When we were in charming Arles, France, during our recent Viking River Cruise, our walking tour guide told us: “When you go to any cafe in Arles, be sure you order ‘Un Pac’ or ‘Un Pac à l’eau’ drink. It’s what we all drink here in Provence.” Well, when a local gives us local food and drink recommendations, we listen. So, not knowing what we were really in for, we did indeed order the drink at a cafe we stopped in to escape the heat. Dutifully, we requested “Un Pac à l’eau” and what we got was amazingly simple, totally refreshing and delightful. What follows is less of a recipe and more a guideline to make it at home. Give it a try until you can get the real deal in Arles. 

Save this article to Pinterest so you can make a home version of Pac a l’eau until you can enjoy the real thing in Arles, France. Photo by Courtney Drake-McDonough. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

Home Version of Pac à l’eau

“PAC” is the brand name of a lemon syrup sold in France. But if you can’t get your hands on a bottle, a reasonable substitute is this French lemon syrup off of Amazon. You can also make your own lemon simple syrup (lemon juice, sugar, water and, if desired, lemon zest) like from this Taste of Home recipe.

How to make a homemade version of Pac à l’eau:

In a tall glass, pour lemon syrup about 1/4 of the way up the glass.
Add ice cubes.
Serve the glass of syrup and ice with a bottle of very cold bubbly or still water and a tall spoon.

Lemon syrup and ice before pouring in water.

Pour as much cold water as you wish over the icy lemon syrup and stir.
Taste it and adjust the amounts of syrup or water depending on how lemony and tart you want it.

With very cold water added, and a quick stir, we had a refreshing Pac à l’eau drink.

-Story and photos by Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher & Managing Editor of Real Food Traveler

Hungry for more? Read about Cafe Cortado culture.

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