La Bastide de Gordes & Spa  

This establishment implacably regains its prominent place in the Vaucluse register. The superb bastide, with a spa created by Daniel Jouvance, now offers an exceptional range of high-end equipment, pool, steam bath, massage, etc., as well as conferences and shows. It's top flight. But does the cooking hold the bar? You bet it does. Olivier Bouzon offers a gourmet cuisine that is traditional, well mastered, textbook but irreproachable and, above all, characterized by rigor. Saint-Jacques nuggets à la plancha, consommé and crunchy vegetables with sesame; broiled golden pidgeon, puree of carmelized beans, short jus with spices; roasted local lamb, garlic, and southern cake; cheese with red fruit, black olive confit, and basil yogurt sorbet. Ample and eclectic wine card that includes some honest world wines. Cuisine, wine, setting, amenities (and tabs) of a grand address, and a charming one.