3 Best Restaurants in The Dordogne, France

A scenic 10-minute drive from the Grotte du Grand-Roc, this proudly authentic restaurant deep in the Périgord countryside is the perfect finale to a day of exploring. Guests are whisked to a long table to feast on seasonal dishes, many hunted or foraged from the chef's property. Prepare yourself for nettle soup; heaping platters of house-cured ham; wild boar terrine with homemade cornichons; confit de canard with forest cèpes; beef cheeks stewed in local red wine; and a hearty walnut cake topped with elderberry, rose, or pine confiture—all for €41, including all the wine you can drink, coffee, and a digestif. It's truly an experience not to be missed, for a price that can't be beat.

Cahors's finest dining establishment is befittingly set within the medieval Château de Mercuès, where you'll enjoy stellar views of the Lot Valley as you tuck into your gourmet meal. Here traditional technique meets contemporary cuisine in the able hands of Michelin-starred chef Julien Poisot, who pays homage to the bounty of the Lot Valley in dishes highlighting local flavors like black truffles and cêpes, house-made foie gras, Quercy saffron and lamb, and, of course, the best Cahors Malbec wines. When the weather is nice, the terrace in the main courtyard is a lovely place to dine and take in the views.

This welcoming Michelin-starred dining room is the region's best bet for an excellent gourmet meal. Add exceptional prices on the prix-fixe menus (€62 for four courses to €105 for a seven-course meal) and beautiful panoramic views from both inside and out and it's well worth making a detour. Dishes—cod with a pleasingly tart sauce of capers, cornichons, and tarragon; tender Salers beef baked in a sesame crust; line-caught sea bass with candied kumquat mousse, buttery multicolor carrots, and citrus-lacquer beets—are scrumptious and beautifully presented. Desserts sound so good it's hard to choose, but you can't go wrong with a towering Grand Marnier soufflé.