Michelin-starred restaurants
Renowned or star-rated there’s no shortage of exceptional restaurants in the Var to tempt your taste. Tantalise your taste buds and embark on a culinary journey full of flavour.
Michelin stars: Culinary excellence in the Var
With Michelin-starred restaurants ranging from 1 to 3 stars, there are 12 restaurants in Le Var to shine in the firmament of gastronomy. Twelve restaurants from Castellet to Saint-Raphaël, via Saint-Tropez and typical villages such as Lorgues, Tourrettes and Les Arcs-sur-Argens. Here's a round-up of the best restaurants in the Var, high-flying addresses well worth the diversions!
La Table du Castellet, three-star cuisine
Overlooking the hills of the Var, with its head in the stars, one of the most exclusive addresses in the Var stretches over 12 hectares, planted with Mediterranean species and offering a breathtaking panorama of the indented coastline. It's in this enchanting setting that La Table du Castellet nestles, in the heart of the Spa du Castellet hotel, in enveloping tranquillity and discreet luxury.
At the helm of this culinary flagship, Fabien Ferré, now France's youngest 3-star chef, distils a cuisine based on ingredients from the riches of the land and the Mediterranean. With his lively, pared-down dishes, this chef, who visits the Sanary-sur-Mer market every morning, brings out the quintessential taste of the South.
To round off this stopover in an exceptional land and sea, the desserts of pastry chef François Luciano have also been awarded the Passion-dessert 2024 prize in the Michelin Guide.
Photos © Hôtel du Castellet
La Vague d'Or in Saint-Tropez, sea view for a Provencal score
For over a decade, La Vague d'Or at Le Cheval Blanc hotel in Saint-Tropez has boasted the highest distinction in the red guide, 3 stars. The talented Arnaud Donckele whispers to your taste buds an intense and refined Provence through a ballet of local ingredients, iodine and market garden gems. A culinary choreography that amazes, astonishes and moves, unanimously acclaimed by guests and his peers alike, who voted him one of the world's best chefs in 2024.
With the Mediterranean constantly in view, in the shade of the Pinède, like an enchanted break from the hustle and bustle of the Tropezian area beyond, the experience of a meal in this iconic restaurant has established itself as a benchmark for gourmets far beyond the borders of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.
In 2024, another star was awarded to this establishment on the edge of an exclusive sensory experience, for their restaurant La Terrasse, where Arnaud Donckele's disciple, Augustin de Margerie, offers gastronomy bathed in the Mediterranean.
Photos © Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez
List of Michelin-starred restaurants in the Var
Etoile verte: sustainable gastronomy wins awards in the Var.
Following in the footsteps of the stars and culinary excellence rewarded by the red guide, Michelin has been awarding a new distinction since 2019: the green star. As a guarantee of eco-responsible gastronomy, 3 restaurants in le Var have been singled out for their virtuous philosophy and commitment.
Secret garden in Cotignac: Provence in its raw state.
Nestling among a profusion of Provencal trees, olive groves, lavender and vines, the Lou Calen estate, a haven for stars in the 70s, is redefining the codes of luxury, with a no-holds-barred spirit right in the heart of Cotignac.
In unison, innovation and eco-responsibility have written a new chapter in the legend of this legendary address, which houses the Jardin Secret restaurant in the heart of its 18th-century building.
Deeply rooted in naturalness, the cuisine orchestrated by Benoit Witz elevates vegetables to the rank of king in a sincere approach where authenticity takes nothing away from the excellence and savoir-faire of this inspired chef, who has worked in the kitchens of some of the most prestigious restaurants on the Côte d'Azur.
Photos © Lou Calen
The green stars of the Var :
A little further from the stars
As well as the stars of the Michelin Guide, symbols of culinary refinement, there are other guides, labels and titles to help gourmets find their way around the plate. These quality benchmarks highlight the richness and innovation of gastronomy in the Var.
Gault & Millau, top addresses
Unlike the Michelin star system, Gault & Millau rates establishments on a points scale of up to 20, supplemented by toques. In the Var, several restaurants have been awarded 1 to 5 toques by the yellow guide, offering an attractive alternative for gourmets looking for innovative culinary nuggets rooted in their local area. Original, remarkable, chef's or prestige restaurants are all featured in this guide to the best places to eat, from gourmet restaurants to beach restaurants, not forgetting local bistros that boldly reinvent traditional dishes.
"Maîtres restaurateurs", homemade food as a standard
Quiet, it's sizzling! Using fresh products in every possible way, restaurants with the Maître Restaurateur label are also establishing themselves as essential addresses on the Var's gastronomic landscape.
The only official label awarded by the government, this precious seal of approval guarantees entirely home-cooked cuisine, prepared on the premises using raw ingredients.
It's a guarantee of quality and freshness on the plate, but also a great way to shine the spotlight on more confidential addresses that are committed to promoting the local culinary heritage and offering impeccable customer service. From Provençal classics to slow-cooked dishes and innovative culinary creations, these restaurants have earned the precious sesame seed to ensure that lovers of fine food enjoy an authentic culinary experience.
Photos © La Bastide des Magnans
Renowned restaurants
