Amboise
Voted France's marché préféré (favourite market) a few years back, this riverfront extravaganza, 400m southwest of the château, hosts 200 to 300 stalls…
Must-see restaurants in The Loire Valley
Anjou
Since opening in 2016, talented young chef Delphine Rémy has been earning enthusiastic reviews for cuisine she describes as française, locale et fraîche …
Tours
This intimate restaurant, with just a dozen tables, garners rave reviews for its outstanding traditional French cuisine, prepared à l'ancienne (in the old…
Anjou
This is one to write home about: a truly outstanding restaurant that combines refined elegance with knock-your-socks-off creative French cuisine. Some…
Touraine
Expect the kind of meal you came to France for, with exquisite attention to flavours and detail, served in relaxed intimacy. The offerings range from ris…
Orléans
You’ll get the perfect amuse-bouche with your aperitif upstairs in the salon while you decide on a set of French, Asian and fusion courses, each a…
Anjou
Mellow music wafts from the cheery dining room, decorated with winemaking tools, through the wine bar and onto the street-side terrace as chef Olivier…
Amboise
On the banks of the bubbling L'Amasse (or La Masse) River next to an écluse (river lock), L'Écluse has generated enthusiasm and glowing reviews from the…
Angers
Chef Pascal Favre d'Anne shut a Michelin-starred restaurant in order to travel around Asia for a year – he's a Lonely Planet fan, by the way – and then…
Anjou
A Saumur fixture for more than half a century, this family-run place is all about traditional recipes done really well, such as escargots with ‘three…
Blois
This Michelin-starred restaurant serves cuisine gastronomique inventive inspired by both French tradition and culinary ideas brought from faraway lands…
Amboise
The friendly staff here serve creative, beautifully presented French cuisine that garners rave reviews. Specialities include cromesquis d'escargots …
Touraine
Renowned for its traditional gourmande cuisine and cosy atmosphere, this country inn is 7.5km northeast of Amboise (just off the D952). Herbs from the…
Touraine
Half a block from the entrance to the château, this elegant eatery is mi-bistrot, mi-gastro (half-bistro, half-gastronomic restaurant), serving delicious…
The Loire Valley
Near Rochemenier’s troglodyte village, friendly young hosts Henri and Sabrina serve home-style French dishes made with quality local ingredients in an…
Tours
Relaxed but refined, this French restaurant garners consistently excellent reviews for its steak and its Touraine specialities, including beuchelle à la…
Orléans
Hidden away in a vaulted medieval cellar, this restaurant à vin is known for the excellence of both its cuisine de maison traditionelle (traditional…
Anjou
Chef Marie, from an old Saumur winegrowing family, and London-born Daniel (in the dining room) serve up traditional French home cooking made with fresh…
Orléans
A great address for cuisine française familiale (French family-style cuisine). Reimagined four times a year, the menu features local products such as…
Tours
Using Touraine-grown products and spices that chef David Bironneau brings back in his suitcase from faraway lands, this restaurant serves French cuisine…
Touraine
Secluded behind a maroon-and-gold awning, this sparkling and very elegant eatery serves top-quality French dishes using local products – look for Loire…
Tours
Fresh, seasonal products are judiciously combined here to produce superb French dishes, a few of them inspired by the culinary traditions of southern…
Anjou
Carved into a cliff behind Turquant's mairie (town hall), this atmospheric restaurant has a hearty menu firmly based on local products and classic French…
Tours
Acclaimed by locals as one of Tours' best purveyors of savoury buckwheat galettes, sweet crêpes, and cidre (apple cider; €3.50/8 per glass/pitcher) from…
Anjou
English expats Teresa and Tony offer a welcome as cosy-warm as tea at this frilly little tearoom, half a block from the abbey, which is stuffed with bric…
Tours
The French cuisine here, served in bright, contemporary rooms, is infused with inspiration asiatique (inspiration from Asia). Chef Julien Perrodin's focus…
Orléans
White tablecloths and sparkling crystal set the tone at this refined but cosy eatery, much appreciated for cuisine that's both French gastronomique and…
The Loire Valley
Facing the abbey church, this cheery salon de thé and cultural centre is a relaxing spot for tea (black, green and herbal), hot chocolate or cake. Great…
Amboise
Founded by Madame Bigot's grandfather in 1913, this salon de thé, pâtisserie and chocolaterie is known for its puits d'amour (puff pastry filled with…
Anjou
A great place to tour mushroom caves (adult/child €7/5.50), whose informative exhibits – a great intro to 'shroom farming – were redone in 2018, and tuck…
Angers
This intimate restaurant is notable for its red ceiling and old-time French cuisine, prepared with the freshest organic ingredients and served with…
Anjou
Simple, refined flavours are the hallmark of this family-run bistro, where crystal wine glasses sparkle atop white tablecloths and fresh seasonal…
Amboise
Unpretentious and family run, this restaurant serves wonderfully fresh, traditional French cuisine de saison (cuisine based on the seasons). Alas, the…
Blois
Easy to spot thanks to its bright-red façade, this restaurant proudly serves French semi-gastronomique cuisine. Favourites often available here include…
Anjou
L’Aromate is classy, modern and bright, with changing menus – on chalkboards – that focus on traditional French cuisine but occasionally draw on Asian…
Blois
Succulent beef, mutton and andouillette sausages, grilled on an open wood fire right in the dining room, keep connoisseurs coming back to this traditional…
Anjou
At this bistro-style restaurant, situated en troglo (troglodyte, ie built into the cliff face) – thus the name – artisanal beers and local wines are an…
Anjou
Besides offering tours of its extensive, underground champignonnière (mushroom beds; adult/child €6/3), La Cave has a restaurant with all manner of…
Orléans
Youthful chef David Sterne turns fresh produce from nearby market stalls, including heritage vegetables, into old-fashioned, family-style French cuisine,…
Anjou
An utterly unpretentious vegan restaurant whose pizza, pasta and mains (€8) – a cooked cereal (quinoa, rice or buckwheat) accompanied by raw seasonal…
