In this feature, I am thrilled to share our top five tastes from France, part of our ongoing series on great restaurant destinations by Cuisine. These recommendations come from five World of Mouth experts with deep knowledge of French gastronomy and its regional traditions. Their picks highlight some of the country’s most exceptional bistros, ingredient-driven kitchens, and Michelin-starred destinations, each reflecting the soul of French cooking.

Trying to sum up France’s culinary landscape in one article is not easy. The country’s food culture is rooted in ancient techniques and traditional produce, but it is also constantly evolving. Dining in France means stepping into a world where century-old bistros stand alongside groundbreaking restaurants, where chefs honour tradition while pushing boundaries. It is a country obsessed with quality – whether it’s in the perfectly aged cheese from a village market, the fresh seafood of the Mediterranean, or the perfectly plated dishes of the finest restaurants in Paris. French cuisine is defined by its regional diversity, from the butter-rich flavours of Normandy to the aromatic spices of Provence and the wine-infused dishes of Burgundy. While Paris remains the country’s culinary capital, some of the most memorable meals are found far from the capital, in small countryside inns or seaside institutions where local ingredients dictate the menu.

The evolution of French cuisine has been shaped by generations of visionary chefs, from the foundations laid by Auguste Escoffier and Paul Bocuse to the nouvelle cuisine movement. Today, a new wave of chefs is reinterpreting French traditions with a focus on seasonality, sustainability, and minimal intervention. This balance between heritage and innovation is what makes eating in France so exciting.

Among the selections here, you’ll find the legendary Le Bistrot Paul Bert, a Parisian institution where steak frites, country patés, and île flottante define the classic bistro experience, served in a room that feels untouched by time. Among the newer stars, Table by Bruno Verjus presents a radically different vision of modern French cooking, where pristine seasonal ingredients – be it wild mushrooms in autumn or the ripest summer tomatoes – are treated with the utmost respect, creating dishes that are deceptively simple yet deeply complex in flavour. Mirazur in Menton, voted Best Restaurant in the World, is led by chef Mauro Colagreco who offers a deeply satisfying three-Michelin-star experience that blends French, Italian and Argentine influences, all while overlooking the blue waters of the Mediterranean. Further inland, Le Doyenné in Saint-Vrain is a model for the future of dining, with an entirely farm-driven philosophy that brings diners as close to the land as possible – much of what is served is grown, raised or foraged on the property. And in Nice, the tiny, no-frills La Merenda, helmed by chef Dominique Le Stanc, is the ultimate spot to taste the rustic, soulful flavours of the French Riviera, from a pitch-perfect ratatouille to the deep, slow-cooked richness of daube Niçoise.

What ties these restaurants together is their dedication to the essence of French cooking – whether through honouring classic dishes, celebrating pristine produce or reimagining tradition for a new generation. The diversity of France’s culinary landscape means that there is always something new to discover, from timeworn recipes passed down through generations to the most cutting-edge interpretations of haute cuisine.

I hope these recommendations inspire you to explore even more of the expert picks in the World of Mouth app, available in your app store. Join our community and start planning your next culinary journey through France.

Table by Bruno Verjus
3 rue de Prague, Paris

“The cuisine is defined by the highest-quality seasonal ingredients deeply embedded in the terroir of France. The dishes look visually simple but are definitely complex and rich in flavours. A beetroot cream with green herbs of the moment or wild mushrooms in autumn… mind blowing!”

Caroline Baerten, Owner and sommelière, Brussels, Belgium

La Merenda, Nice
4 rue Raoul Bosio, Nice

“La Merenda is an authentic and convivial restaurant in the centre of the old town of Nice. This is the place to taste the typical food of the area. The food is delicious, served in small portions, so perfect to taste several dishes. This restaurant, run by chef Dominique Le Stanc, is the perfect place to immerse oneself in the Cuisine Niçoise.”

Mauro Colagreco, Chef-restaurateur, Menton, France

Le Doyenné
5 rue St Antoine, Saint-Vrain

“A total experience. Carefully sourced produce, a lot grown or farmed inhouse, a beautiful property and dining room, perfectly paced and most importantly, so delicious. A wonderful day, or night, trip from Paris. A very memorable meal.”

Michael Ryan, Chef-restaurateur, Beechworth, Australia

Restaurant Mirazur
30 avenue Aristide-Briand, Menton

“The menu from start to finish is filled with classic and delicious food just like you would expect from a Michelin 3-star restaurant. In that sense it is a very pleasing experience – this is said in the most positive meaning of the word. Spending four hours overlooking the blue sea of the Mediterranean and the pink and yellow houses of Menton all while taking in the experience at Mirazur is a zen experience of the very best kind.”

Peter Atzen, Food writer, Copenhagen, Denmark

Le Bistrot Paul Bert
18 rue Paul Bert, Paris

“This beloved institution is the poster child of everything that a Parisian bistrot stood for a hundred years ago and is still current for today’s diners. Even with all the hype, what makes it special is the fact that it isn’t trying to be anything other than what it is. If you are at Le Bistrot Paul Bert, it means that you are in Paris.”

Wendy Lyn, Food writer, Paris

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