Hôtel L'Européen

Near the city centre, this vintage bistro is now the lair of Mathieu Espagnacq, who has taken over from his father, who opened the establishment back in the eighties. Mathieu, a seasoned chef with stints in Paris working with top chefs under his belt, crafts food in the zeitgeist that respects tradition and stars premium country produce (farm-reared pork cheeks braised in red wine, vegetables confit in thyme and gnocchi in a smoky cream sauce). A treat for your tastebuds from start to finish – remember to book!

This contemporary bistro is near the Arsenal, a neighbourhood in the throes of renovation. The couple at the helm includes a chef with a wealth of Michelin-star experience and Laura, a former nurse who has retrained as a maître d' and sommelier. Succulent cuisine in the zeitgeist: beef tartare, smoked potatoes, trout roe and beurre noisette; confit hake, fregola sarda, burnt leeks and cashew notes... The chef takes a savvy approach to cooking, especially when it comes to the bargain-priced lunchtime menu (which changes weekly). The wine list stars wines from independent winegrowers. Bookings e

This pair of Japanese chefs cook lovely creative, Japanese - inflected cuisine, in which broths, seaweed and seasonings show off good - quality ingredients. The interior, in keeping with the presentation on the plates, is elegant and contemporary.

In the village of Lézignan on the outskirts of Lourdes, this tastefully restored barn – with its wood-panelled decor, braids of garlic and bunches of chillis, hanging saucepans and wine racks – now serves as chef Christophe Dufau's open kitchen. He has decided to go his own way, embracing culinary freedom and cooking at his own pace at this unique table d'hôtes. Each week, local ingredients and produce from the generous kitchen garden surrounding the barn find their place in the single multi-course set menu. Pheasant pie with wood pigeon, pistachio, foie gras and fermented mirabelle plum, or l