Imagine a remote village in the Nice hinterland: a surprising medieval village perched on a hillside in the canton of l’Escarène, just 16 km from Nice. Here, in this green haven at 372 metres altitude, our grandparents chose to open L’Auberge de La Madone in Peillon. In 1946, the family-run establishment was a restaurant and grocery store, and its story was just beginning.
Discipline, work ethic and the passing down of a passion for excellence: this is the legacy we have inherited and upheld in our family since 1946. First by our grandparents, and then by their children in 1982—our father Christian Millo and his sister—both of whom are passionate about Mediterranean flavours and excellence.
Christian, who assisted his mother in the kitchen, had as his godfather the director of La Réserve de Beaulieu, a prestigious establishment from the 1960s He attended the Nice hospitality school and developed a keen interest in gastronomy. We, his children—Mathieu and Thomas—have increasingly immersed ourselves in the life of the auberge as we’ve grown up. We shaped our experience, like all the Millos, by working in Parisian and Côte d’Azur luxury hotels.
Thomas also attended the Nice hospitality school and began working in the kitchen with his father in 1998. After years of working together as a family, L’Auberge de La Madone in Peillon was awarded a Michelin star in 2004, a distinction it has retained for 10 years. It is the reward for a family united by a shared passion for excellence.
It represents years of creativity, collaboration and personal commitment demonstrated by each family member daily. Thomas, as curious as his father, hones his skills in prestigious establishments and trains in pastry, vegetarian and dietary cuisine. In 2016, he officially succeeds his father as Chef. Add to his many talents a passion for sharing gastronomy and a dedication to quality ingredients, and you get a delicious blend of tradition and innovation.
But at its core, what sustains the success of L’Auberge de la Madone in Peillon? We would say it is undoubtedly our passion for cooking, love for people, and the joy of working together as a family.
We love to welcome you as if you were already familiar with the place, and it’s a pleasure to delight your taste buds with a reimagined terroir cuisine. 1,400! That’s the number of personal recipes our father, Christian, has developed at L’Auberge de La Madone since 1960. Having retired in the village, he is never too far away. He still regularly takes care of the vegetable garden and aromatic herbs along with our mother. Thomas approaches each dish with the same enthusiasm and shares his innovative ideas with other chefs.
A medieval village near Nice, a fine dining restaurant, a family-run auberge and hotel, a splendid and authentic estate… It’s the story of an auberge and a legacy that shows no signs of stopping!
