10 Great Restaurants in Montpellier

Le Petit Jardin is tucked away in the heart of the historic city centre and offers a secret garden, spectacular views and outstanding bistro-style cuisine. The al fresco dining and Mediterranean air will help you relax and decompress as you sip delicious local vintages of wine and enjoy perfectly paired meals from a cultivated wine list and outstanding menu. The vibe of this place is nothing short of magical, as you are surrounded by the walls of a 14th-century cathedral.

If you want a more formal dining experience, no worries. You can head for the interior dining room and enjoy upscale fine dining service.

Terminal #1 is a stone's throw from the River Lez and is run by 2 of Montpellier's top chefs who provide unique and different, yet still classic, bistro dining. The dishes here are bursting with flavours and are served up with a stunning presentation and positively gigantic proportions. The setting here is as fine as the food, with a modern presentation full of bright lights and a stark colour palette. Every day, the restaurant features a tapas á la carte selection that is easily a menu highlight.

This restaurant offers everything you could want in a modern midrange establishment, from celebrity chefs to an energetic vibe. It's about 25 minutes west of the city centre.

La Réserve Rimbaud is a Michelin-starred restaurant that serves nature-inspired cuisine that is ethically sourced from local farmers and producers with unique flavours that complement the original ingredients. The ambience here is elegant and classy with a modern vibe, soft lighting and a romantic atmosphere that makes it ideal for that fancy date night out. The restaurant is run by chef Charles Fontés, who plays with flavours to come up with an original palate but one that never contradicts the raw materials that went into the plate.

The presentation here is as elegant as the food is delicious. It's a popular spot, so be sure to make a reservation. It's 18 minutes west of the city centre.

Les Fils À Maman Montpellier, or Mom's Sons, is the French answer to down-home cooking where everything is made with family recipes from locally sourced farm-to-table ingredients. This restaurant is driven by a dedication to home cooking as well as a laid-back, friendly and fun vibe in everything the owners do. They carefully select their suppliers from local vendors to ensure farm-fresh, high-quality ingredients. Not only is this a family-owned business, but their meat is supplied by a 3-generation family-owned butcher/charcuterie. When you sit down here, you're getting the flavour of generations.

This is a casual, family-friendly spot that even has a game shelf to enjoy. It's in the heart of the city centre.

Le Parfum is a cocktail bar, lounge and restaurant named for the fragrant craft cocktails they produce as well as the scent of the delicious dim sum they serve. The focus of the menu is dim sum, an unusual choice for a French restaurant, but it is absolutely delicious nevertheless. These bite-sized Asian dumplings are served in bamboo baskets and then dipped in a savoury sauce.

The menu here is focused on unique craft cocktails and small-bite plates, so it's best enjoyed as a light meal with drinks and friends as opposed to a full dinner. The decor is eclectic with dim lighting, doll heads and Asian lanterns. It's a fun spot 13 minutes west of the city centre.

La Diligence combines stunning cuisine with an equally spectacular setting and an unmatched reputation for quality service and presentation for a true treat for your date night. This spot offers a variety of menus for various budgets including a discovery menu and progressing up to a champagne menu where you choose from a selection of high-end vintages and the staff pair your plates to match the champagne you choose. While the food here can be expensive, it's sure to provide a date night elegance you'll remember for life.

This restaurant is the height of fine dining and is exceptionally popular. It's vital to have a reservation. It's in the heart of the city centre.

Le Grand Arbre is a fine dining establishment with indoor and outdoor seating in a casual, bistro-like atmosphere and with special menus for date night couples. The owners seek to create a place where comfort, relaxation, pleasure and friendly service combine and where they can bring their love of people and food together. The restaurant offers separate lunch and dinner menus and uses only the freshest seasonal and locally sourced ingredients to create farm-to-table meals unlike any you've tasted before.

The menu changes every day; you will choose Sea, Earth or Vegetarian/Vegan as your theme, and the chef will take over from there. Le Grand Arbre is 15 minutes west of the city centre.

Le Couperet offers a completely different style of food for a French city, with a menu focused entirely around American-style barbecue with outstanding meats and sides. You can try various cuts of meat here with incredible barbecue sauces in a casual, down-home environment with side dishes like those you get in the Southern US, and the gorgeous presentation is nothing short of Instagrammable. The meat is paired with a well-curated wine list with some of the finest vintages around.

The main standout options here are pulled lamb, pork ribs and beef ribs, with sides like smoked or sweet potatoes, garlic and cheese bread, and coleslaw salad. It's in the city centre.

Restaurant Le Mazerand is situated in an imposing mansion between the city and the sea, offering delicious gourmet cuisine in a chic, elegant atmosphere surrounded by a wooded park. The portions here are generous with a laser focus on flavour and the culinary tradition of southern French cooking, served up by chef Jacques Mazerand under the guidance of his brother Christian. The service is warm and friendly, and the ingredients are fresh and top-notch.

The menu is seasonal, so you're always getting the most intense and balanced flavours. It's a great spot for couples, families or business meetings. It's just 20 minutes west of the city centre.

Pastis Restaurant in the heart of the historic city centre offers an authentic, refined atmosphere with upscale fine dining, local market cuisine and indoor/outdoor seating. The plates are whipped up by a master culinary team and feature only the freshest ingredients from local sources to create an explosion of unbelievable flavour with every bite. You can also choose a wine and food pairing option that lets you select the perfect wine to go with your meal.

This is a Michelin-starred restaurant, so you're sure to get the height of fine cuisine here. The surroundings offer stylish exposed-brick decor and a welcoming vibe where you can kick back and focus on the incredible food.