杰尔曼之家酒店

In the heart of the old town of Pau, twin brothers, one a chef and the other a pastry chef, have successfully launched their family business in a modern bistro-style setting laid out over two floors, complete with a pastry counter and tea room. The menu is a real draw, and also represents great value for money. This talented pair bring a touch of magic to their apparently simple dishes, drawing on sweet and sour jus and a medley of condiments to enhance their ingenious and generous, yet always light cuisine. Think confit pork belly, barbecue jus, pickled vegetables, radishes, polenta croquette

Arnaud Chilo and his sister Marina embody the fourth generation at the helm of this family inn established back in 1937. They brought a breeze of change, illustrated by new furniture and a reappointed dining room, which has happily retained its comforting rustic character, without forgetting the splendid view over the lush valley and the mountains from the terrace. The delicately updated cuisine is liberally sprinkled in fine Basque produce and keeps pace with the seasons: smoked trout; baked pollock in a crust; 7-hour slow-roasted shoulder of lamb…

In this mountainous area on the edge of the Basque Country, this traditional establishment is simply charming. It is also the repository of a family history going back four generations. Ximun has now taken up the mantle, serving delicious traditional cuisine, characterised by generous portions and tasty well-matured broths and jus. The ingredients are local, and the suppliers are duly listed on the menu. This is comforting fare (think duck raviolo, mix of mushrooms, langoustine bisque; "Axuria" lamb: pressed lamb, macaroni gratin, Xipister, lamb jus), to enjoy in the bright, somewhat rustic-st

Artzain means "shepherd" in Basque – in tribute to the owner’s father. Located in the centre of the village, this converted barn has retained a rustic feel, courtesy of old rafters and stone walls, which are contrasted with a contemporary edge thanks to furniture by Basque craftsman Alki. The menu features an enticing cast of seasonal and predominantly local ingredients that never disappoints: a country dish of black pudding, sausage, fresh pork belly, Tarbais beans and powdered garlic bread, or a wafer-thin tartlet of fresh goat’s cheese, confit lemon marmalade, squid and herb-spiked sorbet.

This 19C house near Pau is the haunt of a couple, chef Olivier Nicolau from Lescar, and his partner Karine, in charge of the service, both of whom learnt the ropes in star establishments. The subtle, niftily crafted repertory showcases regional produce: Projan squab, Lucq-de-Béarn mushrooms, Bahus-Soubiran lemon, Poey-de-Lescar pepper… Intelligent surf and turf combinations and generous helpings add the final touch to this epicurean portrait.

Authenticity is the name of the game in this Landes "inn" that specialises in hearty, wholesome food, far removed from fads and fashions. The menu shines a light on the local terroir – beef from the Fermes de Chalosse network of farms, fattened free-range duck, milk-fed veal, sheep's milk cheese from a village shepherd and additive-free house-made sourdough bread. An open sandwich with pork shank terrine and confit pig's ears, with an orange and endive salad, or their iconic veal sweetbreads in Jurançon wine served in a skillet: the generous portions are a throwback to a bygone era. Warm welco

In the Jurançon hillsides, this handsome 19C white mansion with a slate roof and set in wooded grounds is enjoying a new lease of life in the hands of a locally-born couple, Basque chef Patxi and his Béarn wife, Marilyn. The couple has tastefully revamped the bourgeois interior, whose windows command knockout views of Pau below. The decor provides the perfect foil for the veteran chef’s talented craftsmanship which slaloms between tradition and modernity. All of which is anchored in a commitment to sustainable fishing and local producers, illustrated by cèpe ravioles served with a mouthwaterin