Must-see restaurants in France

  • Auberge de la Forge

    Auvergne

    Auvergnat flavours receive a makeover at this restaurant in Glaine-Montaigut, 20km southwest of Thiers. Savoury tarts of boudin noir (black sausage) and…

  • Dans Les Landes

    Latin Quarter

    Treat yourself to a trip to the Basque Country: Gascogne chef Julien Duboué presents his artful, tapas-size take on southwestern cuisine, with whimsical…

  • Le Bistrot 9

    Fontainebleau

    With a timber-decked, canopied terrace that's heated in winter, this locals’ favourite has a cheerful red- and yellow-painted, bare-boards interior and…

  • Socca d'Or

    Nice

    Locals swear by the authentic Niçois specialities served at this low-key neighbourhood eatery: pan bagnat (southern France's iconic tuna sandwich) on…

  • À La Marmite Dieppoise

    Normandy

    This Dieppe institution is applauded for its hearty and rich marmite dieppoise (cream-sauce stew made with mussels, prawns and four kinds of fish – though…

  • Fric-Frac

    Montmartre & Northern Paris

    French snack croque monsieur (toasted cheese-and-ham sandwich) gets a contemporary makeover at this canal-side space. Gourmet Winnie (Crottin de Chavignol…

  • Chez Michel

    Montmartre & Northern Paris

    If all you know about Breton cuisine is crêpes and cider, a visit to Chez Michel is in order. The set menu (with supplements for some dishes) features…

  • Contraste

    Paris

    The dining room juxtaposes old (embossed timber panelling, gilt-framed mirrors) with new (designer lighting and lounge music) but the real contrast here…

  • Sanukiya

    Paris

    Don't wear your favourite shirt to this popular Japanese eatery as you'll undoubtedly emerge with a few stains after slurping up a bowl of freshly made…

  • Côté Jardin

    Cannes

    Craving a break from Cannes' glitz and grandiosity? This down-to-earth bistro on a residential backstreet is the perfect antidote. Enjoy superb-value…

  • Le Bistrot du Peintre

    Paris

    The 1902 art nouveau bar, elegant terrace, classic value-for-money bistro dishes including its signature pot au feu (beef stew), confit duck leg with…

  • Pink Flamingo

    Montmartre & Northern Paris

    Once the weather warms up, the Flamingo unveils its secret weapon – pink helium balloons that delivery staff use to locate you and your perfect canal-side…

  • Street Bangkok

    Paris

    Scaffolding, chicken wire and corrugated iron clads this neon-lit Thai street-food restaurant's open kitchen, which also has a take-away window opening…

  • Gramme

    Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville

    Lomi coffee and homemade rose lemonade kickstart the day at this on-trend coffee shop, bursting at the seams at weekends with Haut-Marais hipsters who…

  • Jeanne B

    Montmartre & Northern Paris

    Choose among the homemade terrines, stuffed veggies, salads, pies or roasted lamb and chicken at this gourmet sit-down deli, or go for the house…

  • La Closerie des Lilas

    Paris

    Brass plaques tell you exactly where Hemingway (who wrote much of The Sun Also Rises here) and luminaries like Picasso, Apollinaire, Man Ray, Jean-Paul…

  • Dolly's 2 Go

    Caen

    This take-out and 'petite sœur' branch of Dolly's round the corner is a small spot with fine smoothies, coffee and wholesome food, including delectable…

  • Kitchen Garden

    Bordeaux

    A fresh, seasonal cuisine bursting with veggies is what the Kitchen Garden predictably cooks up. Water jugs come stuffed with mint and lemon, and there's…

  • La Gare

    Paris

    A former Petite Ceinture steam-train station, the 19th-century, red-brick Gare Passy–La Muette, with soaring vaulted ceilings and a park-facing terrace,…

  • Soya

    Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville

    In an industrial atelier (workshop) with bare cement, metal columns and big windows, Soya is a 100% cantine bio (organic eatery) in what was once a…

  • Pianovins

    Paris

    Natural wine pairings are the hallmark of this cream-coloured bistro on a buzzing backstreet. The menu changes daily, but might feature pan-seared…

  • Aux Enfants Gâtés

    Paris

    There are just 20 seats at this bistro of retro marine-blue walls and bordeaux banquettes, so it's worth booking ahead. Modern bistro fare includes dishes…

  • Circus Bakery

    Latin Quarter

    Spectacular sourdough cinnamon rolls are the showstoppers at this bakery with a rustic dark-timber exterior and exposed stone and brick interior. Other…

  • Miss Kale

    Paris

    Buddha bowls, salads, sandwiches, soups, superb tartines such as roasted beetroot with goat's cheese and hazelnuts, and ultrahealthy desserts provide a…

  • Voyageur Nissart

    Nice

    There's a sense of rote predictability about this checked tablecloth bistro that's been cranking out Niçois favourites for the past several decades. The…

  • La Rotonde

    Paris

    Around since 1911 and as glamorous as the day it opened, elegant La Rotonde stands out from the Les Montparnos 'historic brasserie' crowd for its superior…

  • La Gauloise

    Nice

    With red and black booths and lashings of exposed brick, this cheerful place in the heart of the Libération neighbourhood serves up solid brasserie food…

  • Le Potager

    The Luberon

    Located at the lovely Bastide du Jas B&B, this refined restaurant has proved popular both with the locals and the foodie guides (it recently received a…

  • Kitchen

    Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville

    Sweet and savoury US-style pancakes – all milk- and gluten-free – are served in this tiny breakfast kitchen alongside granola with coconut yoghurt,…

  • La Cantine de Belleville

    Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville

    Belleville's local 'canteen' is a vibrant one-stop shop for dining, drinking and dancing after dark. Old-school chairs, vintage lighting, exposed…

  • Grazie

    Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville

    In a spectacular loft-style space with stripped walls, bare lightbulbs and a corrugated-iron bar, Grazie combines a chic restaurant serving a…

  • Le Sanglier

    Languedoc-Roussillon

    Freshness and value for money are the hallmarks of this popular eatery near the cathedral. Quintessential dishes include pavé de bœuf de l'Aubrac (Aubrac…

  • Le Comptoir Volant

    Lille

    Limousin beef and Flanders potatoes are among the premium ingredients used at this burger restaurant, which hand-makes its own buns, sauces and twice…

  • Chez Jules

    Orléans

    A great address for cuisine française familiale (French family-style cuisine). Reimagined four times a year, the menu features local products such as…

  • La Tour de Montlhéry – Chez Denise

    Paris

    The most traditional eatery near the former Les Halles marketplace, this boisterous old half-timbered bistro with red-chequered tablecloths stays open…

  • Le Canon

    Nice

    Elmahdi Mobarik and Sébastien Perinetti take locally sourced cuisine to the next level at this cosy neighbourhood bistro. Every farmer is listed by name…

  • El Nopal

    Montmartre & Northern Paris

    Operating out of a cupboard-sized hole in the wall, El Nopal sizzles up Mexican street food – bean, beef or pork burritos, meat, veggie or fish tacos,…

  • Le Taxi Jaune

    Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville

    Evening dining at the Yellow Taxi is not for the budget-conscious – but the excellent-value lunchtime menu is. Choose from a small but select choice of…

  • La Casita

    Camargue

    The charismatic couple who run this unpretentious address, with cartwheels for tables, cook up the catch of the day à la plancha (grilled) for eight…

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