Historic bar in Toulouse, Father Louis changes hands
Pushing the door of Father Louis is like jumping into the 19th century. The show is also in the street when, at noon, the bell rings for lunch. This bar-restaurant, open since 1889 in rue des Tourneurs, in the Esquirol district, in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne), is changing hands after being managed for 26 years by the same owner.
A facelift for this institution in the Pink City whose red storefront is well known to Toulouse residents but also to tourists who flock there to buy Father Louis’ emblematic aperitif, the cinchona.
Four young entrepreneurs, known in the Toulouse restaurant community, in particular for their Maître Renard and Bouillon Languedoc, which represent the famous wine bar, listed as historical monuments in the city.
The porcini mushroom omelet always on the menu
“The idea is to continue to bring to life the spirit of this very special place of wine cellar and bistro,” explains Frédéric Marty, one of the four new partners. We kept the first listed room as it was and we hunted extensively at second-hand goods dealers to find period chandeliers, porcelain plates and crystal glasses for the upstairs room, which we redone during the three months of works. We wanted to change as few things as possible and keep the authenticity of the place”.
The regulars of Père Louis will thus find the views of Toulouse at the top of the walls of the first room, dating from 1942 and signed by Paul Almérie who paid for his alcohol consumption with his paintings, according to legend. A portrait of the site’s founder, Louis Dageant, stands near the counter. The wine barrels are also always there to have an aperitif standing up in the evening. On the plate side, the new owners will continue the tradition of brasserie, in particular the omelette with porcini mushrooms, served all year round. And to attract a younger clientele, jazz concerts are scheduled twice a month in the evening.