Aux 500 Diables

Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne


The devil has all the best food at this infernally named restaurant, a 6km drive west of Chambon-sur-Lac. The dining room is arranged around a large open fire, but the menu is more sophisticated than the chalet bric-a-brac suggests: among regional stalwarts like truffade you'll find smooth pâtés, lamb in herb crust, and the pièce de résistance, double-chocolate pavlova.

Call ahead or ask locally about the season-dependent opening times. During French school holidays they're open for lunch from Wednesday to Sunday, and they're open daily for lunch and dinner in July and August.

If one feast here isn't enough, stay the night; the crisp white rooms are designed for minimal environmental impact.