L'Auberge Cigaloise

Having left Duende in Nîmes, Julien Caligo has returned to his native Vaunage, setting up shop in a converted farm building that has been transformed into a contemporary dining space. The venue pays homage to his grandmother Monique, who passed down the fundamentals of cooking to him. Offering excellent value for money, the lunch tasting menu is a masterclass in technical skill. To start, focaccia with sweet Cévennes onions and a tartlet with smoked pike roe, followed by bonito, quinoa crunch and green asparagus – a starter with real bite – then hake, pressed pig's ear terrine, a bold and frag

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.

Duende! Come and see how the arts of bullfighting and flamenco dancing have set fire to the imagination of Pierre Gagnaire. The fine dining establishment of the Hotel Imperator has its own separate entrance, in line with the chef’s independent spirit. Premium ingredients, proven technical expertise, spontaneity and originality. The tasting menu pays a subtle tribute to the finest produce from the Gard and the Mediterranean region (Baron des Cévennes pork, vegetables from small market gardeners, fish from the Mediterranean) in subtle, delicate dishes. The superb wine list of over 1,000 referenc

“Montpellier the Gifted”, as the city likes to bill itself, provides the backdrop to this well-hidden restaurant on the banks of the Lez. Slightly off the beaten track, it boasts a divine riverside terrace shaded by plane trees – a refreshing haven in hot summers. This modern and sophisticated Reserve is located in an old country house, an Ali Baba’s cavern of gourmet delights, unearthed from the little-known repertory of Languedoc-Roussillon. Former second of Alain Dutournier at the Carré des Feuillants, Charles Fontès signs intelligent compositions that revolves around the ingredient. Subtle

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!

In this lovely restaurant steeped in character in the heart of historic Montpellier, Boris Caillol (formerly Le Petit Nice and La Maison Troisgros) signs a bold creative modern score and the inventive, no-holds barred chef continues to set our tastebuds tingling! He scours Montpellier’s organic market himself, hunting out the best seasonal ingredients. The resulting subtle dishes are admirably paired with an enticing wine list that demonstrates a weakness for biodynamic wines from the region. The old stone walls are offset by soft lighting and contemporary fixtures, all of which is further enh

Trained in star Swiss, French (and even Australian) establishments, chef Laurent Cherchi is a stalwart champion of the environment. He offers two menus, one of which is lacto-ovo-vegetarian, while the other is all-out vegan (without animal ingredients) – which is nothing if not rare in the universe of French star-rated establishments. All his produce is rigorously sourced locally, from the Cévennes to the Mediterranean (beef from Aubrac, saltbush lamb from Camargue, tomme cheese from Larzac) and the front-of-house team is more than well-versed in the ins and outs of each ingredient’s provenanc