Nantes is a cool city in western France near a big river called the Loire. This city is also famous for its old buildings and a boats and ships history. Although it’s not as famous as Paris, its food is getting popular. You can find many places to eat good foods, whether you want to eat French food or something different.
You can have fresh fish, local wine, and even some special grapes from around here. You can find both fancy food like duck and simple stuff like “galettes,” which are like salty pancakes. We prepared a list of the 10 restaurants in Nantes. Our list has all kind of spots, from fancy to small restaurants. If you like trying new food and drinks, you’ll find a spot you enjoy on this list.
The Best 10 Restaurants in Nanetes, France
- La Cigale
- L’Atelier d’Alain
- Pickles
- Le Manoir de la Régate
- Tabl’O Gourmand
- Le Nid
- Restaurant Le 1
- La Raffinerie
- Les Chants d’Avril
- Voyage Gourmand
1. La Cigale
La Cigale is a cool, old restaurant in Nantes, close to the Graslin Theatre. This place is old; it’s been here for over 100 years, which means people really like its food. It’s not just a place to grab a food, it has a fancy old-timey vibe and everyone there—both staff and diners—seems happy.
People go to La Cigale because the food is good and the place feels nice. The workers are really friendly, and the food is fresh and delicious. You can go there for a work lunch or a date and in any case you will have a good time.
Generally, La Cigale wants you to have a great time when you visit their place. They do three things right: they’re nice, serve fresh food, and look after you. This isn’t just a place to eat; people in Nantes have loved it for a long time.
2. L’Atelier d’Alain
L’Atelier d’Alain is a chill French place to eat in Nantes, not in the busy part of town. They make really good fancy foods like foie gras and seafood. It’s also close to a cool spot called Square Elisa Mercoeur.
It’s easy to get to the restaurant, and people really like the food, wine, and coffee there. This place feels cozy, and their staff are really friendly and nice. The chef, Alain Ruffault, knows what he’s doing. Before this, he was a caterer. Now he’s the boss of what used to be a butcher’s shop. The menu has some special and tasty foods, also they have a good list of wines to pick from.
3. Pickles
Since 2014, a British guy named Dominic Quirke has been the chef at Pickles in Nantes. He uses fresh, local stuff in his cooking and changes what’s on the menu every few weeks. If you are vegan they have something good for you too.
Dominic likes to mix Asian spices with local ingredients, like special veal and fresh fish. All the people who visit this place really like his unique dishes. If you’re around the Hotel de Ville, it’s really close to you so stop by for some yummy food like ravioli and octopus, and maybe a glass of wine or coffee.
The place is easy to get to and people say the service is great and the vibe is comfy. If you’re nearby, you should totally go to Pickles for some good food.
4. Le Manoir de la Régate
Our restaurant is next to the Erdre River in a pretty, green spot. We’ve been around for a while and even got a Michelin star. Mathieu, who’s the son of the original chef, Loïc, now runs the kitchen. For cooking he always uses fresh, local ingredients and spices. The food is great, and you can eat foods like eel and delicious desserts.
We’ve also got good wine and coffee. Folks say our team is talented and the service is fast. It’s not hard to find us, and we don’t charge too much. Mathieu used to cook at other fancy places. He makes the food taste special. His sister, Anne-Charlotte, helps out and she’s really good at her job. Everyone says our place feels comfy and cozy.
5. Tabl’O Gourmand
Tabl’o Gourmand is usually open, serving brunch, lunch, and snacks. Their working hours on weekdays is from 8:30 am to 6 pm and on weekends from 9 am to 4 pm. They make their food from scratch using fresh stuff, and the menu changes based on what’s in season.
Finding this place location is easy, and it’s really comfy and friendly and you will enjoy your time there. Their team is nice, and you’ll get your food fast. We’ve got a 4-star Google rating, and most dishes cost around €11.
They can offer you all types of foods, if you like French and American foods like they have burgers and BBQ. They also have European foods, good desserts, and lots of drinks. You can book a table online or give us a call to avoid waiting. They also do takeout and have a place to sit outside too.
6. Le Nid
Le Nid is a neat bar and restaurant at the top of a tall building in Nantes, France. It’s easy to get to, and you can see the city from up high. The place is decked out like a bird’s nest with a bird-shaped bar and egg-like chairs. It’s a good place either for a date or just sitting with friends and chatting.
The place feels comfy and modern and people like it based on its Google rate. The staff is nice, and you get served quickly. It costs 1€ to go up, but it’s free for kids under 12. They even have concerts sometimes.
An artist named Jean Jullien designed the place, so it’s really unique. It’s also a popular place and the perfect spot for all, even for family gatherings. The prices are fair, and they have a bunch of drinks to pick from, like really good coffee.
7. Restaurant Le 1
Le 1 is a cool restaurant in Nantes, near a well-known place called Les Machines de L’ile. It’s easy to find and has a nice view of the Loire River. They serve good French dishes like tartare and eel, and desserts like parfait and even ice cream. They also have all kinds of drinks such as coffee or alcoholic drinks like wine.
The workers are nice and really good at their jobs. It even has awards, so it’s a good place to eat and spend your time there if you consider their rating. They have two sitting areas you can sit either inside or out on their patio. They make both old and new French dishes. Whether you want a big meal or just some small brunch, they always have something to offer you.
8. La Raffinerie
La Raffinerie is a nice restaurant in Nantes with delicious French foods like terrine and foie gras. It’s got a cool, environment, and the staff are quick and polite and also really friendly when they talk to you. Also, it has a special award for being a cozy place.
Nicolas Bourget, who worked in famous Paris spots, made this place popular. They change the menu every day to offer fresh food. When you decide to eat here you can expect a mix of old and new recipes.
You can pick from many drinks like wine, iced tea, and coffee. Anyone who visits this place loves the service and the wine choices. It’s one of the top restaurants to a have good meal.
9. Les Chants d’Avril
Les Chants d’Avril is a good place to eat French food in Nantes. It’s close to Square Elisa Mercoeur and is listed in the Michelin guide, so you know it’s a nice spot. You should try the fish and parfait, and they have tasty wine and coffee too.
The restaurant is owned by Véronique and Christophe François. It’s been a long time since this café existed, from the 1950s it has been there to give people delicious food. The service and wine are really good, and the menu has both classic and new dishes. They even have a special “surprise” menu for a fun meal.
It’s on a quiet street near the Palais des Congrès. The food cost at this place for Lunch is between €19 and €22.50, and for dinner is about €26.50. They’re closed some evenings and weekends, so make sure to check when they’re open. It has good food at a good price so a lot of people like it.
10. Voyage Gourmand
Le Tabl’O Gourmand is a family-friendly place in Nantes. They serve homemade breakfast, brunch, and lunch. The place is comfy and has large wood tables. You can also sit outside. You can take your food to go or get it delivered.
At Tabl’O, kids can have juice and parents can drink tea or coffee. They serve good foods like scrambled eggs, pancakes, and bacon. Also for drink they have their special teas. The place is at Cours des 50 otages and has something for everyone, whether you want a snack or a meal.
In conclusion
Nantes in France is getting known for its great food. In Nantes, there are lots of different places to eat, if you want to eat in a fancy restaurant or in a cozy place. No matter if you like traditional French foods or you just want to try something different, there’s an option for you.
On the top 10 list of restaurants in Nantes, La Cigale is a standout. It has a long history with good food and drink in a classic vibe. If you like to eat in a place with a more modern vibe, Pickles is a good choice with foods made with local ingredients. Also, if you want a meal with a view, go to Le Nid where you can see the city from way up high.
If you’re in Nantes and enjoy trying tasty food, you’ll have fun eating at any of these spots. It doesn’t matter whether you live in Nantes or are just visiting, you will have a good time eating at any of these places.