The best bars and cafés Charente-Maritime

The island of Ré is already a travel destination in its own right. But for even more thrills, head for the Ré Glisse bar! The location is particularly pleasant: the long beach at Rivedoux. It's a great opportunity to meet up with friends near the wooden hut, in comfortable seats, for a lunch break with your feet in the sand: croque-monsieur, tart of the day, salad, bagel... in a friendly atmosphere. In the afternoon, you can indulge in a water sports activity such as jet-skiing or paddle-boarding, and come back in the evening for an aperitif.

Just a stone's throw from the Old Port, this bar is a delight for anyone looking to sip a quality cocktail. Prepared by Nicolas, each one is carefully crafted to produce balanced, original drinks. You'll find both revisited classics, as well as creations to sip on in a decidedly pleasant setting and atmosphere, while nibbling on pretty aperitif boards, spreads (guacamole, tuna rillettes) and even homemade French fries. The best part? A smiling welcome and friendly service. There's no doubt about it, this is a place where you'll feel right at home!

La Guignette is much more than a bar, it's an authentic place that has marked generations of Rochelais. Founded 100 years ago by Edmiliano Garcia, the cellar still welcomes crowds of students and those just starting out for the evening. Originally, La Guignette was a supplier of wines and spirits to ships in port. Today in the hands of Frédéric Baudry, this institution is as crowded as ever! Many people want to taste the famous sparkling wine. It's best to arrive early for a seat.

Here's an address you'll want to visit. Right in the heart of the pedestrian streets, this tea room is a great place to take a gourmet break. As you enter, you'll be charmed by the warm welcome and cosy setting. When the weather's fine, make way for the terrace to devour the delicacies prepared daily by Florence and Adeline. From tarts made with local fruit to chocolate moelleux and the inevitable cheesecake on offer every Thursday, there's something for everyone! A word of advice: opt for the café gourmand.

Leave the Old Port and its litany of bars behind and wander down to the little Rue Verdière. It's here that you'll discover a place that's both intimate and atypical. There's no doubt about it, the welcome is warm and the atmosphere pleasant, in a place dedicated to the famous 1970s American series. You only have to look around to realize that the owner, Jérôme, is a former pilot: aviator's jacket and cap, photos of fighter planes, crest, models... The decor leaves no room for doubt! This fan of Commander Greg Boyington's adventures has created a world of his own that will win you over. With this unspeakable setting and atmosphere, you'd almost forget to mention Jérôme's two specialities: a rum bar (with a serious menu featuring... 100 different rums), Belgian beers and a choice of 10 different champagnes. For those of you who don't know what you're talking about, there's also a cocktail menu named after the actors in the series, of course! Note that every third Thursday of the month in "r", we come to taste oysters directly from the oyster farmer Cyril Parpaix, located in Anse de la Patache (at the end of the island).

Even when you're in a hurry, it's hard not to take a peek in the store window. Located under the arcades of rue Chaudrier, this family-run business has become a well-known address. It's hard to choose between all the colorful delicacies. There's something for every taste and every shape. You'll find the great classics of French patisserie: baba au rhum, flan pâtissier, mille-feuille, but also more original creations: Frambofolie (chocolate-passion bavarois, almonds), Oasis (mango-passion creamy...

This café offers one of the most pleasant terraces in Pontaillac. It enjoys a prime location in the heart of the magnificent Pontaillac district, just across from the beach and casino. It's a great opportunity to sit out on the terrace and enjoy the iodine-filled atmosphere, or to settle into a cosy banquette in the dining room. The view over the ocean makes you want to sample the seafood: fine oysters, special oysters, whelks and shrimps. With friends, enjoy a cocktail with a platter of cheeses or charcuterie.

For almost 30 years, this atmospheric bar-restaurant on the beach at Nauzan has been serving up the unexpected. Popular with locals and tourists alike, it boasts an exotic setting. It's a popular address, as much for enjoying a fine meal by the pool as for sipping a cocktail. The atmosphere is relaxed, with casual service and simple cuisine, including wood-fired grills. Night owls make no mistake and return in droves to this happy place.

A well-known address of rochelaise youth. Every night at La Calhutte, it's Java! We come from friends to enjoy the festive, festive atmosphere that reigns there. It is certainly not very large and seating is expensive, but the guarantee of an excellent evening is stronger. The music is good and very appreciated by the clients, it is not unusual to see the whole assembly take on the refrain of a song of Black Désir or Telephone. Comfortably installed in sofas and while sipping pop-corn, you can drink a multitude of drinks (beer, cervoise, jacqueline). As soon as it's beautiful and the sun is on, I recommend that you take a good time on the terrace on the charming Forks square.

La Terrasse is one of the rare bars in La Rochelle to make the dance floor vibrate to the sound of hip-hop and urban music. The advantage is that it is located in the city center and that the team is welcoming. Its large terrace (hence the name!) is crowded when the weather is nice, and its open-plan interior is the perfect place to party. Here, for the followers of this style, the music is good and it is not a coincidence if the dance floor is crowded even if it should be recognized that it is not very large.

This bar is located in one of the quiet streets of La Rochelle. Open all week and even the weekend it welcomes all those who want to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. It is in this place of sharing that you come among friends to drink a drink. The Harmattan - whose clientele is young enough - is the right place to get out of friends without having to break the vocal cords to discuss, with eclectic music not being too strong. The charm of the establishment is largely in its basement. A kind of very pleasant stone cellar.

This bar-restaurant has a prime location, a little away from the hustle and bustle of the port, on the islet. The perfect opportunity to sit on a large terrace and discover Basque and Spanish specialities. Hot or cold tapas (marinated anchovy fillets, fried smelts) to taste. With friends, you can order a plate or a platter and discover more of this Iberian cuisine. The restaurant also proposes to taste more local products, seafood cooked a la plancha, oysters from Ré and mussels

It is a place as unique as timeless, installed under the arcades. As you enter, you will be charmed by the very special atmosphere that invites you to enjoy the moment, with your partner or family. As you sit in the room, you may think of Simenon who found his inspiration here. In this timeless place, you can write a few lines, rediscover the world around a coffee but you can also have lunch. The waiters, in traditional dress, will bring you copious and colored plates, to taste in particular in terrace.

This bar is specialized in rum. When you enter, you will be delighted to be welcomed by a friendly team. No doubt, Biggy, Julien and all the staff are passionate! Notice to the amateurs of this famous brandy, here it is in the heart of the party. The "tasting" formula allows you to choose 2cl glasses to test different varieties. Biggy, the king of cocktails, prepares in front of you some specialities based on fresh fruits, rum or vodka. The success always having a small reverse, the lack of place is sometimes palpable.

A festive place par excellence, this cocktail bar/tapas and restaurant, located in front of the Boyardville harbor, has become " the place to be" in Boyardville. The barmaids will take pleasure in explaining the composition of their mixtures based on whisky, cognac or rum, some of which have evocative names. For the courageous who will have been able to resist the very rich card of cocktails, there remains "the Chantaco" (without alcohol). L'Echoppe is also a place where one comes to attend many concerts. Friendly atmosphere guaranteed because here the staff is smiling!

The vegan restaurant Un piano dans la théière offers a unique culinary experience. Combining gastronomy, art and music, this establishment offers simple, authentic and elegant cuisine in which plants are king. Each plate is a real painting, carefully prepared by Chef Violaire. The chef's signature flowers add a touch of beauty to each dish. The restaurant also boasts a grand piano in the dining room, offering music lovers a pleasant musical ambience. For lovers of poetry, the restaurant also organizes a poetry competition on the theme of animals, with a tea time for two as the prize for the winner.

For over a decade, Cuba Noche has been getting Latin-lovers up and dancing! The decor is inevitably reminiscent of Havana, with fabrics and objects from Cuba and, of course, music to sway to. In the evening, you can sip the inevitable cocktails in the baroque lounge, but in summer, staying indoors is out of the question! Head for the exotic terrace next to the forest, where it's all about having fun. Numerous evening events are on offer: kizomba initiation, salsa, Caribbean evening...

Want to stop off at this bar? Keep your eyes peeled! It's located in a small street a stone's throw from the main square. Over the past year, the new owners have breathed new life into this well-known venue for young people in Oleron, without ever altering its character. New musical programming, concerts, temporary exhibitions and enlarged spaces... In summer, you can enjoy the sunshine on the new terrace and, of course, the attractive cocktail menu! Mojito, Kiss Me, Piña Colada and an extensive beer list.

L'Etoile du Marin is a small, traditional district bar where quick shopping is just as fast as coffee. On the square of La Motte-Rouge, a large number of visitors are found indoors or on the terrace for moments of conviviality thanks, inter alia, to the sympathy of the bosses. Its authentic and rustic decoration fits perfectly with the ambient atmosphere. On the road to the station, the bar is also a place frequented by travellers. A bar as there is less and less.