toulouse
Cafes
For: outdoor seating, good cake
For: working/studying
[make sure you get there early! it fills up fast]
For: working/studying.
Has both outdoor and indoor seating. they play music there so not good for people who need quiet space to focus (unless you have noise canceling earphones)
Activities
Great to walk around in, set up shop for a picnic, or people watch
The classic Toulouse tourist choice. I recommend going if nothing else than for the expansive and exciting tea selection.
[Tip: make a reservation at least one day before]
If you're in town in late Nov/Dec, you gotta go to the Christmas market. It's relatively small as far as European Chrismas markets go, but it's pretty sweet (I also love anything Christmas). The vin chaud is a MUST— there was a stand with white mulled wine which was new to me and I truly couldn't get enough.
Walk. So much.
Unsurprisingly, my biggest recommendation is to just walk all over the place. The center area of Toulouse felt very safe to me, so I'd just wander around between the little streets and see what I ran into. We also went across the bridge one day and happened to find a cool park, so there are def things to explore across the way!
Sophia’s Saint-Sernin Experience™
1. Take a stroll around the Saint-Sernin area. Enjoy the beautiful fall leaves (if you’re there in autumn). Sit on one of the benches and journal or people watch.
2. Go to one of the following cafes:
(slower service but has homemade cookies and alcohol if you’re at that point in the day)
(always had the NICEST servers here! my fav cafe. they also have super great breakfast options— my go to was the baguette, confiture, allongé, et jus d’orange for like €6)
I spent hours here reading, listening to music, people watching, and journaling.
🎶The suggested playlist (autumn only):
I've got a girl by flyte
Company car by lizzie reid
Open by rhye
Man on the wire by max pope
Less and less by matt maltese
Fall in by esperanza spalding
Medicine by gus dapperton
I know you know by esperanza spalding
Hurts me too by faye webster
Places we won't walk by bruno major
Shleter by ray lamontagne
Towers by bon iver
Vanilla baby by billie marten
Toulouse by billie marten
Je te laisserai des mots by patrick watson
Sparks by coldplay
Fog in the mirror by theo katzman
Deux arabesques by claude debussy
Dinner &/or Drinks
It feels like a tourist place but it’s surprisingly well- attended by locals and packed every night. They have STRONG cocktails and good food. Mid range for prices.
For when you don’t wanna go to a club but you do wanna be smashedddd up against some people. This place gets PACKED but is perfect for pregaming. Upstairs is more open and the smoking room is like a lil greenhouse in the back corner.
If you’re new to France, try a Monaco.
The only gay club you’ll ever need. It’s clean, they have coat check, and the smoking area is outside so you can get a breather.
Try going to Cafe Pop^^ around 11 pm then here after.
For a fancyyyyy cocktail bar experience.
One of my favorite spots to go. Really great outdoor ambiance (inside is like a normal sports bar, very mundane). Generally a great spot to walk to because it's by the bridge and a bit outside of the direct city center, so either you're coming from the other side of the water or walking through the city— either is fun!
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