Amboise Restaurants

A family run restaurant, L'Alliance was a very nice place to relax and enjoy a quality meal. As it is located right next door to a hotel, the majority of the patrons seemed to be tourists. That said, the service and food were both good.

The food was delicious. We chose the prix fixe menu and enjoyed it very much. There were plenty of choices, all of which were prepared perfectly. They had a large cheese cart with many local cheeses to choose from.

We enjoyed our meals and would definitely recommend the restaurant to others.

Restaurant L'Epicerie is located directly across the street from the Amboise Chateau. It's a cute little restaurant serving what I would call French country fare. Simple, family style meals that are delicious and plentiful.

The clientele was a mix of tourists and locals, all seeming to be enjoying their meals and each other's company. Mostly french was spoken, but enough english so you won't go away hungry.

The staff were all very friendly and were buzzing around waiting on the tables.

Definitely worth stopping in while looking for a good meal in Amboise.

The restaurant is located on the ground floor of Le Pavillon Des Lys Hotel. The decor is one of simple elegance, with an ambience that is both warm and comfortable. The serving staff was charming and friendly. Though all the tables were taken, they were very attentive and accommodating.

We enjoyed a prix fixe or formula menu that was delicious from start to finish. We matched our dinner up with a lovely Loire Valley wine for a perfect meal.

The dress was a mix, but definitely nice casual and up. There were men in sport shirts and others in suits, and the women were all dressed nicely.

We would definitely recommend the restaurant to those seeking a nice, upscale dining experience.

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“Fear less, hope more;
Whine less, breathe more;
Talk less, say more;
Hate less, love more;
And all good things are yours.”
— Jean Baptiste Moliere (1622-1673)

GOOD THINGS HERE Although I have listed this restaurant under the city of Amboise; it is not located in the town. Château de Noizay, by its name can be found in the town of Noizay, not far from Amboise, the nearest big city.

The atmosphere here is formal; some might call it stuffy. We did not wear a jacket and tie, and neither did other male dinners; but perhaps that was summer; and upscale, casual dressing was the rule. Still, there was a formality to the service and to the air about the place. The dining room is quite beautiful, peaceful and calm.

There is not much on the menu for a vegetarian. If you are a vegetarian, as I am, be clear about your limits. I thought I had been but when I ordered what I thought was an appetizer of stuffed tomato with cheese, it was stuffed with crabmeat! I do not eat shellfish. It was removed and I did not have an appetizer! The entrée vegetable plate that was created from me was rather common. Tom ordered lamb; which he said was delicious.

We reserved our table late in the day and were the last dinners seated. I suggest that you not wait until 9:30 to arrive; ask for a seating at 8pm or a little earlier. The waiters and kitchen were in a closing-down mood by the time we got there.

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Chez Hippeau is a brasserie by the Hotel de Ville in Amboise. There is parking by the Loire river and a lovely walk along the dikes. There are benches and flowers and it's a lovely way to start your visit of Amboise.

When you spot the chateau, head up the hill toward it and you will immediately notice Chez Hippeau on your right. If it is a nice day, ask to be seated outside. There is outside seating in back so you don't see it when you go in.

This didn't rate as a find, but we had a perfectly adequate lunch and it's an easy walk from there to the chateau and on up to Clos Luce. It is also quite reasonably priced.

Favorite Dish: I had the duck while Ed and Peg got the coq au vin. My duck was a bit tough but their coq au vin was delicious and tender. The food, as I say, was adequate, but the outside seating was lovely and we had a delightful time enjoying a beautiful day.

If you're going for a gourmet experience, find another restaurant, but if you just want good food as a prelude to walking all over the town, Chez Hippeau will be a pleasant stop for you. It is certainly convenient to sightseeing.

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“A woman of honor should never suspect another of things she would not do herself.”
— Marguerite d’Angouleme (1492-1549), older sister to François I, she was one of the most learned and politically astute women of Renaissance France

This sweet little restaurant is housed in a building that dates from the 16th century, the time when François I’s first son was born.

This establishment will charm you with its atmosphere and delight your taste buds with its fine food. Located slightly east of Amboise, along the River Loire, I would suggest you make a reservation; it is a small restaurant.

After our delightful meal, I asked our hostess, “Ou est la croix blanche?” (“Where is the white cross?”). She explained that the tiles in the restaurant’s threshold are marked with the sign of the white cross. She went further with some history. During the Middle Ages coins were minted on the site of the present-day restaurant. Those coins were stamped with a cross, la croix blanche. Examples of these coins can be seen at the Musee de la Monnaie, Paris’s Coin Museum.

The web site is en français.

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“Never shall a man attain to the perfect love of God who has not loved to perfection some creature in this world.”
— Marguerite d’Angoulême (1492-1549) who was raised at Château d’Amboise along with her younger brother, the future François I

Le Pavillon des Lys is a restaurant / hotel in the city of Amboise. Our hosts, Dominique and Emanuel at the Château des Ormeaux, recommended le Pavillon des Lys; and again their judgement was spot on.

Le Pavillon des Lys is très chic. There are three tastefully appointed dining rooms; but if you visit in the summer, meals are served in the courtyard.

We ate alfresco, in the courtyard, amongst a small group of diners taking in the pleasant evening air, enjoying the changing color of the sky and the birds flitting to and fro. As night fell, the minimal lighting cast a warm glow about the courtyard.

Sébastien Bégouin, the chef, was born in Amboise. In his original recipes he uses only natural, seasonal produce.

There is one, five course vegetarian prix fix menu; and the non-vegetarian prix fix menu adds a sixth meat course. The food is delicious; it is served by handsome, helpful, polite waiters.

The meal was excellent; the service was top-notch; the atmosphere was enchanting.

The restaurant is opened every evening and at noon on Saturday and Sunday; it is closed all day on Tuesdays.

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“A beautiful dauphin who is the most beautiful and puissant child one could imagine and who will be the easiest to bring up.”
— François I said of his son, François, Dauphin of France (1518-1536), who was baptized at Amboise on 25.April.1519. Leonardo da Vinci, who had been invited to Amboise by the king, designed the decorations for the baptism.

Serving regional cuisine, Restaurant L'Épicerie is situated directly opposite Château d’Amboise.

This is a simple, down-to-earth restaurant; the food is delicious, the atmosphere is casual. The local staff speaks basic English, bring your basic French and you will get by just fine.

This small space fills up fast. In the colder weather especially, when outdoor seating is not an option, I would highly recommend reservations; and in the high summer season, too. Two other couples from our bed and breakfast (Château des Ormeaux, see my Amboise Hotel Tip for this B+B) had been directed here by the B+B owners.