Toulouse Restaurants

In the heart of Toulouse, discover a pleasant bar in a typical setting. Located in an old district full of charm, red bricks and old caves lend this musical bar style. The atmosphere is young owing to the students organized parties in the converted room downstairs, and karaoke nights. La notte is also a pleasant restaurant for groups.

This bar is situated in Place Saint Georges, one of Toulouse's older districts and one of the most elegant spots in town. As you might have guessed from its name, the décor of the bar is styled on Van Gogh's paintings, and many reproductions adorn the yellow walls. Set out on two floors, it is a colourful, charming place. Enjoy the beautiful terrace on sunny days.

The concept of this pizzeria is unique: customers choose the size of their pizza and pay by the weight and place orders. Customers can try a variety of different pizzas tapas-style or can just stick with the one they like. The dough is incredibly light (thanks to 24 hours of rising), savory and crunchy, and the ingredients (the flour, the oil, the Mozzarella, the Parmesan, the tomato sauce and the ham) are all fresh and 100% Italian; creating flavors that are both unique and authentic. Aside from a large selection of pizzas, there is also a large selection of drinks, ice creams and coffees. The chef recommends the cèpes-saucisson (boletus mushrooms and dried sausage) pizza. The restaurant is closed on Sundays, but pizza orders can be placed.

For a light lunch or an afternoon snack, don't look any further: savoury tarts (seafood, Catalan, mountain) or sweet ones (apple and rhubarb is their number one), you will be overwhelmed by the choice. The Julie, made up of damsons, apricots and greengages is particularly delicious, La Folie with pears, vanilla ice cream and hot chocolate is Irresistibly tempting and the pineapple and coconut one is out of this world!. They can all be served with custard, chantilly cream or fruit coulis. If tarts are not your thing, then cool your palate with one of their ice cream creations.

If you're planning to come here on a Friday or Saturday evening, it's a good idea to book. The atmosphere is lively, and the Mexican food spicy and delicious. The huge menu includes salads of fresh spinach, avocado, feta cheese and lime, chicken wings, salmon and guacamole bagels and larger dishes like beef and chicken tacos, fish burritos and giant hamburgers. If the choice is overwhelming, chilli con carne is always a safe bet.

Located just next to Saint Etienne Cathedral, and a short distance from the Halle aux Grains concert hall, this brasserie offers simple, good quality food at reasonable prices. The menu includes salads, rib steak, kidneys, duck breast, fillet steak and leg of lamb. For dessert there are ice creams and sorbets. It can be a little noisy in the dining room, but the service is fast and there is an outside terrace. To round off your evening, there's a lively bar close by, Bar Sylène.

If you passed this restaurant on the street you may not even notice it, it is so discreet. However, Autre Salon is loaded with charm, filled with pottery, porcelain and sparkling crystal. Lunches are on the light side, but dinners are robust and sumptuous. The desserts are equally as tempting, including slice fridge square, crumble and apple pie, and there is a variety of teas on offer. To have a quick lunch, choose the medley of savory tarts, the foie gras salad, the beef casserole or the salmon with lentils. After 6p the tables are prepared for dinner: hot foie gras, fresh salmon tartare with basil and other delicacies.

This bar-restaurant offers an original fusion of nightlife in Nice, presenting both café-theater evenings and Argentinian tango nights (Wednesdays and Fridays), performed by professional dancers. They welcome beginners who can learn by dancing with them. The venue, decorated by tiny demons with nefarious grins (as its name "The Little Devil" suggest) is also a venue for other cultural events. Café EUR1.

Located in a charming (and slightly bourgeois) neighborhood, this music bar is nothing if not eclectic, with wooden tables, a large chimney, soft and bright colors, flowers, and an overall homey feel. Its two rooms have hosted record release parties in collaboration with music labels (with the likes of rock group Placebo and singer Cheb Mami), concerts, and fashion shows. La Maison attracts a clientèle that adds to the convivial ambiance of the place. If you come to grab a drink with friends, you might end up polishing off a carafe of the house wine (EUR 2).

This pub has a huge billiards room with fifteen tables, as well as American pool tables, French billiards and snooker tables. In addition to the love of the game, the clientele gathers here for the lively company. English pop from the 1960's to the 1980's is a common sound. Paintings are exhibited every two months; previous shows have included Philippe Brown and Ruth Wakers.

Admirers of this club advise to come for an unforgettable time thanks to a loose, licentious ambiance, good music, and a fun and fashionable crowd. Nothing too pretentious though; come here for a night of crazy fun, no regrets!

This warm and welcoming two-story venue offers concerts each evening at 8:30 p.m. of rock, pop, folk singers, or jazz and electronica with a local DJ each Sunday. Eclectic, artistic lighting provides atmosphere to the bar and venue. Call for current programming.

Le Plaza Bar in Crowne Plaza Toulouse, Capitole is an elegantly decorated place and is a great place to spend your evening. Select your favorite whiskey, cognac or armagnac along with a cigar of your choice, and you're set for the evening! Relish the variety of mixed salads, grilled meats and other snacks prepared by the experts themselves. The live piano music played here every Tuesday and Thursday evening is soothing, and has been appreciated by everyone. Open till 1a.

Situated alongside the Canal du Midi and only a few minutes walking-distance from the center of town, De Danu is one of the most well-known Irish pubs in Toulouse. The English- and French-speaking staff and the bar play host to several international events throughout the week, including a popular weekly pub quiz on Mondays, an all-night happy hour for students every Tuesday, live band performances on Sundays as well as sporadically throughout the week, and all major sporting events are shown live on one of the many big screen televisions. Besides their large selection of draft and bottled beers, De Danu also serves cocktails, wine, and more than 40 types of whiskey, as well as traditional pub food and breakfasts throughout the day. De Danu is also available to rent out for events. - Lauren Messina

With its bright and colorful terrace and entrance on Rue du Taur, Bananaland invites vegetarians and omnivores alike to partake in its fresh, healthy meals, snacks and drinks. This juice and salad bar serves up an enticing selection of fruit and vegetable smoothies and milkshakes for a quick break, along with sweet and savory salads, soups and bagels topped with spreads that are a far cry from plain cream cheese. The non-stop service at Bananaland also offers a brunch on Sunday afternoons, and visitors looking for a quick, health-beneficial snack can also order any meal for take-away throughout the day. With their large, ever-changing options and daily specials, Bananaland offers a departure from a more traditional French dining experience. - Lauren Messina