“People who sit down at my “table d’hôtes” may well be fans of gastronomy, just curious or even my suppliers.” Stéphane Raimbault, chef at L’Oasis, has set up his “table d’hôtes” in his kitchens. “I have always given great importance to transparency between the kitchen and the restaurant,” he explai(...)

Streamlined design, top-notch materials, a minimalist approach… Cool restaurants are popping up here and there on the Riviera. A good example is Le Benkiraï at Saint-Tropez, in the countryside, at the gateway to Provence : an establishment bearing the Patrick Jouin signature, clad in “benkiraï”, a p(...)

Very little often suffices for “a break in routine” and the treat of an outing with a breath of fresh air. A pretty table with a view of a golf-course, for example. Managers of these restaurants all agree : the setting plays a primordial role for guests who come to their establishments. For while th(...)

It’s undoubtedly “the” event of the summer here in Nice ! The opening of Hi Beach, five years after that of the Hi Hotel. In place and stead of the Forum, Hi Beach offers an innovative concept, still under the expert guidance of Matali Crasset, Patrick Elouarghi and Philippe Chatelet. For fans of (s(...)

He used to be in the old town of Grasse, now he is in Plascassier. Emmanuel Ruz, formerly with the Martinez and Gray d’Albion, has taken over an early 20th-century Provence-style stone house with amazing views over the Estérel hills, Grasse and the bay of Théoule, and re-named it “Lou Fassum”. An id(...)

From cheerful bistros for stand-up snacks to temples of high gastronomy, Cannes boasts a wide array of must addresses. The first coffee of the morning deserves a setting on a par with the event : the smooth running of the entire day depends on it… In two different styles, Café Lenôtre and Volupté ar(...)

If you haven’t already tested the experience, beware ! Once you get a taste for it, it’s not easy to do without it. First stage, choose the setting. From Cannes to Nice, regulars invariably meet up around 7 p.m. for 90 minutes (or more) of relaxation over drinks. A preamble to dining which allows on(...)

Italian cuisine is rich, varied and tasty. Far from limiting itself to pasta, it offers an array of tastes and savours to enchant the most delicate palates. A culinary tour of our trans-Alpine friends… According to the history books, Marco Polo brought pasta and rice back from China and Christopher (...)

A hill-top village, a table with a view and a talented chef… All we need to rouse our curiosity and whet our appetites. If you ask Frédéric Galland why he left Lille for Falicon, he answers “For the Côte d’Azur”. Well, for a certain idea of the Côte d’Azur. The one brimming with charm, with typi(...)

We haven’t heard the last of them. That’s normal, they symbolize the changing of the guard and, without casting any shadow on “the oldsters”, they are making a name for their cuisine. The chef taking over from Christian Willer, for example, is Christian Sinicropi. Since 2001, everyone had gotten use(...)

A prestigious address in an idyllic environment, often crowned by a star-rated chef… The stage is set. Here, one dines semi or 100% gastronomic, with relative simplicity or pomp and ceremony. In the Festival City, gourmets are spoilt for choice. The sublime Croisette proposes the Brasserie Carlton ((...)

Exuberant Marseille, divine Avignon, charming Aix and authentic Saint-Rémy fly high the flags of Provence. In the Phocean city, one address is currently celebrating its 90th anniversary. Born in 1917 at the initiative of Germain, “Le Petit Nice - Passédat” has stepped into the 21st century with Géra(...)

It’s the tradition : every year, all summer long, Saint-Tropez puts on a show. Partying starts here as soon as you get out of bed, ie. around 11 a.m. When the sun reaches its zenith, an aperitif is obligatory at Sénéquier’s, this year celebrating its 120th anniversary. For the occasion, the decor ha(...)

You could call them “the dinosaurs” of the culinary world. Great chefs such as Serge Gouloumès, Jacques Chibois, Alain Llorca, Laurent Tarridec and Stéphane Raimbault, all helping to turn the region into a land of gourmet - and star-rated - delights. Currently, Serge Gouloumès is the only one not to(...)

Sleeping with your head in the stars and having lunch or dinner at the water’s edge - a dream ! A dream that can come true, in the Var and on the Côte d’Azur. Far from the hustle and bustle of Saint-Tropez, south of the cape, the “Château de Valmer” stands on an old vineyard estate offering discr(...)

Fom Saint-Tropez to Monaco, good restaurants appear, change hands, win new accolades. A road full of flavour, to be followed blindfolded ! Our tour begins in Saint-Tropez, more precisely at the Bastide of the same name. Here, a new chef has just taken over the ovens at the restaurant L’Olivier. (...)

Some dinners just have to be perfect. The decor, atmosphere and food all need to play their part to ensure a wonderful experience. What’s the recipe for a successful evening ? First, the setting. Second, the food. Third, the welcome. On the Riviera, there’s no lack of addresses likely to meet al(...)

A discreet and earthy mushroom, the truffle inspires our chefs and whets the appetite of gourmets. Both summer and winter varieties add something special to every dish. Who would have guessed that it was the popes who came to Avignon who set the trend for truffles ? Renowned chefs such as Carême(...)

People don’t talk about “cuisine niçoise” by chance. The town and its surrounding region deserve the accolade and prove, recipes in hand, that it is a real art. The art of eating well… People sometimes forget that Nice is a high temple of gastronomy. Orchards here provide variety and quality, “e(...)

Green is the colour. The atmosphere ? Countrified, but countrified chic. A tour of restaurants whose natural settings add charm to refined dining. A city-person 100 %, an inveterate fan of the tarmac, allergic to the smallest blade of grass – this is not for you ! Here you take in great gulps of(...)

By the sea, in the countryside or mountains, the guest-house definitely offers a more congenial atmosphere and is appreciated by more and more fans. Why do people prefer it to a hotel room ? For its friendliness and casualness. As soon as you arrive, you feel as if you’re expected by friends wai(...)

It’s no secret, people envy us for our beaches and the restaurants that go with them. From May to October, this is the place to lunch while getting a tan. Choose from great classics and more recent venues. Among the “must” addresses are those right on the beach. For many years, the Var and the A(...)

Dieticians all agree that shell-fish are never out of bounds for those on a diet (especially if you avoid accompanying them by any grease). Savour them plain, with lemon-juice or vinegar and shallots, as many as you like. Some people say you should only eat shell-fish in months with an “r”. In the o(...)

For the past ten years, the Alpilles and the Luberon have had the wind in their sails. A trip to the heart of two authentic regions, where natural beauty and a rich past make for a delightful life-style… A mountain range of almost 43,000 acres north-west of the Bouches-du-Rhône, the Alpilles reg(...)

A town on a human scale, an enviable geographic location and major cultural and economic assets - nothing seems to stop the development of Aix. This Provençal town exploits its potential with rationality and discernment… One recognizes this thermal spa of Roman origin for its narrow streets, colou(...)

Exotic products and refined preparation are the main characteristics of Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. Each one with its own specialities… When talking about Japan, one immediately thinks of sushi, those little balls of sticky, vinegary rice, clad in a fine slice of raw fish (Nig(...)

Hill-top villages play host to restaurants which, in addition to an elevated view (for some), also offer high-flying menus !… Don’t think for a minute that all our talented chefs are relegated to a thin strip of shoreline from Monaco to Mandelieu. Some take a shine to country villages or set off(...)

Winter is upon us and the call of the mountains echoes in our ears. It’s time to strap on our skis and get some real fresh air. The leading lights in the Alps, Megève and Courchevel open the gates to a paradise of immaculate white snow… Off we go to Savoy and Upper Savoy, where Megève and Courch(...)

Subdued lighting, background music, refined cuisine… All one needs for a dinner to become a memorable event. So say the chefs… It all begins, of course, with the setting, whether traditional, baroque or trendy. The saying “Never mind the packaging, it’s the content that counts” isn’t borne out h(...)

Pheasant, partridge, hare and boar… The region isn’t wanting for game, nor talented chefs to make the most of them ! Experts all agree : game is a strongly-flavoured meat requiring a minimum of know-how and experience. Only then will it unfurl its savours to enchant the most discerning palates. (...)

The queen of all mushrooms, the truffle ignites the imagination of chefs and titillates the taste-buds. Where to sniff them out… Black or white, summer or winter, botanists have identified about thirty different truffles. The most well-known is the Périgord variety, considered as a benchmark for(...)

Don’t waste time at lunchtime ! But don’t skip eating either ! Cécile Olivéro points you in the right direction… It’s become a habit : no-one spends hours any more over lunch. Because time is precious, and also because the evening meal has become the day’s main culinary experience. We thus devote(...)

The cuisine reflects the region : colourful and sensual. For gastronomy on the Italian Riviera, everything’s a matter of feeling… They call it the “Land of Colours” or the “Land of Flowers” in reference to the roses, carnations and jasmine that grow here. Like the local scenery, the cuisine of L(...)

By the sea or in the country, lunch and dinner mean the great outdoors. A tour of addresses for summer… The locals all tell you : here, from May to October, everyone lives outdoors. And at mealtimes, as a family, with friends or lovers, there’s no way you’ll want to be inside. Fans of chlorophyl(...)

From one end of the Croisette to the other, and in several little side-streets, there’s no lack of trendy addresses in Cannes. Opt for trendy dining at “L’Atelier”, for example, the restaurant at the Palm Beach Casino, a high temple for night-owls. If you remember, not so long back it was known (...)

Anyone who sums up Italian cuisine as a few specialities based on pasta is doing real injustice to our neighbours across the Alps. They, like the French, have taken recipes with vegetables, meat, fish and sauces to the level of fine art… As essential as ever… No point denying it, pasta is to Ita(...)

Taking care of one’s body (and mind) is no longer a non-affordable luxury. So why not concoct a tailormade programme combining relaxation and gourmet fare ? The Givenchy Spa on the top floor of the Martinez Hotel blends elegant surroundings with comfort and calm. First you’ll opt for a soothing f(...)

Black, white, summer or winter… Truffles are a rare commodity, highly-prized by chefs. Join the foray into the realm of high gastronomy… He is quite indisputably the king. Bruno and truffles, a name and a word that are inseparable - and well-known to gourmets. Who, in fact, don’t think twice abo(...)

Wine bars are going from strength to strength. In a hurry or not, both men and women continue to book their tables, especially at lunchtime. For a moment of relaxation, to be enjoyed without moderation… There’s nothing better for the morale than eating and drinking well. Proving the point, the re(...)

These pastoral or gourmet restaurants are all set in villages perched atop hills. Well worth climbing… for lunch or dinner. There are places you would never visit without meaning to. You decide to go and are delighted the moment you get there and experience it. How about a visit to a “back-home” st(...)

The little white ball reigns here supreme. But before, or after, your round of golf, lunchtime takes precedence over sport… The setting is happily always the same : green as far as the eye can see, with trees, old stones (very often), a pond (occasionally) and this impression of serenity so speci(...)