Good Food and Cozy Dining in St-Rémy at Le Marilyn

My wife and I live part of the year in St-Rémy-de-Provence, and one of our favourite restaurants for cozy dining is Le Marilyn. We always receive a warm welcome, the food is consistently good, and the dining room is one of the most charming around.

Owner Chantal Büchner has been in the restaurant business since the age of nine, when she would help out in her mother’s restaurant. Now the roles are reversed, as Chantal’s mother helps out at Le Marilyn. Her son does as well, making it a true family restaurant.

©Le Marilyn

“Our food is classic Provençal,” says Chantal, “and from May to October we also offer paella at lunch on Saturdays.” I can confirm that their slow-cooked lamb is excellent, my wife loves the crab ravioli, and we both enjoy the delicious vegetables that accompany the meal. “Sometimes my chef will give a dish an exotic touch, Chantal adds, “because he used to work in Guadeloupe and loves those island spices.”

“We Are Able to Adapt”

Everything at Le Marilyn is homemade, even the desserts. That makes it a safe destination for people with food intolerances, because the chef knows exactly what goes into each dish.

©Le Marilyn

“We can adapt if a customer can’t eat certain ingredients,” says Chantal. “There is always something we can offer.” I can’t tolerate gluten, and can confirm that I have never had a problem finding good things to eat at Le Marilyn.
Surprisingly, the restaurant does not have a website or a Facebook page. “It’s a lot of work to keep those up to date,” says Chantal, smiling. “I’d rather be in the kitchen making sure our food is great.”

At that, she certainly succeeds. For a warm welcome and excellent food, Le Marilyn should be on anyone’s list.

©Le Marilyn

Practical Information

Le Marilyn
13 boulevard Marceau,
St-Rémy-de-Provence

Telephone: +33 (0)4 90 92 37 11
Open 12-2 pm and 7-9 pm every day except Wednesday and Thursday

Image Credits: All images are courtesy of the restaurant

St Rémy de Provence FAQ

Keith Van Sickle

Keith and Val Van Sickle made their first trip to Provence decades ago, and it was love at first sight. After that, they came back every year until 2008, when they began a part-time life there, splitting their time between Provence and California.

Over the years, they’ve travelled all over Provence, seeing sights both well-known and obscure. Their French friends have introduced them to favourite restaurants and wineries and picnic spots and taught them funny local expressions (not all for polite company).

Keith now shares this local knowledge in his new book, An Insider’s Guide to Provence. Packed with the Van Sickles’ favourite things to see and do, it’s a must-have for anyone travelling to this glorious corner of France.

Keith previously published two books about the couple's experiences in Provence. One Sip at a Time: Learning to Live in Provence, and Are We French Yet?, both are available from Amazon.

You can see all of Keith’s blog posts at Life in Provence.