Les Calanques
This seasonal restaurant with excellent views has the best food in the Calanque de Sormiou. Reserve ahead – by phone only – which allows you to drive your…
Must-see restaurants in Provence & the Côte d'Azur
Nice
The pop-art prints and artfully distressed decor set the tone at this hip little Port Lympia place (the name means ‘The Factory’), which is equally…
Antibes
Just down the hill from the Marché Provençal, this heartwarming deli sells local goodies like charcuterie, cheeses and jams, and makes delicious gourmet…
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
The pick of the places to eat in Banon: an informal bistro-bar, which has a prodigious selection of local wines by the glass, partnered with delicious…
Avignon
Le Marmiton, the super-formal restaurant of Hôtel La Mirande, offers cooking classes (from €90) and a twice-weekly chef’s table (reservations essential)…
Nice
Everyone says the best socca (chickpea-flour pancakes) can be found in the old town, but don’t believe them – this place near Port Lympia has been in the…
Nice
Vegans and vegetarians are in heaven at this little cafe specialising in fresh cold-pressed juices, whole grains, local organic produce and raw desserts…
Vaucluse
Seasonal ingredients underpin everything at this charming village restaurant, so the menu changes throughout the year – but the flavours are always 100%…
Menton
Tucked behind Menton’s covered market, Maison Martin serves a good-value plat du jour (€11.90) and a house-made menu that highlights local specialities…
Nice
A true local institution, this friendly little kiosk makes some of Nice's best pan bagnat – Niçois sandwiches piled high with tuna and veggies and…
Côte d'Azur
St-Paul's most iconic destination is this restaurant at the entrance to town, with a gracious outdoor patio, a luscious lineup of Provençal specialties…
Vaucluse
Run by Nicolas and Andrea Bofelli, this is another superior, if rather cramped, address for Provençal dishes like crusty pork belly and roast veal. The…
The Luberon
Pretty much the only place to eat in Oppède-le-Vieux, great for inventive Provençal dishes: homemade tapenades, onion tarts, fish and meat in herby sauces…
Côte d'Azur
If you’re planning a picnic, stop at this mouth-watering bakery. Tarts of every kind (lemon meringue, pear and chocolate, raspberry and almond etc), sold…
Grasse
This stylish, well-situated cafe is the perfect stop between sights for lunch (creative salads, carefully crafted daily specials, soup or pasta of the day…
Côte d'Azur
Strawberry and Chocolate is a delightful cafe with an old-fashioned-deli feel on Roquebrune’s main square. Stop for a drink, an ice cream or a quick bite …
Vaucluse
Underneath Carpentras' 15th-century clock tower, this old village townhouse turns up surprises: a salon-style dining room decorated with Venetian lamps…
Var
Set back from the port’s hustle, this stylish place is good for gourmet Mediterranean cuisine. The best tables are on the streetside terrace, or there’s a…
St-Tropez
This portside hang-out gets its name from its previous owner – the short, muscular and apparently very hairy Henri Guérin! Stop here for breakfast or a…
Côte d'Azur
With its elegant red-and-blue nautical decor and portside terrace within grasp of the bobbing yachts, Le Sloop is a cut above the rest on this popular…
Arles
There's a French portion to the menu at this popular Moroccan brasserie by the Rhône, but we strongly recommend you stick to wonderful Maghrebian…
Vaucluse
Old-school French dining is the order of the day at Auguste's Cave – an apt name, as the restaurant is half-built into the rocky hillside. Food-wise,…
Cannes
Little Paris smacks of the French capital city with its quintessential Parisian brasserie decor. Like any brasserie worth its French fries, it serves food…
Nice
Next door to the cathedral, this venerable Vieux Nice gelateria is beloved for its ice cream, yes – but even more so for its homemade waffle cones, made…
The Luberon
Pleasant, if plain, French food is what you can expect at this longstanding restaurant in the town centre: roast duck, thyme-infused lamb and a fish of…
Marseille
Perched right on the water's edge in the port of Madrague, south of Marseille, this little seafood place specialises in the day's catch à la plancha …
Vaucluse
For picnics by the river, this excellent bakery has no shortage of foodie fare: big baguettes, homemade pastries and nougat, and the house speciality, bun…
The Luberon
Simple tapas, cold beers and a nice location on a tree-shaded square – the 'Spanish Inn' makes a pleasant spot for a quick lunch or pre-dinner snacks.
Nice
Straddling a prime stretch of beachfront at the heart of the Promenade des Anglais, Sporting serves up unbeatable Mediterranean views along with pizza,…
Avignon
Over 40 food stalls showcase seasonal Provençal ingredients. Cooking demonstrations are held at 11am Saturday. Outside on place Pie, admire Patrick Blanc…
Marseille
A good lunch bet, this small Italian deli serves pastas, ciabattas, salads and antipasti, and sells top-class Italian goodies to take away. Good Italian…
Villefranche-sur-Mer
In business since 1938, La Mère Germaine is an upmarket waterfront address for seafood, fish and more seafood, washed down with a splendid choice of wine.
Nice
The second branch of Nice’s fine maître glacier, in business since 1966, stocks all the flavours.
Bouches-du-Rhône
St-Rémy's most refined patisserie is elegant for afternoon tea – accompanied by the most delicate of French fancies, bien sûr.
Bouches-du-Rhône
Excellent pizza and pasta with a Sicilian spin – but the wonderful rooftop terrace is the bit that seals the deal.
Marseille
Baking some of the best pastries near the Vieux Port, Le Pain de l'Opéra also has plenty of savoury options.
Menton
Menton’s covered food market near the seafront bursts with local colours, scents and flavours.
Marseille
The south-facing terrace of this relaxed 'corner bistro' is usually thronged in good weather. But the locals aren’t here for the sun so much as expertly…
