The Best Restaurants Between the Doubs and Jura Regions

Comté cheese, vin jaune, Mont d’Or, Morteau sausage… It’s not paradise, but it’s pretty close! From vineyards to mountains, passing through forests that have become foraging grounds, Franche-Comté—and by extension, the Doubs and the Jura—is brimming with landscapes and products that delight chefs. With its charming inns, creative young scene, and culinary mastery, the region is home to a vibrant culinary scene where there’s something for everyone.

Les Gamins in Besançon

In the heart of the capital of the Doubs department, this one-toque bistro with a laid-back atmosphere lifts everyone’s spirits. Arnaud and Clotilde offer a modern, welcoming menu that changes with the seasons. It’s the perfect spot for a quick, affordable lunch or a dinner with friends, where you can take the time to enjoy a contemporary menu and a wine cellar rich in selections from the Jura and Burgundy regions.

• Rating: 12/20 (1 toque)
• Price: lunch menu at €25.90, dinner menu at €42
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Circus in Arbois

A young, 1-toque restaurant that’s helping to energize the culinary scene around the wine-growing town of Arbois. The restaurant’s small dining room has a rustic atmosphere, featuring market-fresh cuisine and regional wines. With that subtle feeling of being at home, Nino in the kitchen and Salomé front of house and handling desserts have created a place you’ll happily return to.

• Rating: 11.5/20 (1 toque)
• Price: set menus at €35 or €55
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Vertfeuille in Arc-et-Senans

Whether as a stop on a tour of the Salines Royales or after spending the night there, this brand-new establishment—winner of the Dotation Jeunes Talents award—has already made its mark on the culinary scene with its two toques. Deeply rooted in their local region, Léa Senot and Clément Bourdiaux cultivate a refined innkeeper’s spirit both in the kitchen and in the dining room. The menu naturally evolves based on their foraging finds in the forest when wild mushrooms and herbs are in season.

• Rating: 13.5/20 (2 chef’s hats)
• Price: set menus from €39 to €79
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Jem in Lons-le-Saunier

Right in the heart of Lons-le-Saunier, this 1-toque restaurant brings a welcome breath of fresh air. With lovely nods to local cuisine, such as the house-made cancoillotte with vin jaune, Chef Emmanuel Chamouton offers seasonal cuisine that focuses on the essentials. With no set menu, the offerings are constantly updated based on his inspiration.

• Rating: 12/20 (1 toque)
• Price: lunch menu at €29, dinner menus at €48 or €65
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Chez Gervais in Chenecey-Buillon

Not far from Besançon, in a small village on the banks of the Loue River, stands this imposing building that welcomes hikers and families for a meal or an overnight stay. A friendly inn with a rustic atmosphere, guests appreciate both the setting and the traditional 1-toque cuisine of Jean-Claude Walter, which offers a wonderful showcase of local flavors.

• Rating: 12/20 (1 toque)
• Price: set menu at €52
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Iida-Ya in Dole

A Japanese oasis in the heart of the city’s historic center, regulars flock here to savor the best sushi in the area—but that’s not all. Under the guidance of Chef Junichi Iida, regional influences are prominently featured in a more elaborate menu where Comté cheese and wines take center stage alongside refined Japanese cuisine—awarded 2 toques.

• Rating: 13/20 (2 toques)
• Price: set menus from €39 to €130
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Loue à la Bouche in Scey-Maisières

Near the small tourist town of Ornans, Sophie Gilibert-Collette’s unpretentious restaurant offers a 1-toque lunch menu at an unbeatable price and platters of dishes in the evening. We appreciate the restaurant for its transparency regarding the sourcing of its ingredients and its idyllic setting on the banks of the Loue River, which make the place a little slice of paradise.

• Rating: 11/20 (1 toque)
• Price: lunch menu at €25
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Épicéa in Besançon

Winners of the 2024 Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Young Talents Award, Bastian and Camille Loridat serve up a fresh, signature cuisine in the heart of Besançon. The small dining room, which opens onto the kitchen, lets diners enjoy the spectacle of the chefs working with nature through vinegars, lacto-fermentation, and wild foraging to create dishes rich in new discoveries.

• Rating: 12/20 (1 toque)
• Price: set menus at €39 or €67
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Château du Mont Joly in Sampans

It’s hard to miss this Jura institution and its chef, Romuald Fassenet, named “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” in 2004 and recipient of the region’s Gault&Millau d’Or award in 2020. The three-toque cuisine, both technical and inventive, is firmly rooted in the riches of the Jura region, while the dining room is perfectly orchestrated by Catherine Fassenet. An unmissable gastronomic experience in the region.

• Rating: 15.5/20 (3 toques)
• Price: set menus at €120 or €165
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Prélude in Saint-Vit

Between Dole and Besançon, dine at this charming spot created by Élodie and Thibault. Whether celebrating a special occasion with family or friends, the restaurant offers an intimate and personalized setting where the chef crafts refined yet intuitive cuisine, inspired by local producers and his own vegetable garden.

• Rating: 13.5/20 (2 toques)
• Price: set menus from €35 to €109
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