The 10 Best Bars And Cafs In Clermont-Ferrand France

The 30,000 students from Clermont-Ferrand’s two universities contribute to the city’s busy nightlife, but there are plenty of places away from the student scene in which to enjoy a quick bite and a cup of coffee (or something a tad stronger). For those who need to take the weight off their feet after exploring the city’s attractions, here are the 10 best bars and cafés to visit in this corner of France.

1. Café Pascal

Bar, Brasserie, Cafe, Pub, Pub Grub, French, Beer, Coffee

This popular venue offers a different experience depending on when you visit, being a breakfast café in the morning, a brasserie at lunchtime, and a bar in the evening. Come in the day and you can sample seasonal dishes like the regional specialty aligot saucisse du cantal ( mashed potatoes and cheese with sausage and added garlic, crème fraîche, milk, and butter). Later on, the care that Le Café Pascal take with their beer by placing their kegs in cold storage and refrigerating their taps will be evident when sipping on brews from Belgium, England, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, Austria, the U.S., and of course France.

2. Le Comptoir Viking Pub

Pub, Pub Grub, Italian, Fast Food

Horned helmets and rock ‘n’ roll abound here in the heart of the city, at a pub with a small but impressive stage that plays host to regular rock and metal gigs. The pub keep their viking clientele well-watered, supplying beers, cocktails, spirits, and hippocras, a heated drink consisting of wine mixed with sugar and spices. Whether out on their terrace or inside the wooden walls of this modern mead hall, Le Comptoir Viking Pub is the best place to rock out in Clermont-Ferrand.

3. The Still Irish Bar

Bar, Pub, Irish, Pub Grub

An authentic Gaelic welcome (and the ubiquitous pint of Guinness) awaits you at The Still, a traditional Irish bar right down to the decor, music, food, and warm atmosphere. French, Irish, English, and Belgian beers are served, as are ciders. There’s a dartboard downstairs and a pool table upstairs, and the two floors are necessary as it tends to get busy here. It is conveniently positioned close to the Ballainvilliers train station and the Lagarlaye tramway, transport links that are often utilized by fans coming to watch the televised matches of the local rugby team, ASM Clermont Auvergne.

4. Cave Des Beaux-Arts

Bar, Wine Bar, Wine Seller, French, Wine

This wine cave operates a bar that serves its customers either out on the terrace or downstairs in the cellar. Their extensive selection is available either by the glass or accompanied by boards of cheese, meats, rillettes (meat that is diced, seasoned, cooked in fat, then ground into a paste) and tapenades (puréed olives, capers, anchovies, and olive oil). Wine tasting nights are hosted, but of particular note are the cabaret evenings, which include a meal, music, and dancing.

5. Le Sisisi

Bar, Bistro, Restaurant, Wine Bar, French, European

Located in a charming little side street, Le Sisisi is both wine bar and bistro. Customers can enjoy a glass before their meal or while waiting for service to start. A good range of wines are available from across France, from such esteemed regions as Burgundy, Bordeaux, Côtes du Rhône, and Provence. Diners can choose to sit out on the street terrace or within the well-designed interior. The proprietors have collaborated with local artists to display their work on the bistro’s walls.

6. Los Dos Hermanos

Bar, Tapas, Mediterranean, Spanish, Vegetarian

Good food, good drink, and cheerful, efficient service all contribute to this tapas bar’s festive atmosphere. The vibrant oranges and reds of the walls lend it an appropriately Spanish feel, but of greater importance are the delectable sangria and tapas. Favorites like patatas bravas, pan con tomate, cod fritters, calamari, Serrano ham, and various types of marinated chicken are on the menu. As you might expect from a bar with two bulls raising a toast over a keg on their logo, beer enthusiasts will also be catered for, being able to sample a range of German brews.

7. L'Appart

Bar, Beer, French

‘The Apartment’ has been a favorite nightspot of Clermont-Ferrand’s students since its opening in 1997, appealing to those who want to let their hair down and have a drink and a dance at a bar without having to go clubbing. Its name is a clue to its quirky interior, which is decorated to resemble a rather flamboyant home. Rooms include the bathroom, living room, and kitchen. Cocktails are served by the glass or the pitcher, and it is one of the city’s few bars to remain open past 3am.

8. Café-Lecture Les Augustes

Café-Lecture Les Augustes

A unique venture in Clermont-Ferrand, the Café-Lecture les Augustes is a non-profit managed by an association that pushes for the advancement of social causes, like the eradication of inequality and illiteracy, while providing organic, locally sourced produce for its customers. Beer, wine, tea, fruit, and pastries can be purchased to enjoy alongside a book, newspaper, or magazine. A passion for language and the written and spoken word are the driving forces of this establishment, and ideas are exchanged in the frequent writing workshops, concerts, readings, debates, and author meet-and-greets that are organized.
Address & telephone number: 5 Rue sous les Augustins, Clermont-Ferrand, France, +33 4 73 37 07 94

Délirium Tremens | © Jen Gallardo/Flickr

9. Délirium Café

Délirium Café

An offshoot of the Huyghes Brewery in East Flanders, Belgium, the Délirium Café specializes in craft beer, offering 20 on draught and over 250 in bottles. In stock are blonde, brown, amber, and fruity varieties, including Mongozo, which comes flavored with coconut, banana, or mango, and their own range of high alcohol content Délirium ales. Whatever you choose from the mouth-watering options here, be sure to accompany your selection with one of the café’s generously portioned plates of cold cuts and cheeses.
Address & telephone number: 20 Rue de la Tour D’Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France, +33 9 54 66 54 47

10. Cafés Thomas Cafés Sympas

Cafés Thomas Cafés Sympas

Coffees, teas, pastries, syrups, jams, cakes, chocolate, olive oil, vinegar, caramel, nougat, and terrine, this café deals in them all. The flavors and aromas of this family-run business are something to behold, but despite the range of goods, tea is the main attraction here. All manner of boxes and bags of the stuff, white, black, green, red, smoked, are on sale, as are herbal infusions and cast iron or porcelain teapots. Their delightful little tasting tables are just waiting for the next caffeine connoisseur to wander in.
Address & telephone number: 7 Rue Ballainvilliers, Clermont-Ferrand, France, +33 4 73 91 42 81

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