In 1784, the Barretta Brothers took possession of the “Café Suisse”, the first coffee in Avignon, to create the “Café Barretta”, the Mecca of the Avignon bourgeoisie. The great hall was at the time a large interior courtyard, shaded by a majestic tree. Napoleon Bonaparte had frequented the site, leaving a slate of 60F there. Frédéric Mistral is said to have held his political meetings there, and one of the heiresses, Blanche Barretta, was one of the first women to join the Comédie Française.
In 2018, after a year of renovation, Richard Hemin and François Tassan rehabilitated the establishment and revived the old café under the name of "Grand Café Barretta". This welcoming place will offer, in addition to a restaurant menu in the brasserie spirit, a space for relaxation and meetings for its local or passing customers.