Nonna Gioia is the rooftop perched atop the JOST hotel in Montpellier, and it leans fully into its Italian grandmother theme: you know the Italian Mama? Here they give you the Mama of the Mama — the Nonna! It's an open-air spot for aperitifs in true Dolce Vita style, where homemade bruschettas, cromesquis, and other Italian flavours are enjoyed throughout the week, at lunch or at the end of the day. The real showstopper is the setting: a 360° view over the whole city and an exclusive open-air swimming pool (reserved for hotel guests), making it the ideal place to perfect your tan or enjoy an aperitif as perched as it gets. Open every evening with live music or a DJ set and an open kitchen, it welcomes guests without reservation — and reserves the right to close in bad weather.
The food is a parade of made-in-house Italian specialities, all designed to share among friends, solo, or at afterwork. Among the antipasti you'll find the Bruschetta del Sole with pesto, marinated aubergine, peppers, and courgettes and stracciatella; Arancini al Cuore with a molten mozzarella heart; a creamy Burrata Cremosa with marinated cherry tomatoes, green oil, and rocket; Polpette al Pomodoro with marinara, garlic bread, and pesto; the warm, spicy Focaccia Piccante with salame piccante and stracciatella; a gratinated Parmigiana della Casa; Salsiccia with crisp polenta; gnocchi al tartufo; lasagne tradizione; a rooftop pizzetta; and the generous Planche Nonna of taleggio, pecorino, mozzarella, mortadella, and Parma and rostello hams. To finish, there are dolci such as orange-blossom cannoli, a classic Tiramisu Mamma Mia, a red-fruit panna cotta, and the Affogato Bella Notte with hazelnut ice cream, espresso, and Bailey's. On select weekday lunches there's also a simple, sunny formula of a beef, chicken, or cuttlefish skewer with a choice of side.
Naturally, a rooftop calls for a spritz bar — that rooftop essential — and the barmen have put together a creative, flavour-packed list: the classic Aperol and Campari versions alongside house twists like the Spritz JOST with Picon and Noilly-Prat, the Charentais, and the Méditerranée. There are JOST signature cocktails (Coco Loco, Berry Fizz, Tiki Tiki), a mule bar, sharing cocktails by the litre, mocktails, and a short selection of largely local wines. Come summer, Sundays bring a pool-and-brasero ambiance with cocktails, DJ sets, sweets, and antipasti. With its sun-soaked Italian spirit, its homemade sharing plates, and that unbeatable rooftop view, Nonna Gioia is the perfect place for a sunset apéro high above Montpellier.