Le kaolin

This 19C château, which houses the Institut Lyfe (the international hotel management school formerly known as the Institut Paul Bocuse), serves the first-class cuisine of Florian Pansin, who is supported by a large team both in the kitchen and front of house. You will appreciate the finesse, precise presentation and well-balanced flavours: scallops with walnut, beurre monté with Rancio wine; beef tenderloin with Kampot pepper flambéed in rum, pommes soufflés... The cuissons are spot on, and there are flashes of creativity. Put simply, tasty seasonal cuisine at its best!

This brasserie in the heart of the village sits just outside the indoor market, serving delicious traditional dishes that scrupulously respect the fundamentals of French cuisine. Made with seasonal produce, the set menu – available at both lunch and dinner – changes every week. The blackboard features mouth-watering dishes: pork and poultry terrine with pink peppercorns; pollock steak with potatoes dressed with parsley and a Parmesan sauce; a custard tart with Madagascar vanilla that won first prize for the "best flan pâtissier in France".

After many years with the Bocuse group, chef Luc Abadie has set up shop in this restaurant with a partially open kitchen that allows him to interact with his customers. His traditional cuisine is perfectly crafted and bears the hallmarks of the late Paul Bocuse – namely an absence of contrived creativity and unnecessary convolutions. The culinary offering, which is the same for lunch and dinner, is based on an excellent-value weekly set menu – eg carrot royale with cumin, roast rack of pork with herbs and white beans – and an à la carte menu on which the dishes are just as classical, but made

This irresistibly endearing eatery in the working-class district of Vaise is appointed in a trendy bistro vibe. The bouncy, youthful team rustles up food that slaloms between mussels in a curry dressing with sweet potato powder and a more patriotic Gallic repertory (beef tartare, foie gras). The menus and carte are regularly renewed. Excellent value for money and pleasure, including in the evenings, hence the loyal crowd of regulars.

Nestled in a discreet cul-de-sac, Racine creatively explores local ingredients, without excluding a few more exotic touches. This large, modern bistro serves seasonal cuisine at affordable prices. Meticulous work can be seen in the pineapple tartare with satay ice cream, black pollack confit with coconut milk, or Holstein sirloin with celeriac mousseline. This down-to-earth, friendly and contemporary place is ideal for an accessible, well-executed meal.

Old-world charm meets contemporary comfort in this tastefully renovated 15C abbey built entirely of honey-coloured stone. The uplifting cuisine celebrates local recipes and classics: pâté en croûte, pike quenelles, volaille de Bresse with morels, scallop mousse, Rossini pigeon and praline tart. In summer, reserve a table on the pleasant terrace overlooking the courtyard garden.

In the heart of Lucenay, a village built of Beaujolais golden limestone, this restaurant occupies a converted village school. Pauline Fleuret, along with her partner, front of house, keeps things simple in this inviting space. Her market-fresh cuisine is fresh and healthy, designed for maximum flavour: Comté croquettes, saucisse de Morteau and beetroot ketchup; chicken blanquette with tarragon and candied lemon, polenta gratin; lemon and sesame cake, mascarpone cream and meringue pieces. Reasonable prices. Booking is essential.