La Bastide de Freinet

Le Mas de Pierre, a luxurious hotel in immaculate surroundings, boasts a large ornamental garden, olive trees and a vegetable garden. Comfortably seated in the conservatory, which can be fully opened up and is set amid greenery, diners can enjoy an elegant setting and peaceful atmosphere... and contemporary, colourful, healthy and light cuisine. Sprinkled with flowers and aromatic plants from the garden, the unique menu reveals a delightful culinary personality, natural and very plant-based. The presentation is refined, and a lot of thought has gone into the way the menu unfolds. At Dolce Prov

Nestled within the medieval ramparts of Vence, this small restaurant, whose name refers to salt (cast your mind back to chemistry lessons: NaCl is the chemical formula for sodium chloride), serves authentic seasonal cuisine that takes a no-nonsense approach. The menu changes depending on the food markets, and the lunch set menu is a great deal. Friendly service.

The stylish, low-key Saint Martin Hotel, whose rooms command sweeping views over the hillsides of Vence and the Mediterranean, is most definitely a treat for the eye. In the plush dining room or on the breathtaking terrace, you will sample intelligently devised dishes underscored by high-flying craftsmanship and a sprinkling of inspired associations.

Chef Alain Llorca has dropped anchor in an inn at the entrance to this picture postcard village, which also found favour with iconic figures ranging from Matisse, Braque and Chagall to novelist James Baldwin and the legendary Montand-Signoret duo. In a 17C former oil mill whose millstone and press are still visible, the kitchen sings an ode to bistro fare (veal blanquette and pilaf rice, beef tartare and fresh fries, black pudding with apples) and specialties from Nice like roast squid and risotto of Nice courgettes.

Fruit and veg from local producers, fish from local fishermen, meat from southwest France and a knockout lineup of Basque cheeses: the “flavour workshop” more than lives up to its name! Examples include fillet of Galician beef with a gravy laced in Espelette pepper and mashed seasonal veg… A 100% Basque menu is available to order, in tribute to the chef’s roots.

This bistro in the heart of a medieval village has a short menu with an original concept: several starter + main course pairings built around a flagship ingredient, such as a vegetable, Mediterranean fish or meat, often Parthenaise beef from the family farm in Vendée. We recommend starting with an aperitif and charcuterie. Warm welcome; excellent wine list. Adjacent to the restaurant is a wine bar, which serves delicious platters.

Here in the historical heart of the fortified town, Raphaël (on savoury dishes) and Marion (desserts) delight diners with their no-nonsense and full-flavoured bistronomy creations. At dinner, a tasting menu features the restaurant's namesake dish of spelt risotto with lobster. Don't miss the pastry chef's signature dessert: Caribbean chocolate mousse and cocoa sorbet.