10 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Nantes

Machines of the Isle of Nantes (Les Machines de l'Île) is a futuristic theme park with plenty of weird and wonderful machines. You'll get a great view from the top of the 12-metre-high Grand Elephant, which sprays water from its trunk. There's a whole gallery of amazing mechanical animals, including a hummingbird and an ant.

You can watch engineers working on new machines at the workshop terraces. There's also a carousel with 3 separate levels, all decorated with bizarre marine creatures. An onsite gift shop continues the steampunk theme with retro posters and a wide selection of books on architecture, nature and travel.

The rivers of Loire, Erdre and Sèvre cut through the center of Nantes, offering plenty of space for tranquil cruising. See beautiful manor houses dotting the riverside, learn about the city’s history, see more of Brittany's wildlife, or sail past art installations by some of France's greatest contemporary artists.

After-dinner cruises are great for taking in the sunset over the Loire valley. Many tours offer live music by jazz singers, acoustic groups or local bands, as well as audio commentary on special sights. Expect a fully stocked bar and possibly a waterside drink at the wharf to finish your evening.

Hangar à Bananes is a former warehouse that’s now a vast nightlife hub of bars, nightclubs and theaters. Its prime position on the Nantes waterfront gives it fabulous riverside views from its patios and terraces. The choices of places to go for a drink in Nantes are virtually endless, from rocking Irish bar Le Dock Yard to tasty Cuban rums at La Calle and creative cocktails at La Terrasse de l'Île.

One of Hangar à Bananes’ biggest attractions is Warehouse, a sprawling nightclub with an eclectic roster of visiting DJs and bands. There are lively karaoke nights at Le Ferrailleur and a packed dancefloor at club D3. For those who prefer a more laidback after-dinner activity, catch a play in the opulent surroundings of Théâtre 100 Noms or visit the Popular Culture Center for literary events.

The Musée d'Arts is a fine art museum that mixes medieval portraits with contemporary sculpture, plus video, photos, paintings, and installations. Highlights of the collection include paintings by Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet, abstract work by Wassily Kandinsky, and a fiberglass installation by Anish Kapoor. The building itself is a historical monument, built in the early 19th century and extensively renovated in 2017.

The museum closes at 9 pm on Thursdays, allowing you to wander the peaceful galleries after you’ve enjoyed a nice dinner. Temporary exhibitions are built around specific themes, such as the inspiration of forest myths and legends, the history of hypnotism, and the influence of food on art. The Musée d'Arts also hosts dance performances, lectures, discussions, and movie screenings.

Le Lieu Unique is a cultural center that does a little bit of everything, from art exhibitions to literary debates. Recent performances have included a biographical drama with archival documents, a mishmash of theater and stand-up comedy, and an energetic one-woman show. There are also dance performances, concerts, choirs, and acrobatic circus acts.

Le Lieu Unique’s stylish bar features industrial fixtures and outdoor seating with a view of the Erdre. Visit its onsite bookstore for an intriguing selection of books on theater, art and music. There's even a Turkish bath where you can relax in the scented steam or enjoy a massage.

Théâtre Graslin is a stunning neoclassical building that houses the Angers Nantes Opera Company. It hosts magnificent productions of operas like The Rake's Progress and Madame Butterfly, as well as concerts of classical, choral, chamber and world music. Movie screenings, comic ballets and modern dance productions also take place in this theater.

Special family performances have songs that appeal to kids and encourage the audience to sing along. You can also enjoy various cover songs from famous operas. The graceful building, which dates back to the late 18th century, retains many beautiful historical features, including remarkable ceiling frescoes.

Zénith Nantes Métropole makes a great platform for sports events and concerts on a massive scale. Past performances have included music from Star Wars and James Bond, French rapper Ninho, and world music from 100 Voices of Gospel. Other famous musicians have included Motorhead, Cheryl Crow and rock band Placebo, who were the first act to play here.

The stadium hosts a diverse range of sporting events, from basketball to ice-skating. Other acts include stand-up comedy, puppet shows for kids, and a spectacular display of equestrian skill.

Stéréolux is a cultural hub that focuses on modern music and digital arts in Nantes. Its wide-ranging music program runs the gamut of styles, combined with complimentary use of interesting multimedia. Concerts might be anything, from rap artists, punk rock bands, pop singers, and folk groups to electro and house DJ sets.

Past features on its eclectic program have included a Taiwanese dancer who uses robots in his choreography, an art history lecture on 'behind-the-scenes' paintings, and a workshop on relationships in the digital age. Have a beer at Stéréolux’s attached bar, which has a cool pop-art interior and a terrace overlooking Nantes.

Bouffay bubbles with life after dark, with plenty of vibrant bars and clubs lining the district’s pretty cobbled streets. Thanks to the lack of motorized traffic, it’s very easy (and safe) to stroll from bar to bar. Have a glass of Guinness at John McByrne & Co, try a creative new cocktail at Kitkat Bar, or knock back some shots at Le Shaft.

You can enjoy live music by local bands at Ruin Bar Bouffay and HoPoPop Café. There's stand-up comedy at Poum Poum T'chak and an impressive range of beers at Le Sur-Mesure. Finish your night with a late snack of crepes or galettes at Creperie Des Ducs or Crêperie Fleur de Sel.

The elegant historic buildings of Île Feydeau are home to an array of cocktail bars and swanky clubs that celebrate the glamor of previous centuries. Head to Bootlegger for vintage beverages inspired by Prohibition-era America, or enjoy a wide variety of cocktails in a steampunk interior at Le Chat Noir.

For local art, look no further than the exhibitions at Le Big Ben, or flip through a wide library of comic books at Atomic Café. Rum lovers should try the range of rums and rum-based cocktails at Le Tiki Bar. Live music is easy to find on Île Feydeau, from local bands playing at Le Café Rouge Mécanique to the tinkle of piano music at LR de Rien.