Top Modern European restaurants in France

Pure et V par Maison Joia ★ 4.5

Pure et V par Maison Joia in Nice holds one Michelin star under chef Julien Pilati and Laetitia Pilati, the Riviera farm to table kitchen behind the Lycee.

Verjus ★ 4.5

Braden Perkins and Laura Adrian's Verjus in Paris's 1er runs a no-choice tasting menu and a bar-à-vins below, both built around growers' wines and seasonal.

OrderWhatever course features fermented or pickled produce that night.

TipIf Verjus is booked, the Verjus Bar à Vins downstairs takes walk-ups and runs the same wine list.

Olive et Artichaut ★ 4.4

Olive et Artichaut in Vieux Nice holds the Michelin Bib Gourmand for a farm to table Nicoise kitchen, the chef from Nice working market vegetables.

Les Muses de l'Opera ★ 4.3

Les Muses de l'Opera sits on top of the Lyon Opera house in the 1er, with a panoramic rooftop dining room above Place de la Comedie and signature cocktails.

OrderBook the rooftop terrace at sunset; the dome view from the dining room is the draw.

TipReserve a window seat on the opera-house side at sunset for the full payoff.

SAIN ★ 4.3

SAIN is the café, canteen and grocery of brothers Samuel and Josselin in Nantes, cooking from their family's organic market garden in Guérande.

OrderFarm vegetable plates

TipThe grocery shelves sell the farm's vegetables, eggs and preserves to take home; natural wines pour by the glass.

Broussaille ★ 4.2

Broussaille cooks locavore, vegetable-forward plates on the Île de Nantes, vegetables in from Ferme Petite Terre and bread from Arlot Cheng.

OrderVegetable-forward seasonal plates

TipThe vegetarian lunch pairing runs €18 for two courses; vegan menus are handled if you flag it when booking.

Saison ★ 4.0

Saison is Milanese chef Riccardo Maiello's Michelin Selected room in Dijon's antiques quarter, alternating French plates with Italian pasta courses.

OrderThe paccheri alla carbonara made with pasta shipped from Italy and Franche-Comte cancoillotte.

TipBook the Thursday to Saturday dinner seating; Tuesday and Wednesday run lunch service only.

Restaurant NŪ ★ 3.9

Restaurant NŪ sits on Avenue Le Corbusier in Euralille with the widest rooftop view in Lille, a panoramic dining room and an indoor cocktail bar.

OrderA cocktail on the terrace before you sit down to eat.

TipThe kitchen runs until late but the rooftop terrace is the point. Set menus start at 29 euros.