The region has so much to offer, and the main town of Beaune is a magnet for wine loving tourists from all around the world. Like all popular holiday destinations however, the town has its fair share of disappointing restaurants and over-priced wine lists. To avoid the tourist traps, we sought recommendations from some of the best winemakers in the region who love to dine out in and around the Cote d’Or...
Christophe Roumier (Domaine Georges Roumier)
"If you consider Burgundy to be larger than only the Cote de Beaune and Cote de Nuits, then my favourite restaurant is certainly Aux Terrasses in Tournus, which although only one Michelin Star, has a lovely creative cuisine full of energy and based mainly around local produce. The wine list is just perfect, although, like many places, it's full of young vintages. I like this place a lot!
Closer to Beaune, one of my favourite restaurants is Hostellerie de Levernois for the high level of its cuisine and its very accomplished wine list. But here the place is a little more fancy."
Veronique Drouhin (Domaine Drouhin)
There must be something about the commune of Levernois (just outside of Beaune) as one of Veronique Drouhin’s recommendations is also there: Bistrot du Bord de L'Eau. She describes it as “delicious, fairly priced and a lovely location both indoors and outdoors if the weather suits".
Another recommendation is the L'Hermitage de Corton, just outside of Beaune, on the way to Aloxe Corton. Again it offers "delicious food at a good price in a beautiful setting... plus the owners are delightful".
If you find yourself in the centre of Beaune, Drouhin recommends Le Carmin, “a one Michelin star restaurant, worthy of the star”. For 'bar and tapas' style evening with friends, her pick is the gastro-bar Maison du Colombier. Another recommendation in Beaune is Le Bistrot des Cocottes: “nice, fun, very good”.
Olivier Bailly (Domaine Billaud Simon)
Too few people make the one hour drive from the Cote d’Or to Chablis; the region is an overlooked culinary hot spot that offers exceptional value compared to the Cote d’Or. Olivier Bailly’s favourite restaurant in Chablis is Au Fil du Zinc for "the precision" of the Japanese Chef. According to Olivier, "he produces very good French cooking with a Japanese influence". Le Syracuse is another restaurant he recommends for the quality-to-price ratio: "it is excellent!"
Philippe Abadie (Domaine Paul Pernot)
For Philippe, based in Puligny-Montrachet, his favourite places to eat in Burgundy include:
Le Bistrot de l’Hotel in Beaune: "It has a superb wine list, the quality of the produce is outstanding and the professionalism of the staff noteworthy".
Hotel du Centre a Meursault, outside of Beaune: "It has a fine selection of wines, an authentic setting with a beautiful patio and a great chef, Alain Billard, running the kitchen".
Le Chapeau Rouge in Dijon, which has two Michelin stars for "its exquisite sommelier, his wine list, and the Chef William Frachot's succulent cuisine”.
L’Auberge du Paradis a Saint-Amour in Saone-et-Loire.
L’O des Vignes in Fuissé, "run by the excellent Sébastien Chambru - Chef Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2007".
Alexandre Gaunoux (Domaine Michel Gaunoux)
The top recommendation from Alexandre Gaunoux is La Lune a Beaune – another Japanese restaurant where traditional Japanese dishes are given a French twist. Alexandre goes on to say: "whilst the food is exceptional, it is the atmosphere that makes it so special. This family run restaurant is full of friendliness, and very welcoming."
