La Villa d'Olivène

Just a stone's throw from the harbour, this unassuming eatery is a resounding success thanks to the chef’s tasty, delicate Mediterranean cooking. Courgette flowers stuffed with a creamy, herby emulsion; sardines marinated in finger lime; gribiche-style stuffed veal parcels; ravioles of Tamaris mussels in basil with an aioli emulsion. Everything is made from scratch, including the bread. Cheerful and professional welcome from the hostess. Given its success, bookings are essential!

In the heart of Toulon, opposite the bronze statue Génie de la Navigation and in the shadow of the Frontale du Port (the 1950s listed buildings by Jean de Mailly that divide opinion), is chef Romain Janin's bistro. The menu celebrates the food culture of Provence, putting a twist on fresh local ingredients: Tamaris mussels au gratin; wild prawn ravioli; egg mayonnaise with summer truffles; courgette flower fritters; lamb shoulder confit; textures of beef tongue. Each plate is brimming with generosity and suggests savoir-faire to spare. The atmosphere here is relaxed and friendly, with service

Sesame salmon tataki with a crunchy vegetable salad; turbot fillet, pan-fried chanterelles and a black garlic jus. With their generous, seriously Provençal cuisine, Pascal and Nadège Bonamy have elevated their restaurant at the foot of the Maurettes mountains to one of the best in the region.

Two brothers have transformed this shopfront, formerly a tobacco shop, on Place Clemenceau into a plant-filled eatery that exudes the cheer of the South of France, centred on a large open-air patio. In this bright setting decorated in blue, pink and orange, Martin (in the kitchen) and Léo (front of house) serve up fresh, unpretentious and flavoursome cuisine influenced by the market: Mediterranean bluefin tuna carpaccio; dentex steak, courgette gratin and herb oil; almond and fig tart. There are also a few vegetarian options. With a jovial welcome, relaxed atmosphere and very reasonable prices

Close to Loube Mountain and Sainte-Baume Mountains, this modern vineyard restaurant cultivates the tradition of delicious Provençal cooking, offering an opportunity to sample typical slow-cooked dishes, such as pieds paquets and beef stew, or a contemporary take on dishes that have their roots in the local terroir (einkorn wheat risotto and seasonal mushrooms; purple artichokes in barigoule with smoked bacon). Here you can sit down to enjoy hearty, indulgent cuisine that pairs well with the estate's organic wines from the Coteaux Varois appellation. The guestrooms are also a convenient base fo

In this cobbled street of Toulon's old town, where the terrace is smoke-free from May to October, you can tuck into delicious "cuisine de producteurs" (as the chef calls his cooking). A champion of local produce and the terroir, he concocts good seasonal dishes with a fondness for vegetables – to wash down with natural and organic tipples: ravioli, burratina and a poultry jus with chanterelles; thin slices of Aveyron pork, potato gratin with Le Beausset saffron and organic vegetables from Provence; roast Solliès figs and arlette biscuit.

Beaming and buzzing! The kitchens of the Télégraphe, a high spot of Toulon’s cultural life, are all go! Energetic Arnaud Tabarec, born in Burgundy, honed his skills in prestigious establishments and was the star chef of the Five Hotel’s Roof in Cannes. Today he is acclaimed for his delicate, predominantly vegetarian cuisine, whose ingredients are of course sourced locally and combined boldly.