lembaudie

Let’s get down to the basics (or the Essentials), rather than losing time in pointless conjectures. The ingredient rules in this family-run restaurant, next-door to the cathedral, and Éric Vidal is its virtuoso (yet humble) servant. For thirty or so diners, he organises a genuine banquet of flavour, thanks to delicately balanced preparations. Wild turbot baked in olive oil, pressed celery with black truffles; tartare of mango and pineapple with passion fruit jelly and French almond tea cakes… The tasty culinary score is flanked by a selection of wines that is fully equal to the attractive menu

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

It is so popular that you have to book weeks, even months in advance. In a peaceful, airy house opposite the church, Mickaël Clautour and Laura Legeay lovingly craft a seasonal score. The vibe in the dining room is warm and attentive, while the kitchen team finetunes each detail with a focus on taste above all. Chawanmushi-style flan of crab and grapefruit, confit trout with citrus fruit, apples and sweet chestnuts: every dish is a masterpiece of delicate simplicity steeped in heroically wondrous flavour. Even better, it is all at sensible prices.

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

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.

On the crossroads between Dordogne, Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne, Vigiers Castle is a splendid 16C Périgord edifice set in grounds that are home to a vineyard and a well-known golf course. This several hundred-year-old castle houses a restaurant whose walls are graced with frescoes dating from the Renaissance period. Virtuoso chef Didier Casaguana paints from a palette rich in flavours and aromas, directly inspired by the region. This Toulouse boy, who admits to an overriding passion for nature and small-scale producers, also works with noble produce from the land of abundance that is southwest

The idea was to unite Italian cuisine and the dishes of Périgord's terroir – and Maryse Benoit-Gonin and her husband have done just that in this cosy bistro. The generous, lovingly prepared dishes combine the best of both worlds: potato gnocchi with Périgord walnut oil; guinea fowl and pancetta terrine with foie gras; Périgord beef meatball alla milanese.