24 Best Restaurants in Provence, France

Set in a leafy enclave, on a bustling old town street, this tiny jewel is one of  L'Isles’ best-kept secrets. The menu may be short, but that’s because the chef focuses on selecting the best local, seasonal ingredients as well as on creating picture-perfect presentations. Expect dishes like cod with orange-braised endive and beurre blanc or slow-roasted spiced veal with spinach and Parmesan. With seating for only 18, reservations are a must.

At one of Aix's best "bistronomic" (gastronomic bistro) eateries, a stone's throw from the Cours Mirabeau, diners swoon for beautifully presented upscale French classics—crusted lobster with feta and coriander, squash samosas and homemade goose pâté, or roasted veal giblets with Gouda-cauliflower and black truffle. The à la carte menu is short, but that's only because you're being served what's market fresh that day. Do go for one of the tasting menus, as they're by far the best deal.

At this gastropub hot spot in the heart of the city, chef Julien Gleize applies light, playful, modern touches to dishes that are steeped in French tradition, made with local ingredients, and beautifully presented. Options might include rabbit farci perfumed with wild cèpes and served over a cloud of whipped potatoes and shallot confit or wild salmon caramelized in olive oil with watercress, black sesame seeds, and luscious cream of corn.

A decor that mixes distressed walls with minimalist industrial-style lighting and sleek designer chairs is your first clue that this neobistro and wine bar in Marseille's emerging Noailles neighborhood is impossibly hip. British chef Harry Cummins, lately of Paris's gastronomic mecca Frenchie, uses local, seasonal ingredients to craft subtle, imaginative dishes that are highly satisfying to all yet also sensitive to the needs of vegetarians and those with food allergies. The three-course lunch menu (€35) and the five-course dinner menu (€62), served inside or on the secluded outdoor terrace, are good introductions.

Open since 1830, this chic bistro perched on a stony outcrop at the heights of Les Baux‘s old town has had lots of time to perfect its game. You’ll dine on French stalwarts, featuring grilled aged beef and seafood, accompanied by breathtaking panoramas of the Baux valley through wraparound windows.

Set on the main street of Paradou, a small village 6 km (4 miles) from Les Baux, this spot has seen its share of famous diners, from French movie stars to politicians, but you'd never know it from the friendly, laid-back atmosphere cultivated by the longtime chef and his loyal staff who loudly greet their friends—meaning everyone. From the aperitif until the bill comes (which could be a while, as you'll want to take your time here), you're drawn into the rhythm of Provençal bistro dining, with a bottle of the house red wine ready at your table and a stellar cheese platter all to yourself. There is a set menu for lunch and dinner—a choice of two starters, one or two main courses, and six desserts—ensuring that every morsel is fresh, local, and cooked to perfection.

If you're willing to travel 10 minutes to the tiny perched village of Goult, you'll be rewarded with a top-notch, thoroughly French meal at a restaurant that's elegant enough for a celebratory dinner, yet casual enough for a gourmet lunch on the go. Sea-crab soup with fricassee of cuttlefish and homemade aïoli makes a nice prelude to saddle of rabbit with local chanterelle mushrooms stewed with kale (a rarity in France). Top off your meal with a homemade sorbet, pear poached in black current and stuffed with rice pudding, or assorted regional goat cheeses and a local rosé. In summer, try for a seat on the small outdoor terrace overlooking the town square and church.

At this sleek little wine bar, an understated decor belies splendid dishes that easily match the gastronomic fare served at Aix's pricier restaurants. In keeping with the wine bar ethos, plates are small (all the better to pair with wines by the glass) but beautifully conceived and sometimes thrilling—think foie gras with apricot confit, sea bream and wild mushrooms, or zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta and mint. Don't be shy to ask for advice on wine pairings; you'll be glad you did.

The more elegant sister to Mathieu Desmaret's locavore mecca, Pollen, this dining room set in a 14th-century cloister attracts a chic, upscale crowd that fits right in with the stunning decor. You'll find all the flair and precision that put this talented chef on the foodie map, but with an Asian touch in dishes like candied beets with miso yogurt and kumquat or roasted pollack with lemongrass, ginger, and lacquered leeks. For a more casual meal of appetizers and wine, with many options available by the glass, head to the wine bar and grab a seat inside or out on the beautiful cobbled terrace; there's also a cocktail bar with a menu of creative libations.

We'd love to keep this friendly restaurant a secret, but the chefs craft dishes of such rare subtlety and sophistication (especially at this price range) and the wine list has such a dazzling array of affordable options by the bottle or the glass, that it seems wrong not to share among copains. Though à la carte is possible, opt for the excellent-value prix-fixe menus to try dishes like pan-fried octopus and soppressata ham, hay-smoked Aubrac steak with parsnip puree and anchovy condiment, or foie gras with trout caviar and passion fruit. For dessert, consider the caramelized puff pastry with fig compote and vanilla cream. Note, too, that the chefs here are happy to accommodate special requests, making this a great place for finicky eaters or those with allergies.

On a leafy off-the-beaten-path square, close to the Maison Carré, this cozy dining room serves a sensational gourmet fare made with fresh ingredients from the nearby Les Halles de Nîmes market. Elegant dishes—smoked salmon tartare with horseradish, beets, and anise-infused pickles, say, or southwest rack of pork with white-bean puree, and root veggies roasted with Cévennes honey—are served as part of two- or three-course lunch menus and two- to five-course dinner menus. In warm weather, you can dine alfresco on the pretty square.

If you have a car and feel like a long, leisurely lunch or dinner in the countryside, this leafy spot 7 km (4 miles) from Aix is a good choice. On nice days, you can sip the local wines under tall plane trees and take in the bucolic views before enjoying fresh local specialties prepared with care and precision. On cooler days, having a meal in the pretty dining room or atrium is almost as pleasant as dining en plein air. Afterward, you're welcome to try your hand at pétanque court over a digestif. If the local wines have proven too tempting, you can stay at the on-site Gaogaïa Hotel.

Franco-Vietnamese chef Céline Pham, a talented veteran of top restaurants in Paris, headlines at this chic bistro set in a 13th-century chapel. This is a food lover's destination, not only for the seasonal dishes with subtle and surprising combinations but also for the excellent-value menus (three courses lunch, €41; dinner, €70).

A popular place for lunch or dinner, this modern bistro and terrace in the heart of the old town draws a lively mix of locals, expats, and tourists looking for authentic market-driven meals. A small but satisfying menu is generously laced with local delicacies—savory ragoût of wild boar, cod with pureed local vegetables and tapenade-laden croutons, and poached-egg cocotte with foie gras cream and turmeric-balsamic toast. A generous wine list offers plenty of local choices by the glass, and the dessert tray in the window—another big draw—features tantalizing concoctions, like a classic chantilly-topped baba al rhum (a small cake made with rum syrup) and creamy tarte au citron (a lemon tart). Service can be slow, but it's always friendly.

An open kitchen, a chalkboard menu, a bright terrace, and friendly service combine to create a laid-back atmosphere here, but, when it comes to the food, chef Nicolas Epiard is on his toes, serving up traditional local cuisine with flair and exuberance. Try dishes like the meltingly tender, slow-cooked bull with wild morels and a puree of root vegetables or the sea bass with savory herb pistou (Provence's answer to pesto) and crisp vegetables. Desserts might include fig crumble or white chocolate mousse. A refreshing rosé (the locally influenced wine list has plenty of choices by the glass) is the perfect accompaniment to an exemplary meal that's easy on the wallet.

Steps from the Palais des Papes, this chic hot spot is part of the "bistronomy" movement, which focuses on creative cooking, a casual atmosphere, and reasonable prices. The quaint terrace on a side street lures in passersby, and the romantic 17th-century interior courtyard keeps them coming back.

A 200-plus wine list is a big highlight of this restaurant and bar à vins, yet the main focus is squarely on the food. Beautiful to behold and even better to eat, the Mediterranean-inspired dishes flaunt the bounty of Provence in options like beef carpaccio, sliced razor-thin and served with shaved Parmesan and crispy house frites; a tender zucchini tartlette with chèvre and herbes de Provence; or a salad of heirloom tomatoes, bufala mozzarella, Serrano ham, and basil sorbet. A laid-back atmosphere, friendly staff, spacious outdoor terrace, and excellent prices make this a top choice.

Set amid vineyards just outside Orange, this stone farmhouse restaurant recently updated its traditional dining room and its dishes, while maintaining its charm and its high standards. The sophisticated menu is based on the French classics like salmon mousse, house-made foie gras, beef cheeks, and a fish of the day. In warm weather, the terrace is a lovely place to be.

You’re in excellent hands at this wine bar and “bistronomic” (bistro with gastronomic cuisine) dining room helmed by two accomplished chefs and set in a restored 18th-century inn in St-Saturnin-lès-Apt, a hilltop village 9 km (5½ miles) north of Apt. Cozy up to the old-fashioned wooden zinc bar for a homemade pastry and coffee, lunch, a snack, or a glass of wine expertly chosen from the Provence region and beyond. In the refined dining room (or balcony terrace), expect a casual bistro menu at lunch, but at dinnertime the linens and candles come out for a gourmet meal accompanied by spectacular views. All the ingredients, including the meats, artisan cheeses, and market-fresh fruits and veggies support local, sustainable, and organic agriculture.

It's well worth the slog up the hill to the château simply to linger on the terrace of this long-established restaurant and savor the view over Mont Ventoux, Avignon, the Luberon, and the Rhône—and you can visit the restaurant's well-stocked wine cellar on your way to the top. The tarte à la tomate confite with goat cheese and iced white cheese is a specialty that reveals a love for the region's cuisine. The owners, the Estenevins, have lived in Châteauneuf-du-Pape for three generations; Philippe and Jean-Pierre took over the restaurant from their parents.

At this red-walled, library-like haven in a stylish book-and-boutique complex of a renovated arsenal, you can have a sophisticated regional lunch and read while you're waiting. If you've had your fill of fish, indulge in the grilled fillet of beef with fried artichokes and sweet onion. The terrace (on the Italian-scale Cours d'Estienne d'Orves) is as pleasant as the interior.

Claude and Dana Douard collaborated with some of the greatest chefs of our time before getting away from the big city lights to open this bistro–wine bar hot spot in the center of St-Rémy. The wine selection is magnificent, and so is the simple food—try the grilled sea bass with chorizo, mashed potatoes, and seasonal vegetables or the grilled Mont Ventoux spiced pork.

Run by two brothers, this convivial restaurant is well worth the five-minute drive outside Aix for a warm welcome, a menu of the best of French comfort food, and expertly chosen regional wines. Here you'll find classics such as coquilles St-Jacques (scallops) and magret de canard (duck breast) alongside vegetarian dishes like homemade gnocchi with roasted salsify, celery puree, and roasted walnuts. As wine glasses clink and the laughter resounds you’ll know you’ve arrived at everyone’s happy place.

This restaurant is worth a trip just outside town for such delights as sea bream with cherry tomatoes and flaxseed, a trilogy of goat and ewe cheeses with black-olive jam, or roasted pike perch with risotto. The bistro-Provençal interior and the terrace are the perfect settings for long, leisurely meals, and there are spectacular village views. In addition to several prix-fixe menus (from €30 to €49) there are many à la carte offerings.