Brunch des Halles
If you will be in Dijon on a Sunday, be sure to book your Sunday morning brunch. This is a tradition that you absolutely must experience for yourself. And the perfect place to do that is Les Halles de Dijon market, the temple of Burgundy produce. Bakers, market gardeners, dairy producers, wine merchants and cheesemongers are all waiting for you in this foodies’ playground. Brunch is served all summer long. Local chefs take turns to serve large tables, offering diners local and regional cuisine. In a nutshell, this is a massive buffet – so eat your heart out! In addition to brunch, there will be musicians, dancers and other performers on hand to provide entertainment and create an amazing atmosphere, taking your brunch experience to the next level. Be sure to book before noon on Saturday, otherwise you might miss out. Afterwards, why not stroll around Les Halles market and buy some tasty souvenirs to take back to Switzerland with you?
📍 Brunch des Halles, available from June to September, Halle Centrale, 21000 Dijon, France.
Chez Monique
At Chez Monique, you can forget all about Burgundy cuisine. You’re guaranteed to get a generous helping of local, seasonal and always delicious food here. You’ll soon realise that simple ingredients can be transformed into amazing dishes. The lunchtime set menu costs EUR 25, so you can leave with your belly as full as your wallet. Start your meal by tucking into a delicious veal fillet with anchovy cream and cumin mayo. Talk about flavour, flavour and even more flavour (and 100% French meat, too)! For your main course, we recommend the vegetarian option: melt-in-the-mouth roasted cauliflower, seasonal mushrooms and pecorino. Finish your meal on a sweet note by choosing a very daring dessert: chocolate-covered pepper. Will you be tempted? Chez Monique is a very popular establishment where there’s lots of hustle and bustle, lively chatter, keen admiration for the chef in the kitchen and, last but not least, fabulous fine wines – whether they’re from the local region or further afield. In the evening, the plates are passed around the patrons. There’s no set menu at this time of day. Instead, there are plenty of dishes to share, so you can sample absolutely everything on Clara Reydet’s entire menu and pay homage to her grandmother, Monique.
📍 Chez Monique, Rue Amiral Roussin 33, 21000 Dijon, France. Lunch set menu from EUR 25.
Chez Léon
If it’s specialities you’d like to sample, head for Chez Léon. This restaurant has history – just like its dishes! You’ll find all the hallmarks of an authentic regional bistro here – right from the building’s façade. As for the food, you won’t have any doubt that you’re in Burgundy: the menu includes œufs en meurette (poached eggs in Burgundy sauce), morel sauce, bœuf bourguignon (obviously!), crêpes Suzette and Burgundy snails. It’s hard to get any more local or authentic than Chez Léon. At lunchtime, the daily special is sure to go down a treat. The restaurant serves lunch to hungry patrons for just EUR 20.90 – and that includes a starter, a main course and a dessert! You can either eat your meal at the counter or choose a comfy seat at a small table on the terrace or in the cosy dining room. Don’t forget to order a few pieces of bread with your meal. If you like wine sauce and similar dressings and condiments, you won’t be able to resist clearing your plate until there’s absolutely nothing left.
📍 Chez Léon, Rue des Godrans 20, 21000 Dijon, France. Lunch set menu from EUR 16.90.
Alfred Burgers & Vins
Craving comfort? You’ll find everything you need at Alfred Burgers & Vins. This is a burger, wine and cocktail bar where you’re guaranteed to have a relaxed evening. This establishment’s speciality is the burger. Prepared with organic bread and locally sourced produce, you can forget all about the idea of a burger being a fast food. You’ll remember a burger from Alfred Burgers & Vins for a long time to come! If you’d like to stay true to Dijon tradition, order ‘Le Bourguignon’ with shredded beef (cooked for seven hours, no less), Epoisses de Bourgogne cream cheese (voted the world’s best cheese in 2023) and chips. The burger is served in a soft bun. Pair this marvellous meal with a glass of fine local wine. Bon appétit!
📍 Alfred Burgers & Vins, Rue Monge 36, 21000 Dijon, France. Burger from EUR 11.90.
Le Nid
This superb restaurant will take you on a journey. Wait at the entrance to be seated. There’s sure to be space for you! A mecca for classic furniture and furnishings, this restaurant will fascinate vintage lovers and unnerve neat freaks. You’re absolutely surrounded by furniture, plates and colours. If you head upstairs, you’ll see large crates of market vegetables piled up neatly along your way. So there’s no doubting the top quality of the ingredients! It’s all about vegetables on the plates, too, so vegetarians should find plenty of mouth-watering meals on the menu. The restaurant also caters for meat lovers, serving up generous helpings of flavourful food. All you have to do is place your order – and your chosen meal will be served on a plate that’s as vintage as the furniture. This is a restaurant that very much takes a leaf out of our grandparents’ book – it likes to make sure its guests are well fed! Lebanese casserole with seasonal vegetables, homemade vegetarian or meat-based lasagne, beef stew, butter chicken… Who knew that one meal could take you on such a foodie journey of discovery? We bet you didn’t think you’d end up in Bali or Lebanon when you took the train to Dijon, did you?
📍 Le Nid, Rue des Godrans 61, 21000 Dijon, France. Unique lunch set menu from EUR 23.