Hortùs Toulouse: A Homegrown Chef’s Gastronomic Garden

By Nadège · Estimated reading time : 7 minutes

Did you know that Hortùs means “garden” in Latin—and Òrt in Occitan? The name perfectly sums up chef Clément Lessoud’s vision: placing plants and vegetables at the heart of fine dining, rather than treating them as a mere accompaniment.

Located on Rue Croix-Baragnon since late 2022, Hortùs quickly became one of the most talked-about restaurants in central Toulouse. We were lucky enough to experience this truly distinctive place during our stay in the city—and we certainly won’t miss the chance to return. Let us show you around.

A Former Toulouse Institution Reimagined with Mediterranean Flair

Hortùs has taken over the former premises of Chez Fifi, a much-loved Toulouse restaurant with a loyal following before it closed. Stepping into such a well-known location came with its share of pressure: the chef himself has admitted that he felt the weight of winning over local diners who still remembered its predecessor fondly.

It seems the gamble has paid off. Since opening, Hortùs has been fully booked for most services.

The dining room has been completely redesigned with a distinctly Mediterranean feel. White walls, terracotta-toned flooring and a sun-soaked atmosphere all reflect the chef’s years in Marseille. For a moment, we almost felt as though we had been transported to Crete.

Tucked between the Carmes and Saint-Étienne neighbourhoods, Hortùs maintains a discreet, almost intimate presence—one that contrasts beautifully with the remarkable precision at work in the kitchen.

Clément Lessoud: A Toulouse Native Trained in Lourdes, London and Marseille

Born in Toulouse, Clément Lessoud studied hospitality and catering first in Lourdes and later in his hometown, before moving to London to train under Joël Robuchon.

On returning to France, he joined Chez Émile, a traditional Toulouse restaurant. It was there that he met Alban Garrigou, who is now his sous-chef at Hortùs.

His career then took him to Marseille, where he joined Ludovic Turac’s restaurant, Une Table au Sud. Starting out as a chef de partie, he gradually worked his way up to sous-chef over the course of five years—an experience he now describes as instrumental in shaping his career.

Opening his own restaurant had long been one of his ambitions. That dream finally became a reality on 7 November 2022, when Hortùs—his first restaurant under his own name—opened its doors.

Lessoud is open about the fact that he is not chasing a Michelin star for its own sake. He sees it as a potential reward, rather than an objective to pursue at all costs. His priority is to bring enjoyment to both his guests and his team. That philosophy can be felt throughout the restaurant, where the warm, unpretentious welcome offers a refreshing counterpoint to the sophistication of the food.

A Cuisine of the South, from Toulouse and the Basque Country to Marseille

Clément Lessoud describes his cooking as cuisine des Suds—a celebration of the different southern regions that have shaped him.

His food combines his Toulouse and south-western roots with the coastal character of the Basque Country and the warmth and brightness of the Mediterranean, discovered during his time in Marseille. The result is thoughtful, vibrant cooking built around exceptional ingredients, the people who grow them and the craftsmanship behind them.

Hortùs offers four different tasting menus. At lunchtime, guests can choose between a four-course lunch menu priced at €37 and the six-course Abysse menu at €60. In the evening, the restaurant serves the five-course Prémices menu and the more extensive eight-course Odyssée—a longer, more immersive culinary journey.

Dinner always begins with freshly served bread and a selection of amuse-bouches. We were also fortunate that the chef agreed to prepare a vegetarian version of the Odyssée menu especially for us.

What we loved…

The Princess’s Verdict

The princess absolutely loved the experience.

Even as a seasoned fine-dining guest, she found it difficult to make it through all eight courses, as each dish was both wonderfully flavourful and surprisingly generous.

She loved everything she tasted, and the fact that every course came as a surprise made the evening even more exciting for her. She was equally taken with the dining room, whose minimalist yet cosy atmosphere helped make it a truly memorable gourmet experience.

Our Verdict

We thoroughly enjoyed our evening at Hortùs. The chef’s sensitivity and creativity instantly reminded us of several dinners we have enjoyed at Luna in Bordeaux.

Hortùs has undoubtedly earned a place among our favourite gastronomic and bistronomic restaurants. We will certainly return the next time we spend a weekend in Toulouse—perhaps while searching for the city’s best escape game!

From the service and the atmosphere of the dining room to every single dish we were served, the entire experience made us want to come back.

We would once again like to thank the chef for agreeing to create a vegetarian version of the eight-course Odyssée menu for us. What an evening—and what creativity, generosity and technical mastery in every dish!