Le Clos des Merveilles

In this restaurant near Aix-en-Provence, head chef Nicolas Bottero (previously in Grenoble) serves up exciting, flavoursome and fragrant cuisine. As a child, he used to spend time in the region visiting his grandmother, and has retained an affection for the colours of the South of France and an attachment to the land. You can tell as much from the green asparagus from Mallemort, sautéed à la minute, with creamy morels and a vin jaune emulsion, or the blood oranges on a baba au rhum infused with star anise and a refreshing sorbet. Local farmers are among his suppliers, and a small kitchen garde

Nadia Sammut is committed to "building a better-tasting world". Gluten, refined white sugar and milk have been banished from her kitchen, in favour of an impressive move towards different types of flour and fructose. Her vision is also reflected in the original and bold tasting menu, which has a particular focus on vegetables and draws on the history of the region and Nadia's family. Her partner Ernest, who is passionate about wine, selects and matures fish slaughtered according to the ikejime method. The vegetable garden also has its part to play in creating healthy and natural Southern Frenc

This 18C château is set in listed grounds with many species of trees, including an Atlas cedar planted by the late Queen Mother. The restaurant has taken up abode in plush sitting rooms on the first floor, while in summer, meals are served on the monumental terrace. The son of farmers from the Loire region, Marc Fontanne (formerly Le Prieuré at Villeneuve-lès-Avignon) started learning the ropes from his brother, a butcher and charcutier, at a young age. He serves three tasting menus, one of which is entirely vegetarian. Tempura and roasted dwarf broccoli with a red onion and basil jus; flame-l

This delightful conservatory overlooks the peaceful square of the picture postcard village of Puy-Sainte-Réparade. Nadège Serret and Olivier Charmardiras jointly craft enticing market-fresh fare into a seasonal menu in the zeitgeist that changes weekly depending on availability, although some family favourites, like duck foie gras with a seasonal fruit chutney or a dessert pastry chou filled with a wickedly addictive praliné cream, are regularly featured on the menu. The bang-on confident cuisine and sensible prices bear witness to the couple’s sincere desire to please.

At the boundary of the village, this establishment is nestled in a fine Provençal house complete with a terrace beneath an arbour. On one side is a table d'hôte set up to face the glass-paned kitchens, on the other is a cosy dining area decorated in pastel and olive-green tones. Chef Nicolas Seibold (previously at La Mutinerie in Lyon, featured on French TV's Top Chef, Le Negresco, La Dame de Pic and Ledoyen) is supported by his partner Clémence Bellemin, who provides smiling service. After carefully selecting his suppliers (fishermen from Le Grau-du-Roi, local market gardeners), this creative

This "petite maison" imbued with a genteel Provençal charm and recognisable by its yellow façade is the stomping ground of chef Éric Sapet. He elevates market ingredients like no other: mushrooms, including truffles, to which he dedicates a set menu in season, vegetables from local market gardeners, Provençal cheeses, game and also shellfish. A devoted gourmet and wine-lover, Sapet already has a solid career to his name and delivers classic Provençal cuisine rife with flavours. Be aware that the restaurant often gets fully booked.

This restaurant in the heart of the picturesque hilltop village of Ventabren is certainly one of the most elegant in the region. The interior design is strikingly modern: Scandinavian furnishings, angled mirrors on the ceiling and, of course, the superb panoramic view over the Étang de Berre and the valley of the River Arc. Under the direction of Toulon-born chef Dan Bessoudo, the creativity also extends to the fresh, colourful cuisine, which is full of contrasts and is made with carefully selected local produce.