Hôtel Aux Armes d'Estaing

A real institution, this restaurant is run by two chefs who earned their stripes working for Michel Bras. They showcase the diversity of local ingredients such as trout fillet, calf sweetbreads and Roquefort cheese. Their meticulous and delicious cuisine draws on the rich flavours of the Aveyron terroir: poached egg and pickled mushrooms, cold cappuccino; Aveyron veal with a sage crust, mashed potatoes with wholegrain mustard; and of course the "baba du Méjane" with pink pralines.

This chic, rustic inn commands a breathtaking view of the famous Bozouls Canyon, a natural cirque hewn out of the limestone plateau. The chef has a contagious enthusiasm for traditional farming methods and wines from small-scale producers, as shown by a dish such as house-smoked bacon, green beans, potatoes and herbs, Causses yoghurt.

On the ground floor of the hotel, this restaurant, which sports a bright, modern interior, is enthusiastically helmed by Loïc and Océane Gay. Regional produce (Aubrac beef and trout) takes front stage in soul-warming, indulgent dishes: persillade of lamb sweetbreads or squab breast. Traditional aligot (mashed potatoes and cheese) is served with the main course.

What a pretty village clinging to a cliff and famous for its cooling waterfall! What a pleasant, convivial place, with its warm, colourful bistro decor, lovely old wooden floorboards, counter and arty posters on the walls (and let's not forget the terrace overlooking the courtyard in front of the town hall). In the kitchen, chef Marine Guichou cooks up a feast, using carefully selected local produce, which she skilfully prepares in a fresh, authentic bistro style. And with her almond pannacotta and chocolate mousse on a cocoa crumble, she has created the quintessential dessert for anyone with

This lovely old house built of local stone is now a chic bistro complete with six cosy guestrooms – a delightful new venture launched by Michel Bras and run by his niece, Audrey. Partners Guillem and Zoé, previously at La Halle aux Grains in Paris, work in tandem in the kitchen. The menu is a homage to Audrey's grandmother and Michel's mother: chicken supreme, roasted sunflower seeds, market-fresh aubergine and a deliciously old-fashioned gratin de coquillettes (a cheesy pasta dish). The sophisticated decor features blown-glass lights reminiscent of the grapes of Marcillac, the rapidly expandi