Chateau Sainte Cecile

The frontage, clad in rust-coloured Corten steel, stands out against the beautiful stone façade that graces the town's circular boulevard. In the kitchen, the chef produces inspired, flavoursome and indulgent dishes. Free-range chicken and mushroom pâté en croûte, kohlrabi salad, red cabbage, apple and ginger chutney; confit pork cheeks, black pudding crisp, sauce charcuterie, potato mousseline and condiments; apple Charlotte made with textures of apple, amber beer gel and Petit Brun biscuit ice cream… A beautifully refined menu that hits the nail on the head!

This inviting restaurant in the heart of a winery is appealingly appointed with contemporary objets d'art and exotic wood furnishings and overlooks the Cévennes. The perfect foil to sample contemporary bistronomic cuisine: duck magret, spicy jus, roast melon in elderflower; panacotta flavoured with lavender honey, apricots and a dairy mousse. Most of the produce is local and seasonal, like the lovely fruity olive oil which is produced on the estate. A fine list of wines from the estate and nearby vineyards, and an impressive selection of wines by the glass.

This 1920s Art deco building has a modern extension replete with curving floral scrolls and a rotunda dining space decked in soft, natural materials echoing organic shapes. The couple at the helm, Stéphan Paroche and Justine Viano (formerly La Table de Castigno), crafts a modern programme in the form of several surprise menus, including vegetarian options. Indeed, it is their veggie-centric compositions – such as the appetisers or the seafood starter – that best exemplify the couple’s high-flying talent. The excellent wine list, featuring wines from Languedoc and Roussillon as well as the Rhôn

An Alter-Native – or another birth, even a rebirth – is how Gilles Goujon views this restaurant project. In Béziers, where he grew up and studied, the chef of the Auberge du Vieux Puits, who needs no introduction, is carving out a new niche: developing a concept of eco-responsible seafood- and plant-forward cuisine. With vegetables from the aquaponics garden and other treasures from the South of France, the executive chef cooks up appetisingly generous and no-nonsense dishes, such as his courgette rolls "Hommage à Roger Vergé". There is a pleasant terrace-patio for sunny days.

In this friendly brasserie, they serve up uninhibited Mediterranean cuisine, cleverly blended with other influences. The menu features a selection of tapas (hummus with cumin and pita bread; croquetas de jamón), picas such as lamb kebab with za'atar and sumac, or grilled octopus. More elaborate dishes include semi-salted cod, watercress and gnocchi, lemon and caviar emulsion. And then there are the tasty desserts. A down-to-earth concept, with sharing in mind. The lunch menu is a steal. A resounding success.

The house where the poet Achille Maffre de Baugé was born is home to this very popular restaurant: the delicious and meticulous cuisine is anchored in French tradition (the pâté en croûte is excellent!). Made using fresh produce, this is particularly artfully plated food. To be enjoyed in a dining space with a vaulted ceiling or out on the pleasant patio.

A few minutes from his MICHELIN-starred restaurant, Matthieu de Lauzun ("MDL") has given a new lease of life to this place, which used to be a private wine cellar. Within these thick stone walls, a laid-back clientele embraces the culinary experience in this buzzing atmosphere. The menu draws on the treasures of the Mediterranean terroir: stuffed tomatoes, Andalusian gazpacho and house-made pâté en croûte sit alongside sea bream tartare and beef cheek confit. With both modest labels and renowned names, the well-constructed wine list, shared with the MICHELIN-starred restaurant, has something f