Domaine de la Laigne

(Temporarily closed) This pretty stone house two minutes from the Charente is the gourmet haunt of Pascal Yenk, who rustles up delicate, flavoursome cuisine with distinctive fresh notes and sweet-sour touches. A shell-less soft-boiled egg, sautéed asparagus and morels, or a low-temperature duckling, fragrant pastilla and confit of kumquat: everything is emblematic of the chef’s technique and generous nature. The garden patio offers a more casual experience courtesy of a tempting tapas and cocktail menu, all of which with slick, smiling service.

A stone’s throw from the Abbaye aux Dames, now a concert venue, this stripped - back restaurant serves fresh, light, spontaneous food with a distinct preference for fine regional produce from the market, to which chef Vincent Coiquaud, basket in hand, goes daily. Plain, pleasant rooms for overnight stays.

The handsome exterior of this 18C manor house, set in grounds, belies its 21C interior, visible in the various dining nooks: designer furniture, striking light fixtures, white walls, wine cabinets. A setting designed to inspire chef Jérôme Dallet, who has worked with Emmanuel Renaut (Megève) and Anne-Sophie Pic (Valence). Local produce is given pride of place (mogette beans, snails, Confolens lamb…) in the chef’s wonderfully indulgent gourmet score. Alfresco dining on the leafy terrace in fine weather is bliss.

Fall under the spell of this restaurant housed in an old farmhouse, where the chef has a penchant for beautiful seasonal ingredients (sourced from local producers or the aromatic plant garden located in the grounds). Drink in the view of the terrace, fountain and small lake through the bay windows, as you savour calf sweetbread, spatchcock, elderberry – the soft juicy meat makes for a taste sensation!