Dine with friends, there's nothing better

A fine view on a warm sunny day, a glass of wine, new tastes with old friends, there are few better things in life. There are so many great restaurants in great locations they warrant a whole web site, but we'll do our best to give you a flavour of what you could experience just a short drive away from Le Foulon. These are just a few places we know and have enjoyed, and this is our honest opinion.

A few tips to help you enjoy eating out in Provence: it's not traditional here to get a drink before all your party have arrived, so it's not poor service when they leave you unattended as you wait for the last of your group, it's just cultural!

The lunchtime drink of choice is Rosé - and the cheapest Cote de Provence served in a carafe is just perfect and never frowned upon. Evenings start for a Provençal with a glass or two of Pastis, the aniseed flavoured aperitif. If you think you've made your mind up about this strong flavoured drink please try it again. In the new context of whetting the appetite at the end of a sunny day in the South of France, you might just get hooked.

Please note, most kitchens in France will turn away custom before 2pm, for locals and tourists alike. I have mentioned in the description if this is not the case. Also, we'd recommend you book: French often chefs don't see an opportunity to make a few more Euros when a booking walks in unannounced, rather they see hassle and a late afternoon washing-up, so please make use of the phone numbers provided and when possible give them 24hrs notice. By law service is included in France - leaving an extra tip is at your discretion and not expected, but if we've been well fed and enjoyed ourselves we always leave a few extra euros.

VIEILLE AUBERGE - GREOLIERES +33 (0)493 59 03 02

This is a superb little restaurant run by Didier and Fabrice - bring a large appetite!

They offer 3 courses at a reduced rate and unlike most 'menus' it allows you to choose what you like from the a la carte. It has a homely atmosphere inside, but for most of the year you'll want to sit outside and watch the village life pass by.

The foie gras starter is delicious and the breast of duck in a honey sauce is a favourite main course. They also do one of the best steaks for many a mile, and some delicious home-made desserts. Didier quite often serves into the afternoon, but evenings are by reservation only for large groups.

LE RELAIS - GREOLIERES +33 (0)493 32 03 86

The Relais is a lovely simple restaurant, ideal for an alfresco lunch. Its greatest assets are the sunny terrace with a view up the South face of the Cheiron mountain, and the owner Philippe, a proud Corsican with a great sense of humour, some good banter and a great outlook on life. Everyone is welcome at the Relais.

The menu includes some tasty salads, a full range of toasted bruschettas, a plat du jour, a vension stew, an excellent tartare frites and at the weekends his Mother makes a superb ravioli. Being Corsican he also offers a large plate of Corsican charcuterie and cheese and always has the rather excellent Pietra on tap - a Corsican beer subtely flavoured with chestnut. Friendly, good value, and a great view - what more do you need? Free Wi-fi and serves throughout the afternoon but not in the evenings.

BARRICADE - GREOLIERES +33 (0)493 59 98 68

Run by Charline, her husband Pascal and daughter Zoe, they do a good pizza in the evening when the wood fired oven is lit, a choice of burgers and a selection of salads and Provencal specialities.

A small outside terrace is open in the spring and summer and is a great place to catch your breath and take a spot of lunch after the walk up from Le Foulon. If you like your pizza hot you can ask if Pascal has got some fresh chilis to hand, or just spice it up yourself with the milder option of some chili oil. Take-away available.

LE BISTROT DE SOPHIE - COURSEGOULES +33 (0)4 93 59 11 19

The next village east from here, Coursegoules is at the foot of Mount Cheiron, and is another beautiful perched medieval village.

At the entrance to the village the Bistro du Sophie, run by the self same, is a family restaurant offering Nicois speciliaties mainly at lunch time. Local lamb fed from the herbs and scrub of the mountain is as good as you'd imagine, as are the stuffed vegetables. Good value and delicious.

Fresh produce from land and sea make dining out in Provence one of life's great pleasures.

L'ATELIER GOURMAND - COURSEGOULES +33 (0)4 93 32 70 88

The Gourmet Workshop does just that - making great home-made food for the hungry.

Be sure to order the aperitif of Socca - a Nicois speciality this is a simple savoury pancake made from chickpea flour, cooked in the pizza oven and well seasoned. Sliced and shared it's the perfect accompanyment to either of the Belgian draft beers and a wonderful start to the meal. Good pizzas, excellent burgers, a very nice rabbit stew, steak and salads. Specials change regularly. Open lunch and evening, with a shaded terrace at the front and a great room at the back looking up the mountain.

AUBERGES DES GORGES DU LOUP - PONT DU LOUP +33 (0)493 59 38 01

At the mouth of the gorge this large restaurant and auberge has been operating since the boom years of Pont du Loup and is the only surviving hotel from the era.  

An old fashioned French restaurant (and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that) it has several set menus offering delicious fare and very good value. They do a superb guinea fowl, their salmon is top-notch whether as a starter or a main, and the service is irreproachable. The owner is very friendly and very hands on - he seems to work all hours God sends him and you can really feel the love in this restaurant.

The larger terrace beneath ancient palm trees is a great high summer shady spot and you can really feel the history of the place. Views up the Gorges du Loup and you can spy Gourdon on the top of the ridge.

LES ORMEAUX - CIPIERES +33 (0)4 93 58 78 70

Cipieres can be reached by forest path from our garden (pretty rocky, so walking shoes recommended) in 40 minutes, and Les Ormeaux will fill you up perfectly for the easier return down the hill.

Run by a French German couple the food is very local, very traditional and changes regularly. The local goats cheese is not to be missed, light and creamy. Booking essential, even for a couple.

MICHELANGELOS - BAR SUR LOUP +33 (0)6 65 68 81 20

This small and simple restaurant is a great choice for a simple lunch stop. The terrace is a beautiful gem, shaded with grape vines and with a far reaching view across the verdant valley that's fed by the river loup.

Worth visiting  for a good pizza, some tasty salads, a simple sirloin or generous duck breast and a selection of pasta. Unassuming and quite good value.

AU VIEUX FOUR - GOURDON +33 (0)4 93 09 68 60

Owned and run by a couple, one in the kitchen one at the front of house, they specialise in a very seasonal, very local menu that changes almost daily.

Inventive, fresh and delicious. They offer a good value set lunch menu and in the evenings a choice of two dishes for each course - that way they provide the very best they can in this small but very quaint and atmospheric restaurant. They also have an excellent choice of very local wines, some of the reds will dispell the notion that Provence is only good for rose. A firm favourite. Booking essenital.

LES GRANDS HOMMES - GOURDON +33 (0)4 93 77 66 21

Best value spot in the village of Gourdon, but you're certainly not short changed by the chef. Grab a table in the pedestrian main street and people-watch whilst the ever helpful owner brings you tasty treats like salt-fed lamb with dauphinoise potatoes - our favourite.

Not a particularly big menu, but it makes it easier to choose and it's all very good. There's a small roof terrace which is only better than outside the restaurant if you get the table next to the large round opening in the wall - from here you are on top of the World with an uninterrupted view from Nice all the way down to the bay of Cannes.

Taverne Provencale, GourdonTAVERNE PROVENCALE - GOURDON +33 (0)4 93 09 68 22

Just 10 minute's drive from Le Foulon and you have the beautiful Chateau village of Gourdon with one of the best views of the Cote d'Azur from anywhere in Provence. And the Taverne Provencale is one of the best places to soak it in over a long lazy lunch.

The Taverne has been run by the same family for 3 generations now and provides a very warm welcome and attentive service, even on the busiest sunny day in August when it's advisable to book - mention you're staying at Le Foulon and they'll ensure you get a good table. In August they open in the evenings for some of the week - call to book a night time table with the coast twinkling in the distance.

LE CAVE DE TOURETTES +33 (0)4 93 24 10 12

In a village with a lot of choice this is a firm favourite. It's a restaurant in a wine shop, and you can choose anything from their shelves and only pay a small extra corkage fee to enjoy at your table.

The menu changes almost daily, and what it lacks in choice it makes up for with inventive and imaginative cooking of very fresh seasonal ingredients. Normally a fish or meat option for the mains, we are constantly surprised and never dissapointed with their cooking. Lunch and evening opening, booking in the high season is essential.

SPELT - TOURETTES +33 (0)9 86 26 63 79

The fanciest and probably the most expensive restaurant in Tourettes, but you can see where the money goes with the effort and care they put into their cuisine.

The limited choice at lunchtime is better value and in the evenings they only offer a rather rich tasting menu, in all senses of the word. Courses are small, and in between you get an amuse bouche to prepare your pallet for what comes next. You'll soon not know what's an amuse and what's a real course and you'll have lost count! Bring a large appetite and drive home slowly.

LA COLOMBE D'OR - ST PAUL DE VENCE +33 (0)4 93 32 80 02

One of the most famous restaurants on the Cote d'Azur this is also one of our favourites. Unpretentious in both atmosphere and cuisine you'll have a taste of real Provence.

Made famous by the artists that once frequented the restaurant the sympathetic owner often took payment for their extensive tabs with the odd canvas or two. The walls are now adorned by Matisse, Braque, Picasso and many, many others. So it pays to be kind to penniless artists!

 A great people watching spot where the service is is as superlative as the food. Undeniably pricey and can be booked up weeks, even months in advance, but worth it as a memorable treat.

BASTIDE DE ST ANTOINE - GRASSE +33 (0)4 93 70 94 94

The bastide is the epitome of the Michelin star system before they relaxed the rules a little. A touch pretentious, but with the cuisine to back it up, you'll pay proper Michelin prices, but have a meal to remember.

Top tip is to go there for a sunny lunch - the atmosphere and setting in the immaculate gardens are so much nicer than the slightly stuffy interior, it's better value for exactly the same refined quality of cuisine and the clientele seem to be having a better time, which all adds to the ambience.