La Grange de Boulaines

Chef Naoëlle d'Hainaut chose this small side street at the foot of Pontoise Cathedral as the location for her first restaurant. The result is a real success, from the elegant decor (Scandinavian style, light colours, glass-fronted wine cellar, open kitchen) to the contemporary cuisine. One dish that lingers in the memory is the iced lobster with a concentrated jus, roasted quinoa, shiitake mushrooms and a beurre noisette foam. Each dish rolls out the same technical skill, harmony of flavours and refreshing honesty, underpinned by well-paced, relaxed and professional service from a young and ef

Following in his father’s footsteps, Guillaume Guibet has taken over the reins of this former hunting lodge (1886). His spot-on, creative cooking keeps pace with the seasons, with the occasional nod to Asian traditions acquired after a stint at the Japanese restaurant, Kei, in Paris). He delicately, even cheekily crafts a feast of premium ingredients, as in a ceviche of bream with button mushrooms or morels and a bacon-flavoured sabayon. The same flair extends to the stylish wood- and leather-rich interior and to the guestrooms, designed like individual chalets, with a terrace or outdoor tub w

On the edge of the forest of Hez, this gracious late-19C mansion, set in peaceful wooded grounds, is ideal for a gourmet weekend in the country. After savouring the peace and quiet of the terrace, the plush bourgeois interior provides the perfect foil for the talents of chef Nicolas Leclercq and his wife Yolaine. Nicolas’ grandmother first opened the restaurant back in 1956, at which time she made her own butter from the milk of her own cow! The large cottage garden (take the time to stroll around it after your meal) supplies the kitchen with fresh vegetables and herbs, which are picked by the

On the road to the Château de Chantilly – famous for its ancient paintings, the richest collection after the Louvre's – this place with a refined decor has not one, but two terraces. Perfect for sunny days! The delicious, seasonal cuisine works its charm, enhanced with harissa here (on the gazpacho), with pesto there (on the tuna, broad beans, Swiss chard and peppers).

In an interior dominated by a masterful charcoal work, an "urban cave painting" depicting a bestiary by the artist Adel Abdessemed, Pierre Gagnaire continues to finetune France’s culinary scene with his adventurous, wholehearted and excessive signature cuisine. This fan of jazz and contemporary art never rests on his laurels. Gagnaire's restaurant, which has had three stars since 1996, reflects his character: modern, understated and subtly sophisticated, all of which is in perfect harmony with the service. The poetic dishes are constantly reinvented, like small "satellite" portions sent into o

How time flies! Frédéric Anton has been the chef of the Pré Catelan, the mythical Napoleon III lodge nestled in the Bois de Boulogne and refurbished by Pierre-Yves Rochon with lashings of designer furniture and a palette of green, white and silver tones, for almost 30 years. Born in Nancy into a working-class family, this Meilleur Ouvrier de France learned the ropes under Joël Robuchon. His tasting menu, which stars top-drawer produce (scallops, langoustine, salmon, caviar), is a masterclass of high-flying understatement and razor-sharp precision. The culinary score, which rises to a crescendo

Le Bristol is the quintessence of luxury, from its spa suites and superb formal garden to its rooftop pool and dining area with Louis XVI furnishings, mirrors, and tall French windows looking out onto the greenery. In the kitchen of the flagship restaurant, Arnaud Faye errs towards minimalism with his light and refined preparations – a purity of flavours that does not preclude generosity in the dishes. The ingredients are of course excellent, the cooking techniques and temperatures flawless; the bread is made on the premises from heirloom wheat varieties, the sauces are light yet highly concen