Elisabeth Arvati and her sister Agnès have taken over the former café-lecture Le Grin and turned it into a warm, open space. A former developer and chef with a background in the Corsican hotel trade, they embarked on a conversion project supported by the BGE, the Chambre des Métiers and the Coup de Pouce scheme run by Clermont Auvergne Métropole, which enabled them to acquire professional equipment and carry out refurbishment work.

Opened in January, Pamina offers home cooking inspired by southern cultures, simmered dishes, pastries and a welcome designed as a “safe place” for women. The venue also hosts workshops, exhibitions and meetings in partnership with local associations.

Pamina continues to expand, combining catering, café, cultural events and collaborative projects – all in the spirit of a lively, caring space.

Sisters Agnès and Elisabeth have set up Pamina in a place that has left its mark on the history of Clermont-Ferrand: the former café-lecture Le Grin, in the heart of the city center, then the Papageno children’s bookshop. Elisabeth Arvati and her sister Agnès have chosen to write their own chapter in the story, with a project they have been working on for a year and a common desire: to create a space in their own image, simple, lively and welcoming.

It’s a story of a new life: Agnès spent over twenty-five years in the hotel business in Corsica and Elisabeth was a computer developer. Both of them felt the need to change their career path and embark on a project that would enable them to express themselves in a different way. Agnès passed her cookery CAP, while Elisabeth immersed herself in business planning, with the help of the BGE and then the Chambre des Métiers. The adventure came to fruition with financial support, supplemented by the Coup de Pouce scheme from Clermont Métropole, obtained just before the opening.

Working in pairs, running a restaurant, managing a cultural venue: all this requires juggling many hats. For the time being, the two sisters handle everything themselves: cooking, service, management, communication and entertainment. “We’re everywhere at once, because we can’t afford to hire anyone else,” sums up Elisabeth. The workload is real, but so are the satisfactions: being self-employed, welcoming people to a place that reflects their own personality, and forging new collaborations. Partnerships with the Osez le féminisme association and FLAX are just two examples: workshops, exhibitions, meetings… the place is also built by what is shared here.

This dimension is at the heart of Pamina. The two sisters wanted to create a “safe” space for women, a serene place where they could feel comfortable and confident. The idea is based as much on their own experiences as on their professional trajectories. They already host a variety of workshops, including discussions on fast fashion, artistic interventions and children’s workshops.

The cuisine, too, bears the imprint of their stories. Inspired by family and southern cultures – Algeria, Italy, Spain, Corsica – the menu features home-cooked, local and seasonal dishes. Some classics are a regular feature: falafel, spinach and feta pie, stews like duck with olives. Agnès makes everything herself, brining, steaming and smoking beef from the Helbert butchery in Chamalières. A simple, generous cuisine that reflects their shared journey.

Last but not least, the name of the place is no coincidence: “Pamina” refers to the female character in The Magic Flute, in a nod to Papageno, the former occupant of the place. It’s an assumed continuity, but with a feminine tone that speaks well of their project: to revive an emblematic place by giving it a new lease of life, rooted in their values.

The two sisters are now continuing their installation, between lunchtime service, afternoon coffees and pastries, and carefully chosen entertainment. Their goal: a lively, artistic and welcoming place built around sharing.