The best bars and cafés La Rochelle

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

Here's an unusual place to have a drink with friends! Docked in the mediatheque district, the former weather ship has been home to a bar on its upper deck for the past ten years. Rochelais and tourists alike know the place well, ideal for sampling regional products such as oysters from the Ile de Ré and charcuterie from Monsieur Riton while sipping a cocktail. 2018 is a time of renewal for this seaside bar! But rest assured, the place still leaves room for creative encounters and the marine atmosphere is still conducive to relaxation. In 2019, the bar will extend ashore to offer a space combining dining and culture.

This bar makes the old port vibrate. Installed in the heart of the quays, it is the rallying point of people from Rochelais eager to spend a good moment in a place marked by a decoration which changes from the other bars and a very particular atmosphere. Les Enfants du Rock offers a rock spirit that has marked a whole generation. During the week and on sunny days, you can sit on the terrace and enjoy a coffee or a beer. With friends, we sway to a playlist dedicated to all lovers of good music: U2, Dépêche Mode...

This bar, located in the famous Gabut district, is popular with many people from La Rochelle. Just a step away from the faculty, the students are the first to frequent it! Close to the Old Port and the city center, the bar is easily accessible and its animations, throughout the week, attract all those who want to have a good time. Antoine and Oléna have created a place where you feel good, especially on the sunny terrace. We appreciate the friendly welcome and the varied music. Smart, here, we pay attention to the environment by using organic wheat straws!

This small address, just a step from Les Halles, is one of those that we exchange between friends to offer ourselves a nice lunch break. You have two choices: order and take away your favorite dish to enjoy it in the sun or take a seat in one of the two rooms to devour it on the spot. Everything here invites you to spend a nice moment from the welcome to the products present which are all fresh and rich in tastes! What a pleasure to taste a poke bowl, a burger, home made fries or a fish and chips... and some delicacies!

Among the establishments of the rue des Templiers, this café stands out a bit from its neighbors. Open only during the day - except for some very popular afterworks - this place with its new colorful decoration is known for those who want to have a comforting break or to eat. The menu evolves with the seasons with always a large choice of drinks, salads to compose, sandwiches, soups and famous cakes. Home-made and healthy food are privileged, as well as good mood! The team is smiling, the service is fast.

Jennifer has done it! She's opened a tea room where you can sip your favorite drink in the company of little felines. Before you even enter, take the time to observe the window, and you'll no doubt see cats roaming freely. Don't hesitate to enter! You'll be charmed by both the smiling welcome and the cosy, peaceful atmosphere. It's a great opportunity to take a break in the heart of the city with a brunch, a hot drink and a treat in the company of cats.

This café, run by Edouard and Christophe, couldn't be named after a more famous playwright. Everything here inspires happiness: the warm welcome, the pretty terrace overlooking the square, but also the room in which you love to take refuge. With its jazzy ambience and large bay window, it's with a smile on your face that you order your coffee. In the mornings, you can enjoy breakfast, and at lunchtime, the restaurant offers simple but high-quality food: oysters, homemade mayo shrimps, tartare... and you can take the time to admire the works of the artists exhibited each month.

This small wine bar is a real favorite because of the quality-price ratio of the wines offered, the interior decoration where you can choose your own bottle and the outdoor tables that give it a friendly atmosphere. You just have to enter to be seduced by the warm welcome of smiling waiters who will give you all the advices to choose your wine. While sipping this precious beverage, you will taste a hot Mont d'Or, the inevitable planks of cold cuts but also tapas. Here is a place to discover to spend a beautiful evening.