Our Favourite Local Places
Not a tourist guide — it's what we'd tell our friends.
Anything you’d like to know more about — or a reservation you’d like a hand with — just ask Wayne or David.
Not a tourist guide — it's what we'd tell our friends.
Anything you’d like to know more about — or a reservation you’d like a hand with — just ask Wayne or David.
Helen and Nick's organic vineyard on a limestone ridge above Gensac — consistently one of the best small producers in the area. Tours run from 30 minutes to 2 hours, in English or French, for a maximum of ten people, which keeps it properly personal. Tapas lunches and new workshops are coming this summer — contact Helen directly for details. Book ahead, particularly in July and August.
Jacquie and Wilfrid’s beautifully restored family estate straddling both the communes of Pessac-sur-Dordogne and Gensac. Tour the vines, taste the wines, then linger over lunch at the Glass House — their lovely wine bar and terrace café. Bookings essential in summer.
Carol gave up a career as a lawyer in California to restore this historic property on the edge of the Saint-Émilion plateau. Certified organic, aged in French oak and terracotta amphorae. Our top tip — Carol’s chocolate and wine tasting is something genuinely different. Check with her directly for details.
Amanda and David's organic Bordeaux AOC vineyard in Margueron. Tastings, vineyard walks, sharing platters, picnics by the pond and summer pop-up dining events.
A 16th-century château classified as a historic monument, dramatically dominating the Dordogne valley near Bergerac. Immersive visit combining the story of the legendary Monbazillac sweet wine with interactive technology, plus a restaurant open daily for lunch. Book tickets online.
Four-generation family estate just five minutes’ walk from our front gate. Great value wines across two appellations — AOP Bordeaux and AOP Sainte-Foy Côtes de Bordeaux. Worth booking their summer feast in the vines — a wine tasting with a gourmet basket in a small oak grove looking out over the Dordogne valley. Reservations by phone — French spoken only, so ask us if you’d like a hand.
Yvan and Jean Marc’s organic estate, set on the ruins of a 12th-century feudal château. Producing Bordeaux and Bergerac AOC wines from over 50 hectares of vines. Find them at the Saturday market in Sainte-Foy, or visit the cellar for a free tasting.
Truly an authentic medieval castle — built in the 1480s, with walls dating back to an even older fortress and a chapel from 1518. Frank and Riki Campbell run guided tours of the chais and gardens, including a tasting of six wines. There's also the Café des Chineurs for a glass of wine and a sharing platter. Reservations required — set aside a full afternoon.
English chef Charlie Ray and his French wife Melanie have created something quite special in Saussignac — quality local produce with a distinctly British touch and a fabulous terrace overlooking the château. Our top tip — they open Sunday and Monday evenings when almost everywhere else is closed. Book online.
Jacquie's wine bar and terrace café in the old Victorian glasshouse at Château Carbonneau. Charcuterie and cheese platters, homemade cakes and the estate's own wines. Events through the season include Taco Tuesdays, Sunday brunch and jazz evenings — check their website for details. Our top tip — they're open all afternoon when most places around here have long since shut.
Formerly Au Fil de l'Eau, now Pourquoi Paul — a genuine local favourite run by Laurent and Thomas. Seasonal menu, local produce, great natural wines and a sunny terrace with views towards the church at Sainte-Foy. Reservations by phone only — book ahead.
Laurence and Cédric — chef and sommelier — run this quietly exceptional restaurant just off the centre of Sainte-Foy. Seasonal market cooking with over 160 wine references and a shaded garden terrace in summer. Reservations by phone only — book well ahead.
Small, intimate bistro with a creative seasonal menu and a thoughtful list of natural wines. Reservations by phone or Facebook — it fills up quickly.
Guests consistently rave about this meat-focused brasserie — high-quality cuts from a local butcher, fresh homemade dishes, warm service and excellent value. Not one for us as we don’t eat meat, but we’d have no hesitation sending you there. Reservations by phone.
A medieval building in the heart of Bergerac’s old town — stone walls, open fireplace and a plant-filled terrace on a quiet pedestrian alley. Chef Didier Casaguana’s cooking is rooted in the terroir of the south-west: bold, seasonal and precise, with a menu that changes with the market. Two awards in the window and food that earns both. Book online.
A 16th-century estate with two very different restaurants. Les Fresques holds a Michelin star — the place for a special occasion with a terrace overlooking the lake at sunset. Le Bistrot is altogether more relaxed, with a convivial atmosphere that works equally well for lunch or dinner. Our top tip — Le Bistrot stays open all afternoon, well after the lunchtime rush. Book online.
Riverside terrace on the Dordogne with beautiful views. Fresh local ingredients, French and global influences from Irish chef Jenny. The fish and chips on Friday nights have a local following. Gaultier, the wonderfully mustachioed host, makes everyone feel welcome. Reservations by phone — book ahead.
Relaxed riverside spot on the Dordogne with a terrace view that's hard to beat. Casual, good value, popular with locals. Reservations by phone — check ahead as opening hours can be seasonal.
13th-century château with spectacular panoramic views. Seasonal cooking with a strong regional focus. Our top tip — book a terrace table for sunset, you won't be disappointed. They also open Sunday and Monday evenings when most places around here are closed. Reservations by phone or Instagram.
Saint-Émilion's original wine bar, opened in 1987 and now in the hands of the Perse family of Château Pavie. Zinc counter, leather banquettes and a shaded terrace tucked against the walls of the Collégiale church. Seasonal cooking and over 500 wines stored in a 19th-century underground quarry — winner of the best wine list in France. Book online.
Julien and Catherine Elles run this small restaurant in one of Saint-Émilion’s prettiest medieval streets — the two met at this very address 18 years before taking it over, which tells you something about the place. Precise, seasonal cooking and a thoughtful list of over 300 wines, mainly small growers. Book online.
On the highest point of Saint-Émilion, with beautiful views over the vineyard. Our friends loved it — fantastic food, relaxed and unfussy service, and they couldn’t fault a thing. Chef David Charrier cooks from the estate’s own kitchen garden. Pastry chef Adrien Salavert was named Champion de France du Dessert 2026. Book online.
A restaurant within a working Saint-Émilion estate, with vineyard views from every table. The kitchen grows its own vegetables and the menu — three starters, three mains, three desserts — changes daily with the market. Our friends’ top tip — go for lunch, it's extremely good value. Book online.
We’re lucky to have two local markets. Every Saturday morning the town square goes pedestrian-only for one of the best markets in the region — voted the most beautiful in Gironde. And every Thursday evening from mid-July, the night market takes over with food stalls and music — a proper slice of French country life. Our top tip — grab one of our e-bikes if you fancy a glass or two.
Gentle 4km paddles to full 27km river treks down the Dordogne. Everyone who's been says the same thing — there's nothing quite like floating down the river at a leisurely pace. Family friendly, brilliant with first-timers. Reservations by phone — French spoken only, so ask us if you'd like help booking.
The Old Presbytery sits directly on the Vézelay route — one of the great pilgrimages of Europe. Explore on foot or borrow one of our electric bikes, free for all guests.
A 27-hole course designed by Donald Steel, set within a 150-hectare estate of vineyards, forests and lakes in the heart of the Dordogne. Three world-class courses for all levels — never played before? They cater for complete beginners too. Check their website for tee times and green fees.
Housed in the estate’s authentic wine cellar — for when you need a little pampering, and we love it here. Sothys treatments, heated indoor pool, hydrotherapy pool, sauna, hammam and jacuzzi. Book ahead.
Wayne has done a class and can vouch for it — wheel throwing or hand-building, guided with warmth and patience — both English and French spoken. The mugs you've been drinking from at the Old Presbytery were made by Joanna. Beautiful pieces to buy too.
One of the world's most respected mindfulness centres, set among rolling hills and plum orchards near Thénac. Open to all backgrounds and beliefs. A Day of Mindfulness is a wonderful way to experience it — check their website for the schedule.
A classified Jardin Remarquable set between Saint-Émilion and Bergerac — romantic gardens around a medieval fortification with fountains, a long central pool and beautiful valley views. Salon de thé on site with homemade cakes and local wine tastings. Dogs welcome on leads.
The tower where Michel de Montaigne wrote his Essays — a classified historic monument between Bergerac and Bordeaux. Visit the tower, the elegant 19th-century château and the grounds, with wine tastings and a lively programme of theatrical visits, literary evenings and summer events. Book ahead.