Le Monastère

Located in a complex of decades-old stone buildings that once housed a mountainside monastery, this elegant French restaurant has three parts—all worth experiencing: the bar at the entrance, which has both panoramic views over the Central Valley and live piano music in the evenings; the main dining room, decorated with antiques and old photos of the monastery; and the Cava, a snug cellar-turned-intimate-bar, which is perfect for after-dinner drinks. The cuisine served here is mostly traditional French—dishes include vol-au-vent with escargots, shrimp Provençal, and a hearty wild-boar stew with truffles. But there are a few culinary digressions, like the carpaccio-and-sashimi appetizer that showcases the catch of the day. Be warned: the servers here all dress in 19th-century monks’ garb.