BÉOU

You enter Béou through the garden. A few tables set up under the trees, just the right amount of mismatched furniture, and decor without any flashy flourishes: the place has that charm of spots that don’t need to overdo it to make you feel at home. Add to that truly friendly service, and you’ll soon find yourself wanting to linger. On the plate, the dishes are dynamic, fresh, and feature a joyful blend of influences. On the day we visited, we started with sardine croquettes made with buckwheat, lemon, and ginger, served with a spicy tomato sauce, before sharing a top-notch spanakopita. To finish, a peach tart with sage-infused mascarpone and toasted almonds. The cuisine is full of depth but never complicated, paired with a fresh, light, unadulterated rosé that was the perfect match.

And then there’s another little secret at Béou: a room for rent upstairs. It’s the perfect way to turn dinner into a mini-getaway and enjoy Avignon without an overly packed schedule. The Lambert Collection is just a short walk away, the historic center is all around, and when evening comes, all you have to do is head back to Béou and relax in its little garden. We’ve seen worse as a pied-à-terre.