Le Central

You may well miss this former sheepfold tucked away in verdant greenery with its exposed timberwork on the beach road. It is however well worth keeping your eyes open! Chef Yannick Duc treats diners to spontaneous, vibrant recipes that are tailored to modern tastebuds, displaying a strong predilection for first-class seasonal produce, in particular the catch of the day. The chef also enjoys mixing seasonings, spices and peppers, jazzing up his carpaccio of Banka trout with horseradish and black lemon cream and wasabi ice cream or pairing ravioles of lobster with green curry, bisque of fish hea

Authenticity is the name of the game in this Landes "inn" that specialises in hearty, wholesome food, far removed from fads and fashions. The menu shines a light on the local terroir – beef from the Fermes de Chalosse network of farms, fattened free-range duck, milk-fed veal, sheep's milk cheese from a village shepherd and additive-free house-made sourdough bread. An open sandwich with pork shank terrine and confit pig's ears, with an orange and endive salad, or their iconic veal sweetbreads in Jurançon wine served in a skillet: the generous portions are a throwback to a bygone era. Warm welco

Here in the centre of the village, this duo, whose enthusiasm is infectious, have set up shop in a half-timbered building that sports the Basque Country's characteristic red and white. It was once a Basque pelota ground (the reception still has the old ticket windows and a glass door opening onto the trinquet). Chef Nicolas Montceau and his pastry chef partner Julien Bonnal, who is also in charge of plating up the dishes, swear by local produce. Their multi-course surprise tasting menu in several sequences is a delight, rife with harmonious combinations of flavours, delicious jus and sauces, a

This White Pond is a small, protected expanse of water inhabited by birds that can be leisurely observed from the terrace or the dining room; in fact, bird watching sometimes seems to be one of the guests’ main occupations. A keen surfer, David Sulpice’s inspired, high-precision cuisine resembles a cruise through the best of Landes produce, which he consummately showcases: duck and asparagus from Darrigade farm, fish from small boats direct from Capbreton, authentic Pyrenean ewe’s milk cheese, citrus fruit from Thierry Dupouy in Eugénie-les-Bains. Meticulous cooking and flavoursome jus and zab

In their establishment overlooking the pine forest, the Coussau family champion classic French cuisine and pay homage to the Landes terroir: foie gras, poultry, Chalosse beef, and fish from Capbreton. Regulars will be delighted that mainstays – scrambled eggs with black truffle, warm duck foie gras with grapes, and sole with porcini, or the traditional hot Grand Marnier soufflé – are still on the menu. In autumn, there is roast wood pigeon or hare à la royale: tradition is taken seriously here.

A sprawling country estate on the heights of Bidarray and Itxassou is home to a 17C farmstead and outhouses. A panoramic terrace commands a jaw-dropping view over grandiose rolling countryside. Chef John Argaud, who trained with the best in the Basque Country (the Ibarboure brothers in Ithurria), as well as at Le Meurice Alain Ducasse in Paris, shines the spotlight on outstanding local produce. The food is crisp, legible and dotted with creativity; some ingredients are cooked over embers or finished on a hot stone for an added distinctive edge. An example: morels stuffed with sweetbread and du

Clément and Flora are perpetually rejuvenating Choko Ona, exemplified by the kitchen garden of herbs and aromatic flowers that can be admired from the tables and tasted on your plate, without forgetting the emblematic piment d'Espelette. With this cornucopia of resources at his fingertips, the chef conjures up delicate, subtle, contemporary cuisine, sourcing everything as locally as possible: delicately confit Banka trout, hollandaise, broad beans and vinegar-laced elderflowers; steamed langoustines, jus of pig’s trotters and wild garlic emulsion; Dublanc pigeon, roasted whole, artichokes and