The insider’s guide to eating out in Provence

The parasols are up, the terraces are swept, the summer season has begun in the French olive belt. Here the First Post recommends three simple places for lunch outside on the terrace and two smarter ones for dinner. The First Post's top five have been chosen for atmosphere and good value as much as for good food. All have been nominated by people who live and work in the area.

€1 = 89p approxCafé de la Poste Rue Republique, Goult
From Easter until October, this pavement café-restaurant on the corner of the village square is THE place to have lunch under a parasol in the Luberon. Grills, omelettes, salade nicoise and steaks haches for kids.
Allow €15 per head including a glass or two of local rose. contact: + 33 4 90 72 23 23 Café Le Verdun Place Verdun, Aix-en-Provence
Perfect bistro stop on market days (Tues, Thurs, Sat). As the stalls come down at 1.30, the cafe spreads out onto the square. Grills, salads or choose from the chef's daily specials.
Expect to pay €40 for two including local wine. contact:+ 33 4 42 27 03 24 Chez Gilbert Quai des Baux, Cassis
Bouillabaisse - the fish dish served in two stages, soup then casserole - is best in Marseille. But it's a hard city to tackle. Go instead to delightful Cassis (above), just along the coast, and eat with the salty sea spray in the air.
Bouillabaisse for two, €72; menu du jour, €27.
contact: + 33 4 42 01 71 36 restaurant-chez-gilbert.frLe Mas Tourteron Chemin de Ste Blaise, Les Imberts
Eat by lantern-light in one of the most romantic restaurant gardens in France, hidden among the olive groves below the perched village of Gordes. Chef Elisabeth Bourgeois does slow-cooked lamb, rabbit tart, wonderful fish.
Menu at under €50. contact: + 33 4 90 72 00 16 mastourteron.comLe Grain de Sel 25 Blvd Mirabeau, St Remy
Sexy ultra-hip restaurant for the skinny jeans set. The huge salades composees are great and the atmosphere a nice change from the provençal norm. Dinner only. Go to La Fontaine (two doors up) for home-made ice-creams afterwards: €5 for two heavenly scoops. contact: + 33 4 90 92 00 89 graindesel-resto.com ·