Tapenade is the Provençal paste of black olives and capers pounded with olive oil, often with anchovy, spread on bread as an hors d'oeuvre in Avignon and across the south.
Where to eat it: 5 restaurants across 2 cities.
The name comes from tapeno, the Provençal word for capers. According to the Provençal chefs Jean-Baptiste Reboul and Charles Julliard, it was created in 1880 by a chef named Meynier at La Maison Dorée in Marseille, who pounded equal weights of capers and black olives to garnish hard-boiled eggs and added anchovy, tuna, olive oil and cognac. Olive relishes go back to Roman writers such as Columella.
Tours, tastings and classes from the cities on this page, bookable on GetYourGuide.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Join us on this fantastic food tour to taste and learn everything you've ever wanted to know about French gastronomy. Savory and sweet specialities...
Day trip · 4 hours
Discover St-Emilion on a guided village tour, followed by a guided visit and tasting of 3-4 wines with a French aperitif platter at a Grand Cru...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Immerse yourself in Nice's outstanding food culture as you savor the taste of some of its best food. Whet your appetite with some of the city's best...
Day trip · 4 hours
Discover Southern Beaujolais on a wine tour from Lyon which will show the highlights of this beautiful region. Learn about the history and wine...
Common allergens: Fish
Tip from the editors. Leave out the anchovies for a vegan version, and add a spoon of chopped basil if you want a greener, softer tapenade.
Les Halles d'Avignon is the covered market on Place Pie, with about 40 traders beneath Patrick Blanc's vertical garden, open Tuesday to Sunday mornings.
TipThe Vaucluse tourist board lists 06:00 to 15:00 on Fridays and weekends for 27 July to 31 December 2026, with special hours at year end.
Beer Garden is a craft beer bar on Rue Portail Matheron in Avignon, with 13 rotating beers, house cocktails, local boards and a semi-pedestrian terrace.
DrinkThirteen craft beers in rotation on draught
FoodBoards with Maison Feste charcuterie and Laiterie Gilbert cheeses
TipBlind tests, karaoke and live concerts fill the calendar, and the boards use charcuterie, tapenade, cheese and bread from named local producers.
Le Cafe de l'Abbaye in Marseille's 7e opens its terrace for a Provencal brunch on weekends, eggs with Provencal vegetables, charcuterie boards and the daily.
OrderEggs with Provencal vegetables and a glass of rose at noon
TipWalk-in only on weekends; the terrace looks at the Vieux Port.
La Caravelle in Marseille's 2e runs the most coveted balcony on the Vieux Port until 2am, jazz Wed and Fri October to May, aperitif tapas and small plates.
TryAperitif tapas and Provencal small plates
TipOpen daily 7am-2am; jazz nights pull a full room from 22:00.
Le Bouchon Provencal in Marseille's 1er on Place aux Huiles is a bistro of Provencal and Lyonnais lineage, two vaulted dining rooms and a lime-tree terrace.
OrderThe daube provencale and a glass of the house red on the terrace.
TipOpen Mon-Sat; the upper vaulted room is the spot on cold nights.
More cities are in research. Want tapenade covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.
