The story
At Château de Valmer, a family-run five-star estate near the beach of Gigaro, the restaurant La Palmeraie holds a Michelin star for its refined, seasonal cooking. Chef Thomas Pezeril works in full harmony with the property’s five hectares of preserved nature – a centenary palm grove, organic vines, fruit trees, and a kitchen garden that supplies the kitchen directly.
The restaurant’s name comes from the magnificent palm grove it faces, a rare and timeless setting where lunch or dinner becomes an immersion in Provencal elegance. The cuisine is described as “an ode to the Mediterranean terroir, seasonal produce, and local producers.” Each plate balances refinement, creativity, and seasonality – the organic garden’s treasures are the quiet stars.
La Palmeraie is the fine-dining expression of the estate, while its sibling, La Bastide, offers a more relaxed bistro take on Mediterranean classics. Both share the same philosophy: honest, flavourful cooking rooted in authenticity and excellence. The Michelin star recognises this commitment, woven naturally into the fabric of a place that has been welcoming guests for three generations.
Dining here means sitting beneath the palms, with the scents of lavender and pine drifting from the park, and the Mediterranean light filtering through the leaves. It is a cuisine that feels both of the moment and deeply connected to the land – modern Provencal cooking at its most sincere.
Recognition
Ambience
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