There are so many places to eat in Aix that La Provence reckoned that you could eat at a different restaurant or café every day of the year. Now there’s a challenge!
The glossy establishments in town get lots of publicity. But sometimes it’s nice to find somewhere in a quiet backstreet where you can find home-cooking and support new, young enterprises.
Restaurants in Aix though have a habit of closing down without warning so do please check them out before travelling specially to these recommendations!
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Les Petits Plats de TRINIDAD
Good for: Home-cooking – seasonal menus change with markets: options vegan, gluten-free
I’ve been curious about this restaurant in rue d’Italie as it is so crowded every time I’ve passed at lunchtime and after eating there on
Detox salad – not such a ‘petit plat’
Saturday, I’m not surprised. The menu has lots to choose from, is based on fresh produce from the market and caters for vegans and vegetarians too.
I was though slightly puzzled by the name: first of all I expected a Caribbean twist to the food but no, the ‘Trinidad’ comes from the chef-patron’s second name; and the ‘petits plats’ was deceptive given the size of our portions. Now I learn, ‘Cette expression du XIXe siècle signifie que l’on engage des frais ou que l’on fait de gros efforts pour plaire à quelqu’un. …’
Their website gives an idea of menus, though these change in line with seasonal offerings: https://www.lespetitsplatsdetrinidad.com/ The desserts are worth saving space for. I had a fondant chocolate with caramel ice-cream, delicious and, like many of the puds, gluten-free.
There’s a small terrace on rue d’Italie and an interior dining area, which leads to a dining room at the back with an open kitchen. Open 9-6:30, Tuesday – Saturday. Despite the number of places, you really do have to book for lunch.
NEW! Just opened opposite the restaurant, Le Comptoir Trinidad where you can take-away dishes from their kitchens. As well as their walk-in service, you can order and pay online so your dishes/salads/desserts will be waiting for you.
Tues – Sat, 11-16:30.
Le Pokebowl
Good for: Healthy Hawaiian lunch and gluten-free options
Here’s a addition to my recent post on healthy snacks, Le Pokebowl serves, as expected from the title, bowls of salads from its tiny premises in rue Manuel. There is naturally the traditional Hawaiian poke – rice based with tuna, avocado, mayo and salads – but you can put together your own bowl. You choose a foundation of rice/boulghour/lentils/greens, then add protein – meat/fish/home-made vegan boulettes, then salads, sauce, and toppings. Yours for 11.5€.
Also on the menu, avocado toast, or delicious gluten-free brownies which come with mango, pineapple and cream (see photo)
Le Pokebowl is steps away from the Place des Precheurs and has friendly staff. Open Tues-Sat, 9-15:30. Recommended!
Details and menus: http://pokebowl-aix.fr/
Need to Know More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poke_(Hawaiian_dish)
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Tita – Unmissable Israeli Street Food in Aix
Good for: cosy atmosphere, a warm welcome and a piping hot spicy lunch. I found all three at Tita, a super family-run venue for Israeli / Mediterranean street-food.
The café with its gingham-clad tables evokes the warmth of Israel with Mediterranean tiles, pictures of Tel Aviv and atmospheric music. The smells from the open kitchen-counter conjure up the fragrance of the Middle East as the chefs rustle up their homemade specialities: great hummus, falafel, schnitzels (breaded chicken), shawarma (spiced chicken) and beef-based kefta, all accompanied with pita bread, rice and/or salad.
I was warmly welcomed by family member Dana who speaks excellent English thanks to time spent in London. I explained I was vegetarian and didn’t want a large lunch (I’d been sitting watching some big big portions going past). No problem she said, and gave me a delicious tasting plate, a child’s portion, which was perfect.
Tita is the matriarch and inspiration for the cuisine: Dana, her brother and sister-in-law follow recipes from her kitchen. The family started with a food-truck in Aix, moved to tiny premises in rue de la Couronne which they quickly outgrew, hence their move to rue Bernadines.
Verdict: can’t wait to go back!
Details: http://titatruck.fr/
6 rue Bernadines, Aix. Open Tues-Sat, 12-4. Go early to bag a table or take-away.
Niji
Good for: a tasty Japanese lunch and then a root around Ding Dang, an Oriental grocery, nearby.
Just getting to grips with Japanese cuisine, I was keen to try Niji which I’d noticed in rue d’Italie. It’s a typically small centre ville 
restaurant and soon filled up when we visited. It has an extensive menu, with a few vegetarian choices too. My non-vegetarian friends opted for Bento au Porc, Bento au Boeuf, and Umi no Sachi which was a brochette of different grilled fish with rice….my vegetarian dishes Kappa maki and Shinkomaki (rolls of rice and veg in seaweed) were served with soy sauce, tasty indeed. There are 16 desserts to choose from which are familiar, but with an oriental twist…Tiramisu flavoured with green tea for instance. We all enjoyed our different choices.
The service was efficient, of course, friendly too. I was amazed when our server explained that Niji (which means rainbow by the way) has been in place for 16 years. As my French friend said, that really is impressive for a small restaurant in Aix.
Closed Wednesdays; take-away service.
Tel: 04 42 26 14 74; http://www.nijiexpress.fr
Next we went to Ding Dang, just across the peripherique in the cours Gambetta.
Deceptively small from outside, this has rooms of oriental treats – from soups, sauces and noodles, to crackers, sweets and cookies.
Big chiller section with fresh oriental herbs and vegetables and what looked like large bamboo sticks…but I’m only a learner with all this. Thank you to Fiona for walking me through this Aladdin’s cave, and giving me lots of tips!
Ding Dang is at 6 rue Gambetta.
Open Mon-Sat 10-20:00; Sun 10-14:00hrs.
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Mana Espresso for a Fresh, Light Lunch
Good for: friendly welcome and avocados on sourdough!
This café had only been open 9 weeks when I first visited in August 2016 so it was good to revisit it and see how things were going. Young British owners Alex and Ben report lots of activity and it was certainly busy yesterday, maybe a result of being rated 2nd best place in Aix for tea and coffee on Tripadvisor, putting les Deux Garcons, at 8th position, firmly in its place.
Why Visit?
I think it’s ideal for hot drinks in the morning as, unusually for Aix, it has locally-made carrot cake, brownies, banana bread and so on, all the things we Brits enjoy. Then the lunches are deliciously fresh. Soup today was broccoli with cashew nuts, served with salad. And there were tartines with avocado and cream cheese (illustrated) or others with cheddar!
The lunchtime formule is soup with salad, carrot cake and a hot drink for 10 euros. A bargain.
It is however a tiny restaurant…so prepare to wait for a table.
Open Tues-Fri 8-18, Sat 9-18, Sun 10-17:00. 12 rue des Bernadines, Aix.
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Le Petit Bistrot – Restaurant et Bar à Vin
Good for: fruit and veg market views and people watching!
It was a surprise when ‘Happy Days’, the café in the corner of Place Richelme was demolished before Christmas; it always seemed busy. But now Le Petit Bistrot is in its place and it is a delightful place to have a petit dej’, coffee or hot chocolate. Wide choice of wines, beers and cocktails too.
This was the view on rainy Thursday with people scurrying round the fruit and vegetable market under their umbrellas. We really felt like we were sitting in a film set!
Lunch brings a choice of classic French dishes: this weekend, the plat du jour was Onglet de boeuf, sauce au cepes, 12€, suggestion du jour Souris d’agneau, 19€, or plat du jour + café gourmande, 17€.
In fact there is also an established ‘Le Petit Bistrot’ in the place Augustins, and another, fairly recent, at the top left of the cours Mirabeau; they are locally owned and share branding and menus.
This one in the market place though has a wonderful outlook and is great for people-watching.
We have been there several times for breakfast though and they do seem to have a habit of running out of croissants and/or baguettes. Fortunately there is a bakery right next door and they are very happy for you to buy something there and eat it with your coffee.
The address is 1 rue Méjean, referring to the road running up the side of the café. 09 51 75 10 76. Facebook: lepetitbistrotaix. Open non-stop, 7:00 – 2:00hrs. Cuisine 11:30 – 23:30hrs.
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Le Jardin d’Amalula
Good for: Shady garden, off the tourist trail; healthy light lunches
This restaurant is currently riding high on Tripadvisor despite the fact that it only recently opened. That is quite an achievement and so I had to investigate. But I had an added incentive when I realised that it was in the former premises of ‘Thé a Theme’ which was a very popular lunch-spot and much missed when it closed. 
It’s a special little resto in that it is hidden from view, tucked away down a quiet passage and a lovely surprise when you discover the ancient dining room and shady leafy garden. The new proprietors have smartened it all up but its essential charm remains.
They offer a range of tartines which come with salad and jacket potatoes, tarte of the day, and salads, all 11-15€. After that you can choose from a range of desserts – lemon meringue, tiramisu, chocolat moelleux – or have a café gourmand which is a little espresso with various tiny desserts on the plate.
I had an excellent tartine of Brie, honey and hazelnuts, a great combination and here is M. Aixcentric’s Tartine Italienne. They were presented beautifully – I was impressed by the lettuce leaves bundled together with a cucumber strip to make a little tree on the plate!
There is no Amalula by the way. It’s an amalgamation of the friendly hostess’s 3 daughters: Amandine, Lucille and Laurine who is in the kitchen.
It’s open 8:30 (for breakfasts) – 18:30; Mon-Sat. At 7 Rue Mignet, Aix. Details: http://www.amalula.fr/ or check out Tripadvisor.
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Drole d’Endroit
Good for: funky décor, very original. Excellent food
Lunch today at a restaurant where I just wanted to run away with all the lamps! They are all different, really unusual and perfect for the arty/funky ambiance at Drole d’Endroit. The big wooden beams across the ceiling seem to marry well with the modern steel girders,and the room is decorated with large black and white photos, flowers and pops of colour in the form of pretty vases on the tables.
The restaurant is truly ‘tucked away’ – it’s in a tiny alleyway off rue Bédarrides but it is obviously well-liked as it fills up quickly at lunchtime and reservations are needed for evening dining. There is the obligatory blackboard with chalked suggestions for entrées, plats and desserts. Main 
courses are 13,2o€ – my vegetarian plate of stuffed tomato, tasty lentil salad, cream of courgette soup and red peppers marinated in olive oil was excellent and filling. Lots of choice of fish and meat dishes. Puds included tiramisu, panna cotta and cheesecake, all 6€.
Outside tables available; service quick; very friendly people. Apparently their weekly music evenings (unobtrusive jazz, or rock or blues) are great fun. Check out the website on: http://www.droledesite.fr/
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Crepes, Cidre & Compagnie
Good for: pancakes obvs! Cosy cellar for cold days
The title of this tiny resto perfectly sums up its offer.
Breton Delphine has two hot-plates from which she produces a never-ending stream of savoury galettes and sweet crepes.
It’s a very relaxed and friendly place to have lunch but I would recommend reserving a table as it is so small – two tables by the counter and another four in the cosy basement.
I tried the galette forestiere, a whole-flour pancake with wild mushrooms, goats cheese and cream. It was delicious but incredibly filling – so I will have to assume the crepes for dessert are equally good.
Crepes Cidre & Compagnie is open Tuesday to Saturday 10-18:30. 23 rue de La Cepede. Phone 09 50 40 76 44 to reserve a table.
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Le Garde Manger
Good for: a light lunch or snack in 
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 Sextius. 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.
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Le Bidule
Good for: Open air dining. Family-friendly menus
According to the dictionary, a bidule is a what’s-it or a thingummy or a whatjacallit, which is an odd name for a Provencal brasserie. It’s situated right down at the bottom of the place des Cardeurs and we tried it for lunch last week.
And a reasonable lunch we had. The salad was an average salad, la belle-fille Aixcentric was happy with her burger and (home-made) frites, and le petit-fils Aixcentric enjoyed his child’s special of steak haché and frites. The menu was basically salads and burgers with some specials, plus the usual desserts. It doesn’t really distinguish itself from other places – no USP in marketing terms – and maybe that’s why it’s called itself after a what’s-it?
We thought its plus was a very young, happy atmosphere. The place was full by 12.30 and we liked the bright waxed cloths on the tables (all the better to spill
your water on if you are a three-year-old) and the bunting and strings of lights. It must look pretty at night. I would say ideal for a young family or teenagers.
Le Bidule, 1 place des Cardeurs. Open 7/7, 9:00-02:00hrs.
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La Familia
Good for: Italian favourites. Warm for winter dining
We happened upon La Familia by chance just before Christmas and were struck by the warmth of the welcome and the welcome warmth from the feu de bois oven as we went into the restaurant. That’s what you need on a chilly damp November day! 
The menu is on a blackboard and has a wide range of pizzas (they looked good), fresh pastas and salads. We opted for the tatin des legumes which was delicious and at 10€, good value.
I think this is what the French call ‘une tres bonne addresse’ because shortly after midday, the restaurant was pretty full.
You can find it at 20 rue Boulegon (04 42 23 51 58). It’s open daily, lunch time and evening, except Sundays and Monday lunchtimes.
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Chez Jo
Good for: Italian and French favourites; Warm for winter dining
Just a quick call- out for Chez Jo, an institution in Aix. We popped in there for lunch last
week on a bright sunny day but the mistral was blowing its chilly passage through the streets of centre ville. Not a day for lunching on the terrace.
Inside this restaurant is a big wood-fired pizza oven, very attractive all of a sudden!
The menu includes all the usual pizzas and Provencal-Italian pasta dishes. Check out the menu here: http://www.pizzeriachezjo.com/
The pizza I had was excellent and my dining companions enjoyed the plat du jour which, through mouthfuls, they said was daurade stuffed with courgette mousse in a crème fraiche, mushroom and tomato sauce. No-one had space for dessert but there are all the usual suspects at a French resto – profiteroles, crème brulées, tartes.
The restaurant was started by Jo over thirty years ago and is now run by his son Alexandre. 
Good to see continuity when so many places in town seem to come and go.
Deservedly, this place is popular. We got there at 12 on the dot and by 12.15, tables were full and people were queuing.
Chez Jo is in the place des Augustins, at the bottom of rue Espariat.
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La Table Marocaine
Good for: North African Specialities. Very warming
Here’s a warm recommendation for cold days. I’ve been wanting to try La Table Marocaine for a while now and this week enjoyed a good lunch with a fellow blogger. Have a look at www.sociologicalobserver.com for Anne’s comments on life in Aix. 
They have a website www.latablemarocaine.com which gives their menus. The tagines and couscous we tried were excellent and we followed with patisseries orientales and thé a la menthe. I would suggest getting there soon after 12 though as it is a small resto and filled up really quickly. Always a good sign!
Details: La Table Marocaine at 10 rue Constantin. 04 42 96 05 54, open everyday lunch-times and evenings.
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Le Brunch
Good for: Quiches and salads. Tiny.
The display in the window (above) was starting to get depleted even though it was before mid-day. Stocks do get replenished. There are quiches for meat-eaters and vegetarians, at 2.20€ and large salads – I’d advise one between two sharing. The puddings look great but we didn’t get that far.
I puzzled as to why this place is called Brunch when it doesn’t serve brunch, but I now learn that the family are called Brun. Hmmmm….
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Marasino
Good for: Italian menu; light lunches. Stylish. Small terrace
It’s hard judging a restaurant from the outside. Some look tiny and are tiny….others are deceptive. And the new ‘Marasino’ is one such.
The small terrace, next to the Hotel St Christophe near the Rotonde, gives no clue as to the large number of seats inside.
It’s a cross between an Italian restaurant and a deli, and has been decorated very stylishly indeed.
There are nooks for having an apero (see above) or for playing the piano, or for choosing some Italian delicacies or wines to take home. The menu offers panini, tramezzini, focaccia, plates of charcuterie, cassolettes, salads and pastas as well as desserts. It’s downloadable at http://www.marasino.fr.
We had a snack there after a French class and all opted for panini, so didn’t really put the options to the test. But the service was friendly and I did like the very Italian vibe.
Details: 2 bis Ave Victor Hugo. Tuesday-Saturday 9-22:00. Reservations on 04 4 200 200.
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Bagelstein
Good for: Snacks. Eat in or tables in square by fountain
Bagelstein, another popular place for a snack is a different proposition in that it is a franchise operation with outlets all over France. It has jokey posters and 
sayings and ‘infidelity’ cards around the place, just as though it is run by a quirky person, but of course it is all part of its corporate offer.
As you would expect they offer lots of different types of bagels and lots of different fillings. You go along a counter with plastic-gloved personnel customising your lunch. Their menus are on the chalk-board or you can see beforehand on http://www.bagelstein.com. Mine was very tasty and good value for money.
Like Maison Nosh, the clientele are young, studenty and spill out around the nearby fountain. I visited the branch at 11 rue Isolette, near place des Tanneurs. Open 10-22 Mon-Sat, 10:30-17, Sunday.
I think both are fine options when you just want to sit down, have a rest and a hearty snack to see you through the afternoon.
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Columbus Café – a place with a surprise!
Good for: Snacks. Unique interior architecture
In search of a lunchtime snack today, I happened across Columbus Café which I hadn’t seen before. It has a good array of fresh salads, filled baguettes, and toasted paninis and bagels, plus muffins which they say are made on the premises.
It was a perfectly good lunch but what was interesting is what I found inside. At first glance, it seems to be a very small café with limited seating, relying more on take-aways; but it stretches back and upstairs, into what was the 14th century chapel of the Augustine Convent!
What a surprise. It’s been very tastefully converted to provide spacious eating areas and I would recommend a visit, if you want a snack in town.
At first I thought this café was a one-off, but a google search revealed that it is part of a franchise-chain with Columbus Cafés across France and also the 
Middle East. The Aix one can be found at 7 rue de la Masse, just off the cours Mirabeau (and there is also one at 3 rue Emeric David).
There can’t be many eateries with a 635 year old angel watching over the diners!
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La Fromagerie
Good for: You guessed – Cheese! Stylish. Roof-top terrace
La Fromagerie in the passage Agard which opened a couple of months ago is nothing if not stylish. I called in there recently and was dazzled by decor and the variety of cheeses on offer but I had one choice in mind: Cheddar. I know I shouldn’t be buying English cheese in France but it really is the only possible ingredient for Cauliflower Cheese in the Aixcentric household. 
Now, 0.27kg of cheddar for 8.70€ did strike me as being rather excessive but it was strong and very tasty in my dish. And I was interested to find out what lunch there is like.
Diners can choose from a small dining room on the 1st floor or climb further up to the roof-top terrace which has parasols and heaters, both required in this exposed spot among the roof-tops of Aix.
The lunch menu has a fairly good choice. My companions opted for Tataki de Thon, fromage blanc au Thé Matcha (19€) and Hamburger de Boeuf a la Fumainson de Brebis (17€) and I got the one vegetarian option which was Penne Rigate au Gorgonzola Cremificato with Poire rôti aux noix (15€).
Clearly the theme is cheese in everything!
But mine was delicious, especially the roasted pear in the middle which I am going to try and recreate chez moi.
The desserts were all cheese-based too – we shared a cheese-cake with sorbet pêche – which was OK but a little claggy.
Verdict? Delicious main courses all round, very cool atmosphere (great for taking visitors), slow service (not always a bad thing), reasonable prices……….but next time I’ll get my Cheddar in Carrefour.
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La Cerise sur le Gateau
Good for: Vegetarians. Tiny – Some tables outside.
This is Aix’s only bio, vegetarian restaurant. Owner Stéphanie explained to us that there is another vegetarian restaurant and several bio restos – but hers is the only one that is both.
Opened just last year, it’s a charming little place, tucked away in place Ramus in centre ville. 
We were a bit unsure what to choose and Stephanie proposed her plat dégustation which brought us:
- Quiche with leeks and butternut squash
- Gratin of potatoes, red cabbage and parsnips (yay!)
- Courgette stuffed with vegetables and tofu
- Wheat cooked with blettes, tomatoes, feta and tofu
- Salad of radis noir, red cabbage, cucumber topped with germinated seeds.
Her menu says it all: ‘Pas de micro-onde ici – juste 2 petits bras qui s’agitent avec bonne volunté’. And it is literally two arms most of the year as Stéphanie only brings in a waiter during the summer months.
We liked the ambiance – mis-matched chairs, pretty waxed table cloths, wall-lights and lots of tea-pots. Best of all was the friendly atmosphere. Plats start at 12,30€, the plat degustation was 17€ with desserts – mainly home-made cookies and muffins – for a few additional euros.
La Cerise sur la Gâteau is closed Sundays and Wednesdays. Open for lunches from 12-16:00hrs. Tel: 04 42 27 46 46.
It is a tiny place and people were waiting patiently for our table today. Best go early.
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Orienthé
Good for: Exotic escapism on a cold day
For a cosy eastern experience, why not head to Orienthé in centre ville? We dived in there one day, out of a cold late afternoon wind, and loved the warm ambiance they provide. You leave your shoes at the door and find a nice heap of cushions to sink into. The small room is illuminated by lanterns and decorated with all sorts of glittering wall-hangings. Seduced by the waft of incense and soothed by flowery-citrussy teas from silver pots, the hassles of everyday life seem far away. Well, until you have to get up off the floor which is an increasing challenge !
This is such an unusual hideaway and one of my favourite treats in Aix.
5 rue Felibre Gaut, Aix (off rue des Cordeliers). Open everyday 13:00-01:00hrs.
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Basilic & Citronelle
Good for: Light lunches. Inside only
Here is a pleasant place for a light lunch in Aix, just a few paces from the cours Mirabeau. A group of us tried ‘Basilic & Citronnelle’ which is a small restaurant at 5 rue de l’Opéra. They offer a plat du jour, various quiches and also an assiette végétarienne They have home-made pâtisseries for afters and with coffee, the bill came to just under 20€ each.
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It’s open every day except Sunday, lunchtimes only. 04 42 27 58 77.
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Pizza Capri
Good for: Best pizza in town according to my French neighbours. Take-away only.
There’s always a queue at Pizza Capri and that’s not surprising since they serve up slices of gooey, cheesy Italian heaven. Pizza Capri is just off the cours Mirabeau, alongside the remains of Les Deux Garcons. When the famous brasserie went up in flames in November 2019, the tiny counter alongside was also burnt out; but they kept serving from a nearby chalet in the Christmas market, and soon regained their original pitch. At 1 rue Fabrot, plus Pizza Capri Rotonde is at 48 rue Espariat.
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Hotel Caumont
Good for: Elegant cuisine. Fabulous 18th century terrace and dining rooms
We locals have been watching the ongoing work on the 300 year old mansion, the Hotel Caumont, for two years now as workmen repaired the roof, stonemasons worked on the ancient façade, and lorries drove in and out of what would be the garden area.
Twenty million euros later, all has been revealed and what an elegant renovation it is.
The ground floor is taken up with a large shop and a café and restaurant spilling out into the garden. Upstairs, there are two floors with galleries, with two major expos a year that have queues out to the street.
You can eat or have a coffee without paying to see the exhibitions. You have to go to the ticket desk at the entrance and buy a Café Pass which lasts for a year.
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- Take tea in a corner of the beautiful cafe
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- Hard to believe this was an empty building site until recently
The food is very French, very elegantly served: salads all week, quiches and plats du jours on weekdays, brunch at the weekend. The ingredients were top quality
Barbier de Seville salad; artistically served
and carefully presented rather than being filling. About 16-18€. The desserts are patisseries served from a counter inside – what a choice! They obviously have a very good patisserie chef.
They offer a child’s menu for 9€ which is good but it does seem a rather formal setting for little ones – for instance, polite notices tell you to keep off the grass.
The lower garden is stunning with a typically Provencal fountain against the far wall, lines of perfectly tailored trees and huge pots of white flowers. I’m not normally into formal French gardens, my English soul preferring our blossoming billowing herbaceous borders, but the Hotel Caumont garden is simply lovely.
You can read here http://www.caumont-centredart.com/fr/decouvrir/restauration-lhotel-caumont/restauration-jardins how they found landscape architect Robert de Cotte’s original plans in the archives and how they adapted them.
Open daily. Details – http://www.caumont-centredart.com/fr/preparer-sa-visite
What a wonderful experience and a big plus for Aix.
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Chez Le Garde
Good for: Lunch in the Countryside
Here’s a recommendation for lunch which will take you right off the beaten track and far away from tourist groups.
Don’t read on if you are looking for fine dining and sophistication. Chez-le-Garde won’t offer you that. But for me, it was a truly Provencal experience: we were surrounded by French families, welcomed by friendly staff and a warm fire plus there was a superb view of the Sainte-Victoire. A winning combination.
Until 1953, the building was home to the local gard-chasse, the gamekeeper, who got a reputation for his patés and game. Slowly it became a restaurant and with its success, bits were added – conservatory, lean-to extensions, a terrace. A delightful muddle with absolutely no pretensions to style.
We had lunch one Sunday at the end of January and felt so happy to be in such an environment. Pizzas figure largely on the menu – I had the Pizza du Garde which is their speciality (Sauce tomate, emmental, mesclun, chèvre, camembert, bleu, tomates séchées, olives) and it was delicious.
But there are other dishes to try from the blackboard (gnocchi au gorgonzola, entrecote marseillaise, etc) and a good range of desserts. The table wine, both red and white, was excellent – it came from the vineyard Fredavelle at Eguilles.
What with the roaring fire and the pizza oven, it was a very cosy experience; but we plan to go back in warmer weather to enjoy the terrace and its views of the Sainte-Victoire – and to take advantage of the boulodrome.
Open in winter Wed-Sun, lunch and evening. Reservations necessary.
Address: 342 RD10, 13126 Vauvenargues.
Website: http://www.chez-le-garde.fr/
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aixcentric 
Pizza Capri has the right idea and so do the neighbouring restaurants! I did a stint working as a waitress in a Greek restaurant and to make the place look busy the chef & waitresses sat with drinks at the tables in the early evening!
I hadn’t really thought of that – clever!!
Not sure how Aix or Marseille fare, but the stars are out and I don’t mean the Oscars, thought you might be interested.
Micheline Guide Announces Stars for 2013
Excellent info ….thanks very much!
The Brun family own Le Brun’ch!
Aha! That now makes sense …thanks!
I am a vegetarian living in Aix and really appreciate all the restaurant recommendations!
you must go to Eguilles salon de the for lunch. A lovely spot with a fantastic lunch and a small space for exhibitions in the back. Very charming and excellent food.
Acros from lovely cremerie just reopened.
What a good idea. I will investigate, hopefully before I head off back to Angleterre!
What a nice rundown of the local spots! Thanks so much for this.
I’m a fan of le Bidule, we’ve had lunch there a few times. The best thing in my opinion is the fish and chips; superb! Really great quality fish, the batter was perfect and the chips are home made as you mentioned. I love the kitsch decor and cool vibe. Unfortunately fish and chips is off limits for me at the moment as I have a few kilos to lose but last time I ate there I had a salad – it was pretty good too, better than average in Aix. Thanks for all these reviews.
Thank you – coming to Aix in June from Australia – this is a terrif guide to finding nice places to eat.
That’s a lovely time to be in Aix. All the restos mentioned have been personally tested (!) and I hope you enjoy them. I’m vegetarian so tend to go for more casual places……but there are heaps of places to try if you want to go to somewhere more formal. Have fun!