Café des Minimes

Just pick between coffee, tapas, lunch, cocktails or excellent local craft beers. And have it all on the sunny paved square

We already used to stop by for an espresso served with a Carambar candybar, back when it was still the restaurant L’Arrière Pays. It was simply hard not to: the terrace on the little paved square seemed to be calling out to us, asking us to have a seat either in the sun or in the shade from the huge tree right in its center. Since it became Café des Minimes, the little square has become a destination by itself.

We meet friends for a hearty, seasonal and delicious lunch, prepared by the chef Régis (ex cook from Tero and Kitchen 151). We tried the sweet potato waffle with a soft boiled egg, Brussels Shiitake and lemon whipped cream (15€), and the slow-cooked chicken supreme with braised chicory and baked apple (16€). Everything was just so, so good. And for smaller cravings, or lower budgets, they also have a “tartine” and a soup, by themselves or combined, for just 10€. In the evenings, things get real serious as the lunch menu is replaced by a tapas list, paired with delicious homemade cocktails (from 7 to 10,50€) and natural wines. Whether it’s for the food or the drinks, the intention here is to work with local and small producers. A great example is the Spritz des Minimes (7€), reworked with red vermouth from Biercée. Every week, there is a jazz concert on Wednesdays, a dj set to dance to on Fridays, and a rock concert on Sundays. Once a month, be sure to book your seat for comedy club night on Tuesday, and for a four-hands dinner with a guest chef on Monday. No wonder that you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for the rest of the time as well; just pick between coffee, tapas, lunch, cocktails or excellent local craft beers. And have it all on the sunny little paved square of course.