Les Orangers

Le Mas de Pierre, a luxurious hotel in immaculate surroundings, boasts a large ornamental garden, olive trees and a vegetable garden. Comfortably seated in the conservatory, which can be fully opened up and is set amid greenery, diners can enjoy an elegant setting and peaceful atmosphere... and contemporary, colourful, healthy and light cuisine. Sprinkled with flowers and aromatic plants from the garden, the unique menu reveals a delightful culinary personality, natural and very plant-based. The presentation is refined, and a lot of thought has gone into the way the menu unfolds. At Dolce Prov

Chef Alain Llorca has dropped anchor in an inn at the entrance to this picture postcard village, which also found favour with iconic figures ranging from Matisse, Braque and Chagall to novelist James Baldwin and the legendary Montand-Signoret duo. In a 17C former oil mill whose millstone and press are still visible, the kitchen sings an ode to bistro fare (veal blanquette and pilaf rice, beef tartare and fresh fries, black pudding with apples) and specialties from Nice like roast squid and risotto of Nice courgettes.

Between Antibes and Cagnes-sur-Mer, this village owes its fame to its art glassware and its pottery, thanks to a soil rich in clay. In fact, Michaël Fulci’s parents opened their restaurant in a former potter’s studio, the kiln of which is now a delightfully snug lounge! In fine weather, the shaded trellis of the alfresco patio attracts diners like bees to honey… Michaël Fulci is a bona fide Mediterranean chef, who learned the ropes with legends such as Alain Ducasse and Roger Vergé, no less… The menu naturally enough overflows with fruit and veg from local markets, from courgette flowers and M

Fruit and veg from local producers, fish from local fishermen, meat from southwest France and a knockout lineup of Basque cheeses: the “flavour workshop” more than lives up to its name! Examples include fillet of Galician beef with a gravy laced in Espelette pepper and mashed seasonal veg… A 100% Basque menu is available to order, in tribute to the chef’s roots.

Nestled within the medieval ramparts of Vence, this small restaurant, whose name refers to salt (cast your mind back to chemistry lessons: NaCl is the chemical formula for sodium chloride), serves authentic seasonal cuisine that takes a no-nonsense approach. The menu changes depending on the food markets, and the lunch set menu is a great deal. Friendly service.

The stylish, low-key Saint Martin Hotel, whose rooms command sweeping views over the hillsides of Vence and the Mediterranean, is most definitely a treat for the eye. In the plush dining room or on the breathtaking terrace, you will sample intelligently devised dishes underscored by high-flying craftsmanship and a sprinkling of inspired associations.

Fleur de Sel, taken over by a couple of young industry professionals, Alexis Cachat and Chloé Feuillet, has the requisite crunch, freshness and flavour. The promising pair met while plying their trade at a MICHELIN-starred restaurant in the Massif de l'Estérel, and are now delighting their own guests with meticulous Mediterranean cuisine. Taking their cue from the seasons, they offer good value for money: courgette flower stuffed with ricotta, olives, anchovies, fresh herbs, gazpacho and crunchy local courgette. Chloé not only provides cordial service, she is also in charge of desserts: think