Mama Shelter Toulouse Rooftop on Boulevard Lazare Carnot is a planted hotel rooftop with frozen margaritas, sunset views over the Canal du Midi.
Food program: Small plates
Tip: Sunset to midnight is the busier service; the frozen margarita and the bao bun pair is the canonical summer order.
Address: 54 Boulevard Lazare Carnot, 31000 Toulouse
Le Mandala on Rue des Amidonniers is Toulouse's longest-running jazz bar, with live jazz sets six nights a week, cocktails and a small back-of-room kitchen.
Signature drink: Cocktails and beer
Food: Small plates
Tip: Live jazz sets six nights at 21:30 and 23:30; the cocktails plus charcuterie plate is the canonical evening pair.
Chez Tonton on Place Saint-Pierre is the legendary student bar with a square-terrace crowd, tapas plates from 18:00 and the canonical pastis pour.
Signature drink: Pastis tonton
Food: Tapas from 18:00 to 22:00
Tip: Lines pile up Friday from 19:30; the pastis tonton with anchovy tapas is the canonical first-round order.
Pub Saint-Pierre on Place Saint-Pierre is the long-running pub since 1999, beloved for its vibrant atmosphere and fantastic happy hour with pints from €2.80.
Signature drink: Pints during happy hour
Food: Pub snacks
Tip: Happy hour pints from €2.80 from 18:00 to 21:00; the terrace runs full from sunset onward all year.
Le Bar Basque on Place Saint-Pierre is the Basque-leaning Toulouse bar with pintxos, sangria, regional ciders and a large summer garden terrace.
Signature drink: Sangria and Basque cider
Food: Gourmet pintxos
Tip: Order pintxos by the half-dozen and a glass of Irouleguy; the garden runs full first in summer.
Le Bistroquet on Rue Pargaminieres near Saint-Pierre is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar with an old-fashioned programme. Reservations recommended in season.
Signature drink: Old-fashioned
Food: Cheese boards
Tip: Open 19:00 onward; the rotating old-fashioned is the canonical order. Bookings recommended.