Restaurants
Le Petit Nice
Run by the same family for three generations, Le Petit Nice continues to be a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. The menu focuses on regional produce, and the terrace offer gorgeous views of the Orb river. My favourite dish: The river trout, fished in the river Jaur further up in the National Park, baked in almonds and butter.
La Cave Saint Martin
The Cave Saint Martin, the local wine bar that specialises in natural wines.
This is both a wine bar, a restaurant and a delicatessen run by a Dutch foodie and his French wife. La Cave Saint Martin is the best place in the village to get a glass of quality wine, and even in the low season it's a cosy place to sit down for a meal. Try a bottle from Thierry Navarre, whose vineyards surround Roquebrun.
Le Jardin de Lili
This is the village pizzeria, open only in the summer season. It serves great Italian pizza plus some other dishes (their home made lasagne is my son's favourite) and in July and August, the place is always packed. In the low season, the pizzeria moves to Le Naudech (see below)
Avenue de Roc de l'Estang
Le Saint Hubert
French classics are on the menu at this restaurant, and their entrecôte with home made fries is the best in the village. I actually prefer this place in the colder months, as their interiors are warm and cosy, but they also have a large terrace in the summer.
L'Orangerie, the local baker and ice cream shop.
Bars and cafes
Le Naudech
The village bar is named after one of the peaks in the region, a popular trekking destination, but no one actually calls it that. It is simply "le bar", as if no other bars existed in the world. The bar is situated at the junction between the main street and the D14 that crosses the river, and a favourite village sport is to sit here and watch people pass by. It's also a great place to have a pre-dinner drink or relax with a book.
5, avenue des Orangers
L'Orangerie
This is the village baker, selling croissants, baguettes and anything else you need to for your bread basket. They also serve coffee and soft drinks and have a nice little pergola with a few tables in the shade across the street. Last but not least, L'Orangerie sells home made Italian ice cream which is highly addictive.
12, avenue de Roc de l'Estang
Ô Roq
Every village should have a place that offers anything from a panini to a pencil sharpener. In Roquebrun, this is the place, a mix of sandwich bar, newsstand and tabac. It's jammed with souvenirs, postcards, magazines, toys and anything you need for the beach, be it bathing shoes (which we highly recommend) or a full size plastic crocodile to float around on.
3, avenue des Orangers
PLACES TO STAY
La vie en Rose
A table at Le Petit Nice restaurant in the village.
This charming B&B is where I usually put up visitors when I don't have room for them at the house. It's run by Lillian, a Swedish lady who sold everything she owned to start a new life in France. She now welcomes visitors to her former winegrowers mansion which she renovated completely. Breakfast is served around a large communal table in the kitchen or in the garden in the summer. Double rooms from 60 euros per night.
facebook.com/la-vie-en-rose-BB
Camping Le Nice
Roquebrun has been a popular destination among campers for decades, but the village is quite strict when it comes to where you can set up your tent. This camp site also has cabins and small houses for rent, and offers both a tennis and boule court to it's guests.
SHOPS AND SERVICES
Vival Epicérie
The town grocery shop is large enough to cover the basics, but on the small side if you are hosting a large dinner or stacking the fridge for a week. There is a slightly larger Carrefour Express in Cessenon-les-Orb and a full size Intermarché in Saint Chinian, both of which are nearby. The best places to stop for groceries on your way to Roquebrun is either Super U in Thezan-les-Béziers or the Carrefour Hypermarché in Cazouls-les-Béziers.
1 avenues des Orangers
Food market
Every Friday morning, there is a small food market by the park near the river. Though it is quite inferior in size to the large Sunday market in nearby Saint Chinian, you can get excellent meat here and a vide variety of cheese, oils, spices and vegetables. There are also a few artisans selling linens, clothing and decorative objects.
Chemin de Campescal
Cave les vins
This is the local wine cooperative, which is the way wine has been made for centuries in Languedoc. Although there has been a real change in quality over the past decades, the Cave les vins de Roquebrun is still a hub for local winegrowers and you can sample them all here. And take home a bottle or two, of course.
62 avenue des Orangers
Tourist office
The town tourist office can help you with just about anything, whether you want to go for a hike or book an excursion. The staff here speaks English and they also have a vide selection of brochures, maps and booklets. Make sure to check the village board for events, exhibitions and festivals.
Avenue des Orangers
Les Moulins
Inside the old river mill there is a gift shop that also hosts exhibitions during the summer months. It's definitely a place that cater to tourists and looks pretty much like any other gift in Southern France, with the exception of a few local contributions.
Village thrift shop
This is the kind of place that make me giddy with joy and make my husband want to run for the hills. It's like a small, condensed flea market, filled to the brim with vintage clothing, furniture and nicknacks, but if you spend some time here you will reap beautiful rewards: a silk kimono, vintage cutlery and a one-of-a-kind lamp to take home. Among other things.
Avenue de Roc de l'Estang