Hôtel Le Mareuillais

A stone's throw from the church, St André d'Ornay, Welsh chef Nathan Cretney and his partner Solen Pineau run this attractive and discreetly charming restaurant. A palette of soft hues and bare stone walls contribute to the inviting and bang-on-trend decor – just the ticket for an intimate dining space where diners are well looked after. The food reflects regional ingredients and local producers in a creative and refined single set menu that is composed according to what the market has to offer. For an immersive experience, sit at the chef's table right next to the stoves.

Overlooking the Plage de la Concurrence, the sign on the front of the restaurant says it all: "Christopher Coutanceau, chef and fisherman." Fishing here is a lifelong family passion, and Christopher takes it further by campaigning for sustainable methods and against waste. His sincere and unfussy cuisine, with its bouquet of marine scents, an invigorating ode to the Atlantic Ocean, is an extension of this commitment. The finest fish and seafood - turbot, sole, sea urchin - is prepared with care and imagination, while the modest mackerel or sardine is rendered sublime by the same devotion and t

This shipowner's house on the pretty little port dates back to 1652. With wood panelling, a fireplace and old hardwood floors, the well-kept interior is inviting… but in fine weather, the terrace beckons. The menu is an ode to local fishing and the place is renowned for the excellent quality of its fish – the place to eat on the island!

This engaging roadside inn provides an opportunity to sample stripped-back, seasonal fare that relies on fresh ingredients of traditional and regional inspiration (duck foie gras with juniper berries, breast of roast guinea fowl in herbs, etc.). A small cottage garden supplies the kitchen with some veggies and herbs. Take a seat in the conservatory or in the garden, depending on the season.

In the stylish Logis de la Chabotterie, a historic stately home in deepest Vendée, 2015 MOF chef, Benjamin Patissier, rolls out a polished, creative score that elegantly and savvily shines the spotlight on local produce. In an interior that mingles rustic charm with contemporary details, he delights our tastebuds with signatures such as flame-seared mackerel from Sables d’Olonne and confit of fennel, or Vendée saddle of lamb in a bread crust, escorted by roast artichoke and delicate tarragon-perfumed gravy. The meal finishes on a high note thanks to the talents of pastry chef, Élie Bremont, wh

This fine dining restaurant is tucked away in a quiet back street between the indoor market and the beautiful church, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Port. Its name, in the local dialect, refers to the small fish caught by children in the port. At the helm, a talented pair, Mélanie Roussy and Boris Harispe, trained at Michelin-starred restaurants (including La Villa Madie), have decked the place out in a contemporary style (navy and white walls, designer furniture etc). The menu is packed with seafood dishes (among others) and constantly changes, as the chef scrupulously follows the seasons, works with all

In this peaceful village in the Vendée countryside, Virginie and Antoine Préteux run this beautifully renovated former village café-restaurant. The young couple has a proven track record that includes Michelin-starred establishments. Consolidating the sound classical foundations he has learnt throughout his career, Antoine concocts delicious contemporary cuisine, inspired by the market and making the most of regional produce (vegetable platter, creamy and spicy broth; fresh pollack in a miso crust; his tasty take on the chestnut mont blanc dessert). The interior decor is cosy and intimate (wit