Renowned as a welcoming, creative and lively city, Nantes lies at the mouth of the Loire river. Named by The Times in 2004 as ‘the most live-able city in Europe’, and visited by over one million people every year, the artistic and cultural richness of Nantes is fast securing international attention. The exciting diversity in the city is reflected in its culinary scene. From local favorites offering traditional French fare to quirky spots with modern cuisine, here is The Culture Trip‘s list of the top 10 restaurants in Nantes.
Voted one of the best restaurants in the area, Lulu Rouget’s cuisine combines unbeatable freshness with daring originality. A chic interior complements the innovative variety of food available, highlights of which include grilled leeks, tomato fondue with licorice and aubergine, and raw mackerel with fried celery and combawa.
Address & telephone: 1 Rue du Cheval Blanc, 44000 Nantes, France, + 33 240474798
An extremely popular restaurant, L’U.ni‘s specialities include purée of coconut and foie gras with preserved lamb. The white chocolate and passion fruit mousse, served with red seasonal berry cake and strawberry ice cream, is also delicious. The friendly and welcoming staff at L’U.ni are very efficient and create an enjoyable dining experience for their customers.
Address & telephone: 36 Rue Fouré, Nantes, France,
Jean-Yves Guého’s Michelin-star food at L’Atlantide transports the diner onto cloud nine, with wonderful seafood combinations bursting with flavor, and an assortment of original French dishes. The restaurant’s vast bay windows allow for a stunning view over the Loire, romantic both at night and during the day. The sardines and spider-crab cannelloni are sublime.
Address & telephone: 16 Quai Ernest Renaud, Nantes, France,
La Raffinerie is an institution in Nantes, serving perfectly cooked Vietnamese and Greek dishes. Opened in 2009, the freshness of the food here is exceptional, and an excellent range of local wines have recently been added to the menu, complementing the food perfectly. The menu is kept small, with only three choices for each course, allowing for frequent and seasonal changes in order to keep the dishes interesting. The chutneys here are fantastic, and the foie gras is arguably the best in Nantes.
Address & telephone: 54 Rue Fouré, Nantes, France, +33 240748105