Menu
The only Michelin-starred restaurant in the Gulf of Ajaccio, Le Charlie, offers a menu designed by Richard Toix.
Within the Bella Vista Hotel, overlooking the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Ajaccio, Le Charlie stands out as a rare gem, awarded a Michelin star. In this refined setting where every detail has been carefully considered to enhance the experience, gastronomy is a true sensory journey. The Chef expresses his artistry, showcasing the bounty of Corsican and Mediterranean produce. Freshly caught fish, meats sourced from the finest breeders, seasonal vegetables, and herbs from the maquis become the stars of a cuisine that is creative, precise, and timelessly elegant.
Each dish is conceived as a work of art, where authenticity and modernity converse in subtle harmony. The discreet and impeccable service completes this unique experience, designed as a moment of pure emotion. In the contemporary dining room as well as on the panoramic terrace overlooking the sea, the décor enhances the dining experience and lends the place a singular charm, a blend of luxury and intimacy.
Charlie is not just a restaurant: it's a gastronomic destination, an exceptional experience where culinary excellence meets Mediterranean beauty. Every dinner here becomes a suspended moment, a celebration of taste and the art of living.
Opening hours
Every day except Monday and Tuesday
7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday lunch
12pm to 2pm
Richard Toix – Portrait of a chef guided by passion and terroir
Born in Perpignan in 1964, Richard Toix embodies the art of gastronomy imbued with authenticity, simplicity, and exacting standards. Drawn to the world of cooking from a young age, he earned his vocational diploma in 1981 and then went to hone his skills in London with the renowned Roux Brothers. There, he progressed, gaining experience through a combination of curiosity, perseverance, and hard work.
In 1993, he opened Le Champ de Foire in Lencloître, Vienne, where he refined his vision: a cuisine that respects the product, focused on flavor and local produce. Fifteen years later, with his wife Laure, he founded Passions & Gourmandises in Saint-Benoît (near Poitiers). From 2007 onwards, he invested in a modern project, with contemporary décor, a redesigned kitchen, and strict standards for sourcing ingredients.
This restaurant quickly gained recognition: a Michelin star was awarded in 2008, just nine months after opening. Richard Toix distinguished himself as a self-taught chef, although trained, who prioritizes the emotion of taste, seasonality, and the truly natural presentation of the product on the plate.
After a period of international adventure, notably in Vietnam where he participated in projects like Le Jardin des Sens in Saigon, he chose to return to his roots, driven by the desire to get closer to his family and the territory.
Since May 2024, Richard Toix has been running the kitchen at Charlie, at the Bella Vista estate in Porticcio, Corsica. There he practices a demanding gastronomy deeply rooted in the terroir: locavorism, almost exclusive sourcing within 20 km, local and seasonal products, mastered know-how.
His style is characterized by a minimalist cuisine, rich in flavors. A subtle alliance between the sea, the Corsican land, the herbs of the maquis, citrus fruits, products from small producers, his sons who are farmers, and a discreet elegance, meticulously crafted down to the smallest details: local tableware, personalized welcome, sharing stories around the dishes.
The awarding of the star for Le Charlie was the crowning achievement of this journey, but Richard Toix affirms that it does not change its course: the requirement remains its hallmark, the respect for the product, the fidelity to the season, the desire to create moments, not shows.
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