In Toulouse, although the winters are mild, we like to make a stop when out walking to drink a nice coffee, tea or hot chocolate. So, to stop you shivering and to give you a well-earned break, here are the five places where we love to hang out!
Saint Sernin: A hot chocolate… and a board game! A stone’s throw from the basilica, Les Gourmands de Saint-Sernin offers you salvation of a different kind after your visit. Go through the door, plonk yourself down into one of the comfy leather armchairs and order a large hot chocolate with a piece of cake. This season’s special: the hazelnut Bundt cake, lovingly prepared by Emilie the pastry cook. And if you want to prolong the enjoyment… board games are available! So, fancy a game?
Saint Cyprien: A herbal tea… and a good book. You’ve ventured across from the other side of the Garonne and you’re tired? Don’t panic! L’Estaminot knows how to pamper you. Part second-hand library, part junk shop, part tearoom, we love this friendly Bohemian place! We order a cup of tea here, with a piece of gluten-free toast or cake. We might even tell each other stories as a family, or bump into a storyteller!
Capitole: A cappuccino and a nice cake. A ray of sun has appeared in the middle of town? Well then, we’re stopping to enjoy the heated terrace of Flower’s café! First, each of us chooses a cake from the seventeen varieties displayed in the window, then we each order a cappuccino and take a seat near the fountain, in the lovely square, place Salengro. Too cold? Don’t panic! There’s room upstairs, at the top of the staircase.
Carmes: A coffee… traditional style! With our elbows resting on the counter of the Brûlerie des Filatiers, we inhale the lovely aroma of freshly roasted coffee. It’s here, where some fifteen or so flavours are transformed on the premises, that espresso lovers stop off. The greediest opt for a latté, a macchiato, a cappuccino, or a coffee with whipped cream… prepared by the master’s hand!
Saint Aubin: A cup of tea… and an exhibition. Hidden away at the end of a little Toulouse alley, we find the Blue Tea Pot. And no, it’s not just for those who’ve got the blues! Cheerful Toulouse inhabitants come here to taste one of the fifty teas offered on the menu. We can’t resist the organic chai with a piece of cake. And we also enjoy the exhibition, which changes very month!
So? Shall we treat ourselves to a little break before hitting the road again?
