The best bars and cafés Midi-Pyrénées

Zeste is a nice address in Millau, a place to go in the city, where you can enjoy exquisite delicacies at any time of the day or have a lunch. In this tea room-pastry shop-small restaurant, Arielle, who trained at the famous Lenôtre, prepares everything herself: from the toast, pasta or full plates offered at lunchtime to the pastries, which some people consider the best in Millau! The millefeuille or the caramel tart are well worth the service that some people find a little long.

One feels immediately at home in this small tea room. Evelyne Fournier treats us with her homemade cakes, accompanied by delicious teas, of which there is a vast choice. For lunch, she offers us a formula of savory treats, mostly organic or vegetarian in one plate, with among others a carrot and cumin cake, gluten-free forgotten vegetable pies or a cream of market vegetables, a broccoli chestnut clafoutis. But everything depends on the season and everything is so good that the salon is quickly full.

The boss of Fine arts invariably wears bretelles, it is internationally known. So French, say the Japanese who take it in photo! The love of the Martinez (father, mother and son) that has been taking place for more than 50 years. All day, this is a small neighbourhood bar. The merchants of Escutcheon, the ladies who come to tea, the employees or students of the school, who are accustomed to making a stop there. You know, we rejoice in a frank good mood. The terrace is a haven of peace. Even in winter, we want to look at it and look at people. In front of the cathedral, part of the Airy Escutcheon where you feel really good.

Every day, from Tuesday to Saturday, at 4.45pm precisely, this unique establishment in the Ruthenan landscape opens its doors to a clientele thirsty for some lively mixtures. Aricia, the barman, and Rémi, the sommelier, have combined their Franco-Australian experience in fine establishments to create a quality liquid menu. In addition to the wines, from the most affordable to the most sophisticated, 16.45 serves excellent cocktails. From the famous Pina Colada to creations prepared on demand, the team makes it a point of honour to use good products and appropriate glassware.

Meat eaters, be ready to draw your forks because here, the specialty is beef! This chain of grill restaurants, created in 1968, is located in Odysseum and in the center of Montpellier. Open every day, the brasserie in the shopping center has a varied menu of dishes that are always very copious. Essentials include entrecote, ground steak, brochettes and sirloin, roast beef and sirloin heart, tartare, etc. It is also possible to enjoy large salads, burgers, codfish and chips or salmon steak. Kids and adults alike will be catered and generally come out of the address fully satiated!

Père Louis is much more than a café, it's a Toulouse institution! The zinc has seen many Toulousans and connoisseurs of quinquina and Picon bière come and go since 1889! But the time for renewal has come, and as we enter the year of our Lord 2023, we welcome you to a renovated venue with a preserved spirit. The downstairs room retains its illustrious, protected charm, while the upstairs room has been beautifully modernized by the 4 owners, who are already active on the Toulouse scene. Take a lunch break with the unmissable porcini omelette, or enjoy an aperitif at lunch or dinner, and choose whether you prefer a sweet or dry cooked wine, or a quinquina. Long live Père Louis!

Le Macar is a must for locals and tourists alike, who come here to enjoy the atmosphere of the boats. Visitors come at all hours of the day to sample a fine selection of local wines, as well as natural wines and local beers, accompanied by tapas, charcuterie boards, patatas bravas, mussels au gratin and more. Le Macar also serves more elaborate dishes at lunchtime. The atmosphere is always very good, and all generations rub shoulders.

Here's an address that's sure to delight a lot of people. Located on the little port of La Redorte, Le Spot combines a restaurant, a cellar and a delicatessen, offering no fewer than 240 references of wines, spirits, regional beers and finely selected local products. Enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail on the terrace overlooking the Canal du Midi, accompanied by a selection of delicacies to share. Jérôme regularly organizes gourmet and festive events (see the Spot's Facebook page).

L'escargot is an address in the city where everything is gathered to have a good time, a pleasant setting and a smiling team. We like to meet there as an aperitif to taste a good bottle that Thomas, the owner, has carefully selected. After a few sips of divine local wines from the Malepère, Corbières, Fitou or Minervois appellations, you'll feel the urge to nibble, and you'll be spoilt for choice from the tapas menu on offer. We bet you'll stay for lunch or dinner, and rightly so!

In the Besson family, we don't do things by halves and it is now Lucas' turn to take the helm of this new festive place. The Galion looks great with its old rigging mast on the deck and its superb tavern inside. After feasting on homemade tapas or well-cooked dishes, DJs, live concerts and shows will take place. Behind the bar, the shakers shake and the atmosphere rises to a crescendo, we have fun, we dance, we laugh, in short, we have a good time. An atypical place where all generations party together.

The atmosphere here is fresh and inviting. The Sunrise is the ideal place to relax at any time of day, enjoy a drink and home-made tapas. Whether you're a resident or not, you can take advantage of the large terrace with its cosy nooks and crannies. The place gets very festive during the beach afters in high season, on Sundays from 6pm to 11pm, when you can enjoy delicious cocktails and the DJ mixing to the sounds of the moment. Total relaxation guaranteed!

The Hippopotamus chain was created in 1968 in France for large meat eaters. Here, the meat-lovers find something to eat in quantity. Often considered a bit expensive, the dishes satisfy predators who can choose between different French races (charolaise, aubrac, salers, blonde in Aquitaine) and various cuts for carpaccios, beef tartars, steaks, steak, tabs. Apart from this, the menu of menus in its main lines is as usual based around grilled and red meats. Atelier Burger offers bespoke burgers in which you choose everything from bread to meat. Côté Deco is like in all Hippopotamus: the walls of bricks, the sifted light, the red benches. For the récalcitrants of the vegetarian plates, salads, fish and a good pick. The Hippo Film formula offers a discount on a cinema place. Don't come too late, especially on Saturday evening, because there's soon encombrement due to proximity to the multiplex.

It is in the back of the Halles Castellane that the Mustang has taken up residence. Well established in the Écusson, it attracts a clientele of gourmands and soiffards from lunchtime to the night. They are seduced by Mustang's two terraces, its musical atmosphere, its food and drink menus, its entertainment... In short, its DNA! If its exterior is the main weapon of the place, it is quickly followed by the impressive menu of cocktails, beers and tapas at low prices. We also appreciate its interior decoration.

Creativity, eco-responsibility, quality and conviviality! More than a dozen different beers, all organic and brewed on site. Beer craftsmen, meeting in SCOP. Fermentation, styles, recipes - they're inexhaustible on the subject, and they'll share their passion with you in their store or behind their bar. The hangar is the first "Tap Room" (the bar of a brewery) in Ariège, and has been for 5 years now! When the weather's fine, it hosts concerts, shows and food trucks on its vast terrace. A must-see in the Couserans!

Historic building of the city of Montauban, the Nautic was built in 1933, it housed then the rowing club of the city. After major work carried out in 2019 by Christophe, the Nautic is now a favorite place for Montauban outings. There is a lounge bar for the greatest happiness of night owls who can dance until dawn. In fine weather, the bar opens onto the banks of the Tarn, offering a unique panoramic view of the river. In winter, the bar is warmer with a decoration that evolves with the seasons.

Take the time to experience a fika break. It's happening at Café Fika, right next to the Capitol. Don't be surprised to meet the Swedish community there. Fika comes from the Scandinavian latitudes and their passion for this very fragrant beverage that they consume in large quantities. Understand coffee in slang, so to speak! This word has become synonymous with an art of living. We take the time to do ourselves good by accompanying our hot drink with a kanelbulle or brioche roll with cinnamon, sometimes with cardamom or with apples... The address is held by a French-Swedish couple who invites you to discover the specialities from the Nordic countries from breakfast to afternoon tea!