Fun and entertainment Poitou

A tea room with a Parisian spirit, you are not dreaming, you are in Poitiers! Here the gustatory journey begins with the eyes. Your mouth will water as you pass in front of the shop windows, before being accompanied to your table. In this magnificent setting, take the time you need to enjoy an excellent tea accompanied by a pastry to die for! You will be charmed by the warm welcome of all the staff and you can even ask for candles if it's your birthday! Don't hesitate to try their artisanal ice creams, they are delicious! The Fink Chocolate Factory's tea room is definitely a must in the heart of the city!

In the heart of Niort, at the top of the Hole, the CGR cinema has a big one! With its large room with 400 seats, its three rooms with 100 seats, its seven rooms with 150 seats and the 300 seats, there is a good time! One of them is also equipped for 3 D film projection. The vast 600 m ² hall with video game machines, sweets, drinks and delicious pop-corn, allows you to wait quietly. Moreover, in addition to the more remote programming of the Moulin du Roc, independent film fans can find a small programme reserved for them by the Association Les Diabolical, once a month.

Outside of meal times, this café bistro is the fashionable place to meet up with friends over one of the many drinks on the menu, such as mint tea (fresh mint!) or the Viennese chocolate that we are so fond of. La Serru' is the place to be for families, professionals and students. The setting of this bar is very composite. Stay on the first floor if you want to enjoy the incredible main room, its glass roof and its windows... It is one of the few places open in Poitiers on Monday afternoons where you can have a tea with a delicacy (tiramisu, custard...).

Fat Co? We could believe it but not, the place is all the cleanest. We come to exchange, to drink, reasonably as it should… The smile is without supplement, the benefit without great surprise, and the short counters sometimes tasty: «when we know what we know, and we can see what one sees, we should not be surprised that one thinks what one thinks…» A laughable quotation to note in your calepins without further delay to reveal it during your next evening!

The nightclub La Tomate is the place to be for those over 23. Here, you can dance the night away.

If at 10 o'clock in the morning you would like to eat a pizza or, why not, a steak, this brasserie is probably the only Établissement institution able to meet your request. Until midnight, you can get out of the theatre or cinema and order a meal without any problems. Apart from this great flexibility of schedule and availability, the room offers a very large reception capacity: groups of 30 to 40 people, or even more, will find their place without problems (however, groups must consider booking). In summer, add a terrace with a capacity of about 150 places to give you an idea of the size of the establishment. On the car park, count on the immediate proximity of the Brèche Square. Finally, the game nights, this restaurant is the rendezvous of the fans with the giant screen on the floor. On those evenings, the establishment is complete and the atmosphere is… sporty!

Just like the two nearby bars, Theatre Café is known for its location, right in the heart of downtown, on the main square of the city hall, commonly known as Weapons square. The place is magnificent, since the work that has been done in this place; it is huge and splendid, the sun is at the meeting, but the parasols protect you… The best is to come at the end of the day when the sunset falls on the town hall. Apart from that, the bar has nothing for him. The hotel was very close to the train station. So, certainly, the prices could point to the location, but if the bar does not create any event, people will only go. It is a pity…

Welcome to Julie and Bertrand's home, in the former Relais des Voyageurs d'Airvault, nicely renovated. Behind the imposing porte cochere, a very nice terrace and its garden. In the kitchen, homemade snacks, and we must say that the recipe works! Midday and evenings, you swallow sandwiches, burgers, bokits. A cheap but good quality lunch formula will delight lovers of traditional cuisine. The house is also a bar: you can have a drink and a ti-punch on the terrace!

A vast complex combining a 12-lane bar-bowling alley with billiard room and games, a cinema (Le Fauteuil Rouge), a restaurant (Ô Bistrot gourmand) and an auditorium. The latter hosts a wide range of events for all publics, including the Salon du Mariage (November), the Grand déstockage (January), musicals, classical ballets and other extraordinary show-concerts (The Michael Jackson Experience, Catherine Lara, Patrick Sébastien and Celtics Legend to name but a few in 2023).

Salle Emeraude - Boc'hall is a concert hall located in Bressuire. It offers a varied and diversified program, from rock to jazz to classical music. The Salle Emeraude - Boc'hall is a must for music lovers in Bressuire.

Bressuire's "scène conventionnée d'intérêt national", recognizable by its velvety bright red facade. Founded in 2012, Le Théâtre offers a highly contemporary, eclectic program of theater, dance and circus performances, including local nuggets (such as Yannick Jaulin, storyteller and enchanter, co-creator of Le Nombril du Monde, in Pougne-Hérisson) and leading national and international artists. A residential lab, it presents several in situ creations a year.

Right in the center of town. A pretty, tastefully-decorated, all-wooden tearoom for brunches, lunches and local, seasonal and often organic snacks. Urban vegetarian cuisine, with vegan options: buns and pans bagnats, soups and gazpachos to enjoy on the spot or to take away with a hot cup of excellent tea. Brunch will get you in the mood to explore Bressuire, the coulée verte or the château gardens. Option to compose your own plate. Home-made pastries (including the cake of the moment) and EMKIPOP 100% natural ice cream sticks. Loose tea and coffee.

It's a bit of a feeling that you're going back in time, direction the 1960-1970 s with the facade of this little bar. Here you are offered to rehydrate (water or drink from your warm) and even to restore yourself. It's not big kitchen, instead of the brewery, but it's perfectly correct at reasonable prices. On the other hand, the reception is not the specialty of the house and we are not very tempted to dwell on the site. It's better to be an experienced person than a tourist visibly…

A third place open to all. In addition to the café/convenience store and free Wi-Fi, there are several spaces for you to do your own thing. A meeting room, a co-working area, a repair workshop - travellers and cyclists, take note of this good plan, as well as a LabTelier. The latter has the latest digital tools, 3D printer, digital embroidery machine, laser cutter and more: it's up to you! The pro team organizes training sessions all year long. Go to the Facebook page to discover the program.

The Boulevard café is an institution. Since almost ever, in spite of the changes of owner, one comes here to drink, to listen to a concert, to see a spectacle, to debate, to release oneself during the game evening, to admire an exhibition. You can also eat here at any time of the day with a home-made savoury pie, and at lunchtime a dish of the day concocted according to the arrivals of the butcher and the organic vegetable garden of the establishment. And also local cheeses, yoghurts and homemade desserts, craft beers from the Pelboise brewery. In short, the address not to be missed in Melle.

The art house cinema of Melle. It shows the latest international alternative films in VOSTFR, the big box-office hits and films for young people. A festival for young audiences is also organised every year in October, followed by the Month of Documentary in November. So you can enjoy the programme in the deep armchairs of the Metullum, a cultural complex where conferences and major concerts are organised... It is possible that a headliner will be there during your stay: check it out online!

One of the most popular wine and cocktail bars in Niort, the Vintage is a festive and cultural meeting place. Thibaud, the owner, Thomas, the cocktail master and J-B, the atmosphere master, continue to preserve the spirit of this warm and intimate place despite the world! Fiery sets, mojito parties, swing evenings with a little extra: the terrace where you can breathe. It will be possible to taste until late in the night sweet and salty appetizers, various plates. For those who like to party and dance, it's this way!

The Wings bar is perfect for quick and dildo restoration. Its table is generous and the advantage is that it is located only 400 metres from the Aérodrome airfield! Among the good plans to recover quickly, good and cheap, without having too much road to do after landing, the Bar des Ailes will be one of the best addresses to advise you the members of the Aéroclub aéroclub. Go, stop the praise and fly your own wings to the bar of the same name!

CAMJI is Niort's contemporary music platform, partner of Scène(s) Actuelle(s) and organizer of the Rise & Fall festival (November-December), dedicated to highly amplified music. The program is distinguished by its eclecticism, and includes a number of shows for young audiences several afternoons a month. CAMJI is also a support association for young artists (accompaniment, residencies, etc.), two rehearsal and recording studios, and workshops for young and old alike.

The Spot! Since February 2024, the whole of Niort has been buzzing about Café Flonflon, a bar-resto-guinguette-dancefloor with match broadcasts on the big screen. The decor is warm and inviting, the food and service impeccable, and the cocktails happy, prepared by a master in the field. And when it comes to evening entertainment, you can expect a DJ to keep the party going. The place brings people together, relaxes and entertains, in an industrial setting just a stone's throw from the water: why not join in?

It's a bar, a restaurant, a concert hall with a dancefloor, in short, a place where you can relax or party. Niort locals love to relax here after work. Le Hangar puts everyone in agreement: the food is good (friendly bistro cuisine), the glasses are full and the atmosphere is top-notch. When it comes to concerts, make no mistake about it: the house knows how to attract celebrities such as Keziah Jones, Ben L'Oncle Soul and Tété. You'll need to book in advance, as these low-priced shows sell out fast.

A few years ago, Le Rouge-Gorge, a self-managed nest of solidarity ideas, settled in the center of Parthenay, organizing a host of events including Gratiferia, every^2nd Saturday of the month: a free market where you can take without giving and vice versa (clothes, knick-knacks, books, etc.). A fervent organizer of concerts and games evenings, this associative venue also plays an active role in the FLIP. A haven for the local artistic and underground scene.

Concert hall for contemporary music with an eclectic program. Hip-hop, dub, rock, metal, mix, the association offers a wide range of sounds: one or two concerts are organized every month. Diff'art is also distinguished by its educational will. The year is punctuated by numerous events, special evenings for young people, MAO and writing workshops, meetings with musicians, etc. It will also be possible to take a course at the Rock School, or to take advantage of the rehearsal room. The place welcomes many artists in residence.

Saint-Maixent's party bar. Part beer bar, part cocktail bar, part shooter bar, it also serves homemade burgers, pokebowls and a host of tray-tapas. There's also a pleasant garden where you can enjoy a drink under the braziers and to the sound of electro music. The house is also known for its festive themed evenings: Christmas in retro sweaters, soccer match broadcasts, giant 1-2-3 sun, féria and mechanical bull. You can simply enjoy life while you wait for the Hacienda to give you a hard time.

The Agreement Theatre tries to draw in its walls and behind its curtain a quality programming in the company's sillon that manages this cultural place, please. So, let's go to this little comic hall known nationally as Professor Rollin last year, artists to become national or national, one can, among other things, quote Imbert-Imbert, or even local artists like the funny Greg Hague. This small room offers an intimate atmosphere that has been able to take its place and find its public in the city and its surroundings at very affordable rates.

This is an activity that is commonplace and yet, who has already seen a horse race? The audience électrise at the start, the gamblers license, the commentators talk at a delirious speed and we're getting caught in the game soon! In turn, we try to win the jackpot! But beware, if luck can work at the beginning, seasoned gamblers know all the subtleties: horse genealogy, particularity of the terrain, address of the joker… So? Who will be your dada?

Installed at 53 rue Saint-Médard in 1912, it is still going strong almost a hundred years later and still has an important place in the life of the neighborhood. This bar, where concerts are given in the evening (once or twice a month), cultivates the sweetness of time passing through its 1930s Art Deco decor. Moreover, the decor inspired Pascal Thomas who shot a scene in Cry not with your mouth full in 1973 with Jean Carmet. Note the pleasant private terrace on the garden side and a second entrance at 72, rue de la Trémoille.

With its resolutely modern, even industrial look (steel, raw concrete and glass), the young festive and cultural hall of La Quintaine, with its beautiful acoustics, offers an eclectic and atypical program that is dedicated to family discoveries. The recipe for a great program? Great headliners, a few evenings of song, humor, dance, a lot of theater and especially a lot of circus. This 340-seat hall can also be used for exhibitions, dinner dances, bingo events, etc. During the year, there are several shows (Bien-être et nature, Vitisaveurs...).

Fans of beer, metal and the Simpsons will love this place. Tony and May, the owners, distill a rock'n'roll atmosphere! Located on the second floor of Les Pirates restaurant, Chez Moe's serves fish and chips, burgers, poutine... and frigadelle (grandma's recipe). And drinks: a beautiful yellow tapping machine offers 21 pressings for a total of over 200 references of wines and spirits, along with house cocktails. Terrace and stage for concerts complete the setting. We're sure you'll love it!

It is a rare bird in the streets of Châtellerault. With this blackbird, you immediately feel at ease. We like to eat (at lunchtime), have a drink, a coffee, chat, play cards and especially celebrate! Sébastien has been able to gather a community of friends who get together over a good craft beer or a rum, his specialty. Here, all styles of music come together during the musical jam on the first Thursday of the month. Rocker, jazzman, night owl, come with your guitar, your voice or your keyboard and become the blackbird of the stage.

Coffee or tea? In this Anglo-American café run by Laura and Keith, you'll find homemade sweet and savory treats to delight your taste buds. On the savory side, there are pies and turnovers: steak & beer, curry & beef, chicken & mushroom, vegetable, cheese & onion... On the sweet side, let yourself be tempted by delicious English pastries: brioches, cupcakes, doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, scones... All accompanied by tea, coffee, smoothie or hot chocolate. Yum! Cooking classes are also scheduled. See you soon!

CGR Fontaine le Comte is a family cinema open every day of the year in Fontaine-le-Comte. You'll find a wide choice of films in French and English, an arcade, a café-cinema and a candy store. With plenty of free parking and comfortable, air-conditioned rooms with PRM access, it's an ideal venue for everyone. The cinema also organizes birthday parties and can be rented out for your events. What's more, it's equipped with a defibrillator and offers audiodescription screenings on request 48 hours in advance.

Two scones, a cupcake and "a cup of tea please"! Looking for a change of scenery on the other side of the Channel? You've come to the right place. Anne, the head pastry chef, and Andrew, the official taster, both subjects of the royal family, welcome you to their boutique-tea room with British class. Over a cup of tea and homemade cake, you can leaf through English books, which are hard to choose from the many references in the store. Lovely cards, decorative objects and gift ideas complete the selection. Welcome !

It's at the source that we come to find our fine beverages! Arthur and Sarah, both from wine-growing backgrounds, have opened this beautiful wine cellar in the heart of Gençay. Here, they share their love of the product and their great discoveries. La Source is also the place to be for cheese lovers. In the evenings, you can meet up for tapas and a canon. What more could you ask for: friendly bosses, quality products and a pleasant setting?

In this charming tea-room, you'll find sweet treats concocted by Angela. The atmosphere is cosy, the decor soft and flowery, in pink and water mint. Originally from England, this mother of four offers her sobritish specialties, accompanied by a good cup of tea in real porcelain services. There are delicious scones, carrot cakes, cupcakes, shortbreads, banana breads, cookies and brownies, as well as smoothies, milkshakes, ice cream sundaes and savoury snacks for lunch (bagels, English muffins...)... The hardest part will be choosing!

It is in an old barn in the heart of the Written, that the Salle Gérard Guillaumat is located. Laurent and Christelle will welcome you and propose activities for children and adults'performances and activities. Speech, improvisation, text work and sensory memory form part of the workshops proposed. This small 50-seat theatre is quickly filled in and for cause, it features finely animated shows in the register of comedy and French literature and song, with new regional or emerging talents. After several years of interruption, the Company of Voyag'hour, no more and no less that of the Théâtre de la Cité, goes back on the boards and has already had the opportunity to take place at the beginning of the year. On average, one evening per month is programmed. Think about booking early!

The Bellefois brewery, a historic brewery in the Vienne region, continues to tickle the taste buds and leave its mark on the area with its Brew Pub. Ideally located, this bar nicely decorated with wood and metal, is the ideal place for an afterwork, a match retransmission, a concert, and of course a tasting of Neuville beer. Seasonal beers, IPA, organic beers, Bellefois is constantly expanding its range of products, which can be found in the shop. For the curious, visits of the brewery are possible by appointment and by groups of 10 people minimum.

A gourmet address that will melt more than one! It was during a trip to Quebec that Jaël came across a concept that made her fall in love: a dessert bar that combines crepes and chocolate. On the counter, milk, dark and white chocolate flows freely in the fountains. On the menu, pancakes of course, often unstructured or in the form of turnovers, associated with fruit, but also waffles, Brussels waffles or lollipops, and for all recipes, a good dose of chocolate. Addicts will go so far as to share a fountain and its sweets. At Signature, we also offer a savory break for lunch (pancakes, waffles) and gourmet drinks. Hard to resist.

It's a meeting place where people like to chat. In winter, with jazzy music playing in the background, you can enjoy a cup of tea, coffee or syrup. It's cosy. It's easy to chat with strangers. The bistro tables are tightly packed. In summer, the shop window is open. In front of it, regulars enjoy the hustle and bustle of the square, sometimes with a notebook or book in hand. On the other side of the street, at the foot of Notre-Dame church, on the shady terrace, you can enjoy a drink with your sandwich or after the market. A place that remains true to itself.

This is an original concept! To add a modern point of modernity to traditional guided tours, Poitiers's tourist office has had the rich idea of designing a digital treasure and nature hunt to discover its historical and architectural heritage. The theme? The women who marked the city. So from Aliénor from Aquitaine to Joan d'Arc, passing through St. Radegonde, the application you have previously downloaded invites you to cross the streets of the city in search of clues… Will you manage to solve the final puzzle?

Tariff: free.

Duration: variable.

Difficulty: .

Other practical information: application available on iPhone and Android.

At Ilot Tison, on the banks of the River Clain, the Guinguette Pictave is the place to be. Under the great hall, at the bar or with your feet in the sand in summer, it's the ideal place to relax with a drink, or play games at the Ludoguette. From shuffleboard and darts to cornhole and Mario kart, there's no time for boredom! In the old sawmill, enjoy music or a match on the giant screen. And if you're feeling peckish, the Circus-style delicacies bar awaits you, not to mention the 7 foodtrucks serving world cuisine on site. Conviviality guaranteed!

Women have left their mark on the history of Poitiers, and this escape game has made one of them the protagonist of an enigma. Right next door to the Palais, Escape League honors Eleanor of Aquitaine. Tick-tock, you'll have 1 hour to find her treasure. Four riddles await you at Escape League: "Braquage à la française", "Il était une fois ou presque" and the incredible setting of "les pompiers font de l'escape". No, you're not dreaming, it's a real truck! The welcome's top-notch, the scenarios are full of humor and the sets are super cool.

L'Envers du Bocal claims to be a plural place. And it is! Noé, Aurélien and Hélène, musician, visual artist and social worker, have created a new kind of bar-cannery to offer a convivial space for exchanging and tasting local canned goods. The place is decorated with salvaged furniture and diverted objects for a unique and original rendering with an exhibition room upstairs for the works of local artists. Numerous evenings of concerts, debates, traditional jams, readings, slams or improvisation matches are on the program.

Pushing open the pretty white wrought-iron gate, you'll make your way to the terrace of this den of sweet pleasures, where you'll lose your breath at the selection of sweets to eat and drink. This is Sandrine Lebon's place, her voice as delicate as her welcome. Enjoy teas (iced in summer!), vintage coffees and hot fruit juices, all accompanied by delicious cakes. Saturday is scone day! And don't forget to admire the current exhibition on the walls. A lovely sweet break.

With its glass façade and simple, clean lines, this contemporary building houses one of the finest auditoriums in Europe. Wherever you sit, the notes of music and singing will envelop you and captivate your ears. Classical, contemporary, world music, jazz or song: the acoustics are impeccable. The theater room hosts plays, circus, concerts, dance... The TAP offers multiple accesses to culture, sometimes even free.

Much more than a simple bar, an institution! This traditional Irish pub, with its walls lined with concert posters, has a very friendly, even family atmosphere. In summer, its large terrace under the plane trees is overflowing with beer lovers. Mark, the Irish manager, and his team of beer geeks like to share and discover new nuggets. The Clu is even a brew pub with a microbrewery "Beoir" (beer in Gaelic) installed in the cellar! Here we taste and talk about beer... a lot and we listen to concerts... especially rock concerts!

The perfect place for beer lovers to enjoy a convivial afterwork. You'll be greeted by the friendly François, his famous mullet, and his cheerful team. On the terrace or in the dining room, you can sit around the reels and cans, or on the kegs: a recycled decor perfectly suited to the place. The focus is on local and craft brewers, with 500 beers on tap, many on draught, and a few nibbles (pizza, boards). Twice a month, La Cervoiserie organizes Tap Take-Over tastings with brewers from all over France. Broadcasting of matches and concerts. Sale of beers and spirits, and taps for hire.

Who would have thought that the old municipal toilets would one day become a trendy place to live? This small and friendly bar, located at the edge of Notre-Dame, is the perfect place for an evening with friends. Behind the counter, "Geoff" shakes his shakers and concocts seasonal cocktails with precise flavors. On the terrace or around oil cans, we drink a beer, a glass of wine, a whisky, and to accompany this, we can trust Gérard, to compose us greedy plates of tapas.