La Récréation

The story

La Récréation, Les Arques: Michelin-Recommended Modern Cuisine in a Former School

A schoolhouse reborn

In the quiet village of Les Arques, an old école de l’entre-deux-guerres has found a second life. La Récréation keeps the classroom spirit alive: diners sit under the chestnut trees in the former playground, now a lush garden where artists exhibit their work. Stone walls catch the evening light, and the potager just beside the restaurant supplies much of the produce. The setting is playful but serious—a place where surprise and precision meet.

The duo behind the stove

Captain Ludovic Soupirot and Rémi Soulignac have been a team for fifteen years. In 2024 they took a sharp turn toward innovation, rethinking products, flavour combinations and presentations. Only two signature starters remain from the old days: ravioles de homard sauce corail and croustillants de Saint-Jacques aux cheveux d’anges with passion-fruit butter. The pastry is now in the hands of Romain Barbier, while Samuel Guillaume oversees the wine list—especially the wines of Occitanie—and Maria Gonzalez runs the whole show.

The modern cuisine

The menu changes regularly, built around vegetables from the garden and global influences that never feel forced. Two six-course options are offered: the “Menu des maîtres d’école” (€51) and the “Menu La Récréation Dégustation” (€69), the latter a tour of the kitchen’s signatures in smaller portions. Both include amuse-bouche, multiple courses and cheese. The cooking is inventive, sometimes surprising, and always anchored in technique.

Recognition and reach

La Récréation earned a Michelin recommendation in 2026, a nod to its consistent quality and singular vision. Beyond the dining room, the team runs cooking classes twice a month, a catering service, and private events. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, closed Wednesday and Thursday. It’s a place where the spirit of the old school remains—but only for the recreation hour.