Michelin Magic at Maison Bras in Laguiole
We recently had one of the most unforgettable culinary experiences at Maison Bras in Laguiole, and we stayed the night at their beautiful hotel. From the moment we arrived, it felt like stepping into another world. The hotel’s design is stunning - light, natural, and minimal, with stone, wood, and greenery blending perfectly with the surrounding Aubrac plateau. It’s peaceful, elegant, and the perfect base for this magical experience.
When we arrived, it was so foggy — late September, yet driving up from the south (Perpignan) we went from 30°C to just 6°C in a three-hour journey. The landscapes were stunning, and Wagner’s music seemed to fit the mood perfectly.
Our suite had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the plateau, and every glance outside felt like a living painting. The hotel blends modern design with natural elements, creating a calm, sophisticated atmosphere. Staying here is more than just a night away — it’s a true retreat.
The highlight, of course, was dining at Maison Bras’ Michelin-starred restaurant. Sébastien Bras’ style of cooking is all about the local land: fresh herbs, vegetables, and produce from the plateau. Every dish is a work of art, balancing flavor, texture, and presentation perfectly. It was one of those meals that stay with you - unforgettable, inspired, and deeply connected to the region.
Emblematic restaurant of Sébastien Bras in Laguiole,Le Suquet is anchored in the heart of the wilderness of the Aubrac plateau.
Fresh herbs, vegetables, tubers and roots are the starting point, harvested from the region and his own cultivated garden, and they are treated with both reverence and inventiveness. Each plate is not just food, but a reflection of the land’s textures, light and possibility, a celebration of seasonal abundance and quiet elegance.
The design of Maison Bras feels like an extension of the Aubrac plateau itself — minimal, natural, and deeply poetic. The building seems to hover between earth and sky, shaped by the same elements that define the landscape around it. Light, stone, and wood flow seamlessly through the space, creating a dialogue between nature and architecture.
Everything here is intentional. The structure was conceived to capture the spirit of the land — “suspended between earth and air, traversed by light and stone,” as the Bras family describes it. Furniture and objects were designed specifically for the restaurant, reflecting the identity of the region and the philosophy of the cuisine: that everything begins in the landscape and finds its way onto the plate.
The result is a space that feels calm, grounded, and profoundly connected to its surroundings — a place where design, nature, and gastronomy exist in perfect harmony.
After our stay at Maison Bras, we explored the village of Laguiole - known worldwide for its cutlery tradition. We were especially fascinated by the handcrafted knives made here, some using rare materials like fossilised mammoth‑tusk handles.
On our way back, we made a stop at the Caves Roquefort Société. Did you know that Roquefort cheese is literally aged by the wind? The caves have tiny cracks in the rock called “fleurines,” and the natural airflow moves through them like magic, giving the cheese its creamy texture and those iconic blue veins. Some of these caves have been making Roquefort for over a thousand years—so each bite is basically a taste of history. And here’s the kicker: you can’t legally call it Roquefort unless it’s aged in these caves. That’s some serious French cheese VIP treatment.
From Laguiole, the capital of cutlery, to the legendary caves of Roquefort.