Restaurants and Bars

The abundance of restaurants scattered along the pretty streets of Toulouse's town center is amazing. Diners are invited to discover the incredible variety of French cuisine, prepared according to tradition or stretching the creativity of master chefs who are not afraid of novelty. Some lead an exploration of flavors from every region of France, while others set out on a journey to the far corners of the earth. There is something to satisfy every taste and every fancy, whether you wish to devote yourself to the delights of gastronomy, eat a quick snack, or simply spend a moment enjoying the atmosphere of a small cafe in Toulouse.

French Cuisine

Regional Cuisine Toulouse owes much of its culinary heritage to local produce that comes from the surrounding areas, in particular the neighboring departement of Gers, where fattened ducks and geese are raised. These specialties (foie gras, cassoulet - meat and bean stew, Toulouse sausage, duck cutlets and conserve of duck) are certainly not renowned for being light or healthful, but they deliver on taste (the essential consideration of many travelers!) In addition, some of the finest wine-producing regions of the world surround Toulouse, Tarn and especially Bordeaux (only 250 kilometers/150 miles away), providing a selection of astounding accompaniments to restaurant dishes. The Toulouse oenologists and vintners need only to follow the example of their ancestors who, in ancient times, traded their wines from Italy up to Bordeaux.

Today, the master chefs of Toulouse know how to use these quality products to combine traditional influences and innovative cuisine. There are brilliant demonstrations of this alliance in the restaurants in the town center, ideally situated in the liveliest quarters. The prestigious Jardins de l'Opera, bordering the very central Place du Capitole, often serves celebrities of the entertainment world when they visit Toulouse, and hungry travelers may choose a neighboring table or a neighborhood brasserie. The picturesque Place Saint-Georges also has some good places to sample regional cooking such as the celebrated Emile, which enjoys an exceptional setting and a fetching façade. On the Place Wilson and the nearby boulevards, surrounded by cinemas and shops, the Capoul and the Eau de Folles are well-known and well-loved. Still in the center of town, Jardins d'Alice in the pretty little Rue Croix-Baragnon, the 7 Place Saint-Sernin beside the Basilica bearing the same name, and the Bon Bec near the concert venue at the Halle aux Grains will all tickle your taste buds. Some of the restaurants specializing in regional treats present gourmet delights in novel settings: try the Cave au Cassoulet, situated on the pleasant Quai Saint-Pierre near the banks of the Garonne. Even more uniquely delightful are the restaurants on the barges; the Belle Chaurienne and the Occitania offer the opportunity to dine on the peaceful waters of the Canal du Midi.

Speciality and theme restaurants For those who love seafood, start out at the waterfront - the famous Brasserie des Beaux-Arts, decorated in the style of the Edwardian Age Belle Epoque, perches on the banks of the Garonne. Those who prefer meat will enjoy the dishes offered at Grillee, Os à Moëlle, or a simpler but no less satisfying meal at the Hippopotamus, a restaurant franchise.

Some restaurants devote their entire menu to a mouth-watering specialty. The Mille et une Pâtes serves pasta dishes, the Bar des Glaces serves mostly (drum roll) kebabs, as its name fails to indicate. Equally original concepts govern the Picotin, where the young-at-heart enjoy eating with their fingers, Madeleine de Proust, decorated in fanciful colors, and the Syndicat that changes its theme roughly once every two years. Finally, restaurants such as Bioasis offer healthy and natural products.

Cooking from further afield

For those wishing to explore far-off cultures or for homesick visitors, Toulouse offers an unlimited choice of foreign specialty restaurants. Proximity to Spain and Italy means that bodegas featuring tapas and sangria and Italian restaurants (Pizzeria Vecchio, Carpaccio) are plentiful and affordable. Still in Europe, you can treat yourself to authentic sauerkraut at the Taverne Bavaroise, sample the salmon, Scandinavian style, at the Pink Fish, or cross the Channel for the flavors of Ireland at Dubliner's. Latino restaurants such as the Barrio Latino and the Texxas Cafe are plentiful and very fashionable, and some even feature a dance floor (check out Puerto Habana for Cuban rhythms). A very different cuisine which is widely available in Toulouse and often inexpensive, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese restaurants offer the flavorful specialties enjoyed all over the world. Try the Diamant or the Japan for a warm reception and delicious dishes. Finally, some restaurants emphasize exotic ingredients to draw dinnertime crowds: Cafe Rex offers Australian specialties including kangaroo meat, also available at Zoodrome along with shark and bison. The adventure at each of these restaurants is set to music and the excitement moves from table to dance floor and finally out into the night!

For a quick bite or just a drink

For a light meal or a quick snack during the day, tea-rooms like Tarte Julie or the Autre Salon de The) will provide a little something to satisfy your hunger at any time of day. A plethora of bars and pubs are grouped together in different parts of the town center, perfect spots for having a drink and a chat with friends. Favorite pubs include Dubliner's and Mulligan's, while students prefer the Saint-Pierre and Arnaud-Bernard neighborhoods for places like Breughel or Q'sec/Ragtime, close to the universities. Of course, the Place du Capitole, Wilson Square, and the boulevards remain the dynamic center of Toulouse even at night, where the exorbitance of bars are always busy.