The Mediterranean Insider

Annecy, France

Annecy’s 5 best restaurants (and must-try dishes)

The Mediterranean • Eat & drink • Annecy’s 5 best restaurants (and must-try dishes)

The guide to Annecy’s best restaurants

Annecy’s restaurant scene proves that this lakeside city in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France is as serious about its food as it is about its scenery. The streets here are lined with kitchens that know their craft, chefs who work with whatever the season gives them and menus that can take you from the Alps to the sea without ever losing sight of the town’s own rhythm. In this guide, you’ll find the places worth making time for, each with a dish or two you shouldn’t leave without trying. Whether you’re chasing Michelin stars, lake views or just a plate that makes you pause mid-conversation, these are the tables you’ll want to book first.

Top photography courtesy of Le Clos des Sens

Le Clos des Sens

Le Clos des Sens holds three Michelin stars and a green Michelin star, led by Chef Franck Derouet alongside sommelier-partner Thomas Lorival, who took over in 2023 from founder Laurent Petit. Their cooking draws directly from a 1,500-square-metre permaculture garden brimming with herbs, flowers and vegetables grown just steps from the kitchen. The menu – rooted in lake fish, wild greens and seasonal produce – changes daily. You can look forward to dishes like raw lake fish – fera, for example – paired with fermented garum or grilled, aged pike that tastes like slow-burning ash and water or vegetable preparations that reveal brilliance buried in simplicity.

Le Clos des Sens
13 Rue Jean Mermoz
Annecy
France

Photography courtesy of Le Clos des Sens

Black Bass

Black Bass occupies a dramatic lakeside setting in the 5-star Black Bass Hotel just outside Annecy. Step inside and you’ll find décor that blends soft blues and elegant curves to echo the water’s rhythm. Black Bass does bistronomic cooking with audacity – think ceviche of croaker with coriander and jalapeños or organic seabass barbecued with a raspberry harissa alongside a green bean salad. The atmosphere is relaxed but polished – fine dining without the fuss. On a bright day, sitting here feels like your meal is part of the lake itself – gentle waves, sunlight and the sense that this is a place to pause, enjoy an innovative meal and take in the scenery.

Black Bass
921 Rte d'Albertvill
Sevrier
France

Photography courtesy of Black Bass

Brasserie Brunet

Brasserie Brunet feels like home – a kitchen in no rush, with chefs who smile like they’ve known you for years. Founded by Laurent Petit in 2018, it now hums under the hands of Nicolas Guignard and Pauline Lemettre, who honour the food of this region. In a British-inspired space with exposed stone and moleskin banquettes, Guignard and Lemettre bring a shared passion for sustainable, seasonal cooking. Guignard heads the kitchen and Lemettre curates the wines – earning them three Ecotable leaves in 2024. Some must-try dishes include the pâté en croûte (savoury meat filling encased in a pastry crust), black pudding paired with apple and lamb’s lettuce and the calf’s liver with spelt risotto.

Brasserie Brunet
10 Rue de la Poste
Annecy
France

Photography courtesy of Brasserie Brunet

Anto

Anto is the newcomer with the voice Annecy didn’t quite know it needed – until now. Opened by Chef Anthony Bisquerra in late 2024, it brings the warmth of southwest France into the Alps via fresh, confident dishes that feel classic and alive. Having honed his craft in prestigious kitchens – earning two Michelin stars at Megève – Bisquerra embraces simplicity without skimping on detail. He frames his cooking around authenticity, local flavours and tradition – something you taste in dishes like popcorn kissed with Espelette chilli or an inventive chocolate mousse laced with piquillo pepper and smoked sriracha powder for dessert.

Anto
14 Fbg Sainte-Claire
Annecy
France

Photography courtesy of Anto

Le Restaurant Annecy

Le Restaurant, by Michaël Riss, feels like stepping into a sunlit atelier rather than a formal dining room. Just steps from Annecy’s centre, the space welcomes you with daylight streaming through glass. Riss is no stranger to working in Michelin-starred kitchens, but this is his first solo project – and the confidence is shown in his dishes. On the menu, you’ll find things like perfectly seasoned chicken and veal terrine, char cooked to tenderness and plated with oyster mushrooms or a pear dessert that tastes like comfort. Adjacent to the main dining area is Le Cellier, a hybrid space that transitions from a daytime delicatessen to an evening wine bar and tapas lounge.