Top 5 Specialty Coffee Shops in Toulouse (2025 Edition, According to Local Foodies)
Toulouse may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of cutting-edge food trends — and we’re okay with that. As a mid-sized city in the south of France, La Ville Rose tends to adopt global culinary movements a little later than places like Paris, Berlin, or Barcelona. While we’ve long had an exceptional local food scene rooted in Southwestern French cuisine with a twist, newer trends — from poké to ramen to smashed burgers — have trickled in more gradually.
The same has been true for specialty coffee. A decade ago, it was nearly impossible to find a well-pulled espresso or a flat white served by a trained barista. But over the past five years, the tide has shifted. A new wave of cafés has taken root, led by passionate coffee lovers and baristas who are not only sourcing better beans, but also raising the bar for everything that goes with it — from homemade pastries to stylish interiors and creative brunch menus.
These spots haven’t just improved the coffee — they’ve created spaces that blend global café culture with Toulouse’s easygoing charm. And more often than not, you’ll find killer cinnamon rolls, flaky viennoiseries, or NYC-style cookies next to your perfectly dialed-in filter or espresso.
So if you’re craving a proper cappuccino, a quiet spot to work, or just an excellent morning bite, here’s our list of the top 5 specialty coffee shops in Toulouse in 2025, all recommended by local food lovers — plus one bonus spot we just couldn’t leave out.
Best Specialty Coffee Shops in Toulouse (2025 Edition, According to Local Foodies)
1. La Fiancée — The One You Never Want to Leave
If there’s one place that kickstarted Toulouse’s specialty coffee scene, it’s La Fiancée. Tucked into a super tiny, charming shop just five minutes on foot from both Place du Capitole and Quai de la Daurade, this café has become a true institution — not just for caffeine lovers, but for anyone craving generous brunches, stylish interiors, and a laid-back, community-driven vibe. There's a small sidewalk terrace and a cozy mezzanine upstairs, but seating is limited, so we recommend booking ahead for brunch (though you’ll be fine just walking in for coffee during the week).
The story begins with two longtime friends: Olivier Coulomb, a Toulouse native trained at Coutume in Paris, and Arnaud Pimenta, originally from Marseille. After living abroad — Olivier in Montreal and Arnaud in Paris — the duo reunited in Toulouse with one shared mission: to bring the Anglo-Saxon brunch and specialty coffee culture they loved back home. And they delivered. La Fiancée was born in a tiny, unlikely space in 2011 and quickly won hearts with its bold pancakes, killer cookies, and top-tier coffee.
The savory pancakes are the real showstopper: thick and oven-baked, served with crispy brown-sugar-cured bacon, a couple of butter-fried eggs, chives, and a healthy drizzle of organic maple syrup. They’re absurdly delicious. You’ll also find creamy scrambled eggs, loaded breakfast buns, and generous brunch platters — all with vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options.
Their chunky cookies are nearly as famous as the pancakes. Our favorite? The white chocolate and peanut butter one — gooey, golden, and utterly addictive.
Of course, coffee is taken seriously. La Fiancée works exclusively with independent roasters sourcing beans directly from farms. Baristas are trained, the espresso is dialed in, and V60 pour-overs highlight complex, floral notes. Their seasonal drink menu also features iced, fruity, and indulgent coffee-based creations.
Warm, hip, and full of personality, La Fiancée is a brunch-and-coffee love story — and once you meet her, you won’t want to say goodbye.
2. Café Cerise — The Riverside Roastery Raising the Bar
With its prime location facing the Garonne, just a minute away from the bustling Quai de la Daurade, Café Cerise feels like a hidden gem hiding in plain sight. But regulars know — this spot has been a pillar of Toulouse’s specialty coffee scene since it opened in 2015. What began as a simple café with a passion for great coffee has evolved into a full-fledged coffee lab, micro-roastery, and brunch hangout with serious chops.
The story starts with Valentin Tihy, a coffee lover who left a corporate job to follow his passion. He trained at La Caféothèque in Paris and later at Esperanza Café in Barcelona, learning everything from green coffee sourcing to precision roasting and alternative brew methods. He brought all that knowledge back to Toulouse and, with his wife Stéphanie Mirouse-Tihy, launched Café Cerise with the mission of making high-quality, traceable coffee accessible to everyone.
In 2017, they added a roasting workshop directly inside the café, which allows them to control every step of the process. All the coffee served here is roasted in-house, and you can taste the attention to detail in every sip. From fruity, floral V60s to balanced cappuccinos, each drink showcases the unique terroir of the beans — much like a good wine. The team works with small, ethical producers around the globe, ensuring better wages and sustainable farming practices.
But Cerise isn’t just about coffee. It’s a place to linger, relax, and refuel. The interior is split across two levels, with large windows upstairs offering postcard-worthy views of the river. The ambiance is cozy and laid-back, making it just as good for a solo reading session as it is for a casual lunch date.
The brunch menu, available Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM, is one of the best deals in town. For €22, you get a hot drink, a fresh juice, a savory main (like pancakes or one of their legendary sandwiches), and a homemade granola bowl. Everything is made with fresh, seasonal ingredients — and the menu is clearly crafted with love.
They also serve cakes, cookies, and small bites throughout the day, including excellent gluten-free options. And if you want to bring the magic home, you can grab a bag of freshly roasted beans and even pick up high-end gear like V60s, grinders, and filters from their in-house boutique.
Café Cerise is one of those rare places where everything feels intentional — the beans, the music, the people, the pacing. It’s not just a place to drink coffee, it’s a place to understand it. And once you’ve sat upstairs with a cup and watched the river flow past the Pont-Neuf, you’ll want to come back again and again.
3. Cacou — Vintage Vibes and Ethical Brunch in Saint-Aubin
Tucked into a quiet corner of the warm and welcoming Saint-Aubin neighborhood, Cacou is a cozy, ethically-minded coffee shop that blends vintage charm with specialty coffee culture. Opened in 2022 by 24-year-old Chloé, the space is a true labor of love — and a tribute to her grandfather, whose nickname "Cacou" inspired both the name and the spirit of the café. With the help of her family, Chloé transformed a humble storefront into a café-brocante hybrid where guests can sip flat whites, enjoy vegetarian and vegan bakes, and even shop for antique objects.
The vibe? Think minimal, natural light, soft music, and mismatched vintage finds — making it one of the best places in town to work remotely or just slow down. The Saint-Aubin area — known for its village-like charm, multicultural energy, and beloved Sunday market — fits the ethos of Cacou perfectly. This is the kind of place where you walk in for a coffee and end up staying for a full brunch... and maybe a ceramic candle holder.
Speaking of brunch, weekends are the highlight here, with a short, seasonal, homemade menu crafted by chef Isabelle. Everything is made with local ingredients and a generous spirit, from breakfast-style toasts to vegan cakes. During the week, the offering shifts to daily lunch specials and sweet treats that pair beautifully with their curated selection of specialty coffee.
Coffee-wise, Cacou focuses on quality beans and preparation: expertly pulled espresso, creamy cappuccinos, and pour-over options that reflect the best of new-generation French coffee culture. You’ll always find something new on rotation — and if you’re in the mood for a non-coffee drink, their seasonal iced teas and hot chocolates are also top-notch.
A warm, understated, and delicious stop for anyone who loves brunch, vintage design, and really, really good coffee.
4. TurboMachine Café — Where Guyana Meets the Mediterranean
📍 3 Rue des Blanchers, 31000 Toulouse
🌐 Instagram @turbomachinecafe
Nestled just steps away from the Quai de la Daurade, TurboMachine Café has quickly become a local favorite since opening in 2024. The project of Élis (originally from French Guiana) and Charlotte, TurboMachine blends specialty coffee culture with a unique culinary identity shaped by Caribbean and Mediterranean influences — and a warm, welcoming spirit that makes you want to linger for hours.
From the outside, the café’s pastel tones and lovely little terrace invite you to sit down and unwind. Inside, you’ll find terrazzo countertops, vintage accents, plants, and hand-picked playlists that instantly set a chilled and cozy tone. It’s the kind of place that feels fresh, design-forward, and homey all at once.
Coffee is taken seriously here: beans are sourced from independent roasters and brewed with precision, whether you’re after an espresso, V60, or iced drink. But TurboMachine also shines thanks to its signature sweet and savory brunch dishes — with real highlights like their sourdough pancakes served with bacon and maple syrup, which have become a cult favorite. Pastry lovers, take note: their chocolate-chip cookies and especially their chocolate babka rolls are house-made and absolutely addictive.
What makes TurboMachine stand out even more is their inventive breakfast and lunch menu, filled with plant-based and globally inspired dishes like cassava toast, shakshuka, or spicy scrambled tofu. On weekends, brunch is a popular affair, with generous plates, colorful presentations, and bold flavors that reflect the couple’s passion for food that’s good for both body and soul.
And if you’re in the mood for something stronger? TurboMachine has also introduced a small but curated selection of organic wines, making it a great option for a relaxed apéro too.
Original, generous, and full of personality, TurboMachine is a must-visit for anyone who wants to explore Toulouse’s more eclectic, flavorful side of the café scene.
5. Hayuco — Coffee with a View (and a Mission)
📍 Dôme de La Grave, 26 Rue du Pont Saint-Pierre, 31300 Toulouse
🌐 hayuco.coffee
Located right at one of Toulouse’s most photogenic spots — across from the Dôme de La Grave, along the Garonne — Hayuco is more than just a coffee shop: it’s a slow café, a roastery, and a local community project rolled into one. With its large windows, minimalist interiors, and spectacular view of the dome, Hayuco quickly made waves when it opened in late 2023. But what truly sets it apart is the deep thoughtfulness behind every aspect of the experience.
Founded by Matthieu and Léa, Hayuco is built on a core mission: to reclaim the value of coffee — not just as a product, but as a cultural connector. They work directly with producers from Latin America (notably Honduras and Colombia), pay attention to ethical sourcing, and roast their own beans locally. Their goal is to "revaloriser l’origine, les savoir-faire, et les histoires" — giving full credit to the people behind every cup.
The menu reflects this ethos. Whether you're sipping a V60 on the terrace or a creamy cappuccino inside the bright, airy space, the quality and intention are evident. Their seasonal filter options, signature iced drinks, and expressos with elegant floral and fruity notes have quickly made them a destination for coffee lovers — and for anyone looking to rediscover what specialty coffee can be.
To eat, you’ll find a rotating selection of homemade pastries, with a particular focus on Latin American flavors — think arequipe (dulce de leche), cornmeal cakes, or rich, buttery banana bread. On weekends, Hayuco also partners with Copola, a small kitchen collective, to offer one of the most unique brunches in town, rooted in ancestral cooking methods and bold, plant-forward combinations.
Design lovers, conscious consumers, digital nomads, and slow-coffee aficionados will all find something to love here. Hayuco isn’t just a café with a great view — it’s a place where flavor, ethics, and beauty collide.
Bonus Pick — Peanut: A Bright, Brunchy Gem Between Capitole and La Daurade
📍 13 Rue Léon Gambetta, 31000 Toulouse
🌐 Instagram @peanutcoffeee
Nestled in the golden triangle between Place du Capitole and Quai de la Daurade, Peanut has quickly become a local favorite since opening in 2023. Housed in the old Zaza café, this cheerful, plant-filled space is sunny, welcoming, and surprisingly spacious, with seating for up to 60 guests — which makes it one of the largest specialty coffee shops in central Toulouse.
Whether you're grabbing a flat white to-go or sitting down for a full-on brunch, Peanut delivers. Their coffee comes from a small roastery in the Gers, their ingredients are seasonal and local, and their team brings serious good vibes. Expect house-made cakes, fruit bowls, savory options, and plenty of vegan and vegetarian-friendly dishes, available every day of the week.
The cookies are among the best in town — crisp on the edges, chewy in the center, and packed with flavor. And if you’re not in the mood for coffee, their matcha latte is a standout: perfectly balanced, vibrant, and smooth. The café is also dog-friendly, so you’ll often spot content pups lounging under the tables while their humans catch up over cinnamon rolls and chai.
Peanut may be the new kid on the block, but it has all the makings of a mainstay: excellent coffee, warm service, and a daily brunch menu that hits the sweet spot between comforting and creative. A laid-back hangout spot that fits right into the evolving specialty scene in La Ville Rose.
Conclusion: Toulouse’s Third-Wave Coffee Scene Is Just Getting Started
From sourdough pancakes on sunny terraces to perfectly extracted flat whites in design-forward spaces, Toulouse's specialty coffee scene is more alive than ever. Whether you’re a dedicated espresso aficionado, a brunch lover, or someone who just wants to enjoy a quiet moment with a really good cookie, these cafés are shaping a new way to experience coffee in La Ville Rose.
And if you’re into pairing your cappuccino with a buttery viennoiserie, don’t miss our guide to the Top 5 Best Chocolatines in Toulouse (2025 Edition, According to Local Foodies). Because let’s be honest — coffee is great, but coffee with the perfect chocolatine? That’s pure Toulouse magic.
