Les Villas de Fontenelles

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.

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

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.

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 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

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.