Where to Eat Lunch in Vaison-la-Romaine

Vaucluse Villages

We go often to Vaison-la-Romaine, sometimes it seems almost every day. We go for Tuesday morning market, buy basic household supplies at “Brando Vaison Ménager”, pick up cheese at an amazing shop called “Lou Canesteou”, visit friends, or simply pass through on the way to Nyons and other destinations in the Drôme Provençale.

Vaison-la-Romaine is a short (6 mile) drive from our house in Sablet along a winding road. As we near Vaison-la-Romaine, we see the castle built by the Counts of Toulouse in the 12th century sitting on a cliff above the town.

Exploring Vaison

Vaison-la-Romaine is divided into two parts by the Ouvèze River; on the right bank is the ancient Roman colony and modern town and on the left bank on top of a rocky spur is the old medieval town, topped by the aforementioned castle.

Vaison is a moderate-sized town in a gorgeous region, surrounded by Mont Ventoux and the hills of the Dentelles de Montmirail. There is plenty to explore in town including an extensive Roman site, a medieval village on the hillside and a 19th-century “modern” section. If you approach the Vaison area from Avignon, you pass the villages of Sablet and Séguret, framed by the Dentelles.

Vaison has more of a “country” feel than many other cities in Provence. Located in Haute Provence, separated from the rest of Provence geographically Vaison has retained its ancient charms. There are many quiet, preserved hilltop villages with cobblestone streets and old stone houses, and no large building complexes or industrial parks in the area. The size of the town and the number of amenities make Vaison a terrific place to live.

Lunch in Vaison

Fromagerie Lou Canestou is a cheese shop owned and run by Josiane Deal, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF). Josiane supplies cheese to about 100 restaurants in the Vaucluse and Bouches-du-Rhône.
10 Rue Raspail,
84110 Vaison-la-Romaine
Closed on Sundays

Bistro Du’O is an excellent bistro whose young chef won a southern Rhône “Top Chef” competition in June 2014 (sponsored by the Chateau Vaudieu winery). One day last fall, we dined at Bistro du’O in the old upper town. Continue reading here for details on this restaurant in Vaison-la-Romaine by Michel at Our House in Provence
Rue Gaston Gévaudan
84110 Vaison-la-Romaine
Telephone:+33 (0)4 90 41 72 90
They also have three (3) beautiful guest rooms, if you want to stay over.

Peyrerol Patisserie, Chocolaterie, and Glacier make exquisite pastries, chocolates, and ice cream, everything made on site.
7 Cours Henri Fabre,
84110 Vaison-la-Romaine
Closed on Mondays

 l’Arbre à Vins is a fabulous wine bar and shop where you will find wines from all over France with at least 50% from the “local” vineyards in Côtes du Rhône, Gigondas, Chateauneuf du Pape, Cairanne and Rasteau. Owner Mathieu Schillinger has a masters’ degree in wine and curates the collection.
14 Place Montfort,
84110 Vaison-la-Romaine
Closed on Sundays and Mondays

The market in Vaison-la-Romaine is on Tuesday mornings. It is one of the larger markets in the areas and a great place to pick up supplies for a picnic lunch.

Michel and Shirley

Michel and Shirley, live in wine country, in Windsor, California. They have a full family with two beautiful daughters and five amazing grandchildren. Michel's day job is as CEO of Chancellor Health Care, a company which provides housing and services to older adults.

Previously a co-owner of a popular French bistro called Bistro des Copains located in Western Sonoma County California. The Bistro was closed in early 2015, after nine years!

In 2008, after searching for years and visiting many houses they bought a 17th century stone village house in the medieval village of Sablet which is in the Vaucluse region of Provence France.

Please read about the Sablet House (available for rent) and follow their blog Our House in Provence.