The places in Toulouse the guidebooks miss.
The places in Toulouse the guidebooks miss. locals-only counters, after-hours rooms and the spots tourists walk past.
Solides on Rue des Polinaires opposite the Carmes market is the chef-led natural-wine bistro with a daily-changing set and a tight Loire cellar list.
Why locals love it: Bistro opposite the Carmes market with a chef-led natural wine list, hidden from the centre but adored by locals.
Tip: The set menu changes by the day; ask for the natural Loire pinot by the glass.
Chez Navarre is saint-etienne table d'hotes with shared long tables, adopted as a canteen by locals and missed by visitors who stick to capitole.
Why locals love it: Saint-Etienne table d'hotes with shared long tables, adopted as a canteen by locals and missed by visitors who stick to Capitole.
Tip: Eat at the long shared tables; bookings essential, the locals adopt it as a canteen.
Une Table a Deux on Rue de la Pleau in Carmes is the Bib Gourmand bistronomic dining room with Asian-influenced French plates and a small daily carte.
Why locals love it: Bib Gourmand bistronomic room with Asian-influenced French food, tucked on Rue de la Pleau and often missed.
Tip: Book at least a week ahead, the room is small and fills with locals.
La Cave au Cassoulet is unfussy cassoulet specialist on rue peyrolieres, smaller than le colombier and genty magre and often missed by tourists.
Why locals love it: Unfussy cassoulet specialist on Rue Peyrolieres, smaller than Le Colombier and Genty Magre and often missed by tourists.
Tip: The cassole is single-serve; do not order a starter if you intend to finish it.
L'Oncle Pom in Toulouse: Potato-led southwest bistro with flea-market styling on Rue Gabriel Peri, the locals favorite for a duck magret burger.
Why locals love it: Potato-led southwest bistro with flea-market styling on Rue Gabriel Peri, the locals favorite for a duck magret burger.
Tip: The duck magret burger with Katty fries is the unbeatable order; book for Saturday.
May Vietnamese in Toulouse: Small Vietnamese kitchen on Rue Pharaon in Carmes, banh mi to order and bun bo Hue, hidden behind a plain shopfront.
Why locals love it: Small Vietnamese kitchen on Rue Pharaon in Carmes, banh mi to order and bun bo Hue, hidden behind a plain shopfront.
Tip: The lunch banh mi plus iced jasmine tea at €13 is the canonical daily favourite.
Hubsbob on Rue des Filatiers in Carmes is the small specialty coffee bar with pour-over Ethiopian beans, served at a marble counter with banh mi.
Why locals love it: Small specialty coffee bar on Rue des Filatiers, with pour-overs and a banh mi lunch, easy to walk past in Carmes.
Tip: The pour-over of the day plus banh mi at €9 is the canonical working-day favourite for solo eaters.
Kafala Coffee is tiny specialty coffee cafe on rue du pont de tounis near saint-pierre, with a v60 pour-over station and east african beans.
Why locals love it: Tiny specialty coffee cafe on Rue du Pont de Tounis near Saint-Pierre, with a V60 pour-over station and East African beans.
Tip: Open weekday mornings only; the V60 pour-over plus pastel de nata is the canonical order.
La Cave se Rebiffe (Wine bar) in Toulouse: Bookings essential weekends; the Corsican charcuterie plate plus a Vermentino glass is the canonical evening order.
Why locals love it: Underground Corsican wine bar on Rue Joutx Aigues with tapas and a vaulted-brick cellar room, run by Marc, an artist with Corsican roots.
Tip: Bookings essential weekends; the Corsican charcuterie plate plus a Vermentino glass is the canonical evening order.
Loma Patisserie is a bakery room in Saint Etienne. Closed Sunday and Monday; the croissant and the rotating daily pastry case are the canonical buys.
Why locals love it: Loma on Rue de la Fonderie in the Dalbade quarter is the small neighborhood bakery with artisanal croissants and pastries, easy to miss on a quiet side street.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday; the croissant and the rotating daily pastry case are the canonical buys.
Le Petit Archipel is small specialty coffee bar on rue de la republique in saint-cyprien, single-origin espresso and house-baked banana bread.
Why locals love it: Small specialty coffee bar on Rue de la Republique in Saint-Cyprien, single-origin espresso and house-baked banana bread.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday; the espresso plus banana bread combo is the canonical solo coffee.