Top 5 Best Lunch Menus in Toulouse (2025 Edition, According to Local Foodies)
Toulouse is a city that eats well — very well. With its vibrant markets, regional ingredients, and growing community of bold young chefs, the restaurant scene here is one of the richest in France. But with so many incredible places to try, and limited time (or budget), where do you even begin?
Here’s a little local trick: go at lunchtime.
Many of Toulouse’s best restaurants — including Michelin-recommended spots and Gault&Millau favorites — offer lunch menus called formules midi that are simpler and more affordable than their evening à la carte or tasting menus. It’s the same kitchen, same chef, same commitment to quality — just pared down and priced to fit the midday rush.
A typical formule midi includes two or three starters, two or three mains, and one or two desserts to choose from, and costs anywhere between €20 to €30 without drinks. Compared to dinner service, that’s often half the price for food that’s just as elegant and satisfying. Some restaurants post their weekly lunch menus online or on Instagram, so it's worth checking before you go.
Just one thing to keep in mind: lunch hours in Toulouse are short and sharp — most kitchens take orders between 12:00 and 13:30, sometimes closing as early as 14:00. And all the restaurants listed below are popular (for good reason), so we highly recommend booking ahead — especially on Fridays.
Here are 5 incredible places offering exceptional lunch menus in 2025 — all tested, loved, and frequently revisited by local foodies.
Where to Eat the Best Lunch in Toulouse in 2025
1. Chez Loustic — Saint-Cyprien’s Most Beloved Lunch Spot
In the heart of the Saint-Cyprien neighborhood, facing the peaceful square of Place de l’Estrapade, Chez Loustic has quietly become a favorite among locals who love to eat well, but casually. Unpretentious and warm, this “resto de quartier” (neighborhood restaurant) strikes the perfect balance between market-driven bistronomy and the kind of place where everyone gets a warm hello.
Run by chef Julien Marsaud and sommelier Gabriel Lasserre, the restaurant blends tradition and modernity with ease. Julien brings 15 years of experience in Michelin-starred and bistronomic kitchens — including time with Christian Constant and Thibault Sombardier — and was named a Jeune Espoir (Young Talent) in the 2018 Gault&Millau guide. Gabriel, a native of Toulouse, trained in Biarritz and Paris before coming home to open their first joint venture in the neighborhood where he grew up.
In 2024, Chez Loustic was awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide — a distinction that highlights restaurants offering exceptionally good food at moderate prices. In other words: one of the best lunch deals in town.
Their formule midi is a steal: €20 for entrée + plat or plat + dessert, or €23 for all three, served Tuesday to Friday. The menu changes weekly based on what’s fresh at the market, and there’s always a balance of creativity and comfort — like a silky soup with smoked haddock and curry oil, or perfectly cooked pork loin with red wine jus and seasonal vegetables. Service is swift, friendly, and on point — making it ideal whether you're squeezing lunch between meetings or lingering over a glass of wine.
Speaking of which: the wine list here is terrific — focused on independent winemakers from across France, with helpful guidance if you’re curious but undecided.
We’ve already been four times this year for lunch, and every visit delivers. Great food, great energy, no pretense. Just exactly what you want from a neighborhood spot doing things right.
2. Une Table à Deux — A Global Lunch Hidden in the Heart of Les Carmes
In the quiet backstreets of the Saint-Étienne district, just a few minutes from the Carmes market but far from the crowds, Une Table à Deux has carved out a loyal following with its elegant, creative, and truly personal cuisine. At first glance, it looks like a classic French restaurant — exposed brick walls, wood furniture, warm service — but what’s on the plate often tells a different story.
Chefs Morgane and Nicolas opened the restaurant in 2018 after years of experience in Michelin-starred kitchens and a long culinary journey through Southeast Asia. They traveled through Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and South Korea collecting flavors, techniques, and stories that now inspire their ever-evolving menu. The result is a seasonal cuisine rooted in French terroir but infused with global curiosity — think grilled octopus with crustacean bisque, mullet with Creole sauce and broccoli guacamole, or beef with cherries and Madagascar pepper.
Their lunch menu is available every weekday except Wednesday, offered as a formule entrée + plat + dessert for €29. It changes every two weeks depending on what’s in season — much of it grown by local farmers in collaboration with Produit sur son 31, or directly from Nicolas’ own garden.
In 2025, the restaurant was awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide — an honor that highlights restaurants offering exceptional quality at reasonable prices. Here, you’ll find that rare combination of delicacy, technique, and generosity — all in a relaxed setting.
The service is warm and attentive, and Benoît, who runs the floor, is always ready with the perfect wine recommendation to match your dish. For a lunch that feels like a flavorful escape, Une Table à Deux is one of the city's finest hidden gems.
3. Cécile — Fire-Kissed Cuisine at the Carmes Market
Tucked into the corner of the Carmes market, right at the angle of Rue Pharaon, Cécile feels like one of those restaurants that locals want to keep secret — until they just can’t help but recommend it to everyone they know. The vibe is relaxed and inviting, the food is bold and thoughtful, and the team behind it is quietly exceptional.
The restaurant opened in June 2020, a delayed dream finally brought to life by Virginie and Matthieu, a couple known for their previous address, La Popote, just a few blocks away. Together with chef Florent Boisseau — who trained at prestigious Toulouse institutions like Ô Saveurs, L’Amphitryon, and L’Équilibre — they’ve created a concept that’s as grounded in seasonality and local produce as it is elevated by technique and creativity.
And the name? It’s personal: “Cécile” was the name of Matthieu’s grandmother, and this restaurant is a tribute to the traditions, generosity, and love of good food that shaped their journey.
The cuisine is market-inspired, accessible, and flame-forward, with many dishes grilled on a Kamado barbecue, which gives vegetables, fish, and meats a gentle smokiness and depth. You’ll often find options like grilled pork with roasted apple and miso jus, or line-caught fish with fennel and citrus butter — all built around what's best at the market that week.
Their lunch formule is €29 and includes a weekly-changing menu with two starters, three mains (always including a vegetarian option), and two desserts — from which you choose one of each. The menu evolves based on seasonal availability and local partnerships, ensuring every dish reflects what’s freshest and most flavorful. Wines are carefully selected from independent, responsible winemakers, and the team is always happy to help guide your pairings.
What truly sets Cécile apart is the presence and warmth of the owners — all three founders are nearly always there, either at the pass or on the floor, setting the tone for a team that’s friendly, fast, and genuinely happy to have you.
It’s the kind of lunch spot you dream about stumbling upon — and one you’ll come back to again and again.
4. Combustible — Where Fire, Flavor, and Gutsy Cooking Meet
📍 6 bis Rue du Canard, 31000 Toulouse
🌐 bistrotcombustible.com
Tucked in a quiet street just behind Place des Carmes, Combustible has quickly become one of Toulouse’s most talked-about addresses — and it’s no wonder. Opened in 2023, this intimate, fire-themed bistrot is the first restaurant by chef Virginie Guitard, a powerhouse of energy and passion whose unconventional journey only adds depth to her already compelling cuisine.
A former designer and PR consultant, Virginie changed careers at 33 after making it to the semi-finals of MasterChef France in 2010. Spotted by Frédéric Anton, she went on to train in prestigious kitchens like Joël Robuchon’s Le Métropole and Yannick Alléno’s 1947. After a decade of consulting and private cheffing, she finally opened her own spot — and Combustible lives up to its name. It’s all about intensity, warmth, and flame: from the glowing atmosphere to the precise work of braise, torch, and char.
Inside a small, stylish former boutique, you’ll find an elegant room lit by mirrors and softened by natural textures. The kitchen turns out short, weekly menus full of personality, featuring meats, fish, and vegetables treated with finesse and fire. Expect dishes like seared daurade with celery and Granny Smith jus, or a perfect œuf parfait with almond and broad bean purée.
Their lunch formule starts at €18, including a generous main dish and drink — but if you add a starter (like the terrine de Mamie Paulette or carpaccio de daurade), you’ll still come in well under €30.
Combustible is also Gault&Millau-recommended — and deservedly so. The wine list showcases natural and biodynamic producers, and the team is efficient, welcoming, and passionate about what they serve.
Combustible is bold but thoughtful, generous but precise — and it’s one of the most exciting new lunch spots in Toulouse.
5. Grave — La Garonne, Good Vibes, and a Seriously Surprising Lunch
Don’t let the name confuse you — Grave isn’t located next to the La Grave hospital, but directly across from it, on the right bank of the Garonne. Set at the intersection of the river and the Canal de Brienne, this lively bar-restaurant offers one of the most iconic views in Toulouse: La Grave’s dome perfectly framed across the water. The name is a wink — and once you settle in on the terrace, you’ll understand why.
Grave was opened in late 2024 by the same team behind Bistrot 12 and Les Tilleuls, joined by new partners Valentine Cereza (formerly of Hédone, in the kitchen) and Hadrien Verplanck (in the dining room). Though best known for its evening energy — wine-fueled nights with over 340 wine references and small plates that mix fun and finesse — Grave also offers a low-key, high-quality lunch formule that’s quietly one of the best deals in town.
From 12:00 to 13:30, you can enjoy a three-course lunch — entrée, plat, dessert for €25 — with two options per course and a menu that changes weekly. Dishes lean modern, playful, and beautifully plated: imagine a crudo of maigre with butter chicken sauce, a vegetarian corndog with miso mayo, or roasted Basque pork with potatoes in persillade. Desserts are just as surprising: white chocolate and basil cream with marinated tomato, or a cold watermelon soup with red berries.
Grave manages to feel young and laid-back, without ever compromising on quality. Whether you’re here for a quiet riverside lunch or planning to come back for a late-night glass of orange wine, this is one of the most exciting newcomers in Toulouse — and yes, the view is worth it alone.
Bon Appétit — And Don’t Forget to Book Ahead
As you’ve seen, Toulouse is packed with lunch spots that punch well above their weight, offering refined, creative menus at prices that make weekday dining feel like a treat. From fire-kissed bistro plates to Bib Gourmand-level cuisine rooted in travel and terroir, these five restaurants prove you don’t need to wait for dinner to eat memorably in La Ville Rose.
Reminder: Most kitchens only serve from 12:00 to 13:30, and these places fill up fast — so booking ahead is highly recommended.
Looking to pair your lunch with the perfect glass later in the day? Check out our insider’s guide to the Best Wine Bars in Toulouse — from natural pours to hidden terraces, it’s the next step in planning your tastiest day in town.
