Some places breathe authenticity from the very first moment, and Le Relais in Sotta is one of them. Just minutes from Porto-Vecchio and Figari, this restaurant nestled in the heart of the village offers a pause where Corsica tells its story without artifice. Summer evenings here are gentle, cool air drifts down from the maquis, and the aromas of grilled meats mingle with the conversations of local families. When staying at Bella Sotta, you quickly realise that Le Relais is not simply a convenient address. It is an encounter with real Corsican life, a landmark just far enough from the bustle to be truly enjoyed.
What strikes you first is the almost instinctive balance between the simplicity of the place and the quality of the ingredients. You come here for a cuisine that embraces its roots: local cured meats, fresh fish, perfectly grilled meats and Corsican dishes that change with the day’s arrivals. I still remember our very first meal, one September lunchtime. Locals were already seated, Corsican families gathering around large tables to celebrate both food and the pleasure of being together. This atmosphere immediately tells you that Le Relais is not a restaurant created for tourists, even though visitors are warmly welcomed. It is a place that lives through and for the people of Sotta, a restaurant that offers a true taste of Southern Corsica—where the sea is never far away, yet the maquis firmly shapes the character.
The experience at Le Relais lies in the details, sometimes unexpected. I still remember my surprise when heading to the restrooms. To reach them, you cross part of the restaurant walking over a glass floor, as if suspended above the cellar. Below, you glimpse sausages, wines and bottles neatly arranged like a hidden refuge. Everything is spotless, perfectly maintained, almost theatrical, yet without losing the place’s simplicity. This blend of sincerity and care, rustic charm and discreet refinement, perfectly sums up what I love about this restaurant. You sense that everything is done with seriousness, that quality always comes first, without ever slipping into showmanship. It is this atmosphere, this delicate balance, that struck us from our very first visit and keeps bringing us back.
We discovered Le Relais on the very day we first came to the Bella Sotta bergerie. We were looking for somewhere to eat, a place that was simple yet genuine, offering good food and quality wines—somewhere that would tell us whether Sotta was truly the place to settle. That meal quite literally sealed our decision. Since then, it has become a kind of ritual. Every time we arrive and have not yet done the shopping, we sit down at Le Relais as a family. It is our transition from the road to the holidays, the moment when you begin to breathe, disconnect and let Corsica welcome you without fuss. Le Relais is a landmark. And that is what makes Bella Sotta so enjoyable: always having this restaurant just a minute away, ready to offer a warm moment, whether in the height of summer or on a cooler evening out of season.
From Bella Sotta, simply follow the small road that runs through the village to reach Le Relais. The journey is so short you barely need to take the car. It is a rare luxury to have such an authentic address just steps from your holiday home. You can go there on the evening you arrive, without constraints, or enjoy a quiet winter lunch when the main tourist areas are deserted. Bella Sotta is perfectly located to fully enjoy this local table—simple, genuine and deeply Corsican.