The best bars and cafés Calvados

Like a great desire to breathe and get some fresh air? We found the perfect place for that, our second home... Well, almost! A few steps from Pont-l'Évêque, at Camille and Valentin's house. We loved the space outside, the retro decoration inside, the play corner for the children. Here, we have lunch of good small dishes with British colours, we take a tea in the afternoon and we enjoy the dinner bar in the evening. We loved the fact of thinking that we will go to test, one day, the organic, local and fair brunch on Sunday. We hated: to leave!

Josephine, what a nice name for a tea room! Anne-Laure and Laura, a very nice duo of pastry cooks, give it life, in the heart of downtown. Good and homemade! On the spot or to take away, you can come and taste savoury snacks at lunchtime (soup, gratin, quiche, respecting the seasons), delicacies for the afternoon, made according to the desires of the pastry cooks (cookies, cheesecake...) and on order more festive recipes for your events (number cake, layer cake, etc.). We have validated the pistachio-citrus tart!

Hey! Feeling like a Viking warrior? If so, you'd better check out this tavern, located far from almost everything. Here, axe and knife throwing are practised. In complete safety, of course, and over a beer, of course bis. Cocktails, shooters, roast camembert and aperitif boards give you strength. Sköll! The team often organises axe-throwing tournaments: what are you capable of? Just so you know, you're welcome to bring your own axes. A unique place, one of our new favourites!

Our landmark address! Everything is gourmet in this stylish and refined tearoom. Nathalie and François offer a delightful menu, ideal from breakfast to snack time. We succumb to the house specialties, such as the apple puff pastry (Pont-l'Évêque, honey, browned potatoes, Serrano ham, and salad) or the crispy pastries. Nice selection of teas and coffees, unless you prefer an old-fashioned hot chocolate to accompany your sweets.

After the success of the Hydropathe, Jenny and Greg Dupin launched the adventure of the food bar. It's been three years since Balthazar (the name given to a bottle that can hold up to 12 liters!) was born and it's still great. In addition to aperitifs and tastings of vintages, you can also fill that little hole in your stomach from breakfast to dinner with fresh recipes in a modern and vegetal atmosphere. And what can we say about this terrace if not: we can't wait for the nice days to enjoy it!

Always packed to the rafters, yet tucked away from the "thirsty streets", this Saint-Sauveur corner is starting to get a little more lively. With its super-friendly, relaxed atmosphere, trendy without being stuffy, it's a pleasure to settle in for a well-deserved afterwork. In the afternoon, the terrace is bathed in sunshine (Normandy has a reputation to uphold!). Upstairs, large wooden tables and mismatched chairs, or sofas and armchairs for those who prefer to lounge. At the bar, you'll find a fine selection of draught beers, cocktails, spirits and tasty snacks!

Paulette's is on the move! Olivia and Greg (the managers of neighboring Le Comptoir) are now in charge of our Tata Chombier, so you might as well know that things are about to get a lot busier while retaining the soul that makes it so charming. Another house staple: the "chouteur". No fewer than thirty variations, each with a more evocative name than the last. Add to this a well-crafted selection of wines, draught beers and a regularly-changing beer of the moment, inventive cocktails (no hot drinks here)... This Paulette deserves more than a detour!

Steampunk atmosphere for this brand new bar specialized in cocktails! The Machinist takes you into an ultra original universe. Kévin and Robin have chosen a very immersive Jules Verne-like decor (the kraken of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is not far!). Under the lantern fish, you can sip homemade cocktails with or without alcohol, made with ingredients produced on the spot. The menu is frequently renewed, no time to get bored! All this while nibbling on a small appetizer board and learning about role playing games, great!

Looking for a beautiful brunette, a light blonde or a full-bodied redhead? The pleasure of a foam bath with a touch of lightness? Don't be fooled by this introduction. The Belgian-flavored tavern in Le Havre had the excellent idea of crossing the Seine and rolling its barrels to the Quai Vendeuvre. From draught pints to bottled beers, Belgium offers the very best! Duvel, Chimay, Saint-Idesbald, Saint-Bernardus, Mont des Cats... The monks made no mistake! Bless them all... In moderation!

A must-visit bar-club in Caen for many years! Push open the first door (a little austere and guarded by a cerberus) to enter a muy caliente universe. This place has a soul, and when the customers start dancing, the atmosphere is guaranteed! Of course, this is a rum paradise: more than twenty of them, including some great references... A must for connoisseurs! Renowned DJs are often on the decks; don't miss the evenings announced on Che Guevara's social networks, and don't forget to book by phone!

At the Green Parrot, there is no time for chatter. And even less so for snacks that tickle the stomach, whether you are in the morning or in the evening, at lunchtime or in the afternoon. It is one of the must-see places in the Norman port! Warm atmosphere, cosy decor for a refreshing breakfast around a bacon egg or a jazzy brunch (no less than 8 formulas available). Do you prefer oysters and beef tartare? That doesn't matter. Aperitif plates, beers (a very wide choice with no less than 60 varieties, it is their specialty) and other cocktails give colour to even the greyest person at the chosen time. There is no time for the timid and even less time to land there, looking at the boats of the Honfleur basin and the colours of the most pampered and romantic Norman ports. Are you plugged in? Yes, but warmly, uninhibitedly and at a reasonable price, all in all, from the brewery to the cocktail bar.

Welcome to Muriel and Laure's home, managers of this pretty house and enchanted parenthesis on 3 floors, ideal for a gourmet break. When the weather is fine, head for the terrace, with a view of their pretty facade with shutters decorated according to the seasons and their eccentric ideas. Here, fresh products, sweet of course but also savory with a proposal at lunchtime of pies, vegetarian plates, salads... On the sweet side, cupcakes, crumbles, pies, cheesecakes... are served at any time! With a hot chocolate, a tea or a milkshake, it's perfect!

You'd think you were in Dublin! Beautiful terrace with barrels as tables, four-leaf clover-colored facade, music and beer galore, giant screens for the matches, a must! Fred and his sidekick Kévin do a damn good job. The warm decor pays homage to Irish pubs. Order a mousse accompanied by a few delicacies or a homemade "embu". We've fallen for the Irish coffee, the real thing from Prohibition. Ask Fred to tell you the story, you won't believe it.

A Caen institution since 1952. It's a chic meeting place for many Caennais, especially now that the Royal has opened a new chapter after major renovations. A well-deserved rejuvenation facing the superb Place de la République. For lunch, treat yourself to a few well-executed and rather tasty dishes, and at snack time, why not try a little crêpe to help you recover from your afternoon shopping? The service is lively and energetic, which we like!

Rue Saint-Sauveur is definitely brimming with good places to relax and enjoy a break. For over ten years now, l'Atelier has been the place to be when it comes to cool attitude. Ideally located, you'll feel right at home. The terrace is one of the best places to sip a coffee on Friday mornings at the end of the market. We also like the warm welcome and cool atmosphere of a buddy bar. Mind you, it gets crowded very quickly, which is the price of fame... Among the must-tries: wines, rums and aperitif platters... All good stuff!

A long room with a warm atmosphere, stone walls and exposed beams, a bar that runs the length of the room, and a covered and heated terrace in winter, flooded with sunshine in summer: this Hydropathe is a delight! One comes here to drink a good glass of wine for all tastes and for all budgets. In addition, there are cocktails, rums and whiskies... Enough to turn heads! Fortunately, you can also enjoy tapas and platters, everything is fresh and tasty. Go there quickly, but not too late, places are expensive!