St-Émilion
Knowing foodies adore this spectacular vineyard restaurant, born out of Jean Nouvel's designer revamp of Château La Dominique's wine cellars, 5km north of…
Must-see restaurants in Atlantic Coast
Gironde
There's no more glamorous address on the Atlantic Coast than this 1930s hunting lodge, reinvented by French designer Philippe Starck. Perfectly placed for…
Bordeaux
To dine à la Gordon Ramsay without breaking the bank, reserve a table at his elegant belle époque brasserie with an interesting Anglo-French hybrid…
Bordeaux
Follow the hip crowd across the river to this huge industrial hangar on the right bank, France's biggest and best organic restaurant with a gargantuan…
Gironde
With Michelin-starred chef Julien Lefebvre from Château Cordeillan-Bages overseeing the menu and 120 wines on the carte de vin, a brilliant dining…
Nantes
This buzzing neobistro would be right at home in Paris. Market-sourced, modern and wholly creative cuisine by English chef Dominic Quirke (a Newcastle lad…
Bordeaux
Filled with the aroma of soup simmering inside a tupina ('kettle' in Basque) over an open fire, this iconic bistro is feted for its seasonal southwestern…
Atlantic Coast
Cognac brandy invariably stars in the inventive, veg- and pulse-packed dishes of chefs Nathalie and Delphine at L'Arty Show, an edgy bistro with vintage…
La Rochelle
The Basket of Crabs is, funnily enough, a self-proclaimed bistrot de gens de mer (seafarers' bistro) dishing up sensational Marennes d'Oléron oysters,…
La Rochelle
Opened in the 1950s as a waterfront seafood cafe, André grew so popular it began buying adjacent shops. It is now an eye-catching maze of eight different…
St-Émilion
A few doors down from the tourist office, this wine bar with fire-engine-red façade is one of the finest places to eat – and inevitably drink – in this…
Bordeaux
Seasonal market produce and a generous pinch of creativity form the backbone of this bistrot coloré (colourful bistro), tucked down a backstreet lane…
Bordeaux
Reservations are essential at this Michelin-starred restaurant and wine cellar where vins d'auteur (carefully curated wines by small regional wine…
Bordeaux
Talented young chef Léo Forget is turning heads in foodie Bordeaux with his striking new locavore neobistro, with stylish zinc bar, mix of rough chip-wood…
Île de Ré
Grab a straw hat to keep off the sun, snag a table overlooking oyster beds and indulge in a plate of freshly shucked oysters, an entire crab, shrimps,…
Bordeaux
There's nothing flashy or fancy about this hardcore French bistro, an ode to traditional market cuisine with charismatic François front of house and…
La Rochelle
Lunch local. Between 10am and 1pm buy a dozen oysters from one of the stands in front of the Marché Central, pay and ask for them to be shucked, then head…
Nantes
Bruno Triballeau, chef at the French embassy in Bogota for 10 years, and his Colombian wife make a formidable duo at this stylish cevicheria. In their…
Arcachon
Stunning shellfish and seafood to suit most budgets, gracious service and an elegant terrace on the seafront with white tablecloths makes this…
Gironde
Expect local products the whole way at La Canfouine ('hut' in local dialect), an upmarket 'hut' on the seashore in the fishing village of Le Canon, about…
Gironde
Built in the 1860s to feed and accommodate the first oyster farmers who came to settle on Cap Ferret, this attractive wooden mansion oozes historic charm…
Arcachon
Each year this pop-up beach hut on sandy Plage Pereire is built afresh, much to the joy of local foodies and bons vivants who flock here for tasty seafood…
Bordeaux
Dining at the Michelin two-starred, gastronomic restaurant of 18th-century Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux is staggering. Presided over by celebrity British chef…
Bordeaux
Whatever the time of day, Horace can do no wrong. Outstanding speciality coffee roasts (including Oven Heaven beans roasted locally), sophisticated fruit-…
Nantes
With a summertime pavement terrace basking in the sun and an enchanting interior bursting with antique curiosities, this gourmet sandwich shop is a secret…
Bordeaux
If there's one stall at the city's iconic food market that sums up the contagious joie de vivre of Les Capus (as locals call the market), it is this…
Nantes
No visit to Nantes is complete without breakfast, brunch, lunch or afternoon tea at the city's legendary brasserie, a sensational feast of ceramic tile…
Arcachon
With comfy, candystriped cushioned seating overlooking kitesurfers on sandy Plage des Arbousiers and an atmospheric bar wrapped around a tree, the Bikini…
Bordeaux
This iconic bistro, with dining rooms both sides of a narrow pedestrian street and former Michelin-starred chef Stéphane Carrade in the kitchen, is the…
Nantes
The cafe-restaurant inside Nantes' Musée d'Arts cooks up a seasonal Nantaise menu signed off by Michelin-starred chef Eric Guérin. Tasty sardine, cheese…
Bordeaux
This retro food truck – a French-manufactured Citroën HY – is worth tracking down; the week's schedule is on its website. Sydney chef Tristan and savvy…
Nantes
Everything is fait maison (homemade) at this fashionable millennial cafe with bold turquoise-painted brick wall, excellent specialist-roasted coffee and…
Île de Ré
Tucked beneath a tour (tower), hence its name, Ars’ village épicerie (grocery) is a gourmet hot spot for savvy cyclists and knowing locals. Its varied…
Bordeaux
As part of the ambitious Euratlantique development project that continues apace until 2020, derelict abattoirs on the riverfront have been transformed…
Gironde
Be it a languid summer lunch on a sun-drenched wooden deck or a snug winter feast beneath steel beams and shelves of books, Café Ha(a)ïtza hits the sweet…
St-Émilion
Wine pairings are naturally in a league of their own at this exquisite Michelin double-starred restaurant, in the heart of the village in a luxurious,…
La Rochelle
Named after the multi-hull proa (prao in French) sailboat typical to the Pacific and Indian Oceans, this hipster bistro takes great pride in the products…
Bordeaux
St-Michel's legendary bakery has been in the biz for over a century. House specialities include moist bread loaves studded with dried fruit, escargots …
Bordeaux
Bordeaux winemaker Bernard Magrez is the creative clout behind this luxurious, five-star hotel restaurant, overseen by twin Michelin-starred chef Pierre…
Bordeaux
This contemporary oyster-grey space is the creation of four young chefs from France and Vietnam, Israel, Japan and New Caledonia, whose innovative,…
