Mas des Herbes Blanches

Verdict: A Relais & Châteaux Property That Earns Its Place in the Luberon

Mas des Herbes Blanches is a Relais & Châteaux property in Joucas, a small hilltop village in the Luberon, it's one of the most complete dining-and-staying propositions in the Vaucluse. Chef Cyril Mendes runs a Provençal kitchen that earned an Opinionated About Dining Classical Europe ranking of #344 in 2025, up from #364 in 2024 and a Recommended listing in 2023; a consistent upward trajectory that signals a kitchen improving year over year. If you're planning a stay in this part of Provence and want one meal that anchors the trip, this is the reservation to make first.

Why Joucas Makes This Restaurant Worth the Drive

Joucas sits quietly between Gordes and Roussillon, two of the Luberon's most visited villages, which means it gets a fraction of the coach-tour traffic while still being within easy reach of the region's main draws. Mas des Herbes Blanches is the reason most visitors make a deliberate detour here rather than passing through. The kitchen's Provençal focus isn't decorative; it reflects where the venue sits geographically and what grows nearby. For a food and wine traveller building an itinerary around the region, this is a natural anchor point rather than an add-on. Compare it with the broader Provençal dining circuit: Alain Llorca in La Colle-sur-Loup and La Bastide Bourrelly - Mathias Dandine in Cabriès both work similar Provençal territory, but neither gives you the rooms-with-private-patio and Luberon-view combination that makes Mas des Herbes Blanches a full overnight proposition.

Atmosphere and Setting

The property is a classic mas, a Provençal stone farmhouse, the dining room carries the calm, unhurried energy you'd expect from that setting. It's not a loud room. Guests here tend to be residents of the property or travellers who've planned the evening deliberately, which keeps the noise level low and the mood relaxed. If you're looking for a buzzy urban dining room with energy and crowd noise, this is not the right call. If you want a long evening meal in a quiet Provençal setting with views of the Luberon and a spa to return to, the atmosphere is well-matched to that expectation. The OAD rating and Relais & Châteaux membership both suggest a room that takes its service seriously.

Ideal time to visit

Summer in Provence runs hot and busy from late June through August. Mas des Herbes Blanches, being a hotel-restaurant with terraces and Luberon views, is at its most compelling in late spring (May to early June) and early autumn (September to early October), warm enough for terrace dining, less crowded than peak summer, with the Luberon's landscape at its most photogenic. If you're visiting in July or August, book well ahead: the Vaucluse fills quickly and hotel restaurants in Relais & Châteaux properties get reserved by staying guests first. Shoulder-season visits give you more flexibility and a more relaxed version of the experience.

Practical Details

The property can be reached via the website at herbesblanches.com or by email at masherbes@relaischateaux.com, or by telephone on +33 (0)4 90 05 79 79. The address is Route de Murs, 84220 Joucas. Booking is direct, difficulty is rated Easy, but shoulder and peak season fill faster than that rating implies for weekend dinners. Non-residents can book the restaurant independently of a room stay. Price range is not published in our data; for a Relais & Châteaux property in this category, expect dinner to sit at a level consistent with other serious Provençal hotel restaurants. Highlights specific to the property include rooms with private patio, Luberon views, a Provençal spa.

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For Context: Where This Sits in the Wider French Dining Picture

The OAD Classical Europe list positions Mas des Herbes Blanches in a tier below the country's top-ranked French destinations, venues like Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen, Mirazur in Menton, Flocons de Sel in Megève, Troisgros in Ouches, Auberge de l'Ill in Illhaeusern, Bras in Laguiole, and Paul Bocuse in Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or, but that context is more useful for calibrating expectations than for discouraging a booking. Within the Luberon specifically, a #344 Classical Europe ranking is meaningful. For the full picture of what to eat and do in the area, see our full Joucas restaurants guide, our Joucas hotels guide, our Joucas bars guide, our Joucas wineries guide, and our Joucas experiences guide.

How It Compares

See the comparison section below for how Mas des Herbes Blanches stacks up against La Table de Xavier Mathieu, La Table du Mas, Le Phébus & Spa - Villa des Anges, and Le Café de la Fontaine.