Neffiés – a small village gem in southern France
How can we describe our little French village in words without it sounding too romantic and cute—as if it were straight out of the movie *Chocolate* (the best movie ever, if Yvonne has her way)?
NEFFIÈS is located in the beautiful Languedoc region of southern France. By area, it is the world’s largest wine-producing region. The village dates back to the 12th century and has always had a population of about 1,000; today, we come from 20 different countries. It’s known for being open, pleasant, and very friendly. Everyone greets one another on the street—young and old alike—and at the bakery in the morning, people discuss life’s big questions, share a bit of gossip, and exchange friendly inquiries about how everyone is doing and whether our guests are enjoying their stay in the village.
Restaurants
In our small village we are fortunate to have two really good reputable restaurants:
L’ESCAMPETTE which is lively, a bit rustic, has fantastic food and sometimes music nights. Nilda and José joke with the guests and the atmosphere is familiar and easy-going. Xavier, who is the head chef, is very talented. The menu is varied every day and it’s really hard to choose because everything is so delicious!
LE VERY TABLE is a family-owned slightly more low-key restaurant that has an ambition of “fine dining” that they more than live up to. It is ranked as one of Languedoc’s 40 best restaurants. There are both á la carte and daily menu. Hard to pick out a favorite here because they constantly change menu, but their fish dishes are always fantastic.
NOMADE WINEHOUSE is our latest addition to the small village. Our very own wine bar that serves organic / natural wines with high quality and as well as various tapas dishes, they have an ambition to serve a little more vegetarian and vegan dishes. In addition, they have awesome coffee. Katie who owns the bar is from Australia and she has lived for many years in Neffiès with her family. She is super cute, loves our guests and is happy to answer questions about life down here.
What else can you find in the village?
BOUTIQUE ALMA is our beloved little organic shop that sells vegetables, fruits, homemade pickles, jams, juices, eggs and other small things. Andrés and Anaïs are the sweetest people and when you are here you can sit on their outdoor terrace and have a cup of coffee and one of Anaïs ́s homemade cakes. They are wonderful and made from the best ingredients.
OUR VILLAGE is located with the vast vineyards below and with the mountains in the back. There are several hiking trails in the immediate vicinity and plenty of cycling and running trails if you like. A few minutes away is Barrage et lac des Olivettes, a gigantic reservoir of water with grass beaches and swimming. About 30 minutes away is the sea with miles of sandy beaches for everybody – deserted, with beach bars, shops and street life, yes even nude beaches if you feel like it.