Le Joyau du Golfe de St Tropez

Picture a luxury hotel set amidst pine trees in the picturesque Gulf of Saint Tropez - an idyllic scene for knockout food. Dedicated and demanding, chef Arnaud Donckele pays a vibrant tribute to this sun-drenched landscape. He starts with a painstaking study of the local fish in a bid to devise recipes that reveal the full scope of each species’ nuances, textures and tastes in a range of compositions that are infinitely varied. Each ingredient is of course flawlessly crafted, but the chef’s strong suit is undeniably sauces, referred to as “ephemeral” or “velvety”, and which are both big boned

La Terrasse steps in at lunchtime as the restaurant of Le Cheval Blanc hotel. In the shade of umbrella pines, looking out over the Bay of Saint Tropez, Arnaud Donckele and his team conjure up Mediterranean cuisine drawing on distinct Provençal influences. The premium-quality ingredients are prepared with a great sense of finesse and rigour: porcini tarte fine; lobster tail grilled in its shell, lobster roe sabayon; rabbit pie, sweetbreads and foie gras. Outstanding and wide-ranging selection of wines. The quintessence of French art de vivre…

You come to this lovely restaurant ensconced in a terracotta-coloured "little house" on the outskirts of Cogolin. It is run by Damien Levivien, a trained pastry chef who learned the ropes under Jean Sulpice and Yannick Alléno. He and his wife serve precise and elegant market cuisine that won't break the bank. House-made pâté en croûte, ravioli crafted on site, meticulous dishes and classic desserts are all skilfully made. In this intimate setting, the terrace shaded by wisteria and mulberry trees adds to the charm, offering a peaceful stopover on the outskirts of Saint-Tropez.

Like every true enthusiast, Thierry Barot is a master of multi - tasking. Not content to offer tasty and appetising theme - based menus (vegetables, Provence, asparagus, truffles etc), he regularly runs cookery classes and is the author of a book of chocolate recipes. What a feast!

The good news is that, despite its name (meaning "seasonal"), Les Saisonniers is open all year round. Florent Manini and Anna Thillaye, pastry chefs who earned their stripes working for Arnaud Donckele in Saint-Tropez and at Sébastien Vauxion's Sarkara are at the helm. Their Mediterranean cuisine, the foundation of which is fresh ingredients, is prepared with authentic savoir-faire acquired from the discipline of pastry-making. Marinated sea bream, fennel salad and Tahitian vanilla vinaigrette with lime; gnocchi, smoked ricotta and herbaceous parsley; cherry clafoutis, house-made ice creams an

Gassin, which comes from the expression Guardia Sinus, meaning guardian of the gulf, is a former Sarrazin village, occupied by the Moors until the 10C. After finding the house on Place des Barri, take a seat on the superb terrace and savour the view over the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and the peaks of the Alps. You are now ready to sample the house specialities: rock octopus casserole; truffle gnocchi and Grand Marnier soufflé. The Mediterranean-inspired recipes are crafted by an enthusiastic veteran chef and local lad – his grandmother used to live in the village! Food that throbs with flavour and

Standing among the vines, this former rustic farmhouse enjoys a fine panoramic view... But La Verdoyante would be nothing without the enthusiasm of the couple who hold the reins. In the stylish interior or on the charming terrace, diners savour delicious Provençal cuisine that smacks of the garigue.