L'Intimiste - Auberge de Buellas

The story

L'Intimiste – Auberge de Buellas: Michelin-Recommended Contemporary Cuisine in Bourg-en-Bresse

A family-run auberge with two distinct dining experiences

In the village of Buellas, just outside Bourg-en-Bresse, the Auberge de Buellas occupies a former bakery and bistro, now transformed into a warm, characterful inn. Since 1999, Christophe and Gaëlle Favre have been at the helm, bringing together their experience in prestigious houses—Christophe trained under Alain Ducasse and Christian Lherm in Paris, London, Lyon and the Côte d’Azur—to create a place defined by sincere hospitality and a deep respect for the Bresse region.

L’Intimiste: creative, product-driven modern cuisine

While the Bistrot de l’Auberge offers traditional, terroir-driven dishes, L’Intimiste is the couple’s more ambitious table. Here, Chef Favre expresses a contemporary, modern cuisine that is “creative, even audacious,” built around a single product that serves as the thread of the meal. The cooking is guided by the produce, with delicate accents of the Provence that so marked his early career. It is a cuisine that surprises, yet remains grounded in the flavours of the surrounding countryside.

A philosophy of rigour, sincerity, and pleasure

The restaurant’s ethos is inseparable from the values of the house: rigour and exacting standards learned in great establishments, integrity in sourcing and pricing, and a genuine pleasure in receiving guests. The Favres describe their auberge as a “haven” – a place where time slows, and where hospitality is offered with both warmth and respect. The dining room at L’Intimiste reflects this: elegant yet comfortable, designed to let the food and the company take centre stage.

This commitment to an authentic, high-quality experience has not gone unnoticed. L’Intimiste – Auberge de Buellas was named a Recommended restaurant in the 2026 Michelin Guide, a recognition that speaks to the precision of Christophe Favre’s cooking and the consistency of Gaëlle’s front-of-house care. It is a restaurant that rewards those who seek out contemporary cuisine rooted in place, crafted with skill and served without pretence.