Domaine Le Jardin Suspendu - Piscine chauffée - Proche du Puy duFou -

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!

This modest establishment at a remove from the city centre, whose name is a nod to its past vocation as a weaver's house, boasts an inviting interior of exposed stone and wood panelling – the perfect backdrop for contemporary cuisine made with top-notch seasonal ingredients. The short menu is beautifully presented and original, with some unexpected combinations, such as pollock with a helianthus medley, grapefruit and watercress sauce. The food is truly delicious, and that goes for the desserts, too. Don't miss out!

Xavier Giraudet, chef at La Robe, has opened a second establishment in a bistro vein. Diners know they are in safe hands here as they tuck into traditional, flavourful and generous cuisine: succulent and aromatic pâté en croûte, melt-in-the-mouth black pudding with mashed potatoes, and a dessert inspired by the Paris-Brest, which is as indulgent as they come. You get up from your table with a smile on your face and your finances intact, thanks to the affordable set menus at lunch and dinner. A bright and modern setting; friendly service from the cheerful waitstaff.

The fine dining restaurant of this charming hotel has two plush, stylish dining areas, where guests savour elegant and appetising cuisine that reflects the zeitgeist. Influenced by the region's terroir, the dishes showcase the chef's craftsmanship, particularly in the realm of sauces and jus. The wine list features very reasonable entry-level prices and a fine selection of regional tipples. The service team is unfailingly warm and affable. Brasserie Constance is a more relaxed venue serving traditional cuisine in an atmosphere of simplicity and conviviality.

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 greenhouse with timber arches devoted to the goddess Freia is perched on top of a contemporary building. It is the perfect place to grow a garden of aromatic herbs and berries and to admire the panoramic view of Nantes. After the success of Vacarme, Sarah Mainguy crafts poetic and creative cuisine, mainly plant based and scattered with Scandinavian and Asian touches. Each dish is a treasure trove of brainwaves and delicious sauces – cases in point being the white asparagus with a vegetable seaweed XO sauce, or periwinkles with crisp green peas, topped with a glazed gwell snow.

In this warm buzzy eatery, chef Romain Bonnet crafts creative surprise menus of Asian inspiration: the ‘omija’ is a Korean fruit, known as the five-flavour berry due to its unique combination of sweet, sour, bitter, salty and pungent flavours. Bonnet is unswerving in his dedication to taste, illustrated by green ‘kombujime’ asparagus flanked by sesame-flavoured ice cream, or squid from la Turballe marinated in Korean pepper. Virtuoso craftsmanship, gutsy stocks and addictive, big-boned sauces. The mainly organic produce is painstakingly sourced (common shrimp from la Cotinière on Oléron Island