Our good adresses
Restaurants :
Our favorites (but there are plenty more)
- Les Années 30, in Chinon: in a 15th century “hotel particulier”. Refined cuisine of a very good standard, made by the chef Stéphane Charles. Very reasonable price/quality ratio (35-40€). Very warm welcome, large and pleasant terrace . Open on Sunday evening (which is rare in Chinon!) 02 47 93 37 18 https://www.lesannees30.co
- La Maison Rouge, a few meters from Les Années 30, in one of the oldest houses in Chinon. An address recommended by some of our visitors. 02 47 98 43 65 fr.maisonrouge-chinon.com
- Au Local at the entrance of the fortress: inventive cuisine exclusively dedicated to local products…as the name of the restaurant indicates. Brunch every 3rd Sunday of the month. Average price (40 €/person) . Reservation recommended. Tel: 02 47 93 95 87 aulocalrestaurant.fr
- L’ardoise in Chinon: meat restaurant (possibility to buy meat from the restaurant!), reasonable price (30-40€), no terrace. 02 47 58 48 78 https://lardoisechinon.com
- Charbon in Chinon: a tiny restaurant near the town hall, specializing in cooking over a wood fire in an old oven. A very limited menu (4 starters, 4 main courses, 4 desserts) but with very good value for money. To be avoided by vegetarians (marrow bones, rib of beef, andouillette…). Tel: 02 47 58 25 19
- Nemrod: “Bistronomic” restaurant, on the Place de la Fontaine in Chinon, run since early 2024 by the former chef of the Château du Rivau. Fairly high prices (menus from €35 to €75) but high-quality cuisine. Open on Sundays (rare in Chinon) https://nemrod-chinon.com . Tel 09 56 20 35 26
- La dentelière de Montsoreau : small family creperie in Montsoreau, on the quay, facing the Loire. Traditional sarazin pancakes and crêpes, at very reasonable prices. Out of season, open only from Friday to Sunday. Tel: 02 41 40 40 08
- Le Ver Vert in Montsoreau (12 Km): refined and innovative cuisine, excellent cellar, a little more expensive than the previous ones (40-50€) 02 41 52 34 89 https://www.ververt.com
- L’Epine in Azay-Le-Rideau (23 km): high-level gastronomic restaurant, (waiting for a next Michelin star, it seems !). Excellent cellar. Terrace. Quite high price (>50€) but justified. 02 47 45 39 84 https://www.restaurant-lepine.fr
- L’Auberge de la Route d’Or in Candes-Saint-Martin (10 km). Good level cuisine, with a terrace at the foot of the collegiate church, very pleasant in summer. 02 47 95 19 01
- Les Pécheries Ligériennes at Bréhémont (27 km). A high-level restaurant dedicated to Loire river fish, born from the association of a professional Loire river fisherman and a talented chef (passed by the TV show “Top Chef” in 2020). Terrace on the Loire river. Mandatory reservation. Tel: 09 51 30 22 68 Website: http://www.les-pecheries-ligeriennes.fr/
- Auberge du Val de Vienne in Sazilly (14 km): restaurant serving traditional French cuisine, sometimes with an exotic touch, of very good quality, at an average price (menu at €34). Recommended by the Guide du Routard and the Gault & Millau guide. www.aubergeduvaldevienne.com . Tel: 02 47 95 26 49
- Le bistro du marché, at the Lion d’Or hotel, on Place Jeanne d’Arc in Chinon. Good quality traditional cuisine at an affordable average price (30€). Live concert from time to time. Open 7/7! Tel: 02 47 81 20 20 Web site : https://www.hotel-liondor-chinon.com/fr/restaurant-chinon.html
…or much simpler and more affordable, and very close: Le Petit Bouchon in Avoine (3 Km). Very limited menu (dish of the day) but at a tight price (€13), fast and friendly service. Terrace in summer. Tel: 02 47 58 81 85
Michelin-starred restaurants:
* L’auberge du XIIe siècle in Saché (25km): on the village square, a stone’s throw from the Balsac Museum. Awarded 1 Michelin star in 2024. Chef Kevin Gardien offers high-quality cuisine, free from the gimmicks of fashion, showcasing local produce. Closed Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday evenings. Tel: +33 (0) 2 47 26 88 77 Web: https://www.auberge12emesiecle.fr/
* L’Hermitage inside Fontevraud Abbey (12km). Chef Thibault Ruggeri has won multiple awards, including a Michelin star, a Michelin Green Star (sustainable cuisine), a Bocuse d’Or, and 3 Gault&Millau Toques. A high gastonomy restaurant in an exceptional setting. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Tel: +33 (0)2 46 46 10 10 Web: https://www.fontevraud.fr/fontevraud-lermitage/le-restaurant-de-fontevraud-lermitage/
* L’Auberge Pom’Poire near Azay-Le-Rideau (20 km): since 2006, chef Bastien Gillet has established his restaurant in the middle of the orchards of the family estate. Holder of a Michelin star since 2021, chef Bastien Gillet advocates authentic gastronomic cuisine that aims to “return to the roots” rather than an avant-garde approach to a certain “show cooking”. Menus with 3, 5, 7 or 9 courses, from 55€ to 135€. Prices in line with the gastronomic level. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.Tel: +33 (0)2 47 45 83 00 Web: https://aubergepompoire.fr/accueil/
* Les Jardiniers in Ligré, in the old station. Our 2024 favorite restaurant! Chef Martin Bolaers cooks his own production of vegetables, herbs, honey… and offers very inventive cuisine. He received a Michelin green star in 2024. Price: between €50 and €70 (excluding wine) and even a €35 lunch menu. Mandatory reservation. Tel: 02 47 93 99 93 Internet: restaurantlesjardiniers.fr
The “Guinguettes” (only from May to October)
- in Chinon, on the “beach” at the foot of the bridge, left bank of the Vienne: sandwiches, sausages and fries, and beers, facing the fortress. Live music sometimes.
- La Bamboche in Le Néman (7 km), on the banks of the river Indre: Foodtrucks with hamburgers, “fouées” (traditional bread), tapas, local beers and Chinon wines. Festive and very warm atmosphere, concerts of musical bands on weekends.
And finally, for vegetarians, the restaurant Mayaline in Chinon, 8 Rue du commerce; all the menu is also available for takeaway . Open on Sunday (lunch and dinner), closed on Thursday and Friday : Tel: +33(0)2 47 58 17 68. Or the restaurant Masama in Saumur (23 km): vegetarian and flexitarian cuisine prepared by a “master restaurateur”. Tel: +33(0)2 53 93 95 82
The (good) food shops around:
Butchers: Boucherie Martin and Boucherie Ondet, both in rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Open on Sunday mornings.
Bakeries: La boulange de Jane, on the roundabout at the entrance of Beaumont-en-Véron, 1 km from La Pénesais (excellent breads, closed on Mondays).in Chinon : Le Fournil du Chateau, Rue Jean-Jacques-Rousseau (closed on Sundays), La Tour de l’Horloge Place Mirabeau (long queue on Sundays), La tour des pains near the entrance to the fortress.
Pastries in Chinon: Pierre Colin, Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, delicious high quality pastries (try the amazing traditional “flan” !) . Ayrolle, Rue de l’hôtel de ville: the inventor of the “Tarte du vigneron”, a specialty from Chinon (fine apple tart covered with a jam of Chinon wine). And also La Tour de l’Horloge (see in bakeries) .
Supermarkets, nearby :
- Carrefour Market, in Avoine (3 km), in the center, near the church. The closest to La Pénesais, you’ll find just about everything there… including an excellent butcher.
- Carrefour City in Chinon, on the town hall square.
- Leclerc shopping center “Le Blanc Carroi”, on the Chinon ring road: huge supermarket, with a shopping mall all around.
- Les 4 saisons, Rond-point les Bregeolles 37500 La Roche-Clermault (4 km) : a small supermarket dedicated to local producers of fruits and vegetables, but also wines, beers, cheeses… There is also a butcher’s shop.
…and to eat and drink local : visit the Interactive Map on line .
Good addresses around the wine :
See the page “Discovering the wines of Chinon” or consult the Chinon Wines and Tourism Guide online.
Rent a bike :
See the page “Biking at La Pénesais”
Good adresses around the wine :
See the page “Discovering the wines of Chinon“
Bathing places (in natural environment)
– L’ile Bouchard , 25 Km, bathing in the river Vienne, supervised
– Bourgueil, 13 Km : le Lac Capitaine
– Lac de Hommes, 30 Km
– Lac Millodeau , 27 Km, near Saumur.
More information on https://ville-data.com/baignade/lac/Chinon-37-37072