Restaurants in Toulouse

Christian Constant's classy brasserie right on Place du Capitole has an interior that's as dazzling as the cooking. The ceiling is a riot of rococo frescoes and swirling gilt, while on the plate are succulent, slow-cooked beef cheeks, langoustine ravioli or a perfectly turned-out turbot.

Expertly executed dishes, professional service, an extensive wine list and a lovely courtyard setting right on the main square make this one of the best restaurants in Toulouse. Chef Stéphane Tournié dares to mix global influences with local, traditional dishes and has been rewarded with a Michelin star.

At this two-Michelin-starred restaurant, dinner is supposed to be like eating at home. A rather grand home with an Italian terrace and a flamboyant menu, but Michel Sarran does provide an intimate and welcoming atmosphere. Local delicacies such as foie gras, violet and lavender influence his exquisite menu.

Canard (duck) features prominently in Toulouse, and La Mare aux Canards gives you the Toulousain dining experience with lashings of tradition. Its rustic décor adds a hearty atmosphere to local specialities such as cassoulet and foie gras, but the place made its name with its delicious magret de canard (duck breast).

Cassoulet is the region's signature dish and, since 1874, Le Colombier has been the one of the best places to find it in Toulouse. This cosy brick-walled restaurant run by a charming husband-and-wife team specialises in this wonderfully rich stew of Toulouse sausage, white haricot beans, goose confit and pork slices.

This cosy restaurant is in a prime spot in leafy Place Saint-George, which becomes colonised by tables in good weather. The cuisine is solidly south-west French, with plenty of duck, foie gras and excellent cassoulet. If you want something lighter, the creative fish and seafood dishes won't disappoint.

Nicely rustic and decorated with vintage French café paraphernalia, this jolly little bistro in the buzzing Quartier des Carmes keeps it simple but delivers on quality at a very good price. Portions are generous in everything from the huge salads to the large plates of grilled giant prawns flambéed in pastis.

Upstairs at the superb Marché Victor Hugo is a row of great restaurants that serve food straight from the market. Lively Le Louchebem specialises in the fresh meat it picks up from its butchers down below. It's lunchtime only, and you can't make reservations; be prepared to be squeezed into long communal tables.

If you've fallen in love with the regional cuisine, then head to L'Aubrac for an all-you-can-eat foie gras menu as well as all the classical dishes of Toulouse. The interior design is a bit of a hotchpotch, but that just adds to the quirky sense of occasion. Great value for money.