Chartres
Food shops and restaurants surround Chartres' canopied market, just off rue des Changes south of the cathedral. The market itself dates from the early…
Must-see restaurants in France
Alsace
If you're craving a little spice, this sweet and simple Thai place serves up the real deal. The curries are authentic and there's rarely an empty table at…
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…
Le Havre
Upstairs in the Musée Malraux, this is a fine, contemporary-styled choice to tuck into well-executed French classics, with the added bonus of ample…
Tours
This is Tours' 'gastronomic heart'. Market stalls – 38 of them – sell everything you could want for a picnic, including fine cheese, wine and prepared…
Rouen
A candlelit, semiformal restaurant that serves outstanding French and Norman dishes, including succulent beef, Dieppe-style seafood stew and rich crème…
Reims
Piles of tantalising fresh produce from the region are displayed in the art-deco splendour of Reims' covered market hall.
The Dordogne
Chef Hervé Battiston has made this sweet little restaurant a favourite, thanks to artful French food served up in a pretty 12th-century cloister. Reserve…
Alsace
Skip dinner and go straight for dessert at this tearoom famous for its delectable kougelhopf (a ring-shaped marble cake), petits fours and pastries.
The Dordogne
Reserve ahead for the popular restaurant where Laétitia whips up cutting-edge seasonal périgourdine cuisine in St-Pompon, 16km southwest of Domme.
Cahors
Food sourced from the region stars at this urbane bistro. Puce-and-cream armchairs set the designer tone; the short menu changes with the seasons.
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.
Côte d'Or
This intimate restaurant serves up refined, inventive versions of French dishes. No artifice or posing here, just excellent, if sometimes surprising, food.
Rouen
This covered market by the Église Jeanne d’Arc has an excellent fromagerie (cheese shop) as well as fishmongers and other purveyors of foods.
Lyon & the Rhône Valley
Le Bistrot des Clercs is known far and wide for its generous portions of regional specialities and solid brasserie fare served in a convivial atmosphere.
Finistère
The crêpes at this very popular, homey and affordable crêperie really are worth writing home about. Service is very friendly, but it can get packed.
The Dordogne
Specialises in local products such as duck foie gras. Dine in the intimate stone room with the tinkle of glasses, or under plane trees on the square.
Metz
At Chez Mauricette, Mauricette tempts with such Lorraine goodies as herby saucisson, local charcuterie and mirabelle (plum) pâté.
Le Bugue
An easy, light-hearted spot to grab a bite of local charcuterie, cheese and a glass of wine, all day long. In Le Bugue, 13km northwest of Trémolat.
Nice
The second branch of Nice’s fine maître glacier, in business since 1966, stocks all the flavours.
Parc National des Pyrénées
One of many shops selling the fruity sweets known as berlingots, a hard-candy that comes in many flavours and is a speciality of Cauterets.
The Dordogne
Modern dining in an old-town setting with a wisteria-covered terrace right opposite a medieval gateway. Food is French with an adventurous slant.
Limoges
Checked tablecloths, laughing locals and blackboards stuffed with regional dishes: what more could you want from a Limoges bistro? Reserve ahead.
Finistère
This mouth-watering patisserie-chocolaterie with an adjacent salon de thé has a wide and very tempting assortment of goodies.
Sarlat-la-Canéda
The best of Sarlat's budget picks, come here for charcuterie, potatoes, salads and Savoy cheeses (fondue and Raclette) and nary a duck in sight.
Paris
This vegan eatery offers quite a few mock-meat dishes like poulet végétal aux champignons (‘chicken’ with mushrooms). No alcohol.
Lyon
Manna from heaven for Lyon's oft-neglected vegetarians, this place serves a fully meatless menu with abundant organic and gluten-free options.
Relais St-Jacques de Compostelle
Limousin
The best part of this hotel-restaurant in the centre of Collonges is its terrace with views of mauve turrets, and its classic French cuisine.
Strasbourg
This chilled-out bistro is hailed for its solid and liquid organic chocolate (ginger is superb), day specials (€10) and weekend brunches.
Bouches-du-Rhône
St-Rémy's most refined patisserie is elegant for afternoon tea – accompanied by the most delicate of French fancies, bien sûr.
Colmar
A chilled spot for breakfast, lunch or brunch, Bistrot Gourmand is the go-to place for coffee, crêpes, salads and yummy homemade desserts.
Finistère
This cute and inviting crêperie enjoys a cosy setting and a bumper and enticing selection of savoury galettes and sweet crêpes.
Savoie
Grab-and-go or settle beneath the wood-beamed ceiling for excellent crêpes with hams, cheeses and smoked salmon expertly folded within.
Montmartre & Northern Paris
A past winner of Paris’ ‘best baguette’ prize, Delmontel specialises in delicious pastries, cakes, macarons and artisanal breads.
Strasbourg
This sweet, petite Thai has friendly service, warm lighting, red walls and a reliable menu of nicely spiced noodle dishes and curries.
Lyon
Led by the talented chef Joël Salzi, Les Fines Gueules serves beautifully rendered Lyonnais classics in a convivial old town setting.
Bayeux
Stalls sell farm-fresh edibles at place St-Patrice (Saturday morning) and right in front of the tourist office (Wednesday morning).
The Dordogne
Create your own salads, grab a thick slice of quiche or juice up at this colourful pay-at-the-counter cafe. Continuous service.
Arras
Arras' twice-weekly food market stretches across the city's three central squares; Saturday's market is especially huge.
Paris
Classic fish and chips are cooked up by this food truck along with salmon gravlax, tuna tataki and other seafood dishes.
