This is the 8023rd most frequent French word.
taton
"Feeling one's way" or "trial and error."
The word "tâtons" in this sentence refers to the action of feeling one's way around, typically with hands, in a situation where visibility is limited.
Il avançait dans le noir à tâtons.
He moved forward in the dark by feeling around.
Here, "à tâtons" describes a tentative manner of approaching a problem or situation, often involving trial and error.
Elle recherche la solution à tâtons, en essayant différentes possibilités.
She is searching for the solution tentatively, trying different possibilities.
In this sentence, "à tâtons" emphasizes the sense of exploration and coincidence, as if finding the café happened while feeling one’s way around without clear direction.