Avignon
Deep in the medieval quarter, this welcoming bistro is a fun place to dine. Zinc tables, well-worn furniture and a busy, noisy kitchen out back conjure up…
Must-see restaurants in Provence & the Côte d'Azur
Antibes
Head uphill from the market and you shouldn't miss this titchy little bistro-cum-wine-bar – the tiny street terrace is usually full of diners, especially…
Avignon
This place is so hip it hurts, from its in-your-face street-art murals to its junk-shop decor and on-trend slogans. The menu changes regularly, so there's…
Nice
Market-fresh cuisine takes on new meaning at this lovely table d'hôte (home kitchen serving meals). Three times a week, Japanese chef Etsuko invites up to…
The Luberon
Bonnieux’ huge Friday-morning market is (along with Apt’s) one of the biggest and best in the Luberon. It sprawls over several streets in the village…
Vaucluse
For dinner on a warm summer night, 'At Home' has the pick of the settings of any of Orange's restaurants, on a side square next to a tinkling fountain…
St-Tropez
A good bet for beachside dining, this pan-European bistro-bar is on the way out of town. With its wood deck and swaying palms, it’s perfect for a…
Nice
A five-minute walk from Nice Ville train station brings you to this fab ice-cream shop founded by Milanese gelato master Roberto. Grab a scoop of…
Gorges du Verdon
The top place to eat in the village proper: classic Provençal cooking served with panache, either in the stone-walled dining room or on the terrace with…
Avignon
The chic dining room, in the former mansion of absinthe inventor Jules Pernod, is a fitting backdrop to the stylised Mediterranean cooking. Menus change…
Menton
Genuine, reasonably priced Breton crêpes make for a low-key lunch or dinner at this backstreet restaurant in the heart of Menton's old town. Everything,…
Côte d'Azur
Brothers Seb and Chris Terrier run this intimate bistro with its pleasant front terrace overlooking a square in the historic centre. The lunchtime plats…
Vaucluse
As the name suggests, market flavours underpin the menu here, from delicious homemade tapenades to pan-seared red mullet drizzled with olive oil and…
Cannes
Flowers on the tables, fresh floral decor, Italian food just like an Italian nonna (grandmother) makes and delicious home-made cakes make this hybrid…
Marseille
This swanky restaurant has a Michelin star and knockout water-level views from an elegantly austere dining room. Many splurge on what may be Marseille’s…
Antibes
The little side street behind Antibes' bus station has a clutch of great lunchtime restaurants, including this exotic Moroccan-tinged diner, which serves…
The Luberon
Go off the beaten path to find ice cream that's an art. Michel and Sigrid Perrière handcraft mind-boggling varieties of the sweet stuff: from lavender to…
Marseille
The Aixoise has given locals their daily bread, in all its forms – pain de campagne (country bread), crunchy ficelle (minibaguettes) or a classic baguette…
Côte d'Azur
No visit to Tourrettes is complete without a cup or cone of violet ice cream topped with a candied violet from Tom's. The town's beloved glacier (ice…
Aix-en-Provence
It’s all very cosy at Charlotte, where everyone knows everyone. French classics like veal escalope and grilled entrecôte steak are mainstays, and there is…
Avignon
When tastebuds tire of Provençal, consider this uber-cool Japanese restaurant. At home in a deconsecrated chapel on a beautiful stone-paved square in the…
The Luberon
Cuisines du monde is what’s on offer at this charming little bistro – in other words, a little bit of everything, from a splash of Asian spice to a…
Nice
This hybrid coffee shop–bistro is a perennially popular hang-out for discerning Niçois hipsters. It’s good for bagel sandwiches, lunchtime salads and…
Marseille
This deceptively shabby-looking restaurant opposite Plage des Catalans has been the culinary pride and joy of the Michel family since 1946. Contrary to…
Côte d'Azur
Enterprising chef-owner Romain Clavel-Millo founded this restaurant in the village centre when he was only 21, and has been winning accolades ever since…
Côte d'Azur
A Greek restaurant and beach club, Shellona is a little more relaxed than some of its immediate neighbours. Burrata, fish in Provençal herbs and…
Côte d'Azur
Blackboard menus, pavement tables, a wall of wines and hearty dishes such as steak béarnaise, fish soup and slow-roasted lamb: really, what more do you…
Vaucluse
The Geraniums makes a sweet spot for a country lunch (washed down with a glass of local wine, of course). It's a century-old old auberge – beamed inside,…
Marseille
Peron is a premium address for seafood in Marseille, with the advantage of a stunning cliftop perch and views over the water to the Îles du Frioul. Expect…
Aix-en-Provence
Smack bang in the centre of old Aix, this jolly little restaurant specialises in southwestern cuisine, which means copious amounts of duck, rabbit and…
St-Tropez
Super-friendly staff serve delicate specialities like a perfectly poached egg with foie gras, all under the watchful eyes of Marilyn, Brigitte and Audrey …
Parc National du Mercantour
Classic French food, friendly service and a pleasant parasol-shaded street terrace make this one of Digne's better dining options. Expect dishes such as…
Vaucluse
This renowned restaurant is still a destination address in Vaison, if only for its lovely riverside setting in a former olive-oil mill. The menus are…
Marseille
It doesn’t get more Gallic than the 'Dugo' – chalkboard menus, wooden floors, vintage signs, giant mirrors and whip-smart waiters. Soak up the atmosphere…
Avignon
From the checked tablecloths to the booth seats, handwritten blackboards and vintage signs, this reliable bistro is a fine spot for hearty French dishes,…
Cannes
This honest, no-fuss little diner seems somewhat out of place among the glitz and glam of Cannes. It's perfect for French classics, such as steak, duck…
Menton
Reservations are required at this delightful patio garden restaurant with tables clothed in lilac languishing al fresco between flowering magnolias and…
Avignon
Forget flowery French descriptions. The menu is straightforward and to the point at this bistro-bar, where the stark white furniture and studiously…
Côte d'Azur
This village inn seduces with a grand dining room in winter and a panoramic terrace in summer. Chef Thomas Millo carries on traditions inspired by his…
The Luberon
Apt’s huge Saturday-morning market attracts hordes of locals and tourists alike. If you really want to see what a marché Provençal is all about, then make…
