la maison de Valbois

In the heart of the Centre Pompidou-Metz is one of the few fine dining restaurants to be located in a French museum. The sleek, bright space is housed in a glass and metal setting with glimpses of the canopy of this stunning building; wood and cardboard furniture designed by Shigeru Ban adds to the serenity of the place. Roxane and Charles Coulombeau homed in on the smallest of details in a quest for excellence when it comes to the table design. A big fan of Japan, where he used to work, the chef cleverly combines seasonal ingredients from Lorraine with his passion for the Land of the Rising S

A charming little Italian restaurant run by a chef who hails from Lorraine but has Sicilian roots, and his Milanese partner. By no means fixated on the classic repertoire, the restaurant serves a tasting menu entitled "Scoperta della Pasta", which showcases their house-made pasta. Much care goes into dishes that incorporate top-notch, at times premium ingredients, many imported from Italy. With its pared-back decor, just a handful of tables, dark parquet flooring, white walls and colourful Abstract paintings, the interior is both contemporary and intimate. Excellent selection of local wines.

Established in a handsome mansion, abutting the Opera House and just behind one of France’s most beautiful squares, chef Charles Coulombeau and his wife Roxane are a firm fixture of Nancy’s culinary scene. After stints at Les Prés d’Eugénie and Lameloise, Charles deftly crafts modern cuisine, enhanced by creative flourishes and nods to Japan, where he worked for a time. Citrus, seaweed and Asian notes are perfectly paired with premium ingredients such as ikejime Vosges Arctic Char or plump Bresse chicken. Knockout terrace overlooking the park.

This family-run château restaurant serves meticulous cuisine, in which more contemporary touches meet classic foundations. As you might imagine, this 19C château in the Meuse Valley is a superb backdrop, with mouldings, old hardwood floors and plush drapes.

This ex-grocer’s shop is now a contemporary bistro, rich in flavour and colour, that hits the spot every time. The owner, son of a pastry chef, rustles up market-fresh cuisine in tune with the seasons, like this slow-cooked pork belly with baby onions and braising juices. Respect for the ingredients is the motto. Efficient, unobtrusive staff.

In the heart of a rural village, two brothers, Mickaël and Morgan Emo, have enthusiastically treated the interior of this former winegrower's house to a makeover in the zeitgeist. The chef regales diners with deftly crafted, appetising recipes, like carpaccio of scallops with celery or squab in truffles, squash and madeira sauce. Splendid wine cellar and knockout lineup of exceptional vintages by the glass.

In a 16C former larder and storeroom, nowadays the Citadelle Hotel, the culinary score reveals a gourmet streak paired with a generous nature: roast turbotin, butternut in almond milk and baby veg; fillet of organic Moselle beef, potato pie and Chinese cabbage… A storeroom with plenty of surprises in store!