Why Food Lovers Are Flocking to This 500-Year-Old Hotel in Dijon, France
Dijon, France is a paradise for culinary enthusiasts, going far beyond its eponymous mustard. At the heart of a renaissance is the Grand hôtel La Cloche, which hosts some of the city's finest bars and restaurants in a dynamic arrangement. Writer Dan Latif takes us there.
Editor’s Note
This article was originally written in French. The English translation is provided for convenience and is edited for clarity.
The Bar by La Cloche: From Morning Calm to Evening Kir Cocktails
The Bar by La Cloche. Image: Dan Latif.
An all-day haunt, the Bar by La Cloche is a tea room by morning. It appeals to many with its layout— a wide selection of armchairs and sofas— ideal for business meetings or for working in peace, or simply enjoying a coffee.
Julien Philbert, the manager of Bar by La Cloche, has paid great attention to detail to pamper customers with a selection of comfortable seating. There are no table numbers here; they're designated by letters. Table B is located next to the piano.
Served with its abacus-style sugar bowl, the coffee come with chouquettes, shortbreads, or meringues, which vary regularly depending on the daily specials. Of course, everything here is made on-site. The bar is overlooked by an inspiring painting, The Happy Accidents of the Swing by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, while sculptures dot the space.
The Kir: A Cocktail Originating in Dijon
The Bar by La Cloche. Image: Dan Latif.
Now it's late afternoon and the perfect time to enjoy a Kir at the Bar by La Cloche. This Dijon specialty invented by Canon Félix Kir, whose true recipe is made up of one third Boudier crème de cassis and two thirds white wine, is now a bar classic.
A Kir at The Bar by La Cloche. Image: Dan Latif.
Beyond the Kir, only one other variation is offered: the Kir Royal, served here with Lallier Champagne. The drink is accompanied by Kalamata olives, wasabi, and roasted nuts or breadsticks. Be careful with the white wine, it's Aligoté" says the manager of the bar.
What is Aligoté?
Aligoté is Burgundy’s other white grape—less famous than Chardonnay, but brighter, leaner, a little sassier. It’s tart, citrusy, and sometimes floral.
Broadly, Philbert has endeavored to develop "a menu accessible to both Dijon and international customers." Although the Kir is the signature, the most popular cocktail is the Pornstar Martini, "a creamy classic that is highly sought after, a combination of vanilla-infused vodka, lemon, and real passion fruit, served with a shot of Champagne," he explains.
Bar by La Cloche Location and Hours
The bar is located inside the Grand hôtel La Cloche at 14 Place Darcy 21000 Dijon, FR. The hours are Monday to Thursday from 10:00am to 11:00pm, Friday and Saturday: 10:00am to midnight, and Sunday: 3:00pm to 11:00pm. Menus and reservations here.
Les Jardins Restaurant by La Cloche: A Gastronomic Highlight in Dijon
Restaurant Les Jardins by La Cloche. Image: Dan Latif.
After the aperitif, we naturally headed to the Restaurant by La Cloche, which offers a view of the interior courtyard and gardens, with Orlinski's reinterpretation of the Pompon bear in perspective.
Restaurant Les Jardins by La Cloche. Image: Philippe Louzon
What further characterizes its charm is its inherent contrast to the hotel itself. "The imposing historic [exterior] façade and the modern, relaxed feel of the bar and restaurant," states hotel director Noël Lazarini.
A Series of Contrasts in Dijon
Elaborating beyond design, the idea of contrast is why Lazarini has placed a particular emphasis on gastronomy with Chef Laurent Peugeot, a Michelin-starred chef, most famous for his restaurant Le Charlemagne near Beaune. It was with Peugeot that Lazarini entrusted the creation of the menu for the Cloche restaurant.
Canapés at Restaurant Les Jardins by La Cloche. Image: Dan Latif.
As soon as you're seated, the Chef serves canapés to accompany the aperitif: a Brillat-Savarin cheese gougère— a truly local cheese— alongside fried polenta with pigeon liver mousse and a sweet potato cromesquis.
What is a cromesquis?A cromesquis is a French bite-sized croquette, usually meat, foie gras, or cheese, bound in sauce, breaded, and fried until molten and crisp. Think haute bar snack. One bite explodes. Elegant, messy, fleeting—served hot, devoured fast.
Appetizers
Appetizer at Restaurant Les Jardins by La Cloche. Image: Dan Latif.
Appetizers of tapioca balls and smoked salmon ensure a smooth transition between the aperitif and dinner.
Appetizer at Restaurant Les Jardins by La Cloche. Image: Dan Latif.
For the starter, the choice falls on the blue lobster from Brittany, with Kaffir lime jelly, grapefruit, and Buddha's hand, accompanied by pickled vegetable and a touch of exoticism, which pairs perfectly with a golden Montagny Haute-Côte de Beaune white wine.
What is Buddha’s hand?
Buddha’s hand is a fragrant citron with finger-like segments, often used for its intense citrus aroma. It has no juice or pulp—just rind and pith—making it ideal for zesting, candying, or perfuming rooms and rituals. Revered in Asia, it's both culinary oddity and symbol of blessing.
Main Courses
The typical Burgundy specialty to try at this restaurant is the Corton pigeon with croquetted legs, sand carrots, and Sriracha sauce. This is unique dish prized by connoisseurs and gourmets who seek a meat similar to duck, but darker in color and with a more robust flavor.
Beef Filet at Restaurant Les Jardins by La Cloche. Image: Dan Latif.
Fans of fine meats will find their happiness with the 30-day-aged Angus beef fillet, accompanied by beetroot, black garlic, and a surprising, yet delicate confit egg yolk. Under the sommelier's guidance, a glass of Crozes-Hermitage from Laurent Combier evokes notes of licorice and black pepper.
Dessert
Mango roll with coconut ice cream inside, accompanied by a delicious shortbread and mango ice cream at. Image: Dan Latif.
By the end of the meal, purists will likely opt for a selection of cheeses from Alain Hess, master cheesemaker. For more dynamism, desserts include a mango roll with coconut ice cream inside, accompanied by a delicious shortbread and mango ice cream.
pETIT fOURS at Restaurant Les Jardins by La Cloche. Image: Dan Latif.
Finally, the pastry chef will offer you petits fours to accompany your tea or coffee, the specific offering changing at whim. For this particular evening, it's a strawberry dessert accompanied by a chocolate and coffee truffle and a strawberry fruit paste.
Les Jardins Restaurant by La Cloche Location and Hours
Les Jardins Restaurant by La Cloche is located inside the Grand hôtel La Cloche at 14 Place Darcy 21000 Dijon, FR. The hours are Monday to Sunday, from 12:00pm to 2:00pm and again 7:00pm unitl 10:00pm. Menus and reservations here.
