Best Foodie Souvenirs In Toulouse, France (And Why Visit Now)
Think Paris, but with better weather, more rosé, and way less attitude. Home of the AirBus headquarters, Toulouse recently nabbed Lonely Planet's top city to visit in 2025—and trust me, it's earned it. From its pink-brick charm to its laid-back canalside vibes, 'La Ville Rose' is where culture and cool collide. It's also easier than ever to get to Toulouse. No more stop overs in Paris as the first non-stop direct flight from North America to Toulouse on AirCanada from Montreal, Canada recently launched.
This year, the city's musical soul is on full display. As a newly designated UNESCO City of Music, Toulouse hits all the right notes—especially in June, when the legendary Rio Loco festival brings global rhythms to the banks of the Garonne. It's world music meets world party.
Summer keeps the tempo high with Tangopostale's sultry tango dance vibes and the ultra-chill Siestes Électroniques electronic fest in the Compans-Caffarelli Garden. Add in museum reopenings (hello, Musée des Augustins in late 2025), Gothic grandeur, and a thriving food scene—16 restaurants with Michelin distinction—, and you've got a trip worth booking yesterday.
And when you're ready to roam, the dreamy Occitanie region is right on your doorstep—think Albi's Toulouse-Lautrec vibes, fairy-tale villages like Cordes-sur-Ciel, Carcassonne—the oldest medieval fortress in Europe dating back to the Roman era and namesake for the crazy popular Carcassonne board game—and vineyard-dotted countryside perfect for lazy day trips. You can even captain your own houseboat with Le Boat—think AirBnB of houseboats worldwide—and tour the countryside via Canal Du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Canal du Midi
When it comes to edible souvenirs, American expat Jessica Hammer of Taste of Toulouse is a connoisseur of the authentic, the unexpected, and of course—delicious. With her deep local knowledge, she's your secret weapon for shopping like a savvy gourmand in the pink city. So next time you head to Toulouse, bring an empty suitcase and a curious palate. Your taste buds (and lucky friends back home) will thank you. Here are the best food souvenirs in Toulouse and the broader Occitanie region:
One of B. Authié's specialties, a Paris-Brest filled with violet cream and topped with sugared ... More violets.
Toulouse is famously fragrant with violets, and Hammer's favorite way to bottle that floral magic? Crystallized violets—'real flower petals crystallized in sugar syrup.' They're not just pretty and packable; she drops them in sparkling wine for a delicate purple hue. 'So pretty,' she sighs. Her go-to source is Pâtisserie B. Authié, but these sugar-dusted blossoms pop up everywhere from pastry shops to airport kiosks.
La Maison de a Violette, a gift shop in a barge for all things violet.
For the full violet experience, she recommends a pilgrimage to La Maison de la Violette, a 'floating' shop—or barge on the canal—devoted to all things purple and petaled. 'The owner, Hélène, has dedicated her life's work to promoting violet products—not just food, but also perfumes and bath items.'
Sold at Fromagerie Xavier, Pave Toulousain cheese or brick cheese is a specialty cheese from ... More Toulouse. It's a great Toulouse food souvenir to bring home because it comes in a box.
When asked what cheese to bring home, Hammer doesn't hesitate…
Pavé Toulousain: Created by the famed François Bourgon of Fromagerie Xavier, this cube-shaped cheese is a loving nod to Toulouse's iconic brick architecture. 'It personifies Toulouse's mix of tradition and innovation,' Hammer says, noting it travels well and comes in a stylish wooden box..
Mont d'Or: Available from October through March, this creamy cheese from the Jura region, just a few hours from Toulouse, comes in its own wooden box. It's perfect for baking into a fondue-like dish. While soft cheeses can be tricky to transport, Mont d'Or's packaging makes it a feasible option. If you bring it home, try David Lebovitz's—the most famous American food writer that lives in Paris—Mont d'Or fondue recipe!
Fénétra is an apricot and lemon 'travel cake'—a traditional baked good from Toulouse, France.
While baguettes may tempt you, they're better left behind. Instead, Hammer loves gâteaux de voyage—'travel cakes' meant to journey. The standout cake to bring home from Toulouse? Fénétra, a local tart filled with apricot jam and candied lemon peel, topped with almond meringue takes the cake.
A highlight for a spirit lover, reserve a armagnac tasting and tour at the high-design tasting room ... More at Chateau Arton in France's Gascony region. Oenologist Fabrice Saramon leads the tasting here.
For something truly unique, try a bottle of Armagnac—Toulouse's more rugged cousin to Cognac and France's oldest brandy, more than 700 years old. If you have time in your schedule, visit Château Arton— a certified organic vineyard producing award-winning Armagnac for a tasting. Located in the beautiful countryside in a town called in Lectoure, Château Arton was the first Armagnac to receive the Prix d'Excellence‚ like the Oscars for French food. Make sure to ask about the magic mold that works in happy partnership with the spirit as it ages.
Papilles' bottled cocktails are a super hip gift to bring home for the craft cocktail lover on your ... More list. This one especially screams the region.
Gin fans should hunt down Le Point G, flavored with violet and spirulina—a cheeky French nod to the G-spot. Don't miss the Rainbow canned cocktail, a pack-friendly tribute to artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's original 19th-century recipe. Crafted by Alexis Taoufiq, a "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" and award-winning mixologist, this ready-to-drink cocktail is artful, aromatic, and effortlessly chic. Pick up a few at Papilles, his boutique bottle shop in Toulouse and also in the nearby town of Albi.
Violet liqueurs, found at the airport, are great to bring home too.
Grocery store food souvenirs are all the rage, right? Hammer is gleefully obsessed with 'goat cheese with Espelette pepper' flavored chips. Feeling brave? Try anise-flavored potato chips as well.
Although Castelnaudary is most credited as the home of cassoulet, Toulouse hosts the annual World ... More Championships of Cassoulet annually.
'You don't find chocolate shops like this back home,' says the American expat, now food tour guide. She admits it was very hard to choose favorites—'there are so many great chocolate shops in Toulouse, France'—but ultimately highlighted Criollo, Bello & Angeli, and Cacaofages for their exceptional chocolats enrobés (covered chocolates). Whether you're craving bars or bonbons, these elegant, easy-to-pack treats make perfect gourmet gifts.
Of course, no conversation about Toulouse food is complete without cassoulet, the region's slow-cooked, bean-and-meat pride. Hammer's top pick? Last year, she put her palate to the test at Le Genty Magre, a local cassoulet competition she likens to 'a chili cook-off contest but for cassoulet.' Among five entries, her standout favorite was the one from Émile's, which also clinched the audience choice award. Another go-to she recommends is La Colombière, a beloved family-owned spot serving up a fan-favorite cassoulet year after year.
Where to find the best canned cassoulet in Toulouse: Maison Garcia in Victor Hugo market.
However, for cassoulet to bring home? Maison Garcia, which she swears is 'the real deal' when paired with a baguette. Find Maison Garcia canned cassoulet and other incredible meat-based products, like the most rare Spanish jamón ibérico, at the incredible Victor Hugo market.
'For gifts, I don't really recommend going to grocery stores in France— the good stuff is at épiceries or specialty food stores,' says Hammer. Her go-to? Cafe Bacquie, a speciality shop across the street from Victor Hugo Market. 'They have great gifts like preserves, salts, mustards, even chocolate.'
Jessica Hammer prepares an incredible wine-paired tasting of Victor Hugo Market delights on a Taste ... More of Toulouse tour.
In addition to taking Jessica's in depth (and delicious!) Taste of Toulouse food tour, here are the best things to do in Toulouse:
Book a ride on Minotaur, Halle de La Machine's most famous machine. Toulouse, France
Get ready for your jaw to be on the floor at Halle de La Machine—the entrie time. This performance theater-meets-Tinkertown museum is a marvel—perfect for any age. Engineering at its best using upcycled parts to create otherworldly animals, tectonic shows, and interactive art using fire, automation, sound and actors. If you have time and love theatrical dining, book a 'Lunch of Little Machines' where performers (ie. your servers) partner with machines to deliver the most entertaining culinary adventure. And don't miss the The Manège Carré Sénart across the street—it's like no other merry-go-round you've ever seen before.
Cité de l'Espace is where space nerds and starry-eyed dreamers unite! Touch real moon rocks, walk through a life-size Mir space station, and even try your hand at astronaut training. It's part science museum, part intergalactic playground—perfect for kids, grown-ups, and anyone who's ever looked up at the stars and said, 'What if?'
At her boutique AHPY, Annette Hardouin is reviving the ancient art of dyeing with pastel (Isatis ... More tinctoria) one workshop at a time. Toulouse, France
Step into a world where history and fashion intertwine at AHPY Créations Bleu de Pastel boutique in Toulouse. Led by master artisan Annette Hardouin, this workshop revives the ancient art of dyeing with pastel (Isatis tinctoria), the plant that once brought immense wealth to the region during the Renaissance. You'll learn the meticulous process of transforming natural fabrics into stunning shades of blue using time-honored techniques. A pastel dyed scarf sold at the AHPY shop is also a winning Toulousian souvenir.
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Built of natural stone and wood, the hotel overlooks a sheltered bay near Faros. Rooms are minimal in the right way, grounded by hand-thrown ceramics and open-air showers that make the most of the light. Sifnos has always attracted a different kind of traveler, and in late summer the island slows into itself. The tavernas feel more local again, and the beaches stretch out with fewer footprints. NOS gives you that experience in real time, whether you're returning from a pottery village or sipping a glass of chilled Assyrtiko by the pool. Soho House Farmhouse, Ibiza, Spain Tucked between Santa Gertrudis and San Rafael, this new opening offers a version of Ibiza few visitors ever see. With just 14 rooms and villas set among olive trees and regenerative gardens, the Farmhouse feels more like an artists' residency than a hotel. There's sunrise yoga, community dinners, and quiet spaces for reflection or collaboration. As the island shifts from peak season into its calmer weeks, this is exactly the kind of Ibiza worth experiencing. One where the energy comes from nature, food, and conversation, not speakers or schedules. Belvedere Hilltop Rooms & Suites, Mykonos, Greece Set just above Mykonos Town, these suites (as part of Belvedere Hotel Mykonos) offer a quieter perspective on the island without sacrificing access to it. Interiors are sleek and airy, filled with soft Cycladic light, and some come with private plunge pools or terraces overlooking the Aegean. What makes it special isn't just the design, but the ease of dipping in and out of the scene. You can have a slow breakfast in silence overlooking town, a spa treatment at the Six Senses Spa or a romantic sunset dinner at Matsuhisa (both located at main Belvedere Hotel), then be at a beach club or cocktail bar in ten minutes. Late summer is the best time to be here. Mykonos is still warm and lively, but the intensity has lifted, and that makes the hilltop location feel even more like a smart choice. AYA Resort, Ayia Napa, Cyprus Blended into the raw beauty of the Akamas Peninsula, AYA is Cyprus's most thoughtful new opening. The design is stripped back and grounded in nature, with limestone walls, native gardens, and 48 suites that face the sea with nothing in the way. Interiors are eco-conscious, minimal but warm, blending natural textures with soft light and open space. The spa focuses on Cypriot herbs and rituals, with treatments that feel intuitive rather than clinical. AYA is built for a slower rhythm. Days start with herbal tea on a sun-drenched terrace, followed by saltwater swims or walks along the cliffs. At night, mezze is served by candlelight, and the sound of the sea replaces the usual soundtrack. It's not a place for show. It's a place to return to yourself. La Villa del Re, Sardinia, Italy Located on the southern coast of Sardinia, this adults-only Relais & Châteaux property is a masterclass in understatement. There are no flashy design statements here, just classic Mediterranean architecture, curated calm, and immaculate gardens leading to a private beach. The service is quiet and precise, the rooms designed for rest. Sardinia in September offers some of the best weather in the region with a fraction of its high season tourism. This is the moment La Villa del Re was made for. Borgo Santandrea, Amalfi Coast, Italy A new entry to the Relais & Châteaux family, Borgo Santandrea sits high above the Amalfi Coast with views that could double as oil paintings. Every room is unique, dressed in custom tiles and mid-century Italian design. An elevator carved into the cliff connects the hotel to its private beach, one of the few on this stretch of coast. The Amalfi Coast is still warm in September, but the cruise ships start to clear out, and the beauty becomes easier to absorb. This is the refined, post-summer version of the destination — still cinematic, but finally breathable. Summer starts its final chapter. The light changes. The noise softens. And with the right hotel, the season lingers a little longer than it should.
