Tucked into a 17th-century vaulted stone cellar on rue Benoît Bunico, Les Folies d'Edmonde is the kind of place you stumble into and end up staying all night. The cocktails are serious, but the atmosphere is anything but stiff — think karaoke, jam sessions, blind tests, and DJ sets in an intimate underground space where the boundary between stage, bar, and crowd basically disappears.
A 17th-century vaulted cellar in Old Nice where crafted cocktails meet karaoke, jam sessions, and DJ sets in an intimate underground setting.
Head downstairs — the ground floor can look empty, but the real atmosphere is in the cellar below. Book ahead on weekends or show nights via their website or Instagram.
A vaulted cellar cocktail bar that actually lives up to the hype
You'll walk past the entrance on rue Benoît Bunico without a second glance — and that's exactly the point. Les Folies d'Edmonde hides its magic underground, in a medieval stone-walled cellar with 17th-century vaulting that feels like a secret you've just been let in on. The bar itself might look quiet at street level, but head downstairs and you'll find where the real action happens: warm lighting, stone arches, and a crowd that's here for cocktails and entertainment that actually delivers.
The cocktails are the backbone — expertly crafted by a dedicated mixologist, with signature creations that go well beyond the usual Negroni-and-Mojito routine. There's a solid wine selection too. But what sets this place apart is the programming. Depending on the night, you might walk into a well-run karaoke session (and reviewers insist it's tasteful, not chaotic), a jam session called U.NICE.ON, a blind test musical, or a DJ set. The intimacy of the cellar means you're always close to the action — there's no real separation between the stage, the bar, and the audience.
Reviewers consistently call it one of the best small bars in Nice, and the near-perfect ratings back that up. It's open every evening from 6pm, and reservations are recommended — you can book by message or through their website. If you're looking for a night out in Vieux Nice that feels genuinely special rather than touristy, this is your spot.