We will be on a group bike tour in Provence in late May of 2025. Our group of 10 is eclectic with ages ranging form 22-80, so not everyone is seriously into wine, but all enjoy good food. I’m looking for restaurant recs for Avignon and Saint Remy de Provence in particular, as we will be spending several nights in each city. I’d like to treat the group to a nice tasting menu dinner one night (not overly stuffy, though), but am also looking for any solid casual restaurant recommendations.
thanks in advance, Jan
I just got back from two weeks in Provence and did a fair amount of cycling. The scenery is fantastic and the the residents are very bike friendly. We stayed in Lourmarin about an hour from Avignon. We did go to Avignon one day and a google search led to a blog called Observing Leslie. I took one of their recommendations and went to lunch at a restaurant called L’Agape. It was quite good. Three course meal was about 40 E and it had a fairly good wine list. I have no personal knowledge but the blog also recommended Michelin Star restaurants Sevin and La Mirande . They also reommended L’Essentiel.
I can’t help you on St. Remy but I am confident that you will have a great time. Bon Chance!
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Thanks so much! Very helpful recommendations.
We had dinner at Gus Restaurant in St. Remy about 9 months ago. All (or at least very nearly all) seafood, and we really liked it. Definitely not a tasting menu type of place, but it’s on the main thoroughfare that loops around the middle of St. Remy. Seemed to have equal share of locals and tourists, small tables that are close together, that type of thing. A decent wine list and I had to get the fairly priced (not necessarily a steal) Didier Dagueneau Silex. My wife got oysters and miso cod and I had John Dory. As I recall we liked everything. Very solid meal but not “special occasion” type of nice, so not sure if that fits the bill but the only review I have to offer for St. Remy
That sounds perfect! Thanks
Not in Avignon exactly but had good meals at La Maison de Celou and Restaurant le Vivier, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. le Vivier had a nice wine list with Reyas and Château des Tours at no to little mark-up.
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I also recall that when the Silex was brought to the table the guy was telling us a story about Dagueneau and then we ended up chatting with him about wine some while he was pulling the cork and so on. In the little chit chat we told him that we had gone to Vieux Telegraphe earlier that day. Later we found out that he was a member of the family that owns the place and he brought over a bottle of Vieux Telegraphe’s brandy that you can only get direct from the producer and poured us each little glasses and didn’t charge us for them. He really charmed us and we went back to the hotel happy. The more I think about it, the more I liked that place, so I really hope that you have a good experience if you choose to eat there.
Also: go Pack go
Great story. Will definitely try to have dinner there. Advice from fellow Packer fan always appreciated!
I spend several months annually in Eygalieres which is 5 miles or so from St Remy and Les Baux.
We fell in love with Bistro du Paradou, Close to Mausanne. Prix fixe -$70. Started off with a huge tureen of soupe aux pistou, followed by a poulet fermier with morels salad and an entire cheese platter for the table. They have a house Rhone wine made by Mont Redon that comes with the meal as many bottles as you can drink. The outdoor area is about as perfect a location to eat a rustic bistro meal. Here is a review -The Provence Post: Just Opened: The New Paradou
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My wife and I ate lunch at Bistro au Paradou in April of 2000. It was one of the most idyllic meals we’ve ever had. Glad to hear it’s still good. Highly recommend.
Sounds fantastic! thanks
Mike,
Exceptional meal! The size and choice of the cheese platter that every table gets makes the $70 seem inexpensive. My last time was October 23rd and the place was hopping !
I remember the cheese platter! I love that it’s still popular.
When we were there, the local mayor and his staff showed up for lunch on horseback!
Confirming that Bistro au Paradou is still alive and kicking. We were there on a Saturday night in the side room. The main room was filled with locals celebrating a birthday and when we left around 11:30, it was all singing and I’m pretty sure they were about to move the tables for some dancing. The host offered to have us stay, but we were leaving early in the am. The food was wonderful.
And my god, the cheese platter was left in front of us for as much as we wanted. The Rochefort and the Brie were amazing.
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We stayed in a Gite in Fontaine de Vaucluse (about 3 miles gtom Isle sur La Sorgue) for two weeks many years ago. Fontaine de Vaucluse is a very pretty spot right on the river and there are two very good restos right on the river with great views, decent wine lists and assured cooking. Smart, but not stuffy. It’s an easy drive from Avignon.
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LE SAINT HUBERT in Saint Saturnin (non-descript town near Gordes) was possibly the best bistro food we’ve ever had. Smoked duck, rochefort risotto, daube de bouef and plum tart. The smoked duck was Michelin star quality and the other food was similarly amazing. Tiny town not otherwise worth going to, but the dinner was wonderful.
The Paradou cheese platter is amazingly tasty. But after the huge tureen of Soupe aux pistou, roasted chicken, I could barely taste them all but I tried ! Seems that they are very active on instagram so check in there to see whats on the menu,
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We ate at Bistro Paradou for the 5th time in Sept and it was as good as previously. Each day has a set menu eg Fri Grand Aioli and Sat Lamb. All wine included-they do have a separate wine list if you don’t want to drink Mont Redon blanc/rouge. The cheese tray-used to be a cart-is put in the middle of the table and you have as long as you want with it.
St Remy restaurants we like are O Caprices de Mathais-especially on Sun and sitting outdoors-stunning views of the Alpilles.
Chateau des Alpilles sitting outside for lunch is wonderful-we ate there again in Sept and loved it. We had a significant birthday party for 34 there a few yrs ago outside. It is a beautiful place.
We have also had a party of 20+ at L’aile ou la Cuisse in St Remy-there is a big outdoor sitting area so they could easily host the 10 of you. The spatchcock is their specialty.
We also had a good meal at Bistrot l"Aubergine in Eygalieres this yr. It is next door to a very good wine shop and has outdoor seating. We usually eat at Chez Paulette in Eygalieres but they changed the indoor seating and it did not look inviting-the Mistral was blowing-so we went to Aubergine and were glad we did. There are plenty of bike trails between St Remy and Eygalieres. Wed is market day in St Remy and Fri in Eygalieres.
La Cantina in St Remy is a good pizza/italian place in a casual mode.
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Thanks so much!
I usually spend September and October in Eygalieres. Unfortunately, a medical adventure caused us to cancel this year. Great rec on Aubergine. incredibly friendly owners and staff. Worth every centime. If you are there in late September make sure to be there for the running of the bulls. They put up steel see thru barricades all along the Main Street so we sat at Katrine, a fun Italian place and watched the bulls and horses all evening. Great event.