, there’s nothing better than the prefect bar to meet your mood – whether you want to party in St Tropez, enjoy rooftop cocktails in Nice, or mix your drinks with some jazz. Here’s our guide to ten of Provence‘s best bars.

1. Longchamp Palace, Marseille

Bar, Restaurant, French, Mediterranean

Longchamp Palace is much loved by locals at all times of the day

The Longchamp Palace is the kind of bar that’s as much rammed full of locals as it is of people passing through. It’s not far from the Old Port in Marseille and worth the ten-minute walk. Come during the day with friends to grab a bite to eat, or come by yourself to enjoy a coffee while reading the paper. The restaurant is at the back and uses seasonal, locally sourced ingredients for its dishes. On weekend nights it can get busy, with customers streaming out of the busy, stylish bar and onto the street. A neat spot to start, or end, your night.

Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 8AM to 1:30AM. Sunday to Tuesday, 8AM to 12:30AM.

2. Le Vin Sur Vin, Cannes

Bar, Charcuterie, Wine Bar, Pub Grub

Le Vin Sur Vin, is a low-key bar, allowing for conversation over a bottle of wine, with unobtrusive music in the background, though sometimes there is live music early in the evening. People love the way the owner, Bénédicte, welcomes her customers, and they love the appetisers served with the drinks. Think charcuterie and cheese plates or foie gras. A real Cannes favourite.

Opening hours: 6PM to 12:30AM, Monday to Saturday. Closed Sundays.

3. Le Radisson Blu, Nice

Hotel Restaurant, Bar, French

Le Pool Bar and Lounge a Le Radisson Blu, Nice

Nice has plenty to offer in the way of rooftop bars . The one at the Radisson Blu Hotel is large, with over 700 square metres, including a pool, lounge, bar and restaurant. Come here to drink in luxurious surroundings and to have a little swim at the same time. The staff are friendly and courteous and it’s the perfect place to watch any event with fireworks, like the Bastille Day celebrations, or to watch the sun go down in style.

Opening hours:9AM to midnight, daily.

5. La Folie Douce, Cannes

La Folie Douce is an organisation that holds parties in the best seasonal places all around France – from major ski resorts to beach parties along the Côte d’Azur. In Cannes, it holds court in the Hotel Barrière Le Majestic on the famous La Croisette boulevard. Again, it isn’t cheap but you’ll get to rub shoulders with all the key players.
Opening hours: 7:30PM to 2AM, summer only
La Folie Douce, 10 Boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes, France, +33 4 92 98 77 00

Sun 7, Nice and Cannes

Sun 7 attracts a hip crowd who know how to party. There’s one location in Cannes and another in Nice. It’s open all night long in the summer and is a perfect “after” spot to have fun into the small hours. It serves a selection of fancy cocktails and you can check their Facebook page for DJ listings.

Opening hours: 9:30PM to 5AM, daily.

Sun 7, 5 Rue Gérard Monod, Cannes, France, +33 7 60 25 59 00
Sun 7, 36 Rue de France, Nice, France, +33 6 77 99 56 27
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr0yCZVUGOY

6. La Fée Verte, Marseille

Cocktail Bar, Pub Grub

La Fée Verte is the ideal place to go if you’re in the Old Port area of Marseille and looking for a real bar, rather than an English pub or tourist trap; it’s one of the few bars in the area that the locals go to. They have DJ nights and offer a wide selection of drinks. The staff are friendly and the atmosphere is inviting. The name means “the green fairy”.
Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 7PM to 2AM.

7. Shapko Bar, Nice

Bar, French

Nice is a place for jazz lovers, and the Shapko Bar is a vital stop on any jazz itinerary. It’s a casual, laid-back bar without the normal bustle of the promenade. Music fans will be delighted.

Opening hours: 6PM to 2:30AM, daily.

8. Le Meridien Hotel, Nice

Hotel Restaurant, Bar, French, European, Seafood, Mediterranean

La Terrasse restaurant at Le Meridien | © Courtesy of Le Meridien

Le Terrasse at the Meridien Hotel is another rooftop bar in Nice that offers exemplary views over the Promenade des Anglais. On the 10th floor you’ll find the bar, with great service and a delicious array of drinks. It has a lounge corner, but reservations are advised, particularly in summer. It can be an expensive drink but well worth it for the view. A place to start the night.

Opening hours: 10AM to 10PM, daily.

9. The Cotton Club, Cannes

Bar, Wine Bar, French

This is a jazz lounge in Cannes that actually exists within another bar, the Auberge Provençale da Bouttau. The wine bar is decent but the Cotton Club has jazz on weekend evenings and is the perfect place to sip a glass of wine in a chilled-out environment. A place to commemorate the day and toast your holiday.

Opening hours: 7:15PM to 11PM, daily. Jazz on Fridays and Saturdays.

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