The 9 Best Languedoc Food Experiences

Located in Occaitian on the country’s south coast, Languedoc is well known as both a popular seaside holiday destination but also for its reputation for incredible wine. Out of all the things that the historical French region has to offer, one that’ll keep you coming back time and time again is the food.

With the region’s fertile farmland and a surprisingly expansive coast, its cuisine uses ingredients from both land and sea that are as fresh and seasonal as you can get. Paired with the range of wines that have been produced here for generations, you can enjoy all manner of exceptional meals that showcase the iconic flavours of Languedoc.

If you’re heading to one of our luxury chateaux in Languedoc, make sure you try at least one of these unforgettable Languedoc food experiences as part of your holiday.

1. Montpellier Wine Tours, Montpellier

Just a hop, skip and a jump away from Montpellier is an area that many believe to be Languedoc’s most interesting wine region: Pic St. Loup. No one likes to be the designated driver, so spare your friends from pulling the short straw and arrange to visit this region as part of a guided tour instead. 

Montpellier Wine Tours will take care of the logistics, with a half-day excursion including visits to at least two estates and sampling upwards of eight Languedoc wines. A full-day tour will allow for three estates, lunch in a lovely lakeside restaurant and a minimum of 12 wines.

Price Range: Tours starting from €65
Location: Gares, Montpellier, France
Bookings: +33 6 95 16 25 61

2. Restaurant la Marquiere, Carcassonne

La Cité in Carcassonne is one of Languedoc’s most popular tourist attractions; a fortified hilltop town complete with stone city walls and watchtowers that protect the streets, houses and Gothic cathedral. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s home to some of the best-preserved medieval architecture in the world.

Housed in a delightful old inn within the walls of the medieval city, Restaurant la Marquiere is a charming Languedoc restaurant that stands as a beacon of quality. If you’re looking for good food that epitomises the region, it’s the perfect place to feel surrounded by local culture and history.

Typical southern French proteins, such as duck, pigeon, rabbit and beef, commonly feature on the regularly changing menu. If you only order one thing, make it the homemade foie gras; it’s the dish most diners rave about.

Price Range: Set menu starting from €32
Location: 13 Rue St jean 11000 Carcassonne, France
Bookings: +33 (0) 468 715 200

3. Domaine O’Vineyards, Carcassonne

For a more modern take on Languedoc wine and food, the Domaine O’Vineyards in Carcassonne is a brilliant place to spend an afternoon once you have explored the nearby walled city. Borrowing the vowel from their surname, Joe and Liz O’Connell set up their own boutique vineyard together with their son Ryan in 2004, transforming the vines that had been growing there for 25 years.

Since then, this winery has been producing terrific wines, whose often humorous, tongue-in-cheek names (such as O’MG and Trah Lah Lah) hint at the owners’ snob-averse attitude to vino. Joe, the winemaker, still personally conducts the tours of the property, which include a generous tasting and different options for food depending on how hungry you are.

Price Range: Tours starting from €25pp
Location: 885 Avenue de la Montagne Noire 11620 Villemoustaussou, Carcassonne, France
Bookings: Online at Ovineyards.com

4. Domaine de l’Arjolle, Herault

One of the star Languedoc wine producers, Domaine de L’Arjolle was part of the early new-wave winemakers who focused their attention on creating unique, quality wines. Unlike their neighbours elsewhere in France, such as Bordeaux for instance, L’Arjolle was unconstrained by AOC classification and could test out new blends and varieties. 

Take a tour of the estate to taste some of their modern creations and experience how winemakers in Languedoc are building on the region’s history of winemaking and taking it in new and exciting directions. The estate is open all year round, except for Sundays, and offers guided tours of the cellars and tasting experiences.

Location: 7 Rue Fournier, 34480 Pouzolles, France
Bookings: +33 4 67 24 81 18

5. La Table Saint Crescent, Narbonne

To properly appreciate the food of Languedoc-Roussillon, it’s definitely worth visiting one of the area’s Michelin Star restaurants. La Table Saint Crescent may be located near a busy road, but don’t let that put you off. 

The restaurant itself is set in a historic oratory outfitted with a sleek and modern black-and-white interior, and – for when the weather is suitable – a lovely dining terrace. It has been given the stamp of approval from the Michelin brigade, who awarded it two stars. 

The dishes, which focus on local Occitan flavours, are an absolute work of art to behold and even better to eat. Lionel Giraud, the famous chef behind the restaurant and its menu, takes a responsible and sustainable approach to sourcing ingredients, ensuring that his food does good as well as tastes good.

Location: 68 Avenue du Gal Leclerc – 11100 Narbonne, France
Bookings: +33 4 68 41 37 37

6. Le Bistr’AU, Nimes

Languedoc native Jérôme Nutile is a hometown boy done good. Having spent stints abroad honing his culinary skills, he returned to Languedoc and began racking up Michelin stars. 

At this 300-year-old farmhouse in Nimes, Nutile runs his own operation. The restaurant has two distinctive parts: a haute cuisine gourmet dining venue with Michelin star status in one and the more relaxed Bistr’AU space in the other. 

We recommend the bistro; the casual, value-driven fare is extremely reasonable and the simple, fresh ingredients really sing. It’s a great option if you’re looking for exquisite Languedoc food experiences without having to fork out too much of your holiday budget, or if you prefer to experience a region’s cuisine through more simple flavours.

Location: 351 Chemin Bas du Mas de Boudan 30000 Nîmes, France
Bookings: +33 4 66 40 65 65

7. Les Caves de Trinque Fougasse, Montpellier

For a Languedoc restaurant that feels laid-back without compromising on the quality of its menu, head to Les Caves de Trinque Fougasse. This buzzy wine bar restaurant has two branches in Montpellier: one in the north and one in the south.

At both, it’s all about the wine as you’re invited to taste a selection of bottles at the bar before choosing which one you ultimately want to go with your food. Excellent cheese and charcuterie plates are suited to sharing with friends, and live jazz and swing musicians ensure a convivial atmosphere.

Location: 1581 Route de Mende 34090 Montpellier, France
Bookings: +33 4 99 23 27 00

8. L’Ambassade, Béziers

For a fine dining lunch that won’t render you penniless, it’s hard to beat the traditional French fare of L’Ambassade in the city of Béziers. If you’re looking to avoid parts of the south of France that feel overcrowded with tourists, this hidden gem is the perfect escape with some truly incredible places to eat.

Arrive at L’Ambassade with an empty stomach – diners here are well looked after and are often treated to a flurry of amuse bouches to supplement the multi-course menus. Reviewers rave about the cheese trolley; the dairy selection is so extensive it could double up as a mobile fromagerie.

Price Range: Set menus starting from €30
Location: 22 Boulevard de Verdun Béziers, France
Bookings: +33 4 67 76 06 24

9. Les Halles, Narbonne

Our final recommendation for where to experience the best Languedoc food is ‘Les Halles’. This market, housed in a historic building, is where more than 70 traders convene here year-round to sell all kinds of delicious edibles.

On any given morning, you’ll find bread, pastries, fish, meat, vegetables, fruit, cheese and wines. Vendors will be happy to slice you off a sliver of whatever takes your fancy, and if you can’t wait to go home and cook the produce for yourself, you can purchase a piece of fish or meat and have them grill it up for you at the market instead. 

Bear in mind however that this is one for early risers. Arrive after lunchtime and you’ll find the stalls shutting down!

Location: 1 Cours Mirabeau, 11000 Narbonne, France
Bookings: No need to book – just show up!

Languedoc wine is perhaps what the region is best known for, but there is also a wealth of incredible dining experiences to discover when you visit this part of France. Enjoy fine dining in charming restaurants, wine tasting surrounded by the rolling hills, and fresh ingredients cooked with love and care by the people who have been living in this southern region for generations.

Tickled your tastebuds? We’ve got a stunning selection of chateaux and luxury villas in Languedoc that provide the perfect base to explore all the best Languedoc food experiences. And if you need some help deciding where to stay, our dedicated concierge team is always on hand to help.