Maison Maton

Elegance reigns in this former porcelain manufacturer's house on the doorstep of Limoges. Works of art, Bernardaud tableware and a hushed atmosphere combine to create a refined experience. In the kitchen, Gilles Dudognon and his son Henri work together to cook up dishes using premium ingredients from the property's vegetable garden and producers in the region. The appealing menu features classics such as pithiviers and lamprey à la bordelaise, alongside more contemporary suggestions such as seared langoustines, cul noir bacon and shell foam. Charming guestrooms, too.

At Olivier’s Table, Pierre is in the kitchen, while his partner, Fanny, a talented pastry chef, oversees the front-of-house. Normandy-born Pierre has enthusiastically embraced Corrèze, his land of adoption, in this town centre stone house, whose modern furnishings and designer lighting are the epitome of elegant. The repertory, in tune with the zeitgeist and at bargain prices, ticks all the boxes: enticing, polished and colourful. Examples include poached oysters, marinated seabass with citrus fruit and a lemon-vodka sorbet; veal scallop and sweetbread, ravioles of chanterelle mushrooms and bl

Picture a sprawling estate (almost 2,500 acres) of woodland, forest, meadows, farmsteads and ponds and now add a 13C castle equipped with all the modern comforts one would expect from a luxury establishment. The former stables have been converted into a dining room that adroitly blends antique and trendy details. The estate’s homegrown produce and aromatic fresh herbs feature prominently on the menu, as kitchen garden recipes vie for pride of place with confidently curated textbook classics. The terrace is heavenly in fine weather.

In this picturesque village where visitors can journey from prehistory to the Renaissance, this restaurant enjoys a truly stunning setting at the base of a cliff. This outbuilding of the Benedictine abbey of Brantôme also features a splendid terrace on the banks of the River Dronne, facing the town’s 16C angled bridge. Here, the chef’s fine, flavoursome cuisine is ably supported by a cast of superb ingredients, perfect cooking techniques and meticulous presentation. All in all, a venerable property with a contemporary and timeless charm.

Deep in the countryside, in a Natura 2000-protected site, this restaurant is housed in a 16C mill. The interior has been refurbished in a contemporary style featuring glass, wood and clean lines, as well as the mill mechanism. Matthieu Brudo elegantly showcases the terroir: Vitrac-Saint-Vincent pork pluma glazed with ponzu and Mornac chickpeas, Limousin beef, Neuvic sturgeon and fish caught fresh in Royan. The wine list, which points to a penchant for natural and biodynamic estates, is the perfect complement to the sincere and generous cuisine.

An old café in the heart of this pretty village has been turned into a contemporary bistro by the Dutch duo of chef Tom Houdijk and cordial front-of-house manager Sarah van Baardewijk. The bistro vibe (banquettes, long tables, small bar) is in keeping with the menu, in which bistro classics – think beef tartare, sea bass fillet and crème brûlée – get a fresh and precise makeover. Colourful dishes, perfect cooking and meticulous details: a charming and welcoming establishment.

Let’s get down to the basics (or the Essentials), rather than losing time in pointless conjectures. The ingredient rules in this family-run restaurant, next-door to the cathedral, and Éric Vidal is its virtuoso (yet humble) servant. For thirty or so diners, he organises a genuine banquet of flavour, thanks to delicately balanced preparations. Wild turbot baked in olive oil, pressed celery with black truffles; tartare of mango and pineapple with passion fruit jelly and French almond tea cakes… The tasty culinary score is flanked by a selection of wines that is fully equal to the attractive menu