Avignon Travel Guide: Best Hotels, Restaurants & Experiences

This 14th-century cardinal's palace beside the Palais des Papes shelters 26 rooms draped in historic French tapestries with Indian and Asian motifs, Belle Époque marble baths, and vintage parquet. Chef Florent Pietravalle earned his Michelin star serving Provençal cuisine in the hall where cardinals once hosted popes; the kitchen runs cooking classes in a 19th-century space with wood-burning stoves. Rooftop herbs and cellar-grown mushrooms reflect the property's Michelin Green Star commitment.

A converted family residence surrounded by gardens minutes from Avignon, Auberge de Cassagne retains the intimacy of a private estate while housing an acclaimed gastronomic restaurant. Summer meals unfold on the vine-covered terrace; winter evenings center on the fireside bar. The Discovery and Epicurean menus showcase seasonal French cooking, while excursions to Châteauneuf-du-Pape cellars extend the region's viticultural tradition. Rooms adopt Provençal pastels and floral motifs.

A 400-year-old hunting lodge turned family retreat, Domaine de Rhodes sits three miles from Avignon amid extensive gardens and a securely fenced pool. Accommodation ranges from rooms sleeping four across two separate spaces to self-catering cottages, all designed for families seeking calm between excursions into Provençal towns. The grounds offer ample play space, while the historic architecture provides character without pretense.

A beautifully renovated property in a village near Avignon, Hôtel de l'Atelier delivers rare warmth for its category. Charming rooms open onto lounges, reading nooks, and a garden that invites lingering. Three family rooms accommodate up to three guests, with cots, changing mats, and bottle warmers provided at no extra cost—practical luxury for traveling families seeking exceptional value in Provence.

This five-suite hôtel particulier occupies Avignon's largest private garden—2,600 m² dense with over a hundred botanical species—yet sits steps from the Palais des Papes. Suites named for Venise, Naples, and Aphrodite mix antique furniture with contemporary design, while the salons house hundreds of historical Avignon images and 17th-to-20th-century artworks. An Aubusson tapestry hangs in the glassed orangery; a candlelit spa overlooks the palace ramparts; a year-round pool and jacuzzi punctuate the gardens.

Mathieu Desmarest runs this elegant open-kitchen dining room tucked within a historic courtyard, earning a Michelin star for his seasonal carte blanche menus built around daily market finds—octopus, bluefin tuna, pigeon—sourced from regional producers. Dishes arrive at the table delivered by the chefs themselves, while the sommelier steers diners toward a thoughtful selection of biodynamic bottles that mirror the kitchen's committed, ingredient-first ethos.

Pascal Auger's Mediterranean cuisine unfolds within a 16th-century mansion adorned with wood panelling, tapestries and a working fireplace. His precise technique showcases sun-ripened Provençal ingredients through carefully constructed sauces and layered textures, earning Michelin recognition. On warm afternoons, tables spill onto a terrace shaded by centuries-old plane trees, facing the fountain that gives the restaurant its name.

A passionate Italian couple runs this intimate gastronomic address near the Palais des Papes, offering creative tasting menus inspired by transalpine traditions. Dishes such as langoustine with cherry, almond and purple basil, courgette flower stuffed with ricotta, mint and anchovy, and aubergine parmigiana with smoked provola colatura showcase quality ingredients and Mediterranean finesse. A vegetarian menu and a fully plant-based option complete the thoughtful culinary offering.

A converted cloister on rue Joseph-Vernet where Mathieu Desmarest—chef behind the city's MICHELIN-starred Pollen—crafts Mediterranean-leaning Italian dishes served à la carte. His wife Émilie curates the soundtrack for this wine bar, cocktail bar, and courtyard dining room that runs convivial and relaxed come dusk. Expect sea bream ceviche with fennel and cherry, Ardèche trout paired with roasted white asparagus—all prepared to order from seasonal, regional suppliers and recognised with a Bib Gourmand.

La Fourchette delivers modern southern French cooking in a quirky bistro setting, where collections of cutlery, cicadas, and vintage ephemera line the walls. The kitchen earns its Michelin Plate for flavour-driven dishes that showcase Provençal ingredients with contemporary technique. The intimate dining room fills quickly with regulars and visitors alike, drawn by the cluttered-yet-charming atmosphere and the reliably tasty menu that captures the warmth of the region.