La Porterie

In a quiet street bang in the heart of Moulins, we don't need to be asked twice to take a seat in the snug dining area. In the equally dinky kitchen, the chef-owner crafts honest, homely, seasonal fare, illustrated by provençal aïoli with loin of cod and whelks, or grilled duck breast with lemon-spiked polenta and moussaka-style stuffed courgette.

(Temporarily closed) In a stylish Napoleon III mansion in the heart of Vichy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jacques Decoret rolls out his inventive repertory founded on local country produce. He is surrounded by his family (Martine, his wife, in the front of house and his sons in the kitchen: Alexis, savoury chef and Antoine, pastry chef). The score is decidedly surf and turf-centric: cubes of langoustine tails, lentils from the Quatre Vents farm, creamy stock and red butter; roast fillet of lamb, seaweed-spiked Charroux mustard and Cancale oyster seasoning. Finish your meal with the incredibl

Break up your journey with a gourmet interlude at this family-run establishment! Matthieu Omont skilfully crafts creative cuisine for guests to enjoy in a spruce modern setting. A champion of the Bourbonnais terroir, the chef showcases ingredients sourced from small-scale producers, the kitchen garden and the orchard, but not to the exclusion of fish and shellfish fresh from Brittany – such as langoustines from Le Guilvinec crusted with thyme, artichoke and a hazelnut oil jus, or duo of quail, celeriac mousse and browned ceps. The excellent house-made bread made using heirloom flours is the id

This rustic village house is the lair of Maud Millet, who conjures up stylish, flavoursome, signature cuisine that is entirely made from scratch – from the bread to the charcuterie made out of organic Gascony pigs raised by her hubbie, Benoît, who also lends a hand in the dining room. The focus is on cherry-picked local ingredients, e.g. courgette flower stuffed with pike and a jus of Loire crayfish. The couple champions authentic, hand-crafted cuisine presented in a single set menu and served in a warm, homely vibe. The epitome of a French country restaurant.

Ten kilometres outside Vichy in a village dominated by a 12C fortress, this inn is near a bridge over the Allier dating from the 1930s. In a contemporary interior, the owner-chef signs a single set, market-sourced menu at a bargain price and a more elaborate score in the evenings: roast tomatoes in aspic, espuma of stracciatella in a gazpacho or a ‘blesotto’ of bouchot mussels and cockles with a shellfish foam. When the weather is fine, the shady terrace overlooking the river is truly blissful!

A picturesque medieval village provides the backdrop for this attractive 14C building, which houses a restaurant boasting an elegant contemporary interior and a terrace overlooking the garden. Chef Quentin Dorangeville, who hails from France's Sarthe département, cooks up seasonal cuisine that is as meticulous as it is ambitious. Using fine ingredients, he creates balanced combinations, such as medallion of blue lobster, tomato, preserved lemon and courgette cream with ginger. Good food and service with a smile!

Nestled in the spa district, the Fer à Cheval shopping mall surrounds the bandstand and the Source de l'Hôpital, which location lends it an undeniable charm. This is the setting in which chef Marlène Chaussemy has set up shop, creating an attractive contemporary decor for her restaurant. Opt for the dining area overlooking the park. By focusing on freshness and seasonality, this cuisine revolving around top-notch ingredients delivers on its promises: tender rack of pork, flavoursome parsnips, delicious delicately breaded black pudding, chocolate soufflé with ice cream and banana flambéed with