CHEZ ALBERT Before our summer trip to San Sebastián, we ventured over the border into southwestern France, although still in the Basque Country, to the elegant seaside resort of Biarritz. The town has been a popular resort since European royalty began visiting in the 1800s. It’s also a major surfing destination, with long sandy beaches and surfers. A symbol of Biarritz, the Rocher de la Vierge is a rocky outcrop topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary, accessible via a footbrid

CASA JUAN PEDRO Before our summer trip to San Sebastián, we ventured over the border into southwestern France, although still in the Basque Country, to the elegant and stunning seaside resort of Biarritz. The town has been a popular resort since European royalty began visiting in the 1800s. It’s also a major surfing destination, with long sandy beaches. A symbol of Biarritz, the Rocher de la Vierge is a rocky outcrop topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary, accessible via a foo

A three-day trip across the border into France took us to the southeastern region, with stays in Lyon and Vienne (35 kilometres south of Lyon, on the Rhône). Our third and final restaurant on the trip was a short walk from our hotel, next to the central train station in Lyon, along the sparkling banks of the river Rhône to, BOUCHON COMPTOIR ABEL BAR BOUCHON COMPTOIR ABEL BAR Neither a café nor a comptoir but a 400-year-old bouchon with an excess atmosphere. The restaurant h

A three-day trip across the border into France took us to the southeastern region, with stays in Lyon and Vienne (35 kilometres south of Lyon, on the Rhône). Our second restaurant on the trip was to RESTAURANT MOUTON-BENOIT Michelin Plate IIO The restaurant is 9km from Vienne. To leave town, cross Pont routier de Lattre de Tassigny and head towards the village of Givors. A few kilometres before Givors, you will see the restaurant on the right-hand side. This roadside est

A three-day trip across the border into France took us to southeastern France, where we stayed in Lyon and Vienne (35 kilometres south of Lyon, on the Rhône). Our first restaurant on the trip was LES SAVEURS DU MARCHÉ Michelin Plate IIO An attractive, well-run restaurant where the immaculate tables and chairs back onto stone walls. This contemporary decor is the ideal backdrop for chef Sebastien Désestet’s market-fresh products, which are full of flavour, as you would e

LES PRÈS D’EUGÉNIE Three Michelin Stars On this occasion, we took a trip over the Spanish border from San Sebastián (some 175 km) into France to the wonderful Les Prés d’Eugénie. Michel Guérard opened Les Prés d’Eugénie in the tiny commune of Eugénie-les-Bains in 1974, and the restaurant gained a third Michelin star in 1977, only three years later. He has retained 40 years of 3-star status and now holds the longest such continuous run since the recent death of Bocuse, who