The Canopy VIP Lounge Nice, France marked the sole Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport departure lounge. With a configuration designed to handle both short haul and long haul international flights, the lounge was hallmarked by a large canopy space that offered mezzanine views. The lounge is readily accessible through a variety of programs. If you’re departing the Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport in a premium cabin, what can you expect with a visit to this lounge?

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This post is one chapter on a trip to the South of France and Cinque Terre, Italy. This trip was enhanced through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. For information on how this trip was booked, please see our introduction. For parts of the trip, please see this index.

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Review: The Canopy VIP Lounge, Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport, France

I was departing the Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport, France on a British Airways Club Europe Nice – London Heathrow flight. I was later connecting to a British Airways Club Suite London – Heathrow – Vancouver flight.

While I wasn’t going to expect too much from a lounge at Nice, I figured that since the region caters to some luxury travellers, there would be some form of an executive business lounge at this particular airport.

Checking into British Airways:

The Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport operates two terminals. British Airways was departing from Terminal One. After travelling from across the street at the Sheraton Nice Airport, we were able to see and locate the British Airways club Europe check-in lines without any difficulty

Our British Airways check-in was completed without any difficulty. Although it was slightly transactional, we were given our boarding cards on British Airways Club Europe Nice London Heathrow and onwards British Airways Club Suite London Heathrow to Vancouver.

During the check in, there was no explanation of the business lounge that was available to be used. However we were given premium fast track access departing the airport at Nice Côte d’Azur. The fast track service was terrific with no lines.

Locating the The Canopy Lounge:

Once on the secure side, we found ourselves in the Shengen departure zone. Since we were departing on an international flight to a non Shengen zone, we had to clear EU immigration to head towards the international zone.

It’s worth mentioning that if you’re remaining within the Shengen Zone, you’ll likely have access to The Library Lounge, which is run by the same management company.

Once on the international side, you’ll find yourself in the departures concourse. The access point to the Canopy Lounge is through a black transparent elevator which takes travellers up to the second floor.

The Canopy Lounge isn’t too hard to locate, given how small the Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport is. As the only lounge on the international side of the airport, it won’t be hard to find.

Accessing The Canopy Lounge:

There are several ways to access The Canopy Lounge. As an independent contract lounge that is not affiliated with any airline alliance, access is dependent on contractual relationships with your carrier and / or your credit card membership.

The Canopy Lounge is accessible through Priority Pass. As a result, if you have a Priority Pass membership, you can gain access to the lounge. I have a Priority Pass membership as a result of my American Express Platinum Card as part of the American Express Global Lounge membership.

If you’re travelling in a premium class cabin departing from the international zone of Nice Côte d’Azur, you’ll likely have access. Since there is no other lounge option on the international side, this arrangement is wholly dependent on whether your carrier has contracted with The Canopy Lounge to provide it’s travellers access.

The lounge was also offering paid access for 35€ ($50 USD), with a reduced rate of 24.50€ or 21€ if you were a Club Airport Premier Gold or Platinum level member. The lounge accepted payment by credit card, with no option for paid cash visits.

Today’s access was provided through our British Airways Club Europe Nice – London Heathrow ticket.

There was no line in order to gain access access today. Our boarding pass was validated, I was invited into the lounge as a single travellers without any additional wait.

Inside The Canopy Lounge:

The Canopy Lounge occupied a space that fronted the mezzanine level of the Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport. As a result, most of it’s lounge space was oriented around the day light glass area of the lounge, making it a very bright space considering it’s location in the middle of the airport.

Upon entering the lounge, we found ourselves in the lounge seating area. The lounge seating area was marked around a television

From the entrance way, the lounge seating fanned out through compact lounge chair seating along the glass of the airport mezzanine.

Stretching towards the back of the lounge, there were additional seating areas. The lounge offered segregated seating areas, which included separate zones of seating for families and other couples travelling together.

The lounge offered wifi terminals and computers. This is always a convenient feature, although I didn’t happen to see any printing terminals on my visit.

The best feature of the lounge was The Canopy’s Lounge outdoor space. After wandering through the main seating area of the lounge, we found ourselves at the Canopy Lounge roof top space.

The Canopy offered an enclosed roof top deck, that was “open air” to the airport space below. This offered an airy environment to The Canopy Lounge. While it didn’t have access to an outdoor deck, this was the next best thing.

The Canopy Lounge space offered a quieter place to sit. It was pretty unoccupied during our visit. As a result, we ended up setting up out on the deck while we enjoyed our time. Despite the extensive space, the patio furniture was remarkably firm and uncomfortable for a longer stay.

The views from the Canopy Lounge deck were over the main international terminal concourse. While the views were not super aspirational, I’ll take a day light lounge view over a windowless basement anyway.

The Canopy Lounge space at Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport was a medium capacity lounge that offered seating that could easily accommodate short, medium and long haul flights. During our visit, the lounge was pretty empty and made for spacious seating.

Food and Beverage:

The Canopy Lounge offered some light snacks for it’s lounge guests. The Canopy Lounge markets it’s food offerings as a buffet of light refreshments, allowing travellers to discover the selection of regional specialities or the pick’n’mix bar.

Like many French departure lounges, and despite the country’s reputation for gastronomic endeavours, the food at the Canopy Lounge didn’t appear to be all that appealing. The food looked a little tired and “picnic styled”.

The lounge offered a large range of self service beverages that ranged from sodas, to French Orangina’s, to some entry level French wines. There were also several types of juices and still and sparkling water.

While there was more than enough food and beverage to keep you entertained, the food didn’t appear to be super exciting. This may have come down to how it was presented, but I didn’t end up partaking in any of the food.

I would end up departing on British Airways Club Europe Nice – London Heathrow shortly after my visit.

My Thoughts on the Canopy VIP Lounge Nice:

The Canopy VIP Lounge Nice was a larger than expected place to visit before your international flight at the Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport.

The Canopy Lounge offered a large terraced deck with slightly uncomfortable furniture, in a bright space that made passing the time more comfortable than the terminal. While the food and beverage wasn’t all to exciting, the amount of space made the environment a nice way to spend some time.

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If you’ve visited the Canopy VIP Lounge Nice, did you find that the lounge met your standard for an international departures lounge ?

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