La Source

This chef, originally from Vietnam, meticulously prepares inventive and instinctive cuisine that is constantly evolving. The single multi-course set menu allies local produce and exotic touches in dishes that are colourful and fragrant. With its exposed beams and hardwood floors, the traditional interior opens onto a veranda that leads onto a pleasant terrace overlooking an imposing metal statue of a rearing horse.

You can't miss this 18C coaching inn with its blue cart on the roof, in a nod to René Barjavel's eponymous book in which he recounts his childhood in this part of the world. The spirit of the region is everywhere, from the terrace shaded by a reed canopy to the generous regional cuisine, examples of which are a terrine of marbled ham, warm potato salad with a spicy ravigote sauce and a decadent île flottante (egg whites in custard) in a culinary lineup as patriotic as the Marseillaise!

In the deliciously homely dining room decked in miscellaneous paraphernalia, you will be treated to tasty regional fare presented in one season-driven menu. Examples include homemade rennet with foie gras or lacquered pork belly from Dieulefit with regional veggies. In fine weather, take a seat on the shaded terrace and savour the knockout view.

A fortified house during the Middle Ages, and a convent up until 1905, this "chalet" is now a hotel-restaurant run by the Prayer family, for whom tradition and generosity are the answer to everything. Their big-boned, wholehearted score reads like a vintage cookbook: hare pâté, fillet of trout and crayfish and Dauphiné ravioles, or a melt-in-the-mouth chocolate and vanilla ice cream extravaganza. Cosy rooms for overnight stays.

After a career at Christian Têtedoie’s restaurant (Lyon), Fei - Hsin and Jérôme Lamy decided to take over this place. He still works as a sommelier, offering appetising food and wine pairings that showcase his wife’s lovely cooking, which is inspired by her Taiwanese origins. A wonderful marriage of French and Asian.