La Bonne Étape

Surrounded by the lavender fields, verdant hillsides, and mountain peaks of Haute Provence, Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban is nothing if not a picturesque locale. And La Bonne Étape makes the most of it; an absolutely classic small Provençal hotel, it’s set in an 18th-century post house whose 18 rooms and suites now cater to leisure guests in search of the unhurried pleasures of the South of France.

The rooms and suites are largely traditional in style, but they’re not shy about incorporating the odd piece of contemporary furniture, or about modern amenities like satellite TV and wi-fi. The best junior suites have balconies or terraces with views of the hotel’s impressive gardens — which brings us back around to what’s special about this place.

As lovely as the rooms are, the main event at La Bonne Étape is the cooking — the eponymous restaurant, headed by local-born chef Jany Gleize, has earned a MICHELIN Star for its precise, traditional cuisine. It’s joined by a second restaurant, Bistro Gaby, serving market-fresh bistro fare for when the formal fine dining experience is more than you need.