Nestled in the Loire Valley, the town of Amboise can count on its exceptional terroir to delight epicureans. From small, authentic addresses to Michelin-starred restaurants and cosy tearooms, the city has a wide range of delights in store for us. The royal city offers an ideal playground for talented chefs who creatively revisit local specialties.
In this article, you'll find our list of the best restaurants to eat at in Amboise. One thing's for sure, your taste buds will be tantalized!
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Best restaurants in Amboise: our 3 favourites
In this article, you'll find detailed reviews of each of our selected establishments. But we couldn't resist sharing our favorite restaurants with you right now:
- Restaurant La Brèche: for a taste journey as delicious as it is delicate.
- Salon de thé Chocolaterie Bigot: for a sweet break between two visits.
- Restaurant La Fourchette: for its menu of tasty, refined tapas.
WHERE TO STAY IN Amboise
Downtown
To enjoy the city, its restaurants and castles, we recommend:
- Hotel Le Manoir Saint Thomas - view prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Le Manoir des Minimes - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Au Charme Rabelaisien - prices, pictures and availability
In the countryside around
Charming places nearby. We recommend..:
- Hotel Château du Perreux - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Château de Pray - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Chateau de Nazelles - prices, pictures and availability
Best Michelin-starred and gourmet restaurants at Amboise
1. Restaurant La Brèche (favorite)
Housed in an 1880 bourgeois house set back from the town center, Restaurant La Brèche offers elegant, refined surroundings. We liked the discreet charm of the room punctuated with modern touches. The atmosphere was both intimate and warm. A lovely garden surrounds the establishment, and in fine weather it must be a delight to stay in.
In the kitchen, chef Jérôme Berthelot and his daughter Justine work four-handed to tantalize our taste buds with local produce. We'd like to highlight the freshness of the ingredients, the finesse of the flavors and the particularly meticulous presentation of the plates. The establishment is also GreenFood certified.
Want to extend the experience? Spend one or more nights at the Hôtel La Brèche, home of this fine dining establishment - See prices, photos and availability - and make a reservation.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: 20min walk from downtown
- Restaurant type: gourmet
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings
- Terrace: yes
- Price range: menus from €46 to €89 per person (excluding drinks)
- Specialities from Centre-Val de Loire: yes
- Particularly suitable for children: yes (children's menu at €24)
- Reservations recommended by telephone on+33 2 47 57 00 79
2. Restaurant Les Arpents (Bib gourmand)
A must for lovers of authentic, inventive cuisine. Our dinner at Les Arpents restaurant in Amboise was a treat for the taste buds. We were seduced by the creativity and subtle marriage of flavours, from starters to main courses! We also appreciated the fine selection of local wines and enjoyed a Saumur-Chamigny, cuvée Les Longes, 2021.
The warm setting and excellent service rounded off this memorable culinary experience. If you can, ask to dine in the front room with the wine racks, as we found the back room a little less pleasant.
Practical information:
- Location: in the old town, 1min walk from the Clock Tower
- Restaurant type: gourmet
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings
- Terrace: no
- Price range: menus from €38 to €52 (excluding drinks)
- Specialities from Centre-Val de Loire: yes
- Particularly suitable for children: no (but children's menu at €19)
- Reservations recommended by telephone on +33 02 36 20 92 44 or online here
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN Loire
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars - one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a fairly compact car (many villages have narrowed the road).
- Think aboutfull insurance (parking in big cities is really tight).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
3. Restaurant Le Château de Pray (1 star)
Although we haven't had the time to test this restaurant, we can wholeheartedly recommend it, given the good reviews it has received and its recognition in the Michelin Guide. Let yourself be charmed by chef Arnaud Philippon's daring creations, sure to delight your taste buds!
Want to extend the experience? Spend a night at Hôtel Le Château de Pray, home of this exceptional table - See prices, photos and availability - and book!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: 8min from downtown by car
- Restaurant type: gourmet
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings
- Terrace: no
- Price range: between €65 and €185 per person (excluding drinks)
- Specialities from Centre-Val de Loire: yes
- Particularly suitable for children: no
- Reservations required by telephone on +33 02 47 57 23 67 or online here
4. Restaurant L'écluse (bucolic setting)
Imagine a gourmet break on the banks of the Loire, with your feet in the grass, in complete tranquillity. This is what the Restaurant l'écluse in Amboise has to offer, with its breathtaking view of the river. On the kitchen side, we've tracked down the list of local producers with whom the chef works and who he cooks with creativity.
Special mention for the refinement of the flavors and the beauty of the plates. The hushed ambience and attentive service will complete this exceptional moment.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: 3min from Château d'Amboise
- Restaurant type: gourmet
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings
- Terrace: yes
- Price range: menus from €24 to €73 per person (excluding drinks)
- Specialities from Centre-Val de Loire: yes
- Particularly suitable for children: yes (children's menu €20)
- Reservations required by telephone on +33 02 47 79 94 91 or on the website here
A LITTLE MORE patience
All the photos, maps, information, good addresses to make your stay in the Loire Valley a success, will soon be gathered in a single ebook!
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Best bistronomic restaurants in Amboise
5. L'îlot (intimate)
Here's a little restaurant with all the makings of a big one! In this pretty old house, you can take a seat at one of the few tables arranged around a counter where the chef cooks in the middle. You'll be enticed both by the scents in the dining room and by the short menu (2 starters, 2 main courses), a guarantee of absolute freshness.
There's no doubt that you'll be won over by the generous dishes, made with local produce that the chef sublimates with passion.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: 7min walk from downtown
- Type of restaurant: bistronomic
- Capacity: less than 25 covers
- Terrace: no
- Price range: between €25 and €45 (excluding drinks)
- Specialities from Centre-Val de Loire: yes
- Particularly suitable for children: no
- Reservations required by telephone on +33 02 47 57 66 58
6. Restaurant La Fourchette (tapas)
Here's an address for a change in Amboise! Although nestled in a typical half-timbered house, Restaurant La Fourchette stands out for its tapas concept. You can opt for boards of local produce (cheeses, charcuterie, Tours rillettes) for an aperitif. Or choose from several refined small plates, varying with the seasons (roasted apples with black pudding, squash with chorizo and parmesan, smoked trout wrap). Finally, you'll appreciate the selection of organic wines, the musical atmosphere and the games available in this charming and welcoming restaurant.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: near the quays of the Loire
- Restaurant type: tapas
- Capacity: minus 25 place settings
- Terrace: yes, a few tables in fine weather
- Price range: between €6 and €9 for a portion of tapas (excluding drinks)
- Specialities from Centre-Val de Loire: yes
- Particularly suitable for children: no
- Bookings can be made by telephone on +33 02 36 20 99 36
7. Restaurant L'épicerie (authentic)
Located at the foot of the Château d'Amboise, L'épicerie restaurant appealed to us for its authenticity, warm service and generous dishes. The menu is diversified and mainly made up of local products. On the day we came, we enjoyed the dish of the day and for dessert, a limoncello pannacotta with a refreshing lemon carpaccio with Timut pepper.
It's the perfect way to get off to a flying start!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: 1min walk from Château d'Amboise
- Restaurant type: bistro
- Capacity: minus 25 place settings
- Terrace: yes
- Price range: formulas from €17.90 to €40.90 (excluding drinks)
- Specialities from Centre-Val de Loire: yes
- Particularly suitable for children: no
- Bookings can be made by telephone on +33 02 47 57 08 94
HAVE FUN WITH THESE activities
Best tea rooms in Amboise
8. Chocolaterie Bigot (a deluge of delicacies)
La Chocolaterie Bigot is without a doubt our favourite Amboise tearoom!
On our last visit, we were so excited to return that we gobbled up our pastries with such appetite we forgot to take a photo. We apologize for the lack of sharing, but isn't that a sign of the quality of the food served? In addition to the divine selection of pastries, which we always accompany with an unctuous hot chocolate or gourmet coffee, we love the warm, rustic decor of this tea room.
If you don't have time to sit down, let yourself be seduced by the tempting display at Chocolaterie Bigot. From pralines to ganaches and truffles (sugar-free, suitable for diabetics), each confection is a true delight. Other products (marshmallows, fruit paste and homemade spreads) are also available to take away on the delicatessen side. The hardest part is choosing!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: near the quays of the Loire
- Restaurant type: patisserie/chocolaterie
- Capacity: less than 25 covers
- Terrace: no, but a few tables on the street
- Price range: between €10 and €25 per person (with drinks)
- Specialties from Centre-Val de Loire: yes (baisers d'Amboise, pavé royal, nougats de Touraine)
- Particularly suitable for children: yes
- Bookings can be made by telephone on +33 02 47 57 04 46
9. Restaurant Le Maître d'art (healthy and light)
This is an ideal tea room to recharge your batteries before or after a visit to Le Clos Lucé. Come early to be in with a chance of a seat at this friendly address, known for its delicious 100% homemade pastries (brioche perdue, cheesecake, tiramisu) and its selection of refined drinks.
We stopped in at lunchtime and enjoyed a salad made with fresh, local produce. Ideal for a quick gourmet break between two visits!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: just opposite the Château du Clos Lucé
- Restaurant type: healthy/tea room
- Capacity: less than 25 covers
- Terrace: no
- Price range: from €6.50 to €16.50 (excluding drinks)
- Specialities from Centre-Val de Loire: no
- Particularly suitable for children: yes
- Reservations recommended by telephone: +33 06 23 30 25 65
10. Salon de thé Chantilly & Co (open Sundays)
Push open the door of this establishment with its electric blue façade and let yourself be seduced by its warm atmosphere. You'll immediately be drawn to the window display, which features an array of delicate pastries and generous cakes (muffins, banana bread). Prepared with love, the sweets are served with delicious drinks. The little extras? Attentive service, a regularly changing dessert menu and a €20 brunch every Sunday (reservations required).
Practical information:
- Area: 3min walk from the Château Royal d'Amboise
- Restaurant type: healthy/tea room
- Capacity: less than 25 covers
- Terrace: no
- Price range: between €5 and €15 (excluding drinks)
- Specialities from Centre-Val de Loire: no
- Particularly suitable for children: yes
- Bookings can be made by telephone on +33 02 36 20 94 83
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BONUS: The Château Gaillard tea room
For lovers of lush gardens and the Italian Renaissance, don't miss Château Gaillard. We have fond memories of this heritage jewel and, as gourmets, our visit was enhanced by a timeless moment in their charming tea room.
Named Le Mercoliano, or the citrus counter, this tea room offers a savory menu at lunchtime and a selection of sweet products (tasty cakes, sorbets, fresh juices) where citrus fruits take center stage.
All served on a very pleasant terrace in a green setting with Italian accents. For those with a sweet tooth, there's also a citrus store with a range of jams, jellies, liqueurs and natural cosmetics to take away.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: 7min drive from downtown
- Restaurant type: tea room
- Capacity: less than 25 covers
- Terrace: yes
- Price range: from €5 (excluding drinks) and lunch formula at €25
- Specialities from Centre-Val de Loire: no
- Particularly suitable for children: yes
- Bookings can be made by telephone on +33 02 47 30 33 29
DISCOVER Amboise
- Things to do in Amboise
- Where to sleep in Amboise: best hotels
- Where to eat in Amboise: best restaurants
- Visit the Château d'Amboise
- Visit the Château du Clos Lucé
- Mini-cake park
- Best castles around Amboise
Other restaurants to eat in Amboise
Amboise has more than one trick up its culinary sleeve! Here's a short list of establishments we've heard great things about, most of which are good, authentic breweries:
- Restaurant La Pause du temps
- Chez Bruno Restaurant
- Restaurant L'Oppidum
- Restaurant Brasserie Hippeau
Finally, we couldn't end our selection without mentioning the Amboise Market. Located on the quays of the Loire, it delights locals and travellers every Friday and Sunday morning. We can't recommend it highly enough to enjoy its warm atmosphere and stock up on good local produce.
Find out more here.
HE MADE THE TRIP Manu
