Melissa's Guidebook
Practical near house
Easily accessible Walk across park (please note park closing times) otherwise you have to walk around the park)
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Géant Casino
210 Av. de BredasqueEasily accessible Walk across park (please note park closing times) otherwise you have to walk around the park)
Goût de Pain Aix Jas de Bouffan
105 Avenue de BredasqueFavorite bakery
Food scene
Value for money. About €42 for 4 course menu. Please make reservations, small restaurant they fill up quickly
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Grenache
2 Pl. Joachim GasquetValue for money. About €42 for 4 course menu. Please make reservations, small restaurant they fill up quickly
€25 for lunch menu. Nice outdoor seating. Fresh ingredients. Recommend you go on market days in Aix. So you walk the market then have a lovely lunch around the corner from Market.
O'Gustus - Restaurant Aix-en-Provence
7 Rue des Bouteilles€25 for lunch menu. Nice outdoor seating. Fresh ingredients. Recommend you go on market days in Aix. So you walk the market then have a lovely lunch around the corner from Market.
Lovely outdoor seating. You can go through the very small museum (about €6 entrance) then have lunch there they have sculptures outside. Food is good, slightly pricey, more for the experience.
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Gallifet Art Center - Aix en Provence
52 Rue CardinaleLovely outdoor seating. You can go through the very small museum (about €6 entrance) then have lunch there they have sculptures outside. Food is good, slightly pricey, more for the experience.
Ok. So it may seem wrong to eat Italian in France 🙄. But this location is a good place to ‘hang’ and for lunch. Lots of locals eat here. And it’s relatively inexpensive.
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La Pizza
3 Rue AudeOk. So it may seem wrong to eat Italian in France 🙄. But this location is a good place to ‘hang’ and for lunch. Lots of locals eat here. And it’s relatively inexpensive.
A nice day trip, hike on Sainte Victoire and then go to this restaurant for lunch. Fresh, pricy for what you get, but it’s more for the peaceful location.
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Maison Sainte-Victoire
A nice day trip, hike on Sainte Victoire and then go to this restaurant for lunch. Fresh, pricy for what you get, but it’s more for the peaceful location.
Michilin star. sat outside, gorgeous terrace.
The food is more a feast for the eyes then the taste (to be honest). For 2 people, dinner 13-course menu with the wine arrangement (I drove so wine for 1 person) is about EUR 300.
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Hôtel Auberge La Fenière
1680 Rte de LourmarinMichilin star. sat outside, gorgeous terrace.
The food is more a feast for the eyes then the taste (to be honest). For 2 people, dinner 13-course menu with the wine arrangement (I drove so wine for 1 person) is about EUR 300.
Drinks and Ice Cream in Aix
Sit outside at night the view is palais de Justice. The food is expensive (for what it is) standard and for tourists.
La Mado
4 Place des PrêcheursSit outside at night the view is palais de Justice. The food is expensive (for what it is) standard and for tourists.
L'Atelier
2 Place Jeanne d'ArcRight in front of fountain. Nice for coffee (it’s next to Nespresso store)
Giovanni
47 Cr MirabeauOutdoor seating. Nice thing to do with family.
The one next to Hôtel de Ville. Normally take my guests to get ice cream and sit by the fountain
AMORINO Aix
1 Rue des CordeliersThe one next to Hôtel de Ville. Normally take my guests to get ice cream and sit by the fountain
Winery
3 restaurants. The terrace you cannot reserve. But is the least expensive. Really cool modern set up. Known as the place the rich and famous go (e.g. by helicopter)
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Château La Coste
3 restaurants. The terrace you cannot reserve. But is the least expensive. Really cool modern set up. Known as the place the rich and famous go (e.g. by helicopter)
Michelin restaurant. Recommend to go for lunch. Modern sculptures around the garden. You can go and walk around the garden without having to go to the restaurants.
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Chateau de La Gaude
3959 Rte des PinchinatsMichelin restaurant. Recommend to go for lunch. Modern sculptures around the garden. You can go and walk around the garden without having to go to the restaurants.
Literally 6 minutes down the street. Small and the guy speaks English. It’s a nice stop.
Domaine Pey Blanc
1200 Chem. du Vallon des MourguesLiterally 6 minutes down the street. Small and the guy speaks English. It’s a nice stop.
Wines have 4.1 Rating on Vivino. Gorgeous small winery. No reservations needed for tasting. As a stop on visit to Cassis
Domaine du Bagnol
12 Av. de ProvenceWines have 4.1 Rating on Vivino. Gorgeous small winery. No reservations needed for tasting. As a stop on visit to Cassis
Sightseeing
It’s like St. Tropez but less’bougée. If you are trying to see the Calanques and it’s closed due to fire hazard. I recommend driving to Cassis. Visit a winery and walk around the town. You can even walk along the cliffs near the harbor.
NOTE in high season, parking is hard, be prepared to walk to the water.
There are more wineries in the area but I only visited Bangol. And call ahead as most wineries need reservations.
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Cassis
It’s like St. Tropez but less’bougée. If you are trying to see the Calanques and it’s closed due to fire hazard. I recommend driving to Cassis. Visit a winery and walk around the town. You can even walk along the cliffs near the harbor.
NOTE in high season, parking is hard, be prepared to walk to the water.
There are more wineries in the area but I only visited Bangol. And call ahead as most wineries need reservations.
Note: 1.5 hours each way.
This town is like Disney. Perfect cobblestone small streets, a beautiful small creek goes down the center. There is a short hike to the church on the side of the mountain. It’s a very steep hike. Then we went kayaking. This trip would take all day and is very beautiful. During lavender season, the drive take you though some of the most beautiful fields imaginable.
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Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Note: 1.5 hours each way.
This town is like Disney. Perfect cobblestone small streets, a beautiful small creek goes down the center. There is a short hike to the church on the side of the mountain. It’s a very steep hike. Then we went kayaking. This trip would take all day and is very beautiful. During lavender season, the drive take you though some of the most beautiful fields imaginable.
cute castle, cobblestone center (3 streets).
recommend a day to visit the castle (outside is also ok, you don't necessarily have to go inside). Then lunch/dinner in town,
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Lourmarin
cute castle, cobblestone center (3 streets).
recommend a day to visit the castle (outside is also ok, you don't necessarily have to go inside). Then lunch/dinner in town,
For boating, can be any boat company in Cassis. Recommend to take a boat from Cassis and they can take you to the calanques. I have not used this company myself.
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JCF Boat Services
1 Quai des MoulinsFor boating, can be any boat company in Cassis. Recommend to take a boat from Cassis and they can take you to the calanques. I have not used this company myself.
In Park
820 Rue André AmpèreHave not tried myself but Élodie recommends the place 😊
Karting Manosque
Route de la DuranceHave not tried but I drive by on way to see lavender fields. Looks very nice.
Fantastic hike in the Calanques de Sugiton. You have to reserve by 9:00 AM, three 3 days before the hike.
go to their website: reservation-sugiton
Calanques
Fantastic hike in the Calanques de Sugiton. You have to reserve by 9:00 AM, three 3 days before the hike.
go to their website: reservation-sugiton
Incredible Hike! You will need to reserve three (3) days in advance by 9:00 on their website ! Max 5 spots per reservation.
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Calanque du Sugiton
Incredible Hike! You will need to reserve three (3) days in advance by 9:00 on their website ! Max 5 spots per reservation.
Pariri dwar il-belt
Qabel ma titlaq
Restaurant reservation
For most restaurants, the tables are one reservation per table. So you really need to book ahead.
Mhux ta' min jitlifha
Kayaking at Lac d’Esparon
We loved kayaking down the gorges. Call ahead to reserve the kayak. But it’s really calm water and so beautiful.
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Hiking Calanques
Go to All Trails for options. The hike we usually take is the Calangie suction. Please check website if it is open. If there is a risk of fires, they close for hiking. http://www.calanques-parcnational.fr/fr/acces-calanques-risque-incendie
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Lavender fields Valensole
NOTE: they generally harvest around 14 July.
Check if they have harvested, if not worth the drive. https://www.lelongweekend.com/best-lavender-fields-of-provence-france/