Créé par Romane, le 5 juil. 2026
Votre guide Ryo
Top 10 Culinary Specialties in Montpellier
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Today, with its exceptional recipe collection, Montpellier is one of the finest representatives of French gastronomy.
The Languedoc specialties are equally remarkable and varied: mussels, snails, meats, stews, cheeses, fish soup, seafood and century-old candies... You won't believe your taste buds! Eating in Montpellier is like returning to the countryside, to rediscover the flavors and preparation methods of yesteryear. True treasures of great quality.
Surprisingly, Montpellier's culinary tradition hasn't made it impervious to influences. You'll surely recognize, by smell or fork, the rustic character of Languedoc combined with Mediterranean influences.
Finely crafted sweets are also the pride of the city's confectioners. And the dishes, warm or refined, will delight all forks, as long as one is curious to discover them!
What to eat in Montpellier? Our selection of the best specialties
Do you know the Grisettes de Montpellier? These small artisanal confections made with honey and licorice are among the oldest candies in France! It was in the Middle Ages, precisely in 1150, that the first black balls were created at the medical faculty of Montpellier. The Grisettes are the emblems of Montpellier gastronomy. So much so that many sum up the latter to this confection. Remember to bring a small box in your luggage, you won't find more authentic souvenirs.
1. Les Cagarolettes
A Montpellier specialty and grandmother's recipe that struggles to be known... The unappealing preparation of cagalorettes may be the origin of this discretion. Let us explain, these are Pisa snails, boiled and seasoned with a vinaigrette with herbs and spices. A starter (or main dish) that may not be appealing on paper, but of formidable authenticity in the kitchen. Moreover, you quickly become addicted, you'll tell us about it.
2. La Tielle Sétoise
Hurry to taste this little spicy pie, stuffed with octopus and tomato sauce. You couldn't miss it during your stay in Montpellier! Historically, tielles were a trick of Italian fishermen, to enjoy a complete meal, easy to transport and preserve. If the tielle is now essential in Sète, the Montpellier locals didn't need to be asked twice to adopt it!
3. La Fougasse aux Fritons
This fougasse with puff pastry and garnished with pork or duck cracklings is traditionally served as an appetizer, or as a starter with salad. It's a gourmet and convivial dish, seasoned with typical Languedoc ingredients, such as rosemary, thyme, and olive oil.
4. La Macaronade
Originally from the city of Sète, the macaronade has made its way to Montpellier tables. It consists of pasta and meat cooked in tomato sauce. It's a bit like a Sète variant of macaroni, simply called "macaronade". You could taste it in the 4 corners of Montpellier, you won't find two alike. Everyone adds their favorite meats, sometimes even fish. But the best-kept secret of this dish is the tomato sauce! Everyone has their recipe and everyone has the best one, of course.
5. La Brasucade de Moules
The Languedoc coastline is full of saltwater lagoons where mussels abound. The brasucade is a festive and generous dish of mussels cooked over a wood fire in a large dish. Flavored with thyme, rosemary, tarragon, pepper, and olive oil. A dish that smells like summer, you'll agree!
6. La Chichoumeille
This name that makes you smile refers to the revisited ratatouille of Languedoc. To differentiate them, note that for a chichoumeille, we replace the zucchini with bell pepper and cook it in a pan, rather than a pot! Generally prepared in large quantities, this succulent dish of sun vegetables will comfort you as it should after a long day of visits through Montpellier.
7. Les Escalettes
This traditional wafer from Montpellier is a specialty dating back more than 700 years! You recognize the great age of this feather-light sweetness by its cooking method in cast iron molds. The ancestor of our modern waffle irons, which gives them a flat and very crispy shape. You'll probably fall for each of the nine flavors of the Escalette, as well as its texture that's all about lightness. So thin, you could eat them (almost) without counting.
8. Les Oreillettes
Traditionally consumed during Lent, these small fritters have a fine and crispy dough, all sprinkled with powdered sugar. Sweet tooths can rest assured: oreillettes are so light that it's not necessary to worry about the quantity consumed!
9. Le chocolat Clapas
Surely the most gourmet artisanal souvenir from Montpellier! You'll recognize the Clapas by their square shape and their white, milk or dark chocolate coating. Their face is adorned with a small clear plaque, in the image of the statue of the three Graces located on Place Comédie Aglaé. After the cracking of the shell when put in the mouth, one succumbs to its soft texture composed of feuillantine, nougat cream and rice crumbs.
10. Le muscat de Frontignan or de Lunel
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In Occitan, "muscat" means "musky", "fragrant". It's a sweet, natural wine, a white wine made from grapes with particularly fragrant aromas. The Montpellier region has two major production sites: Frontignan, which is located between Sète and Montpellier, and Lunel, located on the road to Nîmes. It can be consumed as an aperitif, or as an accompaniment to cheese or dessert.