Provence Top 5 Restaurants Favourites from a Travel Pro

Almost every year, we put together a list (or a few) of favourite restaurants in Provence. Since this is Provence, there is practically no end of terrific dining options in the region. Chefs in Provence build their menus around seasonal, locally available produce, small-batch cheeses, ethically raised meats and Mediterranean seafood. However, as a visitor, knowing where to go for food that is good value and high quality is not always evident.

While the Michelin guide is a terrific resource, is there anything better than recommendations from a seasoned traveller? In this case, these favourite restaurant suggestions come from a reader who shares a holiday home in the Drôme Provençale with friends. While this lady and her husband enjoy good food, she used to organize high-end travel itineraries for clients hoping to visit Provence. So, we are happy to try her top seven (7) favourite restaurant picks. Bon appétit, and remember it’s always best to reserve in advance.

Drôme Provencale Restaurants

The Drôme Provençale, despite the name and the Mediterranean landscapes, is technically part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and not Provence. Driving through this départment, you will see olive groves, lavender fields, grapevines, charming hilltop villages and even a castle. Named after the Drôme River, the départment feels like Provence, where time stood still.

Nyons or nearby:

La Charette Bleue is probably one of our favourite restaurants in France! Lovely creative food, the outdoor patio is beautiful in warm weather, and indoor dining rooms are warm and cozy. Knowledgeable and friendly staff and good wine selection. The restaurant is just a short drive north of Nyons. It was well-priced, especially at lunch. It is popular with locals, and reservations are essential.

La Charette Bleue (website)
5 Chemin Barjavel
Route de Gap (D94)
La Bonté
26110 Condorcet (Nyons)
Open for lunch and dinner. However, the closing days change seasonally.

La Verre à Soie is another favourite restaurant of ours. The restaurant is owned and operated by a husband and wife team. Jérôme Lamy runs the front of the house as a sommelier, and Fei-Hsin is the chef. While the menu is limited, it is unique, with a choice of one dish served either French-style or Taiwanese-style. The dining room is small, with tables outside on a pleasant square in Nyons. Their lunch menu is well-priced, and the wine selection is excellent.

La Verre a Soie (website)
12 Place des Arcades
26110 Nyons

Vaucluse Restaurants

Vaison la Romaine:

In the upper limits of the Vaucluse department (Haute Provence), Vaison la Romaine is in the heart of the Southern Rhône wine country. Surrounded by agricultural land, the peaks of the Dentelles de Montmirail and nearby Mont Ventoux, Vaison has a rural feel. The village is an open-air museum where Roman, medieval and modern times intersect. The River Ouvèze splits the town in two, separating the Colline du Château, known as the Haute-Ville, from the balance of the city.

Bistro d’O is a lovely restaurant in the medieval part of Vaison la Romaine. The restaurant’s young chef won a southern Rhône “Top Chef” competition in June 2014 (sponsored by the Chateau Vaudieu winery). While the food at Bistro d’O is at the higher end of the budget, there is delicious food and wine and a lovely setting, so it is worth the cost. Reservations are essential.

Bistro Du’O (website)
Rue Gaston Gévaudan
84110 Vaison-la-Romaine

L’Arbre a Vin is a wine store and wine bar with a selection of bottles from all over France. At l’Arbre à Vins, 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. The owner, Mathieu Schillinger, is a wine expert who describes every bottle as a voyage. On Friday nights, they offer a price-fixed menu with three courses. It is always delicious, and the wine selections to accompany the menu are perfect. The indoor setting is small, with long tables for family-style eating and a lovely outdoor space when the weather suits. Reservations are essential as the restaurant is always full.

L’Arbre à Vins (website)
14 Place Montfort
84110 Vaison la Romaine

Gigondas:

L’Oustalet Gigondas, when we first ate here in 2014, the restaurant did not have its Michelin star. The food is everything you want at this level, as is the setting, both inside and outdoors. Warm service adds to the whole experience. Again, lunch is a great choice and is a “deal” at 70E. In addition, L’Oustalet has a bistro for more casual dining and a wine store, Le Nez.

L’Oustalet Gigondas (website)
5, place Gabrielle Andéol
84190 Gigondas

More Dining Recommendations

We asked the owners of Le Prieuré La Madelène for suggestions on places they would send clients to eat in the Vaucluse near Mont Ventoux. Their detailed list might be better than the Michelin guide for tried and appetite-tested dining experiences. Here are their suggestions for restaurants in the Mont Ventoux Villages.

Provence’s Luberon Valley is one of the most beautiful spots in France. It is chock-full of restaurants serving excellent food and stunning views to accompany your meal. Here are five restaurants with great views. Booking in advance is highly recommended.

Rising like an island from the plain, the Grignan sits on a hilltop surrounded by rampart walls. From the village are panoramic views of the mountains and agricultural lands of the Drôme Provençale. The Renaissance-era Château de Grignan (a historical monument) is the jewel in the stone crown. The exact origins of the castle are unclear. However, after several centuries and ownership changes, the town now owns it. Stop for a meal or stay over at La Ferme Chapouton.

The largest town in the Alpilles, St Rémy, is an ideal size because it’s large enough to have a variety of shops and restaurants, yet small enough that you can walk across it in a few minutes. And it’s a town that rewards strolling—the village centre is off-limits to cars, so it’s easy to wander the cobblestone streets, popping in and out of the many charming shops. However, with many dining choices in town, it’s hard to choose. Here are some of our recommendations for Saint-Rémy de Provence restaurants.

Unlike the abundant shopping in the heart of Saint Remy de Provence, the village of Eygalières has only a handful of boutiques. However, what this town lacks in retail opportunities, it makes up for with places to eat and drink. Here is a list of cafés and restaurants in Eygalières. The restaurants are listed in the order they are situated on Rue de la République, running from the top of the street near the church towards the Marie (Town Hall) unless otherwise noted.