Clos Monicord

In the world-famous village of Saint-Émilion, Yannick Alléno rigorously oversees the restaurant of this luxury hotel, once a convent, whose nuns offered sanctuary to pilgrims and travellers. Chef Sébastien Faramond and his team turn out finely tuned dishes that lean towards the Aquitaine terroir of Southwest France, enhanced by remarkably intense sauces and reductions: koji risotto cooked in Graves wine, grated aged Mimolette cheese and cockles au naturel; the signature dish of "pigeon soufflé et rôti au feu d'enfer, bec façon ortolan, filet au jus de presse en amertume d'oseille"; warm chocol

In the heart of the town, this logis dating back to 1848 is one of Saint Émilion’s oldest restaurants. Picture plush, cosy dining rooms done up in the same elegant vein as the guestrooms available for overnight stays. The chef Thibaut Gamba crafts delicate, subtle dishes that showcase local produce as much as possible. Some of the fruit and vegetables come from the estate’s farm, as does the honey. Splendid wine cellar, with a knockout selection of Bordeaux reds, ideal when sampled with the establishment’s superlative range of cheeses.

This restaurant is something of a UFO in Bordeaux’s gourmet landscape, courtesy of a striking glass and concrete structure, castle stables, views of the Pont d’Aquitaine suspension bridge and a rock music soundtrack. The same is true of the cuisine of Vivien Durand, a chef bursting with original ideas who reinterprets Gallic culinary conventions with a keen gastronomic eye. A daring gamble given his apparent dismantling of tradition, but one that hits the spot every time! Xipister-flavoured tagliatelle of squid, pig’s head terrine with a gutsy gravy and Périgord truffle or an amazing onion sou

Perched on a small hillock, the highest point of Saint Émilion, this prestigious château lives up to expectations. In this special place, the pared-down dining room looks out onto the magnificent vineyard. Here, preserving biodiversity is a priority and every effort is made to respect the natural environment. In line with this ethos, chef David Charrier cooks up wholesome food, expertly making use of the well-honed techniques in his repertoire. His dishes are precisely prepared using rigorously sourced ingredients, including some from the estate: duck tart seasoned with mustard seeds, bitter o

Opposite the village's small railway station, an elegant Bordeaux-stone building now houses a refined trattoria. Chef and owner Pierre Rigothier has waved goodbye to Lune and its bistronomy cooking to usher in the cuisine of Italy (a passion of his) in a cosy, retro-style setting – honey-coloured stone walls, a solid wood table d'hôte and cane seats with velvet upholstering. The apparent simplicity of the cuisine belies the rigorous and skilful cooking and seasoning that goes into it, whether vitello tonnato or the perfect risotto. Reflecting true know-how, the menu is quite varied and serves

At the helm are Kendji Wongsodikromo, originally from New Caledonia, and his wife Nadège, who attentively manages the restaurant floor. In an unadorned building of the characteristic sandy hue of local stone with large bay windows, the chef cooks up colourful modern cuisine inspired by the market. Both local and international influences can be detected: coconut-ginger-verbena ceviche of dolfinfish, tomato-Espelette pepper sorbet, young rabbit terrine with garden herbs.

This neo-Romantic château built in 1902 lies in the heart of the Saint-Émilion vineyards. It blends a time-honoured setting with contemporary design and diners sit either in the Art Nouveau-inspired lounges or on the beautiful terrace that looks out over the grounds and a sea of vines. At lunchtime, bistronomy dishes such as crispy duck, finely puréed sweet potato and roasted hazelnuts are served. The dinner menu features more ambitious cuisine (roasted veal sweetbreads with Bordeaux butter, a medley of carrots and their tops, cardamom jus).