Make the most of your stay on the Rivers of Western France by tasting the delicious local products on the waterfront. If it’s a freshly cooked meal you’re after, it only remains for you to choose from among the many bars, bistros, unusual restaurants or gastro-pubs.
Outdoor bars
As soon as the first rays of sunshine appear, the many charming bars open their terraces along the Rivers of Western France. Here, you will be able to have a pleasant drink or an alfresco meal. During the evening, enjoy an open-air concert by the warm glow of light garlands.
On the riverbanks of the Mayenne near Angers, visit the bar on the island of Saint-Aubin by ferry for a relaxing, bucolic moment. A little further to the North, the “Cabane du chat qui pêche” (“the hut of the fishing cat”) offers an ideal spot for relaxing with the whole family and observing nature.
The Guinguette de Montflours plays host to countless festive events: open-air concerts, cabarets, theatre, or themed culinary evenings. There are even tango classes, equestrian shows, or piano concerts on the water!
On the banks of the river Sarthe you will find that the Guingette des Tanneries in Le Mans is a great place to have a drink in the sun on a lounger, or to share some rillettes on a checked tablecloth.
Unusual and trendy restaurants
In Angers, head to the “Cale de la Savatte” to have lunch or dinner at one of the trendy restaurants on the quays of the river Maine. Try out Mamie Fada, a chic gastro-pub located in a house that is typical for the region. Perhaps you would like something a little more upscale? The restaurant La Réserve with its rooftop terrace above “Le Quai” theatre offers stunning views of Angers right next to the castle and the old town.
Along the valley of the river Sarthe, in the pretty village of Avoise, travel back in time at the restaurant Le Triporteur. Here, you will be served a traditional cuisine on beautiful old plates. Alternatively, you can order a healthy packed meal to take with you on a hike.
Dinner at the lockkeeper's house
On the banks of the river Mayenne, some ancient lockkeepers’ cottages have been converted into restaurants with a typical, authentically local atmosphere right on the riverbank!
In Grez-Neuville, savour a refined cuisine with unexpected flavours at the restaurant L’Écluse. Here, the chef highlights local products for flavours that bring together earth, sea, and river.
The café restaurant Le Beyel in the village of Origné takes its summer residency at the lock of “La Benâtre”. The chef creates wonderful little homemade dishes, but also tapas, starter plates for sharing and gourmet desserts.
