La Font Vineuse

This chef, originally from Vietnam, meticulously prepares inventive and instinctive cuisine that is constantly evolving. The single multi-course set menu allies local produce and exotic touches in dishes that are colourful and fragrant. With its exposed beams and hardwood floors, the traditional interior opens onto a veranda that leads onto a pleasant terrace overlooking an imposing metal statue of a rearing horse.

You can't miss this 18C coaching inn with its blue cart on the roof, in a nod to René Barjavel's eponymous book in which he recounts his childhood in this part of the world. The spirit of the region is everywhere, from the terrace shaded by a reed canopy to the generous regional cuisine, examples of which are a terrine of marbled ham, warm potato salad with a spicy ravigote sauce and a decadent île flottante (egg whites in custard) in a culinary lineup as patriotic as the Marseillaise!

A fortified house during the Middle Ages, and a convent up until 1905, this "chalet" is now a hotel-restaurant run by the Prayer family, for whom tradition and generosity are the answer to everything. Their big-boned, wholehearted score reads like a vintage cookbook: hare pâté, fillet of trout and crayfish and Dauphiné ravioles, or a melt-in-the-mouth chocolate and vanilla ice cream extravaganza. Cosy rooms for overnight stays.

In the deliciously homely dining room decked in miscellaneous paraphernalia, you will be treated to tasty regional fare presented in one season-driven menu. Examples include homemade rennet with foie gras or lacquered pork belly from Dieulefit with regional veggies. In fine weather, take a seat on the shaded terrace and savour the knockout view.

After a career at Christian Têtedoie’s restaurant (Lyon), Fei - Hsin and Jérôme Lamy decided to take over this place. He still works as a sommelier, offering appetising food and wine pairings that showcase his wife’s lovely cooking, which is inspired by her Taiwanese origins. A wonderful marriage of French and Asian.