Relaxed Meals in the Luberon: our Favourite Restaurants and Bistros
- rebeccacoulliais
- Feb 25
- 3 min read
The Luberon is a food lover's paradise. While it is lovely to splurge on a special meal once in a while, mostly, our guests ask us for recommendations for restaurants with a relaxed atmosphere, with an authentic Provencal vibe, using fresh, local produce.
This is a curated selection of our favourite relaxed restaurants in the Luberon, specifically within a short drive of Villa Vauvert, in Saignon, updated in 2026.
We recommend that you book ahead, especially for larger groups. For our Villa Vauvert guests, we are happy to take care of your restaurant reservations for you, please don't hesitate to ask. We also propose a private chef service for our guests, for the evenings you would really rather stay by the pool.
CAFE DE LA GARE - BONNIEUX
This is a genuine French bistro, at the foot of the beautiful village of Bonnieux, just 20 minutes from Saignon. Sitting opposite the now redundant Bonnieux train station,
Cafe de la Gare has been around for over 100 years. It is steeped in history as revealed by the ancient frescos decorating the walls of the restaurant. It has been serving authentic Provencal food for decades.
With lots of indoor seating and a large shady terrace outside, it is great for lunch or dinner. This lovely bistro serves seasonal, typically provençal and reasonably priced dishes at both lunch and dinner.
BAR DES AMIS - VILLARS
This relaxed, friendly restaurant is everything that you imagine a Provencal bistro should be. Lovers of authentic French cuisine and inventive recipes, this one is for you! Reasonable prices, outside seating overlooking the town square, super friendly staff, interesting menus with a modern twist on traditional French fare with amazing local and seasonal produce, that really show case life in Provence. Bar des Amis is one of our favourite restaurants for lunch or dinner.
LORENZO PIZZA VAN
Not a restaurant, but a food truck. Lorenzo Luberon sets up his retro wood-fired pizza van in a different Luberon village each evening. For those staying in a countryside setting, this makes for a lovely relaxed summer evening: pizzas by the pool, a glass of rosé in hand, and watching the sun go down. Perfect for those days when, frankly, you just don't feel like getting out of the pool. Lorenzo is in Saignon on Saturday evenings, and in Apt on Monday and Friday nights. It is best to order in advance because he usually sells out.
LE COMPTOIR DE BALTHAZAR - SAIGNON
This restaurant changed hands in January 2026. The current owners, Deborah and Mathieu, have moved to the Petite Ecole in Gargas. Stay tuned for a new review of both of these restaurants in 2026
A charming, little restaurant, typical of Provence, in the heart of Saignon village, just opposite the picturesque church. The setting is lovely, tables nestled under the shade of a leafy awning, and the food is good. A small menu, with just a couple of choices, reasonable priced and fresh, local produce. It is a relaxed affair, but very small so best to book ahead. Gluten free alternatives are possible, but as the menu is very limited, it is best to book ahead and tell them. They will happily organise suitable alternatives. Best market to plate food in town.
LES BELLES LURETTES - CERESTE-EN-LUBERON
We love les Belles Lurettes for a relaxed lunch or an aperatif in the evening. But how many times have we said that and then ended up staying for dinner as well?! Coming here is like stepping back in time to a sleepy french village, in the heart of Provence. The food, the welcome, the decor are authentic and charming.
The menu is small, the main star being focaccia and home made dishes like quiche and salad. The food is fresh and the dishes home made. The welcome is second to none, if relaxed is your vibe, this is your place!
And did I mention, literally everything (from your glass to the pictures adorning the walls) is for sale? Telephone 06.62.69.55.79
LE BISTRO DE LA CITADELLE- MENERBES
Domaine de la Citadelle, a beautiful vinyard in Menerbes, has two restaurants: le Bistro and le Tayac. La Table Agricole Tayac is a gourmet restaurant. Le Bistro is exactly what it claims to be- a lovely restaurant nestled in the Citadelle winery, an authentic French bistro serving local, fresh, seasonal produce. In summer they open the terrace, which gives a beautiful view of the Luberon. The food is good, the wine is good and the service is great-perfect Provence!
Why not also take the time to do a wine tasting, or visit the corkscrew museum (sounds weird, but it is actually very interesting!). This is the perfect end to an afternoon or morning of visiting vinyards, and perched vllages such as Menerbes, 30 minutes away.
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