Pretty and Modern Villa With Private Pool, Cavalaire-sur-mer

This exclusive luxury hotel, which blends seamlessly into its natural surroundings, is the HQ of talented Éric Canino, a chef influenced by his fruitful collaboration with Michel Guérard. Inspired by the master of healthy cuisine, Éric composes his own Provençal score, with fruit and vegetables, fish and seafood (plus some poultry), enhanced with aromatic herbs and olive oil. His culinary scope is phenomenal, ranging as it does from a modern use of citrus fruits to textbook perfect sauces and reductions that add character and depth to each dish. His red mullet poached in seawater (one of the c

The good news is that, despite its name (meaning "seasonal"), Les Saisonniers is open all year round. Florent Manini and Anna Thillaye, pastry chefs who earned their stripes working for Arnaud Donckele in Saint-Tropez and at Sébastien Vauxion's Sarkara are at the helm. Their Mediterranean cuisine, the foundation of which is fresh ingredients, is prepared with authentic savoir-faire acquired from the discipline of pastry-making. Marinated sea bream, fennel salad and Tahitian vanilla vinaigrette with lime; gnocchi, smoked ricotta and herbaceous parsley; cherry clafoutis, house-made ice creams an

The luxury hotel, perched on an unspoilt hillside overlooking the sea, is divine, and its hip, swish Vista restaurant ticks all the boxes! Take a seat by the infinity pool and bask in the exclusive vibe as you sample recipes by chef Vincent Maillard (shoulder of Sisteron lamb braised in savory; Lucien Tendret-style stuffed vegetables; strawberry melba and vanilla millefeuille). Then menu always offers a choice of healthy dishes, in line with the hotel’s wellness programme. Valet parking.

Gassin, which comes from the expression Guardia Sinus, meaning guardian of the gulf, is a former Sarrazin village, occupied by the Moors until the 10C. After finding the house on Place des Barri, take a seat on the superb terrace and savour the view over the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and the peaks of the Alps. You are now ready to sample the house specialities: rock octopus casserole; truffle gnocchi and Grand Marnier soufflé. The Mediterranean-inspired recipes are crafted by an enthusiastic veteran chef and local lad – his grandmother used to live in the village! Food that throbs with flavour and

This large inn cultivates the taste of the South. The chef conjures up cuisine oozing in Provençal tradition depending on market availability, all of which at sensible prices: seabream and aioli; seabass in parsley and parmesan cream; Solliès strawberries and a sweet pesto. A few guestrooms are available, just a few dozen metres from a D-Day beach. Well-managed and very friendly.

You come to this lovely restaurant ensconced in a terracotta-coloured "little house" on the outskirts of Cogolin. It is run by Damien Levivien, a trained pastry chef who learned the ropes under Jean Sulpice and Yannick Alléno. He and his wife serve precise and elegant market cuisine that won't break the bank. House-made pâté en croûte, ravioli crafted on site, meticulous dishes and classic desserts are all skilfully made. In this intimate setting, the terrace shaded by wisteria and mulberry trees adds to the charm, offering a peaceful stopover on the outskirts of Saint-Tropez.

Like every true enthusiast, Thierry Barot is a master of multi - tasking. Not content to offer tasty and appetising theme - based menus (vegetables, Provence, asparagus, truffles etc), he regularly runs cookery classes and is the author of a book of chocolate recipes. What a feast!