The range of restaurants in Aix-en-Provence has attracted us with a few addresses that are well worth a visit: fine restaurants where Provencal cuisine is creatively combined with contemporary and international influences. However, the city also boasts a number of less interesting, touristy restaurants, so we’ve selected our favorites for you.
In this article, discover our selection of the best restaurants to eat in Aix-en-Provence, which combines gastronomy of character and artisanal know-how. Find out more about our experiences with all our image tips.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
1. Restaurant Le Pigonnet (gastronomic, bucolic)
In the heart of the Hôtel Le Pigonnet, a luxury bastide owned by the Swellen family for 3 generations, this gourmet restaurant welcomed us in an exceptional bucolic setting. Bought by actor-director Christophe Lambert in 2014, this green oasis offers a refined, uncluttered ambience. We really enjoyed eating our lunch facing the large picture windows overlooking the flower-filled garden, and the chic yet understated decor and tableware. And don’t forget the old-fashioned windows that open onto this natural setting.
Chefs Thierry Balligand and Fabien Torrente offer fine, spontaneous cuisine in this haven of peace.
We really liked the presentation of local producers right from the start of the menu, a guarantee of transparency and traceability. The short menu features Provencal specialties such as pissaladières and grilled sardines, alongside refined creations. We opened this gourmet meal with a succulent appetizer of tuna tartare with black sesame curry, before moving on to the starters of perfect egg and octopus. What a treat! For the main courses, we were tempted by guinea fowl and sea bream. The cheese platter of fourme d’Ambert, camembert, tomme and ewe with apricot jam and roasted peanuts rounded off our lunch perfectly.
If you’re a wine lover, the sommelier will guide you through the region’s great vintages and the French selection. If you prefer cocktails, with or without alcohol, you’ll also find what you’re looking for on the à la carte menu.
To extend your experience in this exceptional setting, we recommend staying one or more nights at Hôtel Le Pigonnet – see prices, availability and bookings.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: historic heart of Aix Sud, 15-minute walk from Parc Jourdan
- Restaurant type: gourmet
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings
- Terrace: yes, with beautiful flower garden and hotel pool
- Price range: approx. €80 per person (excluding drinks)
- Provence specialities: yes
- Particularly suitable for children: yes, no children’s menu, but dishes can be adapted (high chair available).
- We advise you to book online here
2. Restaurant Licandro (bistronomic)
Set in a small bistro room with a cosy, intimate atmosphere, this bistronomic table will transport you into the creative world of chef Felipe Licandro. Trained at the CSHG hotel school in Spain, then in renowned Parisian establishments such as the Marriott Champs-Élysées and Le Céladon, this passionate chef revisits the classics of French gastronomy with a Provencal accent. We were charmed from the moment we arrived by the attention to detail. Indeed, the original gray and blue plates and crockery recall the colors of the room. The warm welcome from the chef, who served us directly, added a particularly welcome human dimension to this tasting experience.
The à la carte menu features mainly fresh produce in refined creations. We started with an appetizer of panisse, a Marseille specialty made with chickpeas, followed by a delicate salmon gravlax. The duck leg confit was excellent and tender, while the cod cassolette with lobster bisque sauce delighted our taste buds! To accompany these marvels, some forty wine references are on offer, complemented by cocktails, juices and nectars. The menu will also appeal to vegetarians. What more could you ask for!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: downtown, less than 15min from Musée Granet
- Type of restaurant: bistronomic
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings
- Terrace: no
- Price range: approx. €28 per person for the lunch menu (excluding drinks)
- Provence specialities: yes
- Particularly suitable for children: no
- Reservations recommended here or by telephone on +33 6 27 20 03 99
3. Restaurant Kava Aix (excellent brunch)
Are you familiar with the unique concept of “brunchynomy”? Visit Restaurant Kava Aix, where bistronomy meets brunch to reveal a gourmet and creative cuisine. In this establishment with its green décor dotted with wicker chairs, wooden tables and large-leaf wallpaper, we appreciated the cosy, peaceful atmosphere accompanied by pleasant background music. KAVA means coffee in Ukrainian, and their barista makes a point of serving delicious specialty coffees worthy of the best coffee shops. Our products are carefully selected for their taste and their respect for the environment.
And what an excellent, complete and gourmet brunch! On the menu: coffee, lemonade with mint leaves, fried eggs with pulled pork and fig jam, truffle cheese, fresh fruit granola and gourmet pancakes with fresh fruit. We really enjoyed this high-quality, local brunch cuisine. Enjoy it all day long, prepared fresh and served by the plate. If you’re a brunch drinker, you can also discover their small but rigorous selection of organic, biodynamic and natural wines. These references are crafted by talented winemakers who respect the living world to produce the best possible wines.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: pedestrian street in the heart of the city, 5min walk from Saint-Sauveur Cathedral
- Restaurant type: brunch-style coffee shop
- Capacity: less than 25 covers
- Terrace: yes (small)
- Price range: between €20 and €30 per person (excluding drinks)
- Provence specialities: yes
- Particularly suitable for children: yes (adaptable dishes, booster seat available)
- No reservations possible, come early or after 2pm on weekends, otherwise on weekdays.
4. Restaurant L’Opéra (home cooking)
In a chic, subdued atmosphere reminiscent of a theater interior, Restaurant L’Opéra welcomes you to an airy room decorated with large curtains, black or white tables and red armchairs. This romantic address is run by chef Matthieu Cuvellier and his wife, who officiate in the kitchen and dining room respectively with remarkable professionalism. We were won over by the classic cuisine revisited by the chef’s savoir-faire in this original setting. The black, red and gray tableware resonates perfectly with this theatrical atmosphere in the heart of Aix-en-Provence.
We enjoyed their zucchini and cucumber appetizer, followed by “vitello tonnato with puttanesca”, a typical Piedmontese dish accompanied by fresh vegetables. A plate of mature cheeses including Ossau-Iraty PDO sheep’s cheese, Tomme de Savoie, wild garlic cheese and Gruyère rounded off the meal in style. The husband-and-wife team will be happy to advise you on wine and food pairings, and also offer you their cocktail bar. You’ll appreciate the warm welcome at this address, where the charming and attentive waitress even offered us an umbrella as we left.
Please note that the restaurant is located in a pedestrian alleyway with few lights at night, so be sure to turn on your phone’s torch.
Practical information:
- District: city center, 10-minute walk from Hôtel de Caumont
- Restaurant type: bistronomic home cooking
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings
- Terrace: no
- Price range: between €25 and €40 per person (excluding drinks)
- Provence specialities: yes
- Particularly suitable for children: yes, no children’s menu, but dishes can be adapted.
- Reservations recommended here
5. L’Atelier des saisons salad bar (healthy and inexpensive)
Nestled in a former convent in the old town, Restaurant L’Atelier des Saisons offers healthy, balanced cuisine in an original setting. The cosy atmosphere unfolds in a small space spread over two levels, with a few tables upstairs and a small terrace overlooking the pedestrian street. We appreciated the pleasant jazz background music and the simple crockery that highlighted the colors of the dishes. What we liked: this address favors fresh, local produce in tasty homemade creations. Enjoy gourmet mixed salads, homemade savoury tarts and delicious lasagne in a setting unlike any other.
We enjoyed their gourmet mixed salad, prepared in front of us with quality ingredients. The restaurant also offers child-friendly options such as salads, savory pies and breaded chicken, although no specific menu is offered. Soft drinks and hot beverages complete the range. Finally, the friendly staff gave us a warm welcome to this address, where prices remain attractive for the area.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: old town, pedestrian street 5min walk from Cours Mirabeau
- Restaurant type: salad bar, healthy and affordable cuisine
- Capacity: less than 25 covers
- Terrace: yes (small)
- Price range: around €15 per person (excluding drinks)
- Provence specialities: yes
- Particularly suitable for children: yes
- No reservation
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- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
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- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
6. Restaurant Mickaël Féval (Michelin-starred – unfortunately closed and replaced by another restaurant 20 minutes away by car)
Mickaël and Olivia Féval’s Michelin-starred restaurant has made its mark on the Aix-en-Provence gastronomic scene with its lively, fine and creative cuisine. We dined in a beautiful vaulted room, with white walls and simple decor. Service was impeccable and meticulous, contributing to an elegant, if somewhat formal, atmosphere. An address where we appreciated refinement, even if the atmosphere is a little formal.
We were impressed by the attention to detail: the slightly rounded forks and knives reinforced the refined character of the table setting. Chef Mickaël Féval, a former collaborator of Antoine Westermann and Bernard Loiseau, offered impeccable service in an ideal location.
After eight years entertaining gourmets in this Michelin-starred restaurant, Mickaël and Olivia Féval have embarked on a new adventure, opening a table in their own home in Bouc-Bel-Air (20min drive from Aix-en-Provence). Unfortunately, this address has now closed. They now offer cooking classes, “entre nous” concept evenings and Michelin-starred gourmet experiences in the comfort of their own homes. We can’t wait to try out this unusual new table!
Practical information on Olivia and Mickaël Féval’s new table:
- Location: Bouc-Bel-Air (20min drive from Aix-en-Provence)
- Restaurant type: gourmet
- Capacity: according to event and private experience
- Terrace: yes
- Price range: according to chosen formula
- Provence specialities: yes
- Particularly suitable for children: no
- Find out more here
7. Restaurant La Taula Villa Gallici (gourmet)
Under the plane trees on the terrace or in the cosy lounges of the Hôtel Villa Gallici, Restaurant La Taula invites you on a culinary journey between Provence and Italy. Did you know that “La Taula” means table in Provençal? Chef Christophe Gavot, a “Maître Restaurateur” trained at the École Hôtelière de Monaco, has been running the kitchens since 2003 with a rigorous approach inherited from his time with prestigious French chefs. We were transported by the elegant, enchanting atmosphere, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city center, where tables are lit up with 1,000 candles in the evening.
You’ll discover an inspired cuisine that favors the finest seasonal produce in creations where tradition and exoticism meet in harmony. Will you succumb to the chef’s specialties, such as roast saddle of Sisteron lamb with tenderloin in a fine stuffing with Bronte pistachios and spinach shoots, or homemade vitello tonnato ravioli with tomato confit, olives and capers?
To prolong this poetic experience, spend one or more nights at the Villa Gallici – Hotel & Spa – Check photos, photos and availability – and book!
Practical information:
- Area: north of Aix-en-Provence, 20min walk from city center
- Restaurant type: gourmet
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings
- Terrace: yes
- Price range: between €135 and €195 per person (excluding drinks)
- Provence specialities: yes
- Particularly suitable for children: no
- Reservations required here or by telephone on +33 4 42 23 29 23
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8. Maison Weibel tea room (Aix-en-Provence institution)
An unmissable institution in Aix-en-Provence since 1954, Maison Weibel continues the tradition of the old-fashioned tearoom in the old town. In an elegant atmosphere, we sampled the city’s finest pastries served in traditional porcelain crockery. Their olive oil sablé, fig pastries, framboisier, castel praline and tarte à la brousse, which reveal all the savoir-faire of this century-old house, totally conquered our palates! Set up on a terrace overlooking the pedestrian street, we were able to enjoy the lively city center and mild weather while savoring these delicacies.
You’ll also discover a wide variety of teas to accompany these sweet creations. We opted for the Rooibos tea of the vahinés and a particularly refreshing homemade lemonade. The restaurant also offers gourmet savoury dishes such as vegetarian omelettes, vegan tagines and homemade burgers, as well as artisanal ice creams and sorbets. Ideal for a snack with your children, this place is also accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: historic city center, Avenue Giuseppe Verdi
- Restaurant type: traditional tea room
- Capacity: less than 25 covers
- Terrace: yes
- Price range: between €10 and €20 per person (excluding drinks)
- Provence specialities: yes
- Particularly suitable for children: yes
- Reservations by telephone on +33 4 42 23 33 21
9. L’Emporthé tea room (unfortunately closed)
In a cosy, intimate and colorful atmosphere, the Salon de thé L’Emporthé was decorated with unique wallpaper and dried flowers. We enjoyed this very pretty place to have a savory snack or savor a snack in a small but charming space. Gourmet bowls of bulgur, rice or pasta accompanied by fresh vegetables offered a variety of options, with salmon, avocado, chicken or hummus to suit all preferences. The small terrace on the pedestrian street allowed us to take advantage of the lively historic center.
We were delighted with their carrot cake and the pastry of the day (the banana cake), accompanied by a 3-minute brew of green tea and a cinnamon chai latte. Although the space was difficult to access for wheelchairs or baby carriages, this tea room made its mark on the Aix landscape with its originality and conviviality.
The tearoom has now closed and been replaced by a beauty salon. We look forward to welcoming you back to Aix-en-Provence soon!
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Other good addresses in Aix-en-Provence
Here are a few more of the city’s finest restaurants that we can’t wait to try out:
- Restaurant Le Art (1 star): a fine Michelin-starred restaurant housed in the Château de la Gaude, a sublime luxury hotel in Aix-en-Provence.
- Restaurant La Table de Pierre Reboul (1 star): new Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant at the Renaissance Aix-en-Provence Hotel (5 stars)
- Restaurant Les Galinas (Bib Gourmand Guide Michelin): bistronomic cuisine to relive grandma’s Provençal cooking with simplicity and refinement.
