La Pergola

En route to the French Riviera, Paris's upper crust, including movie stars from Mistinguett to Jean Gabin and Fernandel, used to stop off in this village so beloved of wine buffs. The restaurant, still named after its 1922 founder, Germaine Vion, features huge murals evoking Belle Époque Paris, in the style of Toulouse-Lautrec, and a delightful terrace commanding a panoramic view. The Mediterranean-inspired cuisine elevates the ingredients and vegetables of Provence. The splendid wine list includes a good selection of Châteauneuf-du-Pape labels.

On a hilltop in the heart of the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards, this flamboyant miniature Palais des Papes commands superb views over the vineyards, the Alpilles, the Luberon and Mt Ventoux. The restaurant serves delicate cuisine inspired by Provence and the Mediterranean: line-caught pike-perch, courgette flower and ricotta, shellfish jus; Costières de Nîmes pigeon cooked whole, corn with black garlic and Albufera sauce. All washed down with wines from the estate.

Near Avignon, this remote Provençal farmhouse set between cliffs and vineyards does not compromise on authenticity. The scents of the garrigue fill the tastefully renovated interior, which sports a harmonious blend of period details and modern fittings. In the kitchen, Maxime is assisted by his father, Serge Chenet, Meilleur Ouvrier de France. The pair share a love of all things natural and the seasonal ingredients bursting with the flavours of this sun-drenched region. These Bretons, who haven't turned their backs on the staples of butter and cream, work together to concoct a tasty Provençal-