Château de la Moissetie

The cooking of Didier Guibert, whose restaurant is located in a quiet little street in the city centre, is sincere and nicely done. He only works with fresh produce – and in particular meat supplied by his two brothers, butchers by trade. A well-run place.

After an impressive career working in Michelin - starred restaurants in Switzerland, the chef has returned home, to his wife's region. In an unusual setting – a former forge that has been refurbished with a lot of wood, concrete and picture windows –, he proposes modern and delicious dishes.

In the picture postcard village of Tournemire, a renovated barn, whose bare stone walls and timber rafters have been preserved, is now the scene of an airy restaurant with a modern extension overlooking the Doire Valley. Managed by the same team as the Puy Tilleul, down the hill in the village, the menu highlights home-grown Cantal produce: locally sourced ingredients, tableware by local artisans and coffee roasted in Aurillac. Concise, polished menu dotted with nods to tradition, like truffade. Panoramic views from the picture windows and big-boned fare served with heartwarming sincerity.

Perched in the Cantal mountains, this pleasingly rustic farmstead is the fruit of a beautiful family saga spanning six generations. Tuck into generous traditional cuisine rooted in the local terroir – featuring the legendary truffade, served with every dish, and the family recipe for tripoux à la tomate. All dishes are sincere and precise. And then there is the trolley of regional cheeses, with Salers, produced just a few metres away, taking pride of place.

This bistro is the more casual sibling of the iconic Auberge de la Tour, which is even more reason to stay overnight in the medieval village of Marcolès deep in the Cantal countryside. Whether it is in the vaulted dining room or on the pleasant alfresco terrace, you will sample deftly crafted regional recipes with a fondness for local produce: trout from the volcanoes, free-range poultry, Auvergne cheese, cottage garden veg… Examples: seed crusted trout, roast quail in Auvergne blue cheese, or a citrus fruit réligieuse pastry.

In the heart of a medieval village, this stone property with its corner tower and spiral staircase oozes charm. Renaud Darmanin has transformed a former café into a gourmet outpost. He only works with the finest fresh and local ingredients (sweet chestnuts, in particular), creating delicious, polished cuisine that skilfully combines local country produce with global spices.