Sailing, freedom and firemen!

Welcome to the friendly Côte d'Azur! Our host Frank invites gay travelers to enjoy the best Nice has to offer: sun, magnificent landscapes and delicious food. He offers a diverse travel experience on his houseboat, but this sailor is also a great guide on shore. Here are his Local Tips for navigating Nice. Explore the world. Discover your pride!

How gay-friendly is Nice?

Nice is on the Côte d’Azur, the beautiful south of France, with warm and clear waters to swim and sail in, and a 6km long boardwalk to walk, jog or cycle on. There's so much to do here, from interesting museums to good restaurants and lively bars and clubs.

Nice has lots to offer, and Monaco and Cannes are closeby, too. I'm not aware of any kind of discrimination here. You can be openly gay, and holding hands and showing your affection in public is no big deal.

© Flickr/Shinya ICHINOHE

We have 48 hours in Nice. What can’t we miss?

Go sailing to have a complete view of the promenade with the magnificient buildings, harbour and high mountains in the background. Also, stroll around the famous Flower Market (Cours Saleya) and sit on a terrace and watch the people pass by. Finish off with a nice apéro in Rue Bonaparte, where you can find nice restaurants and gay bars.

Any gay events that take place in Nice?

There are several: Gay Pride in July, Dolly Party in mid-August, la Fête de la Musique on 21 June. All events are nice to attend; among my personal favourites is the Jazz Festival in July.

Favorite gay place to grab a bite for lunch?

Just grab a takeaway pizza! Nice belonged to Italy many years ago, so you have the influence of Italian cuisine. Eat it on the beach: it’s easy to talk to other people when sitting there. If you want to sit down, then choose La Civette at Cours Saleya. It has fresh and healthy salads.

For dinner, there are so many options, and all are gay-friendly: Le Piu is one of my favorites. It has tasty Italian dishes (with big portions) on the Quai des États-Unis.

© Flickr/jpra

A gay place for brunch on weekends?

Restaurant Les Garçons is serving tasty food at good prices. There's no need to choose a specifcally gay place as there are many gay people everywhere, so you can opt for any interesting restaurant. Every cuisine is available, from French to Argentinian, from Vietnamese to Japanese.

Best gay place for a cheap beer or happy hour?

Distilleries Ideal in Vieux Nice is serving good beers in a nice location. Not specifically gay, but always with a gay-friendly clientele. Happy hours at Bar Bitch on Place Rossettie is very gay and gets very busy.

You should also try the nearby ice cream shop Gelaterie Azzurro. They have amazing flavours – my favourite is the black chocolate sorbet – and super-friendly and sexy staff!

We’re ready to party! The best gay clubs?

On Rue Bonaparte there are several bars and clubs, like Malabar. Towards the west of the center you can find Le Glam: expect definite body contact as it can get very busy!

Best place to chill-out?

On the beach in front of Vieux Nice (Old Town) you can see many sexy gay guys. The garden just behind Vieux Nice, Promenade du Paillon or Coule Verte, is nice to visit too, with a great large water fountain.

Can you share a secret or little-known place to visit in Nice?

French firemen train on the beach volleyball court at the beginning of the boardwalk every weekday morning. Despite the fact that it happens very early, it always attracts curious eyes. They’re very handsome and, of course, firemen are a big fantasy! ;)

Finally, where can we get the best views? 

From the castle hill, Parc du Château, you have a fantastic view all over Nice: the promenade with the beaches, the harbour and towards the mountains. Or from my sailing boat, out on the sea! ●

Want to know more about Nice? Check out our City Guide and other Local Tips from misterb&b hosts in the area!

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