voila cafe near Pearl

Little France Is Coming to Broadway Near Pearl

There is something fun happening just outside Pearl, and it comes with croissants, croque monsieurs, French onion soup and a very simple promise: good French food without the fuss.

Voila! Cafe is getting ready to open at 1803 Broadway, Suite 101, inside the Oxbow Building near Pearl. It is the kind of place that feels like it was made for this part of town: close enough to the energy of Pearl, casual enough for a weekday breakfast, and charming enough for a slow lunch with someone you actually want to talk to.

The idea comes from restaurateur Stephane Raveneau, a native of Brittany, France. If his name sounds familiar to San Antonio food watchers, it may be because he is also behind the local Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café at The Shops at La Cantera, which brought French-style crêpes and café culture to San Antonio in 2019.

But Voila! Cafe is different. This is Raveneau’s first original concept, and it seems to be built around something San Antonio can always use more of: a casual, affordable neighborhood restaurant with personality.

The menu leans into French classics, but not in a white-tablecloth, whisper-over-your-wine kind of way. Think baguette sandwiches, croque monsieur, croque madame, Niçoise salad, French onion soup, waffles, pastries, charcuterie, crème brûlée, wine, beer and mimosas. Breakfast will be served until 3 p.m., which is a very civilized decision and one we fully support.

There is also a thoughtful local touch. Some menu items are expected to benefit Meals on Wheels San Antonio, including the country pâté, Caprese panini and Nutella waffle s’mores. A little France, a little San Antonio, and a little help for the community.

The location matters too.