Pura Vida

In the Cévennes capital, this small restaurant with a low-key façade will set your tastebuds tingling. The chef wholeheartedly works with fresh seasonal produce as he deftly and savvily incorporates spices. An appetising score, unbeatable lunchtime menu and a lovely terrace for alfresco summer dining.

Not far from the Cirque de Navacelles, in a small village on the southern edge of the limestone plateau that is the Causse du Larzac, Pricillia Lebon's restaurant is housed in a converted inn. Beneath the stone vaults, the inviting, cosy decor reflects the endearing personality of a chef who has come to this beautiful, isolated setting to cook. The surprise set menu celebrates the Larzac area, with ingredients sourced mainly via short supply chains (not least from local market gardens), as well as from mushroom and plant picking. Plants reign supreme in the intuitive, light and aromatic dishes

This whitewashed roadside inn in the Cévennes boasts a terrace with views of the surrounding countryside. The interior decor is simple and straightforward (terracotta floors, wooden tables). Damien in the kitchen and Suzanne in the dining room pay homage to the Cévennes landscape and terroir and its produce (vegetables and wines): trout from Le Vigan served in a cold soup; chicken cooked with preserved lemon. Sincere and generous cooking.

L'Alicanta has been on the scene for a while, perched on the banks of the River Jonte, in the exceptional setting of the Gorges du Tarn. The chef puts in a solid performance, his cooking is replete with distinct flavours and his dishes are brilliantly assembled. Everything here is home-made and the menu changes with every season. Absolutely delicious!

This restaurant centred on a charming patio used to be a wine storehouse and is now run by chef Guillaume Dercourt and pastry chef Amandine Sabot. The cooking is resolutely modern in style and draws playfully on the traditional French repertoire – fish rillettes with herbs and cream cheese; roasted scallops, creamy Camargue rice risotto with Parmesan and a sea urchin emulsion. Round off your meal with a delicious Paris-Brest. You're sure to fall hook, line and sinker for this place – not least for its gorgeous patio with old stone cobbles and featuring an olive tree!

Yohann Boucard has turned the old station of Quissac into a fine establishment, sporting minimalist lines and iron work by local artisans… The food is equally enthralling, thanks to painstakingly selected ingredients and unusual, flavoursome combinations. Professional service.

Previously chef at Château de Mercuès, in the Lot, Philippe Combet serves up good seasonal cuisine, highlighting the region's produce. Truffle or asparagus menu, Quercy lamb... served by his pleasant and professional wife.