The Central Café

In this 1930s Basque hotel nestled in a pine forest and given a makeover by designer Philippe Starck, Le Skiff Club is a veritable haven with its cosy little dining area decorated in the style of a yacht club. Stéphane Carrade is a talented and skilled chef, cooking up delightful "progressive terroir" cuisine, in a superb celebration of the Aquitaine region in southwest France. He combines generosity and finesse in dishes such as honey-glazed sweet-and-sour Noir de Bigorre pork presa, sauce diable with pig's trotters, and green asparagus with stuffed morels. Finally, Alexandre Blay's desserts

“Naissain” means spat (or oyster larvae). This modern bistro was opened by Thomas Iglesias, a chef who has sailed the seven seas. He always has one dish devoted to this mollusc, which he sources from his brother's oyster farm in La Teste de Buch. As for the rest, this wayfaring chef admits to having a soft spot for vegetables, on which he lavishes his creative talent to tease out each flavour, in dishes such as a starter of mushrooms, miso, ham and Jerusalem artichoke. The concise menu is renewed monthly and the lunchtime menu offers excellent value for pleasure.

Mathieu in the dining room and Rémi in the kitchen have poured their love of produce and good vibes into this buzzy town-centre hangout. Whether it is beneath the shade of plane trees in summer or in the dinky dining room in winter, you will sample up-to-the-minute bistro nosh that stars local produce and well-judged creative notes, without straying too far from traditional roots as the textbook technique and whole roasts frequently confirm. The admirable selection of wines by the glass (and the bottle), which is both savvy yet affordable, goes down a treat with the evening carte blanche menu.

In a pared-back interior dominated by wood and white details, Marc-Antoine Lepage (ex Les Foudres and Le Mirazur, Menton) and Adeline Lesage (who also worked at Les Foudres) pool their talents to craft modern, delicate cuisine in a carte blanche menu. A medley of subtly contrasting artichokes (the house signature) delights the tastebuds, as do the scallops, cooked two ways: in a carpaccio with a gin and leek oil dressing and roasted and coated with a white wine and leek emulsion. Surf and turf ingredients jostle for pride of place in a repertory that demonstrates a clear fondness for inventive

Just 100m from the beach and the port of La Hume, this modern, attractively done out bistro is the ideal place to share a handful of starters with friends or family, or to indulge in classic dishes given a lovely twist by chef Nicolas Vallois: poultry, duck and prune pâté en croûte; egg verjuice mayo, celeriac, baby gem and Granny Smith remoulade, salted egg yolks; pork confit cromesquis etc. The cellar features a good selection of organic and natural wines, as well as a fine selection of wines by the glass. When the weather permits, plump for a table on the large, pleasant, shaded wooden terr

In a simple, inviting setting, a couple who are well versed in the culinary arts are breathing new life into traditional cuisine. Prepared collaboratively by both chefs, the food impresses with its clarity, well-chosen ingredients, good sauces and generosity: mullet ceviche, vanilla-infused lemon and seaweed tapioca; quail stuffed with foie gras, peas à la française and a full-bodied jus. This modern eatery also boasts a pretty wood-decked terrace shaded by plane trees. Friendly service.

Located at the end of the harbour, this restaurant's terrace with rattan chairs boasts a peaceful view of the boats and oyster port, and feels like an invitation to indulge in a laid-back culinary interlude. The interior decor is also reminiscent of a boat, with its arched bar and light wood open kitchen. The chef Brice Tomico has perfected fresh seafood cuisine, featuring oysters from the hut next door and line-caught fish from Arcachon fish market.