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Avignon

Explore Avignon

Hotels (7)
Restaurants (10)

Where to Stay

Verified
1 Michelin Key · Verified

A 1322 priory turned refined retreat in Villeneuve-lez-Avignon, this ivy-covered Relais & Châteaux property balances medieval architecture—vaulted stone archways, timbered ceilings—with contemporary annexe suites opening onto balconies above a courtyard pool shaded by century-old wisteria and plane trees. Chef Christophe Chiavola's one-Michelin-star table pairs Clos Méjean potato with caviar and Camargue bull with tuna lard, served beneath the ancient beams or on the terrace. Ideal for travellers seeking historic calm across the Rhône from Avignon's bustle.

2. La Mirande

2 Michelin Keys

This 14th-century cardinal's palace beside the Palais des Papes shelters 26 rooms draped in historic French tapestries with Indian and Asian motifs, Belle Époque marble baths, and vintage parquet. Chef Florent Pietravalle earned his Michelin star serving Provençal cuisine in the hall where cardinals once hosted popes; the kitchen runs cooking classes in a 19th-century space with wood-burning stoves. Rooftop herbs and cellar-grown mushrooms reflect the property's Michelin Green Star commitment.

3. La Bastide des Anges

La Bastide des Anges offers seven rooms in the calm Provençal countryside, half an hour from Avignon. The intimate property feels like staying with a particularly stylish relative, with extensive grounds crossed by a river. Families appreciate interconnecting rooms and dedicated children's menus, while Maya the resident dog adds to the informal atmosphere. An on-site restaurant serves the small number of guests in this rural retreat.

4. Auberge de Cassagne & Spa

Small Luxury Hotels

A converted family residence surrounded by gardens minutes from Avignon, Auberge de Cassagne retains the intimacy of a private estate while housing an acclaimed gastronomic restaurant. Summer meals unfold on the vine-covered terrace; winter evenings center on the fireside bar. The Discovery and Epicurean menus showcase seasonal French cooking, while excursions to Châteauneuf-du-Pape cellars extend the region's viticultural tradition. Rooms adopt Provençal pastels and floral motifs.

5. La Divine Comédie

This five-suite hôtel particulier occupies Avignon's largest private garden—2,600 m² dense with over a hundred botanical species—yet sits steps from the Palais des Papes. Suites named for Venise, Naples, and Aphrodite mix antique furniture with contemporary design, while the salons house hundreds of historical Avignon images and 17th-to-20th-century artworks. An Aubusson tapestry hangs in the glassed orangery; a candlelit spa overlooks the palace ramparts; a year-round pool and jacuzzi punctuate the gardens.

6. La Suite

A 17th-century biscuit factory turned intimate nine-room retreat, La Suite brings playful design to the Provençal countryside with rooms themed around ethnic, pop, and urban aesthetics. The property unfolds into a leafy garden with an outdoor pool, while a spa and tennis court round out the amenities. Ideal for couples seeking character-driven accommodation near Avignon's cultural riches.

7. Mas de Capelou

A 17th-century Provençal farmhouse on the pastoral island of Barthelasse, Mas de Capelou offers nine rooms where period architecture meets restrained contemporary design. The idyllic swimming pool and sprawling gardens provide quintessential countryside repose, while La Brousse restaurant pairs tapas-style plates with house cocktails and pétanque on the lawn. The on-site wine cellar and proximity to regional wine tours complete the oenophile appeal.

Where to Eat

Verified
★ Michelin · Verified

A remote Provençal farmhouse between cliffs and vineyards serves as the stage for a father-son collaboration: Maxime Chenet cooks alongside Serge, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France. Their Breton roots show in the unapologetic use of butter and cream, applied here to sun-drenched Mediterranean ingredients—red mullet in fennel rouille with bouillabaisse jus, strawberries paired with black olive confit. The seventeenth-century setting reinforces the sense of purposeful seclusion.

2. Le Prieuré

★ Michelin· Relais & Châteaux

A former convent cloister across the Rhône from Avignon's Palais des Papes, this one-Michelin-star table showcases chef Christophe Chiavola's audacious surf-and-turf pairings. His signature saint-pierre arrives with citrus, raspberry, watermelon, and concentrated shellfish nectar—bold combinations grounded in regional produce like Nîmes Gariguette strawberries and Costières wood pigeon. Summer evenings unfold on a wisteria-draped terrace, the medieval village hushed beyond the garden walls.

3. La Mirande

★ Michelin· Green Star ●

Housed in a thirteenth-century mansion overlooking the Palais des Papes, La Mirande earned its Michelin star and Green Star under former Top Chef contestant Florent Pietravalle, a disciple of Pierre Gagnaire. His audacious modern cuisine pairs local land and sea through skillful culinary counterpoints, revealing Provence in unexpected ways. The eighteenth-century dining room channels Age of Enlightenment refinement, while the garden terrace offers alfresco elegance beneath historic stone walls.

4. Pollen

★ Michelin

Mathieu Desmarest runs this elegant open-kitchen dining room tucked within a historic courtyard, earning a Michelin star for his seasonal carte blanche menus built around daily market finds—octopus, bluefin tuna, pigeon—sourced from regional producers. Dishes arrive at the table delivered by the chefs themselves, while the sommelier steers diners toward a thoughtful selection of biodynamic bottles that mirror the kitchen's committed, ingredient-first ethos.

5. Auberge de Cassagne & Spa

Michelin Selected

A stately Provençal bastide on Avignon's outskirts, Auberge de Cassagne honors the grand bourgeois tradition of French gastronomy. The kitchen builds its repertoire on noble ingredients and classical technique, punctuated by inventive flourishes—house-smoked salmon tataki perched on green vegetable pannacotta among them. Southern Côtes du Rhône wines dominate the cellar, while the terrace provides an idyllic setting for leisurely afternoon meals.

6. Hiély-Lucullus

Michelin Selected· Green Star ●

Gérald Azoulay's Hiély-Lucullus pioneers 'Pérouvence' cooking, marrying his native Provençal roots with Peruvian techniques learned through his wife Patricia. Acidity, ember heat, and sustainable sourcing shape each dish—trout with goat's cheese and aji chaparita, picanha marinated in panca spices, local cachaille brightened by Andean marigold. The Michelin Green Star recognizes the kitchen's environmental commitment, while the Belle Époque dining room and dual-origin wine list complete the transatlantic narrative.

7. La Vieille Fontaine

Michelin Selected

Pascal Auger's Mediterranean cuisine unfolds within a 16th-century mansion adorned with wood panelling, tapestries and a working fireplace. His precise technique showcases sun-ripened Provençal ingredients through carefully constructed sauces and layered textures, earning Michelin recognition. On warm afternoons, tables spill onto a terrace shaded by centuries-old plane trees, facing the fountain that gives the restaurant its name.

8. Ineffable

★ Michelin

Inside a characterful Provençal village, this Michelin-starred table seats just twenty guests across five intimate tables. Chef Nicolas Thomas, alongside partner Marie Salomez, composes dishes with a musician's instinct for timing—olive wood smoke threading through seafood, garden vegetables crowned with delicate creams. A gentle soundscape of birdsong accompanies each course, creating an atmosphere of contemplative refinement suited to unhurried, considered dining.

9. Acte 2

Michelin Selected

Theatre meets table at this historical-centre address run by a young couple with serious industry credentials. The menu reads like a love letter to Provençal seasonality: scallop carpaccio brightened with lemon and juniper, veal fillet enriched with truffle and Albufera sauce. Choose between a three-course lunch or five-course dinner, both delivering exceptional quality at accessible pricing. Michelin recognition confirms what locals already know.

10. Italie là-bas

Michelin Selected

A passionate Italian couple runs this intimate gastronomic address near the Palais des Papes, offering creative tasting menus inspired by transalpine traditions. Dishes such as langoustine with cherry, almond and purple basil, courgette flower stuffed with ricotta, mint and anchovy, and aubergine parmigiana with smoked provola colatura showcase quality ingredients and Mediterranean finesse. A vegetarian menu and a fully plant-based option complete the thoughtful culinary offering.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best area to stay in Avignon?

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Inside the ramparts offers the most convenient experience, with immediate access to the Palais des Papes, restaurants, and cultural sites. The streets around Place Crillon and Rue Joseph Vernet house many of the city's finest addresses. For quieter surroundings with panoramic views, Villeneuve-lès-Avignon across the Rhône provides an alternative perspective on the city.

When should I visit Avignon?

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Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) offer mild temperatures and fewer crowds. July brings the Festival d'Avignon, filling the city with theatre and performance but requiring advance bookings. Winter is quiet but atmospheric, with truffle season in full swing and mistral winds clearing the skies to reveal the Alps on the horizon.

What local dishes should I try in Avignon?

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The Provençal table centres on olive oil, garlic, and herbs. Seek out daube avignonnaise (beef braised in Côtes du Rhône), pieds et paquets (lamb tripe and trotters), and in season, black truffles from the Vaucluse. Les Halles market on Saturday mornings showcases regional producers — arrive early for the best selection of cheeses, charcuterie, and produce.