Hotel Mercure Villefranche-sur-Saone

You are sure to feel right at home in this charming stone-built inn set in a picturesque little wine-growing village. In a chic and cosy setting, the surprise set menu (only the ingredients are listed) stars seasonal produce, which are presented in carefully crafted dishes. This skilfully prepared and delicious cuisine is classic at first glance, but often scattered with unorthodox notes (Japanese chilli condiment, Maury-chocolate sauce etc). There are a few comfortable guestrooms for overnight stays.

In 1984, Guy Lassausaie took over the kitchen at this family-run establishment, founded four generations earlier in 1906. In an elegantly refurbished interior done out in shades of grey, black and white, the chef (a Meilleur Ouvrier de France) has charted a remarkably assured course, enthusiastically celebrating local and, more generally, French tradition, with flashes of creativity. Think fillet of brill with vanilla beurre blanc, salsify and porcini, or Ain pigeon hay-roasted in a sealed cocotte, full-bodied jus and baby vegetables. Feelgood food that delivers the odd surprise.

Here in the capital of the historical Beaujolais province, this aptly named restaurant boasts a contemporary decor with blue walls, untreated wood and a glass-fronted wine cellar. The dishes, of course, showcase seasonal produce with precision. On this occasion, options included soy-cured egg yolk with shiitake mushrooms and asparagus espuma; pork pluma with artichokes barigoule and a full-bodied liquorice jus; and a chocolate and coffee duo with contrasting textures. The lunch menu is updated every week; the seasonal menu changes throughout the year. Smooth service and a regional wine list.

This 18C edifice by the River Saône feels like a cross between a trendy guinguette and a country house. The food is resolutely in the zeitgeist, but for all that does not neglect French classics, a case in point being pan-fried frogs' legs or sautéed calf’s sweetbread. Peaceful, cosy terrace.

With such a name, Le Beaujolais could hardly fail to pay tribute to a region renowned for its fine food and wines! The friendly couple at the helm have risen to the challenge with panache, treating diners to appetising market-fresh cuisine that draws on tradition. The dishes are both delicious and hearty: gougère with snails, persillade and leek fondue; Arctic char steak roasted skin-on; Bresse fromage blanc dessert.

After many years with the Bocuse group, chef Luc Abadie has set up shop in this restaurant with a partially open kitchen that allows him to interact with his customers. His traditional cuisine is perfectly crafted and bears the hallmarks of the late Paul Bocuse – namely an absence of contrived creativity and unnecessary convolutions. The culinary offering, which is the same for lunch and dinner, is based on an excellent-value weekly set menu – eg carrot royale with cumin, roast rack of pork with herbs and white beans – and an à la carte menu on which the dishes are just as classical, but made

The twin of the Lyon Café Terroir, this restaurant is located in the grounds of Domaine Saint-Cyr, the wine estate in Anse, on the edge of the Beaujolais area. A new take on Lyon specialities, excellent roast meats for sharing and an extensive wine list, on which the estate takes centre stage alongside vintages from Beaujolais and other terroirs, all from independent winegrowers. The place has a rustic and welcoming bistro feel and a terrace looking out onto the surrounding countryside.