5 Best Restaurants in Provence, France

This convivial wine bar, tucked in a corner near a pretty old town square, is the best place for tasting local wines. The selection of excellent-value options by the glass allows you to take in (literally) the vast wealth of the Côtes du Rhône, deliciously accompanied by local cheeses, charcuterie, or salad plates.

A cave (wine store) by day and a happening wine and tapas bar by night, this is a great place to sample the famous wines of the Côtes du Rhône—perhaps a local Beaume-de-Venise, which goes nicely with the house-made foie gras. Whether you sit inside or out on the terrace, charming, knowledgeable staffers will pour samples until you've found the perfect pairing for your charcuterie or artisanal cheese plate.

As evidenced by the happy crowds seated at the long bar and enjoying artisanal charcuterie or cheese plates and biodynamic wines, food and drink are serious fun at this otherwise casual spot. The chef, who cut his teeth as a sommelier in London, offers a short daily menu of dishes—perhaps, Camargue oysters with salted gooseberries and crème cru or lamb shoulder paired with green beans, walnuts and roasted prunes—that make good use of local bounty.

The thirtysomething chef at the helm of this cozy wine bar is passionate about tracking down the best local ingredients, whether it's the juicy tomatoes with your roasted octopus salad or the Camargue rice with your succulent lamb. And he's no less scrupulous about wines, with a penchant for small natural and biodynamic producers from every region of France. It's a good idea to order several of the delicious, well-priced small dishes to taste as many as possible, but the fixed-price menus assure a great price-to-quality ratio. Be sure to reserve ahead, as the restaurant has only 20 spots and is an absolute favorite with locals.

The place to sample the region's delicacies—wine, truffles, and olive oil—is in a stately 17th-century mansion high atop Ménerbes. Seated inside the elegant wine bar or out in the garden with eye-popping Luburon views, you can taste great wines while enjoying quiche or a soup de jour (made with local organic products), a cheese or charcuterie plate, or a planche truffe. There’s also ice cream, as well as desserts by the resident pastry chef. Come for an olive oil or wine tasting, then purchase your favorites at the on-site boutique (shipping is available). Other local specialties include chocolates and, in truffle season, tuber melanosporum, gathered by local farmers.