aixcentric

Having a light lunch or snack in Aix at the moment is a little tricky in that the cold weather has driven most but the hardy smokers inside off the terraces, so tables are at a premium.  ‘Le Garde Manger’ is on Cours Sextius, not bang in the centre, but with the distinct advantage of spacious premises, and thus somewhere to sit!

Downstairs there’s a big café with a terrace, or you can climb up to the first floor lounge area, or keep going out on to the upstairs terrace which overlooks the

The upstairs terrace overlooks the Cours Sextius

Cours.  It’s been nicely renovated (it used to be a bar) with huge windows, trendy industrial lighting, stripped-back brick walls, beams, pretty furniture…….and newspapers and magazines lying around just waiting to be read.

Le Garde Manger is owned by twin sisters, Pauline and Josepha, whose mother was responsible for the palm-tree décor along the bar.

Food, ‘fait maison’, is fresh and healthy.  There are 3 formules at breakfast time, while lunch comprises different types of quiche (tried today….excellent), soups, salads, and a couple of hot dishes.  The cakes looked good and there are different types of teas and juices.  As it’s all freshly prepared, it’s understandable that when I visited towards the end of the day last week, the selection was reduced, worth bearing in mind. The only complaint I would have is plastic cutlery….flimsy and not environmentally friendly.

Le Garde Manger is, I think, a good addition to the Aix eating scene and chapeau to the two sisters, both under 30, for their enterprise!  Thank you to Lucy for introducing me to this café.

Details: 35-37 cours Sextius.  Open Mon-Sat, 8:00-18:00.