If, like me, you're the sort of person who believes that wine and near-continuous intake of bread,…read moremeat and cheese are the only things we really need in life, then let me just take a second to congratulate you on making it to this Yelp page. After a turbulent start to our first trip to Aix-en-Provence in which our cab driver exited the vehicle mid-trip to brawl with a band of local youths (with our back-seat protests and gentle reminder to turn off the meter sadly unheeded), Le Vieux Tonneau was in the right place at the right time for we weary travelers in grave need of a bucket of wine. The charcuterie and cheese platter that was set in front of us after a short wait may very well be the closest thing to a religious experience I will ever have. It took me a long time to learn how not to openly weep when in close proximity to brie, but this one really tested my emotional fortitude. Don't be surprised if you find yourself, as I did, forgiving the bartender/meat-slicer his trespasses--ahem, man-bun--in tacit recognition of the beautiful spread he will put together for you. The wine was red and that's all I have to say about that. Also, hat tip to the waiter who must have seen the two of us trying to ration off our last slice of bread like we were on the freaking Mayflower and promptly came to our rescue with an extra basketful. Merci, sir. Merci. Pro tips: When others call LVT a "hidden" gem, believe them. Google Maps is dead to me after the wild goose chase into all the nooks and crannies of Aix it sent us on in search of this place. Best to just pinpoint Rue des Chaudronniers on a map and dust off the old-fashioned (#rip) walk-until-you-find-it method. And one final word to the wise, be prepared to break out your New York elbows in order to secure a table on a Friday or Saturday night. I won't say for certain that the couple that arrived after us and who we nearly bowled over on the way to an open table was bordering on elderly, but they weren't NOT old. They definitely had some fight in them, though.

My go-to wine bar in Aix. The selection is wide and the service is friendly, plus the basement…read moreseating area is perfect for large groups to hang out and catch up. Otherwise, smaller groups can enjoy a cozy ambiance upstairs by the bar or out on the patio. If you're a little hungry, the cheese plate is divine.

This place is absolutely fantastic, whether you're shopping for a bottle or hoping to just grab a…read moreglass and some snacks. My fiancé and I came by to get a bottle of rosé as a souvenir for our trip, and the service was excellent. They have a large selection of natural wines and were not snobby about price. I appreciate when people explain wine well without treating non-sommeliers like children or savages. Our positive experience convinced us to swing back around for a nightcap later on in our time in Aix, and I'm so glad we did! The glass of bright pink champagne we enjoyed on their patio was quite possibly the most delicious wine I've ever had. We wanted to take home a bottle, but local liquor laws prevent sale after a certain time of night. If only I could turn back time....

From the owner: Wine shop & Bar specializing in natural wines grown organically and biodynamically. Also offering…read morecraft beer and locally roasted barista coffee. You can enjoy on site or take away.

A delightful, intimate wine and tapas bar with an agreeable host and an excellent kitchen. Tapas…read moreare of Creole variety, with a Provencal touch. We had ardoises "Elliot" and "Creole," both of which pleased us greatly. A very good wine list with several fine bottles of Cote de Provence. A lovely terrace on the lively Forum des Cordeurs invites one outside of a pleasant evening. A great place to spend a late afternoon and night.

From the owner: Bar tendance Place des Cardeurs Chez Lucienne est un restaurant situé place des Cardeurs. Il…read morepossède de nombreuses facettes : c'est un bar à tapas, il propose également des spécialités corses et réunionnaises. Chez Lucienne est également un bar à vin. La décoration du lieu est tendance et réalisée avec goût. L'établissement possède une jolie terrasse, avec un bar extérieur.

Great little restaurant! With a capacity of maybe 20 diners (at most), this is a gem! One server…read moreand one cook, both of whom work amazingly efficiently. Menu is presented an a chalkboard (choice of English or French), and food is beautifully presented. We shared an artichoke appetizer, then each had a 'fish of the day' which was Loup de Mer (sea bass) that day. Small selection of well-curated wines by the glass to accompany the delicious food (I chose a Cotes de Rhône red, and the server asked 'with fish?', but told me he often chooses red as well; my husband chose Chablis). No room for dessert .

We asked for recommendations for current specialities of the restaurant and wine pairings for our…read morefood order- the menu was presented in English and the place was busy but we were readily attended to by the heavily accented waiter: he understood what we were after. If you want adventure true to the place and trust the local advice, you will have an experience fitting to Aix-en-Provence.

Fantastic!! Best we've had in Provence! The croquet monsieur truffle/ham was excellent…read more Everything was fresh and well prepared. We didn't leave a single crumb on our plates!! Our bottle of 2008 Vignelaure was a great value. Highly recommended. We will definitely be going back!

From the owner: Le retour aux sources El Primo plaira aux amateurs de vins. Cet endroit chaleureux et convivial est…read moreune cave à vins ouverte la journée, associée à un bar à vins le soir. Pour accompagner votre cépage servi au verre ou à la bouteille, des tapas froids ou chauds sont servis. Les charcuteries proviennent d'Espagne ou de Corse et les fromages sont présentés au plateau. Le décor est original avec ses grands frigos vitrés qui conservent les bouteilles derrrière un grand comptoir convivial où l'on peut s'attabler à plusieurs. Les soirées s'animent au El Primo avec les retransmisions de match et les apéros du mercredi où les cocktails sont à prix réduits. Petit plus, la formule vin, chacuterie, fromage est aussi proposée à emporter.

Really enjoyed this place. Dined outdoors and had a friendly waiter who looked like our son!…read more Found the salmon tartar and gnocchi both to be excellent. It's a centrally located can't go wrong kind of place.

Great little tapas place in the center of Aix-en Provence…read more The decor and atmosphere was lively and modern. The menu consisted of many tapas classics as well as new, original takes. Our favourites include the shrimp, which was a tad spicy and the mushrooms with onion. The burger was quite interesting with duck meat and foie gras served between potato galettes. It was, however, slightly greasy and the duck was a little tough. The wine selection was also good and the cocktails were nice and strong. Definitely a memorable, satisfactory meal.

Wow, the food is truly fantastic! Could not believe how all the dishes we had ordered for our lunch…read morewere so flavorful. So lucky my husband and I stumbled upon this restaurant. It was probably the best chicken dish I have ever eaten at any restaurant and the poached egg was equally delicious. I wish I could take this restaurant with me everywhere.

Lovely lunch at Grenache for 4 of us. Two of us took the tapas menu and two took the 3 course…read moremenu. Tapas was delicious, wonderful combinations and colors. The 3 course menu was excellent....the 2 takers raved about the quality, freshness and flavors. The owner Pierre is a sommelier. His wine selection is very good and prices are reasonable. Pierre is the original co owner of the Alcove Restaurant in Aix en Provence. Now, on his own, he continues to provide high quality food, wine and charm. This is not too be missed!!

A nice cosy atmosphere…read more I had scallops in a wasabi-cream sauce with polenta. Interesting combination and very flavorful. After dinner I shared a cheese plate with friends. The owner was very friendly and selected an excellent wine to pair with my meal. He speaks English. My entree with wine pairing was about 20 euros. Would go there again.

From the owner: Caviste et bar à vins Située dans la vieille ville d'Aix-en-Provence, la Cave d'Yves est un…read moreétablissement réputé. Un large choix de grands crus est proposé, avec un rapport qualité-prix avantageux puisque les bouteilles consommées sur place ne sont majorées que de 9€ par rapport au prix boutique, petits prix comparés à ceux habituellement pratiqués en restaurant. La carte offre de nombreuses suggestions, assiettes de charcuterie, fromages affinés artisanalement ou encore salades.

Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmerm on the Travel Channel had a segment on A Casa this past spring…read more i was planning to visit Aix-in-Provence in august. i wanted to try the tapanade they made on the program. well, i did. and it was excellent. i sat at one of the outdoor tables for dejuner, spreading it out of the jar onto pieces of bagette. what i did not eat there i took back to my hotel. A Casa is a hidden gem. i bet everything on their menu would also be excellent. they were not busy, and i had a pleasant chat with the owner. he is from palermo, from which my grandfather emmigrated to the usa around 1,900. my server, emma, was very friendly, and spoke english pretty well. she suggested i try Les Trois [3] Ormeaux for dinner. excellent recommendation. thank you emma. if you ever find yourself in Aix, go here.