Christmas is now just a few short weeks away, and the festive season has already begun on the Côte d'Azur, with Christmas trees, fairy-lights and decorations popping up all along the coast from Cannes to Monaco over the last few days. And the Christmas party season is well underway too, so it's time to glam up in your favourite heels and sequins, grab some mistletoe and head out to celebrate in style on the Riviera!

If you're looking for something a bit more festive than your usual pint of Guinness in front of the rugby in one of Nice's Irish pubs, why not start off with a glass of mulled wine or a ‘bière de Noël' (Christmas beer) from the Marché de Noël in Place Masséna.

Then head over the road for an aperitif in Les Distilleries Idéales in Vieux Nice, a small but cosy bar decorated in a traditional French ‘brasserie' style with a wide choice of drinks, Happy Hour offers from 6pm to 8pm and friendly service.

Just around the corner in the Cours Saleya is the French bar ‘Les Trois Diables', a Niçois favourite with locals and tourists alike, where you can party like a rock-star every Wednesday in December with their bilingual Karaoke evenings, just the thing for a fun Christmas night out with friends or colleagues.

If Karaoke is not for you, leave Vieux Nice behind and make your way to Le Karr in the centre of Nice. This contemporary bar/restaurant is the perfect place for a more sophisticated Christmas night out with friends; start the evening with an aperitif in the bar then try some of their French-Asian cuisine before finally hitting the dance floor as their house DJ spins some great music until 12.30am.

Over in Monaco, if you're looking for a great night out with colleagues to kick off the festive season, why not start off in Slammers Bar with their amazing Happy Hour offer. From 5pm-8pm every second drink is on the house, which will definitely get the party going but hopefully won't end up with anybody kissing a colleague or insulting the boss!

When Happy Hour winds down, head on over to the port where you can walk through the open-air Christmas market and then warm up by trying a beer from the micro-brewery at the Brasserie de Monaco which offers heated outdoor patio seating complete with Christmas decorations and lights, a resident DJ from Thursday to Saturday and a snack menu made up of traditional Monegasque/Italian/French products.

Once you've sampled all that the Brasserie has to offer, you can simply walk next door to the Black Legend nightclub to dance the night away until 5am to the sounds of the best soul, funk, and R&B from the 70s until today and not a cheesy Christmas tune in sight!

For a fun girlie night out this week, head to Stars 'N' Bars in Monaco, to check out their soirée Sex and the City on the 11th of December. Dig out your favourite Manolos, channel your inner Carrie and celebrate Christmas Manhattan-style with cocktails and designer clothes galore.

And while us girls are out partying in Monaco, boys, get a head start on your Christmas shopping for all those nice pressies for us! Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night (out!)

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