Fans of trendy flavors, rejoice— Place du Capitole has a new gourmet destination. Since Friday, September 4, the famous artisanal ice cream shop Bältis has opened its doors at 20 Place du Capitole, bringing with it an ice cream-making tradition dating back tothe 9th century—that of the first sorbets from the Middle East, made from snow from Mount Lebanon mixed with fruit juices and floral hydrosols. The refreshing taste of Lebanese ice cream has finally arrived in Toulouse—a welcome bit of cool relief as temperatures continue to rise.
Behind the sign lies a family story: the Franco-Lebanese cousins Jean-Michel de Tarrazi and Nadim Kettaneh, business partners since 2022, joined in Toulouse by their franchisees from Marseille, Elie Zeenny and Zeina Trad. The quartet had already opened two Parisian shops before setting up shop on the Canebière in 2025. “Toulouse quickly won us over: it’s a dynamic, food-loving city with a wonderful energy,” Zeina sums up. And above all, it’s a treat for food lovers in France’s fourth-largest city.
Recipes created in collaboration with a Meilleur Ouvrier de France
A guarantee of quality, Bältis ice creams and sorbets were developed in collaboration with chef Jean-Thomas Schneider, the 2019 Meilleur Ouvrier de France in ice cream making and two-time World Champion (ice cream making in 2018, pastry in 2017). It took several months of collaboration to achieve the desired texture: creamy, light on cream and sugar, with a high percentage of natural ingredients— 60% fruit in the sorbets! So rest assured, there are no artificial flavors, colors, emulsifiers, or preservatives in the mix.
The menu also offers two distinct styles. On one hand, classics (specialty coffee, couverture chocolate, Madagascar vanilla). On the other, Levantine flavors: thyme-olive oil, halawa (sesame cream), Damask rose, dried fig. The house specialty remains the“achta” ice cream, a milk-based cream made with orchid root, pistachio sap, and orange blossom. It’s served topped with crushed pistachios or handmade angel hair. Prices start at €5 for two flavors (€6.20 for three, €7.40 for four).
Bältis also features a bakery that bakes cookies to order, in ten flavors. Pistachio-orange blossom, chocolate-halawa brookie, sesame-tahini, pecan caramel… Enjoy them on their own or paired with ice cream, like a homemade soft-serve treat.
A little piece of Beirut in the heart of the Pink City
Designed in the spirit of other Bältis locations, the 60-square-meter Toulouse shop features arches and openwork panels inspired by Lebanese architecture. There are twenty seats inside and a terrace with seating for about twenty, offering a view of the Capitole. The beverage menu—all homemade—rounds out the experience: orange blossom lemonade, iced tea, rose water, Lebanese coffee with cardamom, and in winter, salep (hot milk with orchid root sprinkled with cinnamon) or white coffee. A selection of cookies imported directly from Lebanon (baklava, bird’s nests, almond crisps) accompanies these drinks. And the best part of it all? You don’t need to pack your passports to try out this refreshing new spot!
The shop is open daily from noon to 11 p.m. For more information, visit the official Bältis website or follow @baltistoulouse on Instagram.
