Le Vivier

At Le Vivier, your dining experience is unforgettable — a break from the rest of the world, tucked away from the bustling town centre, where immersion is total in every sense. Distinguished by its Michelin star for fifteen years running, the restaurant sits in a magnificent setting with an elegant, contemporary décor created by Pauline Reynaud, who has worked her magic to strike the perfect balance between what you see, what you feel and what you find on your plate. There is a fairy-tale quality to the terrace overlooking the Sorgue, where trout and ducks make the moment even more enchanting. Patrick Fischnaller, the creator of Le Vivier, Romain Gandolphe, his partner and associate chef — who has worked with Thierry Marx and Bernard Roth — and sommelier Laurie Donjon, formerly of La Villa Madie in Cassis, share such high standards, warmth and passion that it is impossible not to be won over.

Romain Gandolphe's cooking is daring, creative and inspired, with two outstanding house classics: foie gras with apple, spices and smoked eel, and the pithivier of Comtat pigeon in puff pastry with porcini and foie gras. The wine list is a marvel — more than 300 references and a fine choice of wines by the glass — which Laurie Donjon's enlightened pairings use to elevate the chef's cuisine. On the other side of the village, Le Vivier ventures out with its bistro, Solelh, already awarded a Bib Gourmand: on its double terrace, in the lively antique-dealers' quarter, Morgan Fischnaller's warm welcome and chef Mikelis Sparans' seasonal cuisine, cooked in an open kitchen, promise a delicious time.