Eat out
Locals love: Café Joseph known to locals as Café Jo. It’s good for lunch and even better for dinner when lights twinkle overhead, buskers perform in the animated square and the air is filled with the sound of happy chatter.
La Place: In a tiny square hidden in the backstreets of Montpellier, Place Saint-Ravy is a magnet for locals in the know. Once, the Palace of the Kings of Majorca who, many hundreds of years ago were also Lords of Montpellier, stood here but now the medieval buildings have been converted to restaurants including La Place. Tables are placed around a tinkling fountain while upstairs the cool stone vaulted ceilings provide an intimate dining area.
In this lively city, there’s no shortage of bars to choose from. If you’re looking for a bar with a relaxed vibe and great wine list, L’Atelier Bar a Vin in the Place de la
Canourgue is hard to beat. Locals love it but visitors rarely find this romantic square, the oldest in Montpellier, from where you have a wonderful view over the St Pierre Cathedral.
Any visit to Montpellier must include the Place de la Comédie, the beating heart of the city nicknamed L’Oeuf (the egg) thanks to its oval shape. Here you’ll find Café Riche, an institution as much for locals as for tourists, and for people watching – it’s perfect.
Stay at: Hotel Oceania Le Metropole opened in 1858 and a truly luxurious retreat. Its exotic garden with palm tree lined swimming pool and jacuzzi is perfect for unwinding after a day of sightseeing. It’s just a couple of minutes from the Place de la Comédie and Montpellier train station.
Montpellier tourist office; UKFrancefr