Eating out in Carcassonne
Carcassonne is notably famous for the historic Cité and should you be feeling hungry there are a variety of restaurants in what resembles a food court within and just outside the fortified walls.
Le Flagrant des Lices
3 place Marcou La cite
An excellent restaurant with delicious food. There are 4 menus (13.90, 16.90, 24 and 32 euros). The midday set menu is great value for money at 13.90 euros.
Brasserie Café Lucien
17 Rue du Grand Puits
Opens at 10.00am everyday for breakfast The outside area with a large shaded garden has a good view of the Cite ramparts and the Narbonnaise tower.
The bar is open throughout the day and the menu prices start at 13.90 euros. In the heat of summer, you will appreciate the 70-seat air-conditioned upstairs room.
However, if you take a 20-minute walk down the hill and to the Aude, there are a few other eating places that are worth checking out.
Brasserie Le Dome – Chez Felix
35 Rue des trois Couronnes
Situated in an old brewery, this restaurant has a regular clientele. The menus range from 14.50 – 20 euros. The speciality is the homemade cassoulet freshly baked. Open for breakfast on Sunday at 7.00am, lunch on Monday and Tuesday at midday and Wednesday to Saturday for both lunch and dinner.
Brasserie a 4 Temps
2 Boulevard Barbès
Run by Frank Putelat, an award-winning chef, who also has Hotel Le Parc, this is great food at reasonable prices. The brasserie’s concept (4 times) is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Also, the 4 seasons with menu changing appropriately. The set 3 course menu is 18€, opening times 7am to 11pm.
Moving down towards Place Carnot, drop by Prosper Montagné market halls, Tuesday to Saturday.
One of my favourite stalls is the Portuguese food stall, Maison Ferreira. Here you can buy Portuguese wine, sardines and charcuterie. You can also have a beer or a glass of wine with your tapas.
Out of the market and into Rue du Dr Albert Tomey, you will find Café Saillan. Lunches are served until 3pm but on Saturday (market day) there is more of a party atmosphere with seafood and drinks served in the street.
Next stop is Chez Felix in the market square (11 Place Carnot). A busy restaurant, especially on market day. Fast service and large portions with a good range of Grimbergen beer. An outdoor terrace to watch the world go by, especially on market day.
Perhaps a snack is enough, so on the other side of the square is Briocherie Arpin (2 Place Carnot). Again, very busy on market day, with freshly made sandwiches and pastries. There is also a room upstairs if you prefer to eat somewhere quieter.
After all this walking, time to go to a pub. Walk back up to the top of the Place and at 5 rue Armagnac, there is the Celt Irish pub. Opening at 2pm on market day and 4pm during the week. Food is available after 7.30pm. Good beer selection (served in pint glasses) and big screen sport. There always seems to be a good selection of music playing. (my taste admittedly!)
The last place is just outside La Bastide close to the Canal du Midi and three minutes from the railway station.
Le Bistro d Augustin is at 2 Avenue du Maréchal Joffre. I included it as there is extremely fast service and excellent prices. The moules come in pots the size of top hats! This restaurant is very useful if you have some time while waiting for a train or the airport bus.
