Set just outside the old town in Annecy-le-Vieux, this small Italian table earns its booking-only reputation through a short menu and proper execution. The plates are part of the welcome (Italian cocktails painted across the dishware), the buffalo mozzarella braid arrives before you have decided, and the deconstructed tiramisu is the kind of finish you remember weeks later. Try the parsnip purée with espresso, an unexpected side that has converted regulars. Worth crossing town for, and worth the walk back through the lake gardens after.

Forget foie gras and caviar – at Clos des Sens, the real stars are lake fish, garden vegetables, wild herbs, and whatever happens to be at its seasonal peak. Set within a small hotel overlooking Lake Annecy, this three-Michelin-starred restaurant has become a benchmark for terroir-driven dining, with menus rooted entirely in the surrounding Alpine landscape.

The best bakery in town, hands down. Part organic bakery, part neighbourhood épicerie, La Source turns out exceptional sourdough, flaky pastries and proper savoury tarts, alongside daily lunch specials that are well worth joining the queue for.

If you're after good vibes rather than white tablecloths, head to Cabanon. This lively lakeside spot starts the day with coffee and continues with cocktails by evening, while food trucks, DJ sets and a terrace packed with families and friends make it one of Annecy's most convivial places to spend a summer evening.