In Cotignac, at the heart of the Lou Calen estate, Le Jardin Secret is housed in a former farmhouse surrounded by fertile land. Here, the kitchen garden leads the way: each morning, Benoît Witz draws inspiration from a freshly picked herb, a flower in bloom or a sun-ripened vegetable. Working closely with local producers, he creates a single daily menu built around carefully sourced meat and fish, alongside a vegetarian version in which vegetables take centre stage. An instinctive style of cooking that reflects Provence, simply and through the seasons.
Pets are welcome on the terrace but, for hygiene reasons, are not permitted inside the restaurant.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas.
After its winter break, Le Jardin Secret reopens on 13 February.
The Unique Menu
Cooked to order according to the day’s arrivals and harvests from the kitchen garden, the menu changes daily. Here, time is taken to cook properly and to gather around the table.
Benoît Witz: A Return to Essentials
Born in a village in the Vosges, Benoît first discovered cooking around the generous family tables of the farm where he grew up. He trained in some of France’s finest kitchens, alongside Paul Bocuse, Patrick Lenôtre and Alain Ducasse, before leading L’Hostellerie de l’Abbaye de la Celle and later becoming Executive Chef of the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo. In Cotignac, surrounded by unspoilt nature, he has rediscovered the freedom of honest ingredients. Working hand in hand with those who keep the local terroir alive, he creates a cuisine shaped by people and the rhythm of the seasons. A return to basics, where flavour is allowed to shine.
A Responsible Approach
Le Jardin Secret follows a thoughtful approach, favouring short supply chains and reducing waste. Benoît Witz works with carefully selected producers within a 60 km radius of Cotignac. This philosophy has been recognised with the Michelin Green Star, awarded in 2023, as well as the restaurant’s inclusion in the Guide Michelin 2026 selection. The Restaurant Engagé label and recognition from the Collège Culinaire de France further reflect a genuine commitment to the environment and the local economy.
A Story of Heritage
Benoît Witz’s meeting with Huguette Caren, former owner of Lou Calen, brought a precious culinary heritage into his kitchen. She shared the recipes that made the house famous in the 1970s, when Le Reclus was the hotel’s much-loved restaurant. That legacy lives on in A table in Provence: Recipes and Tales from Cotignac, Huguette’s recipe collection, available in the bookshop. Today, the chef brings them into dialogue with his own style: a Provençal cuisine faithful to tradition, produce and the seasons.
Events that might interest you
From 13 Feb. To 31 Dec.
Every Saturday lunchtime, lobster takes centre stage. Hot or cold, simmered, sautéed or flame-grilled, Benoit Witz cooks it in line with the kitchen garden and market. A four-course set menu, renewed weekly, ending with creations from our pastry chef.
Location:
Day :
Saturday
Hours :
12 pm to 2 pm
Price:
84€ (excluding drinks)
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
From 4 Sep. To 5 Sep.
Monty Python legend Eric Idle is coming to Cotignac for a very special weekend. Open-air film screenings, a signing of his book Idle in Provence, an aperitif and dinner at Le Bistrot will mark this unique opportunity to meet the British comedian, who has been in love with the Var for more than fifty years.
Location:
Friday :
From 8.30 pm
Saturday :
From 3 pm
Price:
Friday : 12€ / Saturday : 68€
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Sunday 6 September
Move and eat well: two simple pleasures come together one Sunday a month at Lou Calen. A Pilates session with Fabé Dia, former Olympic athlete, awakens the body and releases tension, before enjoying the Bistrot’s generous buffet.
Location:
Schedule :
11 am to 12 pm
Price:
Pilates only : 25€ ; Pilates + Brunch : 76€
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Wednesday 9 September
Step behind the bar with Thomas, our mixologist, and explore two cocktails with plenty of character: James Bond’s iconic Dry Martini in several guises, and a Moscow Mule made with ginger beer prepared in-house. Shaker in hand, it’s your turn to mix… and taste!
Saturday 19 September
For their second four-hands dinner, Benoît Witz and Théo Sanchez continue to explore the many facets of plant life. Leaves, flowers, seeds, branches and fruits picked at different stages of ripeness become the ingredients of a cuisine where fermentation reveals unexpected new flavours.
Location:
Schedule :
Please arrive at 7:30 pm
Price:
120€ (5-course) – Wine pairing: 30€
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Monday 21 September
Who will be named Cotignac’s best mixologist? For the inaugural Cotignac Cocktail Challenge, Lou Calen is challenging professional bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts alike to reinvent pastis or absinthe. To enter, send us your recipe by 17 September.
Sunday 4 October
Move and eat well: two simple pleasures come together one Sunday a month at Lou Calen. A Pilates session with Fabé Dia, former Olympic athlete, awakens the body and releases tension, before enjoying the Bistrot’s generous buffet.
Location:
Schedule :
11 am to 12 pm
Price:
Pilates only : 25€ ; Pilates + Brunch : 76€
Booking:
Mandatory, limited availability
Dining and Pool Day Pass
Lou Calen invites you into a Provençal oasis devoted to your wellbeing. From April to October, its Pool Day Passes combine access to the estate’s three swimming pools with lunch or dinner at one of its two restaurants. Treat yourself to a restful day of relaxation and culinary delights.
Join us
Nestled in the heart Cotignac in Provence, Jardin Secret invites you to enjoy exceptional food in an extraordinary setting.
The Lou Calen estate is located an hour away from Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, and 45 minutes away from the Gorges du Verdon.
