Nice
There’s barely enough room to swing a pan in this tiny street bistro, especially when it’s full of diners (as it often is), but it doesn’t seem to faze…
Must-see restaurants in France
Gironde
Feast on stunning views of the Dune du Pilat and fresh oysters farmed by sixth-generation ostréiculteur Denis Bellocq at this traditional white wood house…
Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville
Old and new timbers create a warm environment at this hotspot, which specialises in meat, fish and vegetable skewers cooked over Japanese binchōtan (aka…
Normandy
For cutting-edge cuisine concocted from top-quality ingredients, this Michelin-starred place is worth seeking out. Chef Christian Arhan has a soft spot…
Chamonix
Franco-Japanese-Scandinavian fusion may not be the most obvious recipe for success, but this casual, Swedish-skippered restaurant has been making diners…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
Consistently hailed as the best crêperie in northern Paris (it's been around since 1976), old-world Pen-Ty is well worth the detour. Book ahead to enjoy…
Alsace
Market-driven menus and a cocoon-like setting of dark-wood panelling and lamp lighting draw locals to À l'Agneau. This family-run affair serves…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
Raw Jersey milk, organic eggs and fresh fruit, and wild herbs from southern France go into this Provençal ice-cream maker's sublime glaces (ice creams)…
Paris
In salvaging this history-steeped spot within a 16th-century building, star chef Daniel Rose pays homage to the former wholesale markets, erstwhile…
Latin Quarter
Latin Quarter students pack out this sandwicherie (sandwich bar) at lunchtime and for good reason. Delicious, made-to-measure sandwiches embrace dozens of…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
Sébastien Mauvieux, famed for his baguettes, also bakes outstanding corn bread, rye and seasonal chestnut loaves and other varieties of pain at his…
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
A great find, in the village of Lapeyrouse, about 5km southwest of Villars-les-Dombes. Le Comptoir des Dombes feels both relaxed and elegant, with…
Yonne
For a special treat, stop in at this unexpected gastronomic gem in the modest village of L'Isle-sur-Serein, 15km north of Avallon. The classically…
Corsica
You’d never guess from its crisp modern appearance, with huge sea-facing windows and outdoor terrace, but this family-run restaurant has been open since…
The Northeast Coast
At this hillside restaurant, alongside the D80 in open countryside 8km north of Nonza, local seafood and Corsican charcuterie take centre stage. Its stone…
Troyes
A talented husband–wife team shakes the pans at this sweet, intimate bistro in the heart of historic Troyes. Classic French home cooking with a pinch of…
Golfe du Morbihan
In business for over 30 years, this tempting crêperie is one of the best on the harbourfront. It prepares perfectly buttered Breton crêpes and galettes,…
Nantes
Follow locals to the iconic bistro of 'chef magicien' Christophe François, who runs this hugely successful locavore address with his wife Véronique…
Marseille
The flagship restaurant of Marseille-born gastronomic star Gérald Passedat, Le Petit Nice is a true dining destination. Set in a 1917 seafront villa on…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
It's worth detouring a couple of blocks west of Canal St-Martin to this contemporary corner bistro with lime-green seating on a sunny pavement terrace…
Rouen
Grab a seat at the horseshoe-shaped bar at this casual but polished eatery located inside Rouen's covered market for uberfresh seafood. Specials change…
Poitiers
Be prepared to dine extremely well at this brilliant modern bistro. Chef Grégory Delhaie roots his cuisine firmly in French tradition, infused with a…
Paris
Mirrored ceilings create a space-defying effect in Jean Paul Gaultier's former flagship, now transformed into a spectacular trattoria. Premium ingredients…
Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville
The lunchtime queue stretching halfway down the street from this place says it all. This Parisian favourite, 100% worth the inevitable wait, is the…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
Scarcely changed in a century, with lemon- and lime-tiled walls, horseshoe-shaped zinc bar and burgundy banquettes, this neighbourhood treasure endures in…
Clermont-Ferrand
Defying the myth that restaurants on a main square are often tourist traps, this exceptional bistro pulls seasonal produce into dishes that feel unrushed,…
Chamonix
This design-conscious diner marries Scandinavian style with crisp Nordic flavours. Within, the Comptoir is defined by clean lines and slate tiles. Seafood…
Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville
You will never look at a simple éclair the same way again after visiting this swish boutique of highly creative pastry chef Christophe Adam. Exquisitely…
Aix-en-Provence
This elegant restaurant is set perfectly on the ground floor of a handsome 18th-century hôtel particulier in the Quartier Mazarin. Two salons sit beneath…
Savoie
Savoyard cheese becomes a high-end experience at this pine-walled dining room, arranged around a central fireplace. Mannerly service and a comprehensive…
St-Germain & Les Invalides
Some quite extraordinary natural wines are paired with creative French cuisine at this fashionably no-frills place with pea-green façade on trendy rue du…
Annecy
This outstanding bistro puts a gourmet spin on galettes (traditional buckwheat-flour crêpes). Try seafood galette La Breizh or the enormous Napolitaine,…
Paris
A generous smattering of pavement-terrace tables flags this vibrant neobistro where inventive, tempting menus are created in the open kitchen from high…
Clermont-Ferrand
Chefs here seem to have enormous fun designing tapas-style nibbles like 'cappuccino' (vegetable stew with a ham foam), mini burgers with raclette cheese,…
Honfleur
For an inexpensive and casual meal, La Cidrerie is a superb choice, serving up a winning combination of piping-hot galettes (savoury buckwheat crêpes) and…
Île de Ré
For an authentic taste of island life, spurn St-Martin's portside restaurants and pick up the cycling path to Ars-en-Ré – on foot or by bike. Within…
Côte d'Azur
Unbutton those belts: this gastronomic wonder sets out from the start to tickle your tastebuds and expand your waistline to the point of no return. Master…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
Miznon's popularity in Le Marais prompted this 2018 opening on Canal St-Martin. Queues extend out the door at lunch (it doesn't take reservations) for…
Paris
At this navy blue–fronted boutique-tearoom, celebrity chef Cyril Lignac sells his superb range of chocolate bars – over 25 different varieties in flavours…
Versailles
Every dish at this contemporary, bottle-lined bistro is based around a specific cheese, from starters such as Cantal mille-feuille (layered pastry), to…
