The Mediterranean Insider

Montpellier, France

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

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

The guide to Montpellier’s best restaurants

There’s a particular energy to Montpellier that sweeps you up the moment you step onto its sun-warmed pavements. Right in the heart of France’s Occitania region, this city has always thrived on contrasts – mediaeval lanes giving way to sleek tramlines, bustling student bars rubbing shoulders with grand 17th-century mansions. And when it comes to food, Montpellier feels like one big, exuberant invitation to the table. Our favourite way to explore? Plate by plate. From hidden gems found in ancient courtyards to modern fine-dining spaces where chefs play with the freshest Languedoc ingredients, there’s a spirit of invention here that’s impossible to ignore. Ready to dive in fork-first? These are the spots (and the dishes) you can’t miss.

Top photography courtesy of Leclère

Céna

Located under centuries‑old stone vaults in Montpellier’s historic centre, Céna offers an immersive set‑menu experience brought to life by Chef Clément Briand‑Seurat. You choose the number of courses – two, three or eight – and he takes care of the rest. Expect flavour-packed dishes like mushroom consommé that transports you into the forest, beetroot and goat cheese creations, fish from Sète, local veggies and light yet complex desserts. The name Céna, Latin for supper, is fitting for this restaurant. Stepping in here, the experience feels like a modern interpretation of a shared family dinner – meaningful, nourishing and unexpectedly poetic. The wine list leans biodynamic, local and thoughtful – exactly like the food. With only around 20 seats and a design that borders on ascetic, this is fine dining without the ego.

Céna
2 Pl. Pétrarque
Montpellier
France

Photography courtesy of Céna

Terminal #1

At the Marché du Lez, Terminal #1 brings a neo‑industrial bistro atmosphere housed in an old cellar, where Murano chandeliers meet concrete and metal beams. This buzzing spot is run by the Pourcel brothers, Jacques and Laurent, who, at the young age of 24, opened their first restaurant, Le Jardin des Sens in Montpellier, which grew into a three-Michelin-star restaurant. The Pourcel brothers’ philosophy of giving new life to overlooked spaces translates beautifully into food that’s thoughtful and equally delicious. A must-try dish is the duck fillet caramelised with spiced honey and duck juice seasoned with orange. Also worth mentioning is the Monkfish, sourced from the coasts, roasted on the bone with garlic, artichokes stuffed with shellfish and finely mashed, spinach barbajuan and sweet garlic jus.

Terminal #1
1408 Av. de la Mer
Montpellier
France

Photography courtesy of Terminal #1

Reflet d’Obione

Chef Laurent Cherchi’s Reflet d’Obione is quietly revolutionary. It wears its sustainability credentials proudly – seasonal sourcing, minimal waste, ethical fishing – but never lets philosophy overpower flavour. This Michelin-starred spot in the heart of the city centre offers a fine dining experience that’s elegant but grounded. The space is intimate and softly lit and each course feels like a dialogue between nature and technique. Cherchi’s signature Mediterranean garden dish – an edible landscape of wild herbs, pickled vegetables and botanical emulsions – is a must. Don’t skip dessert. Here, the mignardises (bite-sized desserts) have fun playing trompe-l’oeil, disguised as clapas, the small limestone stones of the GR 60 from which they take their name, made with thyme ganache and natural charcoal.

Reflet d’Obione
29 Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau
Montpellier
France

Photography courtesy of Reflet d’Obione

Leclère

At Leclère, the philosophy is simple – market-driven menus, executed with technical precision and artistic vision. Chef Julien Leclère has built a cult following for his hyper-seasonal approach and honest cooking style. Chef Guillaume Leclère’s cuisine d’arrivage means one set tasting menu (4‑6 courses) based solely on what’s freshest, whether Mediterranean fish, veal, asparagus with mint & horseradish or rosemary-scented meagre. Our past favourite? The tender cuttlefish paired with crispy squid ink chips, finished with yoghurt and marigold petals. The sleek, stainless-steel ceilings and ambient lighting deliver a moody, intimate vibe – modern but grounded in Montpellier stone and granite.

Leclère
8 Rue André Michel
Montpellier
France

Photography courtesy of Leclère

L’Arbre Restaurant

L’Arbre is part of the innovative L’Arbre Blanc building in the Port Marianne district of Montpellier, designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto. L’Arbre offers a two‑level dining journey – the main dining area at ground level and a rooftop bar on the 17th floor with stunning 360° views over the city, Mediterranean Sea and Cévennes hills. Led by chefs Eric Cellier, Charles Fontès and François Fontès, the dishes are rooted in French gastronomic tradition – brasserie-style dishes with a creative touch, focusing on regional Occitanie ingredients. We think the turbot fillet with beurre blanc sauce is a winner, followed by the red fruit cheesecake for a sweet ending.