Centre Familial de Vacances Les Sylvageois

In this nature-inspired interior designed by architect Patrick Bouchain, the glass-paned dining areas are arranged around an imposing century-old oak tree. In this setting, César carries on the family tradition with aplomb, with cuisine that bears the Troisgros hallmark more indelibly than ever. The dishes are original, punctuated with flashes of vegetable-based ingenuity and subtle hints of acidity and bitterness. Beautifully elevated ingredients; refined and adventurous dishes; a permaculture kitchen garden and lake – an exceptional restaurant in a setting that will take your breath away.

In 1984, Guy Lassausaie took over the kitchen at this family-run establishment, founded four generations earlier in 1906. In an elegantly refurbished interior done out in shades of grey, black and white, the chef (a Meilleur Ouvrier de France) has charted a remarkably assured course, enthusiastically celebrating local and, more generally, French tradition, with flashes of creativity. Think fillet of brill with vanilla beurre blanc, salsify and porcini, or Ain pigeon hay-roasted in a sealed cocotte, full-bodied jus and baby vegetables. Feelgood food that delivers the odd surprise.

In this 16C château, where period terracotta floor tiles meet stone fireplaces, chef Julien Laval – who previously worked at Restaurant Serge Vieira in Chaudes-Aigues and was a finalist in the French Dessert Championship – is truly coming into his own. His indulgent modern dishes combine top-notch ingredients with a judicious use of international details, and are meticulously presented – take, for example, the foie gras terrine topped with a green tea and hibiscus jelly, served with lychee chutney in kumquat vinegar, or the Dombes duckling prepared two ways: cooked whole and pastilla, accompan

Surrounded by parkland, this handsome 1920s property was inspired by the Italian Renaissance, hence the frieze under the eaves depicting mythological scenes, marble and mosaics. The elegant colonnaded dining room, meanwhile, is more contemporary in spirit with embedded lighting, comfy armchairs and refined tableware. Two brothers manage this family business: chef Sylvain Roux, whose heartwarming dishes showcase top-drawer ingredients: crab, ponzu gelée and sea urchin cream, and enthusiastic sommelier Frédéric Roux. The latter can be relied upon for insightful wine tips that never fail to deliv

Set on the banks of the Loire, this inn, refurbished in a tasteful modern vein, is the bolthole of Marie and Fabien Raux (born in northern France, the chef’s eclectic career has taken him to fine establishments from Morocco to Alsace). The chef crafts dishes in the zeitgeist, curated into a single set menu and starring seasonal produce. The vegetables come straight from the nearly 5 acres of garden and orchard that supply 90% of the restaurant’s needs, even in winter! The remainder is sourced from a handful of local producers: Loire zander, lamb, rabbit… Everything tastes of something in this

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!

Paul Bocuse’s legend is as vibrant as ever. The “cook of the century”, as gifted in the kitchen as in business and an example for so many of today’s international stars of gastronomy, was no doubt the first modern chef. Faithful to this spirit, the high-flying kitchen brigade (two chefs and a maitre d’, all MOFs, and a world champion of iced desserts) endeavours to uphold this legacy, whilst anchoring the establishment firmly in the present. The master’s recipes have thus been lovingly and painstakingly reworked with a focus on seasonal creations in an updated menu. The performance staged in t