My top recommendations in the Loire Valley

As you might know if you’ve been following my blog for a while, last year I went on several road trips in the Loire Valley, mainly to visit a few castles (it must be said they have quite a few beautiful ones in the area…).

Today, I wanted to share a new post with a selection of top recommendations (restaurants and accommodation) that I discovered in this region during our getaway with my favorite photographer.

Montrichard Castle in the Loire Valley with a green garden.

If you decide to visit the Loire Valley castles, I hope this gives you some nice places to try during your stay. The addresses I will present in this article are scattered along the Loire between Beaugency and Chinon, and correspond to the itinerary we followed during our Christmas in the Loire Valley trip.

Table of Contents

Where to stay in the Loire Valley?

Here is my small selection of accommodations (2 hotels and 1 bed & breakfast) tested during our road trip along the Loire.

Auberge de la Caillère

This establishment is a charming little hotel run by Eric and Aurélie Rialland, located between Chaumont and Blois. It also features a gourmet restaurant if you are looking for a good place to eat in the area. For your information, the inn is about a 20-minute drive from Cheverny Castle and 10 minutes from Chaumont-sur-Loire Castle, which is extremely convenient for sightseeing.

Our room no. 18, located in a small lodge, had a lot of charm with its brick wall and fireplace.

Restaurant or hotel terrace in the Loire Valley with outdoor furniture.

Stone facade in the Loire Valley with a white door, stone path, and shrubs.

Hotel room in the Loire Valley with a brick fireplace, bed, and dining table.

Breakfast is served buffet-style, and in winter, it is lovely to be able to enjoy it in front of the fireplace.

Hearty breakfast near the fireplace in a Loire Valley hotel.

Wood fire in a rustic fireplace, cozy Loire Valley atmosphere.

Woman having breakfast near a fireplace in a Loire Valley hotel.

Auberge de la Caillère

36 route des Montils 41120 Candé-sur-Beuvron

Rates: between €73 and €93 per night (breakfast €12) / half-board options available

Hôtel l’Écu de Bretagne

This 3-star hotel located in the heart of the pretty little town of Beaugency has a lot of charm. It is the perfect spot for visiting the town and the castle I mentioned in a previous post. Our room no. 6 had a bathtub, and obviously, that’s always a luxury we love to enjoy on vacation!

For breakfast, there is a very classic buffet that does the job to build up energy for a day of sightseeing.

Modern tiled bathtub in a Loire Valley hotel bathroom.

Woman using her phone on a bed in a Loire Valley hotel room.

Loire Valley breakfast: croissants, chocolate bread, brioche, and orange juice.

Woman drinking a cup of coffee at breakfast with pastries and jams.

L’Écu de Bretagne

5, rue de la Maille d’Or 45190 Beaugency

Le Gîte Ruelle des Jardins

I think you might know this, but I have a special love for bed & breakfasts when I travel. Partly because I find they often offer good value for money, and also, especially, because I find this type of accommodation so much warmer, and it often leads to wonderful encounters.

This was totally the case with this cozy gite in Touraine, located only 2km from Chenonceau Castle. We were beautifully welcomed by Karine and Jean-Philippe, who crafted this lovely place entirely by themselves, and I highly recommend you stop here if you’re passing through the area!

This new gite opened in 2017 offers a place full of charm that can accommodate from 2 to 5 people (2 separate rooms) in 75m². It is located in a carefully restored winemaker’s house and provides a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, which allows for pleasant independence.

Woman entering a stone gite in the Loire Valley.

Old wooden door near signs: Troglö Velo, Four à Pain, Chenonceau.

"Ruelle des Jardins" street sign on a stone facade, Loire Valley.

Rustic room in the Loire Valley with stone walls and warm lighting.

Wicker lamp lit on a table in front of a stone wall, Loire Valley Gite.

Modern Loire Valley gite kitchen with exposed stone wall and white beams.

Attic bedroom with single beds, exposed beams, suitable for Loire Valley accommodation.

White interior decor, birdcage style, in a Loire Valley gite.

Bright bathroom with a white door and blue mosaics near the shower.

Goat cheese and jam pastries served in a wooden bowl in the Loire Valley.

Ash-coated goat cheese log on a blue plate with bread, Loire Valley.

Loire Valley white wine poured into a glass during a tasting.

Woman with glasses at a table near a stone wall in a Loire Valley gite.

Breakfast and dinner are available as an option upon request (€7/breakfast and €15 per meal), and once again, you can go ahead with your eyes closed. We loved it, and it’s also a great opportunity to discover plenty of amazing local products selected with care and love by our hosts!

Breakfast with baguette, pastries, fruit juice, and coffee, Loire Valley.

Fresh fruit salad (kiwi, banana, almonds, walnuts) and baguette, Loire Valley breakfast.

Woman drinking a hot beverage with a meal tray in front of her in the Loire Valley.

A little extra: a library is available, as well as a foosball table and board games to occupy your evenings if needed…

And in the evening in winter, after a long day of visiting castles, there is nothing more pleasant than drinking a nice hot herbal tea with your feet by the fireplace… Although, the fireplace smoke does rise into the bedroom, and I didn’t remember it smelled so strong, so it should be used sparingly…

White teapot, blue cups, brown sugar, and biscuits on a marble tray in the Loire Valley.

Pebble game in a rustic wooden frame, Loire Valley gite decoration.

Loire Valley gite interior: woman at table near wooden stairs and stone wall.

Warm feet near the fireplace with a mug, Loire Valley accommodation.

Warm flames on a log in the dark, photograph by Nicolas Diolez.

Lovely stone courtyard with a woman entering a troglodyte dwelling near Chenonceau.

Piquet Family / Gîte Ruelle des Jardins

2 rue du Coteau Vaux
37150 Civray-de-Touraine

Rates: 1 night from €100 / 2 nights from €200 / week from €480 to €680

Where to eat in the Loire Valley?

Here are two cool restaurant addresses that we also tested during this getaway along the Loire.

Restaurant Téo Jasmin in Beaugency

This very friendly two-story brasserie is a spot not to be missed if you are passing through Beaugency (whether for sleeping or visiting the castle). Plus, it is run by a former Parisian with a warm character whose encounter will not leave you indifferent…

Téo Jasmin Beaugency restaurant interior, set tables, and staff at the counter.

Set tables, wine glasses, and fuchsia napkins at Téo Jasmin, Beaugency.

Téo Jasmin Beaugency restaurant hall, crystal chandelier, damask yellow wall, wooden beams.

Rustic chic interior bar of the Restaurant Téo Jasmin in Beaugency, Loire Valley.

Empty wine glass on a wooden table at Restaurant Téo Jasmin, Beaugency.

Must-try:

Set table with wine glasses and napkins at Restaurant Téo Jasmin, Beaugency.

Foie gras, onion jam, and seed bread toast at Restaurant Téo Jasmin.

Foie gras terrine with garnish, Restaurant Téo Jasmin, Beaugency.

Cooked poultry dish and vegetables served in a red casserole at Restaurant Téo Jasmin.

Roasted lamb shank with mashed potatoes and orange slice at Restaurant Téo Jasmin.

Téo Jasmin Beaugency Loire Valley dessert, ice cream, orange coulis, cream, mint.

Dessert at Téo Jasmin, Beaugency, Loire Valley.

Woman eating a meat dish and drinking white wine at Restaurant Téo Jasmin.

Téo Jasmin Brasserie in Beaugency, Loire Valley, woman walking towards the entrance.

Téo Jasmin

22 Place du Martroi, 45190 Beaugency

Price: bistro formula at €14.50 with a daily bowl or casserole / burger formula at 
€16.50 / Saint-Michel menu with starter + main + dessert at €29

Restaurant La Charbonnette

A very friendly little traditional restaurant in Onzain. However, I should warn you right away, it’s not exactly light cuisine… But after a good day of walking, it was exactly what we needed!

Woman waiting at a table in a traditional Loire Valley restaurant.

Traditional restaurant interior in the Loire Valley, set tables, and couple seated.

Must-try:

Foie gras salad, duck breast, and gizzards, traditional Loire Valley dish.

Hot goat cheese pastry puff with salad and sausage on a plate.

Romantic dinner in the Loire Valley with red wine, lanterns, and traditional dishes.

Traditional Tarte Tatin with fruit and vanilla ice cream scoop.

Chocolate lava cake and ice cream with exotic fruits: lychee, starfruit, dragon fruit.

Restaurant La Charbonnette

13 Place de l'Église, 41150 Onzain

Price: menu from €17 at lunch and €29 at dinner

Thanks to the Centre-Val de Loire Tourism Board for this invitation, and to all the places that hosted us for their kindness.

Old barn in the Loire Valley with a woman looking at a wooden door and staircase.

I hope that all this will have made you want to discover or rediscover the Loire Valley and its castles, and if you also have your own recommendations and top addresses for this destination, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments!

L’Islette Castle reflected in water with water lilies.

Find all my articles on the Loire Valley in the Centre-Val de Loire region below:
⇒ All my articles on the Loire Valley
⇒ All my articles on the Centre-Val de Loire

MY ARTICLES ON THE LOIRE VALLEY
⇒ The Loire Valley Castles
⇒ Visiting Orléans
⇒ Visiting Blois
⇒ Visiting Tours

Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez
Photos are not royalty-free, photographer's permission required before any use