Don Cesar

The story

Don Cesar – A Michelin-Recommended Dining Experience in Porto-Vecchio, Corsica

A Family Affair on the Corsican Coast

Don Cesar is more than a five-star hotel – it’s the culmination of a family story that began in 1970, when Edouard Cardi, then 20, built his first hotel in Corsica. Decades later, he and his wife Marie-Ange returned to her native Porto-Vecchio to open Don Cesar in 2012. The property, designed entirely by Edouard from the floor plan to each piece of furniture, is now run by the second generation, carrying forward a deep-rooted hospitality tradition.

The hotel’s gastronomic restaurant sits between the sea and the pine forest, its infinity pool appearing to merge with the Mediterranean. The dining room is an elegant, light-filled space where the focus is squarely on the plate.

Corsican and Mediterranean Flavours

The kitchen blends Corsican and Italian influences, creating modern Mediterranean cuisine that earned the restaurant a mention in the Michelin Guide. The chef works with seasonal produce and local seafood, presenting dishes that are colourful and precise.

On the evening menu, starters like low-temperature red tuna with vermentinu emulsion, asparagus and bottarga, or yellowtail crudo with Corsican citrus vinaigrette and fennel, set the tone. Pasta is a highlight – risotto with lemon, rosemary and langoustine tartar, or linguine with squid ink and locally caught langoustines. For mains, fillet of beef with myrtle jus, and grilled octopus with creamy sweet potatoes and mashed peas, demonstrate the kitchen’s range.

The lunch menu is more relaxed, with salads (a Don Caesar with free-range chicken and crispy pancetta), pasta, burgers, and classic desserts like lemon tart and tiramisu. A children’s menu is also available.

A Setting to Savour

The restaurant’s terrace overlooks the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio, and in summer, the Paillotte offers casual beachside dining – cocktails and light meals by the water. The bar lounge, spa, and private event spaces complete the experience, but the dining room remains the heart of the house.

Whether for a long lunch or a refined evening meal, Don Cesar delivers a taste of Corsica that is both grounded and polished.