Les Genêts

This stylishly refurbished mansion a few kilometres from Les Sables-d'Olonne is home to talented couple Amélie and Nicolas Coutand. An advocate of fresh, seasonal produce, his approach is creative, joyful and flavoursome; regional ingredients take pride of place on his menu, from premium produce to humbler items such as sardine, mackerel and hake. A huge 1 400m2 kitchen garden brings a vegetal flourish to his light, exquisitely refined dishes. On weekday lunchtimes, bistronomy is the name of the game.