Brit Hotel Essentiel CHOLET

In the same plush bourgeois edifice as its parent establishment, La Patte Noire, the vintage-appointed La P’tite Patte bistro occupies the ground-floor. The unfussy, wholesome score shines the spotlight on top-drawer produce, examples of which range from a succulent beef-carrot terrine savvily paired with a warm caper and gherkin dressing to tapilla of Iberian pork, wickedly flanked by crunchy fries cooked in beef tallow. Hunger obliterating, throbbing with big-boned flavours and delicately crafted – hard to beat!

Presiding over its grounds, this charming 19C château houses a lovely restaurant on the first floor. Done out with carpeting, beige walls, colourful wallpaper, mouldings, mirrors on the ceiling and a large fireplace, the space is modern and inviting. Chef Adrien Roux expertly selects top-quality seasonal ingredients for his set menus: trout roe, hand-dived scallops, lobster from Brittany and rabbit from the Vendée… And how could we forget the famous pata negra bellota, which not only gives the restaurant its name, but also lends an indulgent touch to a number of dishes. Generosity, colour and

A wood-rich interior and a striking feeding trough set the scene in this isolated old farmstead that is clearly proud of its rural origins. A few modern details do however contrast with the initial portrait, starting with stylised photos and a glazed wine cellar. In the same vein, the chef orchestrates a modern score founded on tradition. The menu is concise and enticing: beef tartare, 30-day aged on the bone rib of beef, sole meunière, wild seabass...

This appealing cuisine ticks all the boxes: quality ingredients, bold flavours and appetising presentations. A starter of delicate mushroom ravioli, ricotta, spinach and fried egg; a main dish of guinea fowl with porcini, herb gnocchi, chestnuts and Brussels sprouts. The restaurant is housed in a château – now a hotel – set in wooded grounds. Accommodated in a glass-paned extension, the dining room overlooks the gardens.

This magnificent 17C tuffeau and granite château is already worth a visit for its rich chequered history and its 800m² cottage garden, voted the most beautiful cottage garden of France in 2016 and 2021. Guests are welcomed beneath a 13m-high dome, before progressing into one of two dining rooms, both of which sport high ceilings and crystal chandeliers. This glamorous interior is fully equal to the fine dining experience of contemporary cuisine: wafer-thin tartlet of aubergine caviar, prawns and radishes; guinea fowl, herb butter, mashed potato and autumn veggies; roast figs in port wine, almo