Hotel La Thomasse

The cooking of Didier Guibert, whose restaurant is located in a quiet little street in the city centre, is sincere and nicely done. He only works with fresh produce – and in particular meat supplied by his two brothers, butchers by trade. A well-run place.

Dominated by the feudal castle of Anjony (15C), the unspoiled village of Tournemire has preserved its flagstone roofed stone houses that are so characteristic of the Cantal region. This nearby contemporary establishment hosts a dining room flooded in light overlooking the countryside. The set menu is modern, creative and polished: foie gras delicately caramelised in muscovado sugar, or impeccably cooked line-fished croaker. A stylish setting that marries the comfort of a top-of-the-range hotel with fine dining ambitions, to the delight of foodies in the know.

In the picture postcard village of Tournemire, a renovated barn, whose bare stone walls and timber rafters have been preserved, is now the scene of an airy restaurant with a modern extension overlooking the Doire Valley. Managed by the same team as the Puy Tilleul, down the hill in the village, the menu highlights home-grown Cantal produce: locally sourced ingredients, tableware by local artisans and coffee roasted in Aurillac. Concise, polished menu dotted with nods to tradition, like truffade. Panoramic views from the picture windows and big-boned fare served with heartwarming sincerity.

This bistro is the more casual sibling of the iconic Auberge de la Tour, which is even more reason to stay overnight in the medieval village of Marcolès deep in the Cantal countryside. Whether it is in the vaulted dining room or on the pleasant alfresco terrace, you will sample deftly crafted regional recipes with a fondness for local produce: trout from the volcanoes, free-range poultry, Auvergne cheese, cottage garden veg… Examples: seed crusted trout, roast quail in Auvergne blue cheese, or a citrus fruit réligieuse pastry.

In the heart of a medieval village, this stone property with its corner tower and spiral staircase oozes charm. Renaud Darmanin has transformed a former café into a gourmet outpost. He only works with the finest fresh and local ingredients (sweet chestnuts, in particular), creating delicious, polished cuisine that skilfully combines local country produce with global spices.