Best Foodie Experiences in Languedoc

Out of all the things Languedoc 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. If you’re heading to one of our luxury chateaux in Languedoc, make sure you try at least one of these unforgettable foodie experiences in Languedoc.

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 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

Housed in a delightful old inn within the walls of the medieval city, this charming restaurant is a beacon of quality. 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

Borrowing the vowel from their surname, Joe and Liz O’Connell set up their own boutique vineyard together with their son Ryan in 2004. 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.

Price Range: Tours starting from €25pp

Location: 885 Avenue de la Montagne Noire 11620 Villemoustaussou Northern Arrondissement of Carcassonne, France

Bookings: Online at Ovineyards.com

4. Domaine de l’Arjolle, Herault

One of Languedoc’s star producers, L’Arjolle was one of the early new-wave winemakers to focus their attentions 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.

Location: 7 Rue Fournier, 34480 Pouzolles, France

Bookings: +33 4 67 24 81 18

5. La Table Saint Crescent, Narbonne

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 one star. The dishes, which focus on local flavours, are an absolute a work of art to behold and even better to eat.

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 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.

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

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. Arrive 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

More than 70 traders convene here year-round to sell all kinds of delicious edibles. On any given morning, you’ll find breads, 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. Note: 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!

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 foodie experiences in Languedoc. And if you need some help deciding where to stay,oOur dedicated concierge team are always on hand to help.