Café de la Tour, Bastia

Celebrated table

Café de la Tour

A half-century staple on Nonza’s sunlit square, this Corsican bistro serves generous farm-fresh plates and quiet inventions under the plane trees.

The story

Café de la Tour, Bastia: A Family Run Corsican Bistro Since the 1970s

The Lovati family and the kitchen

Café de la Tour anchors the heart of Bastia as a steadfast Corsican bistro where the Lovati family has worked side by side for more than fifty years. The recent listing in Le Fooding highlights how a traditional neighborhood spot naturally evolved into a culinary reference without losing its grounded character. They prepare every morning to evening service using ingredients sourced directly from local farms. This long running operation keeps the daily rhythm steady and deeply rooted in the community.

Plates that balance tradition and invention

The Corsican cooking leans toward generous portions paired with quiet twists on familiar flavors. A Sardinian fregola salad mixes fried artichokes, feta, pickled pears, and red onion for a bright starting point. Slow cooked shredded lamb rests inside a soft bun alongside a sharp burnt lemon relish and a sweet shallot compote. Guests often finish the meal with a moist pistachio cake served with crème anglaise or the experimental flankie pastry.

Dining under the plane trees

Visitors gather at Place de la Fontaine to claim a table beneath the sprawling shade of mature plane trees. Stone pavement and simple wooden furniture frame the view of the historic fountain while the scent of fresh coffee drifts through the square. This relaxed dining room rewards patience with unhurried service and consistent quality. Open air seating allows guests to watch the village wake up and settle into a leisurely pace.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026
Le Fooding
Listed

Ambience

A glimpse inside

Details

At a glance

Le Fooding 2026 — Listed
Cuisines Bistro, Corsican
Services Breakfast, Outdoor Seating

History

On the record

2026
Le Fooding — Listed

From bar-tobacconist to village bistro, it’s a natural evolution – and one the Lovati fanily has perfected! For over fifty years, they’ve been serving breakfast through dinner on the postcard-pretty square of Nonza, a hilltop gem on Cap Corse. That lunchtime, under the plane trees, the cooking felt both generous and quietly inventive: a Sardinian fregola salad studded with fried artichokes, feta, pickled pears, zucchini and pickled onions; a grilled cheese on organic country bread from Farina in Furiani, layered with baked ham, sweet potato and gooey melted cheddar; a bun lavishly filled with gently spiced shredded lamb, slow cooked for seven hours, lifted by burnt lemon relish and shallot compote. Other grazeables to share (or not) include plates of Corsican farm cheeses with homemade jam, or charcuterie from Pierre-Jean Gristi in Saint-Florent. Seal the deal with dessert like an intriguing “flankie” (a cross between a flan and a cookie) or moist pistachio cake served with crème anglaise and crunchy granola. · Maude Zarella

Established

Location

Find us

Place de la Fontaine, 20217 Nonza
Bastia, France
+33 4 95 56 08 53
Visit website
Map showing Café de la Tour