L'Auberge

Picture a sprawling estate (almost 2,500 acres) of woodland, forest, meadows, farmsteads and ponds and now add a 13C castle equipped with all the modern comforts one would expect from a luxury establishment. The former stables have been converted into a dining room that adroitly blends antique and trendy details. The estate’s homegrown produce and aromatic fresh herbs feature prominently on the menu, as kitchen garden recipes vie for pride of place with confidently curated textbook classics. The terrace is heavenly in fine weather.

In this picturesque village where visitors can journey from prehistory to the Renaissance, this restaurant enjoys a truly stunning setting at the base of a cliff. This outbuilding of the Benedictine abbey of Brantôme also features a splendid terrace on the banks of the River Dronne, facing the town’s 16C angled bridge. Here, the chef’s fine, flavoursome cuisine is ably supported by a cast of superb ingredients, perfect cooking techniques and meticulous presentation. All in all, a venerable property with a contemporary and timeless charm.

The story begins as you enter this vast estate on the edge of the Périgord-Limousin Regional Nature Park, here in the heart of Périgord Vert. Winding its way through the grounds is the Bandiat, the small river after which this restaurant is named. Housed in a large building featuring a brand new timber roof, it is bathed in soft light and imbued with a country house atmosphere. The chef concocts a surprise menu using seasonal ingredients supplied by small-scale local producers – as well as mushrooms and herbs picked on site (sometimes by the chef himself).

Let’s get down to the basics (or the Essentials), rather than losing time in pointless conjectures. The ingredient rules in this family-run restaurant, next-door to the cathedral, and Éric Vidal is its virtuoso (yet humble) servant. For thirty or so diners, he organises a genuine banquet of flavour, thanks to delicately balanced preparations. Wild turbot baked in olive oil, pressed celery with black truffles; tartare of mango and pineapple with passion fruit jelly and French almond tea cakes… The tasty culinary score is flanked by a selection of wines that is fully equal to the attractive menu

It is so popular that you have to book weeks, even months in advance. In a peaceful, airy house opposite the church, Mickaël Clautour and Laura Legeay lovingly craft a seasonal score. The vibe in the dining room is warm and attentive, while the kitchen team finetunes each detail with a focus on taste above all. Chawanmushi-style flan of crab and grapefruit, confit trout with citrus fruit, apples and sweet chestnuts: every dish is a masterpiece of delicate simplicity steeped in heroically wondrous flavour. Even better, it is all at sensible prices.

The ground floor of this 19C sous-préfecture is now home to a fashionably appointed restaurant that welcomes with a cheerful vibe. At the helm, Ludwik Crosnier, with stints in some prestigious establishments under his belt, signs a seasonal score depicted by local ingredients, stellar technique and delicately balanced flavours. Claire cheerfully and attentively supervises the front-of-house, adding a gracious flourish to this fine dining experience.

Elegance reigns in this former porcelain manufacturer's house on the doorstep of Limoges. Works of art, Bernardaud tableware and a hushed atmosphere combine to create a refined experience. In the kitchen, Gilles Dudognon and his son Henri work together to cook up dishes using premium ingredients from the property's vegetable garden and producers in the region. The appealing menu features classics such as pithiviers and lamprey à la bordelaise, alongside more contemporary suggestions such as seared langoustines, cul noir bacon and shell foam. Charming guestrooms, too.