Because sometimes, the best meals are worth the trip.
When Parisians want to eat well—truly well—they often don’t stay put. They slip away from the capital, driven not by wanderlust but by hunger. For rustic perfection, coastal salt, mountain butter, vineyard fare, or market-driven poetry on a plate, they head beyond the périphérique.
These are the places whispered about at dinner parties, scribbled into little black notebooks, and lovingly returned to season after season. Because if there’s one thing a Parisian knows, it’s this: the best meals don’t always come with a view of the Eiffel Tower.
The Socialites present the most coveted gastronomic escapes Parisians adore—where the journey is part of the appetite.
Baumanière – Les Baux-de-Provence
📍 Provence (2h50 from Paris by TGV to Avignon + car)
In the rocky shadows of Les Baux, this Michelin-starred estate blends Provençal elegance with wild-hearted cuisine. It’s part luxury inn, part culinary temple—and the terrace, scented with thyme and stone, doesn’t hurt.
– What to expect: Earthy sophistication, produce that tastes like sunlight, and Provençal magic.
– Chef: Glenn Viel (3 Michelin stars)
La Marine – Noirmoutier-en-l’Île
📍 Vendée (3h30 by train + connection)
A pilgrimage for seafood lovers, this two-star sanctuary sits quietly by the sea. The cuisine? Introspective, precise, and drenched in the rhythm of the tides.
– What to expect: Tidal vegetables, Atlantic soul, sea air in every bite.
– Chef: Alexandre Couillon
Auberge du Vert Mont – Boeschepe
📍 Hauts-de-France (1h TGV + 40 min car)
Florent Ladeyn’s inn is farm-to-table before it was fashionable, rooted in the Flemish fields near the Belgian border. Expect brutal beauty: smoked, grilled, fermented, and fired with pride.
– What to expect: Hyperlocal menus, wooden beams, and no pretension.
– Perfect for: Autumn weekends, natural wine, and gastronomic warmth.
Maison Troisgros – Ouches (Loire)
📍 Loire (2h TGV to Roanne + car)
This is culinary royalty in an architectural dreamscape—set in meadows, wrapped in glass, and anchored in family heritage. Troisgros is not just a name, it’s a lineage.
– What to expect: Grand gastronomy that feels weightless, with a terroir touch.
– Chef: Michel & César Troisgros
Le Saint-James – Bouliac (near Bordeaux)
📍 Nouvelle-Aquitaine (2h by TGV to Bordeaux + short taxi)
Designed by Jean Nouvel, this “balcony on Bordeaux” serves gastronomic modernity against a vineyard backdrop. Minimalist on the plate, maximalist in experience.
– What to expect: Artful plates, panoramic vines, and urban-meets-rural luxury.
– Chef: Mathieu Martin
Traditional Icons: The Lyon Pilgrimage
📍 Lyon (2h by TGV from Paris)
No list would be complete without Lyon—the undisputed gastronomic capital of France. From silk-worker bouchons serving quenelles and coq au vin to temple-like institutions of haute cuisine, Lyon offers food as a way of life.
– Where to go: – Paul Bocuse’s L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges for classical French legacy
– Le Garet or Café des Fédérations for traditional bouchon fare
– La Mère Brazier for elegant Lyonnais gastronomy with Michelin stars
– What to expect: Rich sauces, warm welcome, and food that doesn’t care about trends—because it invented them.
Dijon & Beaune – Burgundy’s Gourmet Heart
📍 Dijon (1h35 by TGV from Paris), Beaune (20 min further by train or car)
Burgundy isn’t just wine country—it’s a culinary stronghold, famed for bold sauces, mustard-soaked tradition, and seasonal excellence. From Dijon’s bouchon-style bistros to Beaune’s wine-paired fine dining, it’s a place where everything tastes like legacy.
– Where to go:
– La Maison des Cariatides (Dijon) for modern flair
– Loiseau des Vignes (Beaune) for a wine-soaked, Michelin-guided lunch
– Ma Cuisine (Beaune) for rustic, insider energy
– What to expect: Boeuf bourguignon, escargots, epoisses, and Pinot Noir with purpose.
Strasbourg – Alsace on a Plate
📍 Strasbourg (1h45 by TGV from Paris)
Germanic warmth meets French finesse in this deeply traditional and seasonally rich food scene. Strasbourg is where Parisians go when they want hearty dishes done right, with Riesling and nostalgia in equal parts.
– Where to go:
– Au Crocodile for Michelin glamour
– Chez Yvonne for authentic winstub warmth
– La Binchstub for tarte flambée that redefines comfort
– What to expect: Choucroute, spaetzle, kougelhopf, and wine that speaks both dialects.
Bonus: Lunch at a Vineyard Table
📍 Burgundy, Alsace, or the Loire Valley
Many of the most memorable meals come at unassuming vineyard tables, with garden vegetables, crusty bread, and bottles that never quite make it to retail. Ask ahead, book discreetly, and taste terroir at the source.
– Best for: Those who believe wine is food.
Final Forkful from The Socialites:
The best escape isn’t just about leaving Paris—it’s about arriving hungry and coming back inspired. When Parisians travel to eat, it’s not indulgence. It’s ritual.
—The Socialites