L'Orée de l'Océan

Seated behind the restaurant’s floor to ceiling windows, admire the sun’s rays glinting on the ocean. A talented skipper has dropped anchor here in the person of Jean-Marc Pérochon who went to sea at 17, crossing the channel to Scotland, before cruising around Europe and as far as the West Indies. In his hotel-restaurant, his cooking is both minimalist and sprinkled with exotic flavours, extractions, stocks and emulsions, leaving our tastebuds aching for more. He believes in working only with first-rate goods, namely fish and shellfish from the fish auction at Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (which

In the heart of a charming village in the Bocage Vendéen, chef Tanguy Rattier cooks up contemporary cuisine rooted in his terroir, underpinned by brilliant finds sourced from local producers. The hearty dishes are packed with bold flavours: hake steak with aubergine pulp and artichokes, a full-bodied jus; peach and blueberry tartlet with a sweetly tart flavour.

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

Located in the Manoir de la Mortière, this bistro’s inviting decor mixes textured lime-washed walls, old beams, terracotta floor tiles and a period fireplace. The food smacks of heartwarming sincerity, thanks to carefully crafted comfort food: organic poached egg in red wine; free-range chicken à la basquaise; tournedos of beef cooked over embers with a béarnaise sauce and a warm cappuccino-flavoured soufflé to finish.

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

Tucked away amidst villas and holiday homes, L'Inattendu is as unexpected as its name suggests. One pleasant surprise follows the next from the appetisers to the dessert, as diners sample deftly crafted, creative cuisine. Chef Paul Bonneau has a knack for enhancing locally sourced ingredients: veg from market gardeners, hibiscus, saffron and lemon jellies, ice creams and mousses. Dishes you may taste range from sardines, blueberries and potatoes; pearlescent cod, cucumber and sunflower; squab breast, tomato and strawberries. You can bank on a warm welcome and wholehearted enthusiasm from the f

This superb medieval stronghold, which was once a coaching inn and then a family home, now houses a fine dining establishment depicted by elegantly refurbished lounges whose solid parquet floors, lime-rendered walls and bare stone are contrasted by a subtle modern edge. The name "Gaia", goddess of the Earth, hints at the chef's ethos: fish and shellfish from the town's fish market are combined with vegetables, flowers and herbs from Beauregard farm to create polished cuisine, characterised by bold, spot-on flavours.