3 Best Restaurants in Blois, The Loire Valley

There's plenty of good dining in Blois, but this cozy restaurant on a pedestrian street among Old Town's half-timbered buildings is a true gem. Not exactly undiscovered—it's a foodie favorite—it's small enough to remain true to its credo of local, seasonal, and original cuisine. The chef has relationships with several small local farmers, cheesemakers, and fisherman (the catch of the day is often fresh from the Loire River), which they use in dishes like escargots de Cour-Cheverny with local mushrooms and trout filet with beurre blanc and local green peas from Chambord. Desserts are heavenly, like the pavlova with local strawberries and rhubarb. Ask the chef for wine pairings, sourced from the Loire's top small estate grower-producers.

Decorated in a wacky Renaissance-meets-contemporary style with a coffered ceiling and white linens, this is the domain of highly acclaimed chef-owner Damien Garanger, who turns classic dishes into presentations—picture coquilles St-Jacques with bitter roquette, or thin slices of roast hare with a black currant sauce. The impressive wine list, a veritable primer in Loire wines, includes more than 250 choices. Though service can be brusque, word is out that this is among the better local restaurants, so be sure to reserve early. There are also 10 guest rooms on-site for overnight lodging.