L'Esquisse

The story

L'Esquisse, Annecy – Michelin-Starred Modern Cuisine from Chef Stéphane Dattrino

An address in Annecy

At 21 rue Royale, a discreet façade opens onto a dining room where the Savoyard landscape sets the tone. L'Esquisse is the project of Magali and Stéphane Dattrino, a couple whose vision is built on authenticity and the pleasure of sharing. With just 22 covers, the restaurant feels both convivial and personal – a space designed for emotion rather than spectacle. The decor, clean and inspired by the Alpine surroundings, mirrors the cooking: refined but never fussy.

Stéphane Dattrino's kitchen

Chef Stéphane Dattrino trained under some of France's most celebrated chefs, most notably as second to Laurent Petit at the three-Michelin-starred Le Clos des Sens in Annecy-le-Vieux. That pedigree shows in his precision, but his own style is distinctly instinctive. He describes his cooking as a "signature franche et sincère" – frank and sincere – where audacity meets classic technique. Textures and unexpected pairings keep every bite on edge.

The menu is a surprise. Dattrino offers three, five, or six services, each built around what he finds at market and in the wild. Seasonal foraging, lake fish from the Alps, meats and cheeses from Savoie – the ingredients speak for themselves. This is modern cuisine that doesn't forget its roots.

A Michelin-starred table

The restaurant holds one Michelin star, a recognition of its "high quality cooking." The award has been renewed through 2026, confirming the consistency of Dattrino's vision. Yet the atmosphere is anything but stiff. The service is heartfelt, the setting unfussy. L'Esquisse is a place where the chef's personality comes through in every dish – a quiet, confident statement in the heart of Annecy.