aixcentric

Opening a café in Aix can’t be easy when there are so many already in the town; but this one has quite a USP.  Instead of paying for what you drink or eat, you pay for the time you sit there.  The first hour is 5 euros per person.

I was intrigued and went along today to try the Anticafé which is in colourful premises in rue Granet.  When you go in, you are given a swipe-card which records your time of entry.  Then you choose what you want to drink – a range of coffees, teas, chocolate or cold drinks, as  much as you like – and then a snack.  This is clearly not a meal but something to assuage what Anita, the manager, calls un petit faim.  Today they had guacamole or taramasalata with nachos or cucumber sticks, apples and bananas, baguette slices, madeleines or madeira cake.  Or you could help yourself to bread to toast (you do it) and choose from Nutella, jam, honey or cream cheese.

So what’s the background to this unusual anticafé?

They started in Russia back in 2010 and now the country has 10 branches.  It spread to Rome and Paris (3 branches) and London too.  The London anticafé is called Ziferblat which means clockface.  Here, customers are given an alarm clock on entry and pay 3p a minute.

The concept is that cafés are about communication rather than consumption.  They should provide a sociable atmosphere where people can come in to chat, have meetings or work on their computers using free Wifi.

The Aix Anticafé

This opened two weeks ago and is being run by mother and daughter, Anita an ex-journalist, and Melanie who has a degree in design.  They chose Aix for its big student population and its innovative atmosphere.

It was designed by the Parisian BonkersLab and has two floors: upstairs is an idea place for business meetings and can be reserved.

Details:  27 Rue Granet; http://www.anticafe.eu. The website has full details of pricing and discounts for members (you join free).  Discounts too for students.

Open: Monday-Friday 9-22:30; Saturday and Sunday 10-21:30.

Verdict:  A very warm welcome from Anita who seems to have attracted regulars already.  Being used to paying 3,50 for a coffee in Aix, 5 euros seemed very little for unlimited coffee and lots of nibbles.  I liked it a lot and wish them well in their new venture.