Chambre d'hôtes La Clé du Bonheur

A short walk from Claude Monet's house, this half-timbered Anglo-Norman residence dating back to 1912 extends an invitation to relax and enjoy the good things in life. Normandy-born chef David Gallienne, who earned his stripes at the Manoir du Lys, crafts precise, refined cuisine, with inventive and colourful dishes that feature unorthodox marriages of flavours and carefully crafted textures. He uses a network of local suppliers, but allows himself forays further afield, paying particular attention to the selection of ingredients, eg farmhouse butter and mussels from Mont-Saint-Michel. In addi

This charming hotel perched on a chalk cliff was originally commissioned in 1908 by King Leopold II of Belgium so that he could entertain his lover, Blanche de Vaughan, but it is now a magnet for foodies. Sourcing local produce is central to the estate’s outlook: scallops from the Bay of the Seine, farm-reared lamb from nearby breeders and fresh fruit and vegetables from local growers. The result is recipes oozing in fresh, crisp, wholesome flavours. When the weather is fine, alfresco dining on the terrace gazing down over the meanders of the Seine is heavenly. On the other side of the street,

On the edge of Rambouillet Forest, chef Cybèle, who formerly ran the Table de Cybèle in Boulogne Billancourt, fell in love with this estate dating from 1850 and where she now grows practically everything she cooks according to permaculture methods… Fresh greens thus play a pivotal role, flanked by fermentation techniques and produce from local growers, in deceptively simple, signature cuisine rich in aromatic legible flavours. The bread, butter and yoghurt are all homemade and the wine list is packed in biodynamic and natural vintages. A Scandinavian slant depicts the venue, which also offers

A gorgeous country house smothered in Virginia Creeper, a waterside terrace shaded by birch trees and an historic mill, whose cogwheels are still intact: we fell in love with this Instagram-perfect picture of the French countryside outside Bernay. Such is the perfect foil for chef Cédric Auger’s cuisine that stars fresh, premium, seasonal produce. Book a room and stay overnight.

In an ideal location in the heart of the old town, this restaurant has three areas: the main dining room with a view into the kitchen, a pleasantly secluded terrace and Le Balcon de l'Odas, a private lounge with a view of the cathedral. Chef Suzanne Da Silva's resolutely seasonal cuisine boldly draws on her origins in the north of France and ingredients from Normandy's terroir: vegetables from a market gardener in the Eure, farmhouse cream, organic mushrooms from a local mushroom farm, bread made by a Meilleur Ouvrier de France in Rouen, and fish from nearby fish markets. She puts it all to go

Le Grand Monarque, which is home to Le Georges, has withstood the test of time – the hotel’s first mention in the Michelin Guide dates back to 1900! This elegantly appointed establishment is ideally located between Paris and the Loire at a crossroads between the regions of western France. Thomas Parnaud has steadfastly remained true to his mission of shining the spotlight on local producers who respect the environment as he deploys a top-to-tail ethos. Examples include Perche pike with Eure-et-Loir mushrooms and house-made fish garum, or Racan chicken, seasonal endive and kumquat. It would be

Rediscover the green fields of Normandy, admire the horses at the neighbouring stud farm, dream of country living: this authentic half-timbered farmhouse is so pretty that it will make even the most die-hard city-dweller want to retire to the countryside. Calves, cows, pigs and traditional culinary treats await – truffle ravioli with a wild mushroom cream sauce; caramelised fruit tarte fine; not to mention the beef cooked over a wood fire. No sooner have you left than you're longing to return to these tempting rustic-style dishes.