Villa Escape Near Etang de Thau

The frontage, clad in rust-coloured Corten steel, stands out against the beautiful stone façade that graces the town's circular boulevard. In the kitchen, the chef produces inspired, flavoursome and indulgent dishes. Free-range chicken and mushroom pâté en croûte, kohlrabi salad, red cabbage, apple and ginger chutney; confit pork cheeks, black pudding crisp, sauce charcuterie, potato mousseline and condiments; apple Charlotte made with textures of apple, amber beer gel and Petit Brun biscuit ice cream… A beautifully refined menu that hits the nail on the head!

This inviting restaurant in the heart of a winery is appealingly appointed with contemporary objets d'art and exotic wood furnishings and overlooks the Cévennes. The perfect foil to sample contemporary bistronomic cuisine: duck magret, spicy jus, roast melon in elderflower; panacotta flavoured with lavender honey, apricots and a dairy mousse. Most of the produce is local and seasonal, like the lovely fruity olive oil which is produced on the estate. A fine list of wines from the estate and nearby vineyards, and an impressive selection of wines by the glass.

The house where the poet Achille Maffre de Baugé was born is home to this very popular restaurant: the delicious and meticulous cuisine is anchored in French tradition (the pâté en croûte is excellent!). Made using fresh produce, this is particularly artfully plated food. To be enjoyed in a dining space with a vaulted ceiling or out on the pleasant patio.

Don't hesitate to try out this establishment set up within a charming hotel in a wonderful location on the canal. In this plush space lit by droplet chandeliers, tuck into modern cuisine with plenty of Mediterranean flair, in which fish from Sète's market takes pride of place. Examples of dishes include mussels and snails from the lagoon or the sea, cold cream with oven-roasted garlic; sea bass with peas, red wine sauce with pig's trotters. All the magic of Sète on a plate.

The name pays tribute to singer-songwriter Georges Brassens, a local lad, and also to Mediterranean cuisine which takes pride of place on the menu, depending on the chef’s mood, (a former Parisian) and the catch of the day. In a quiet side street near the canal, the chef deftly crafts fresh, mainly maritime produce, with a weakness for forthright, no-nonsense flavours such as sashimi of flathead grey mullet and cream of smoked anchovy. We tasted a heart-warming slab of hake served with homemade gnocchi flavoured with wild garlic. Fried squid, risotto and spicy stock is another house specialty.

In the heart of historic Agde, just off the frenzied tourist path of Cap d’Agde, this bistro sports a colourful, contemporary vibe and serves appetising food in the zeitgeist: hanger steak smoked over vine branches; cod roasted in olive oil with dill-flavoured foamy carrots; French-toast style brioche with dairy butterscotch caramel… Snacks at the tapas bar. The shaded terrace is gloriously refreshing in hot weather.

The Étang de Thau, a major shellfish farming site and lake in Languedoc, famous for its mussels and the legendary oysters of Bouzigues, is also well-known for its biodiversity on land, in the sea and in the airs. So, taking a seat on the terrace overlooking the lagoon is an opportunity not to be missed. Expect to tuck into delicious, ultra-fresh seafood, including oysters, mini squid in garlic and parsley or mussels broiled in garlic butter.