4 Best Restaurants in Chartres, Side Trips from Paris

This cozy bistro's namesake studied at the prestigious Ferrandi school and cut her teeth at Joël Robuchon in Paris before returning to her hometown to open her own "bistronomique" restaurant (meaning gastronomic bistro). The refined menu offers seasonal dishes made with ingredients from sustainable farms when possible, and all the wines are organic. Dining on the terrace, overlooking the fountain on Chartres' pretty Evora Square, is a joy in warm weather.

If you want to make your visit or stay in Chartres a memorable one, this stellar hotel restaurant is the place to go. Excellent by any standards, the elegant dining room, impeccable service, and refined gastronomic menu from chef Thomas Parnaud, who breathed new life into the restaurant when he took the helm in mid-2018, make this dining room a standout in Chartres and the entire region.

The adventurous cuisine served at Les Feuillantines (one of Chartres’s few gastronomic restaurants) rarely falters and very often soars. Try the superb house-made terrine with tangy cornichons to start, followed by duck risotto topped with caramelized shallots or beef ravioli perfumed with lemongrass and smoked tea. For dessert, the copious cheese plate, vanilla-flecked baba au rhum, and divine melted-chocolate cake all hit the spot. In warmer months, the garden is an added bonus, as is a good, if slightly unimaginative, wine list. The location (on a tiny street near the cathedral) is convenient, and in terms of quality for price this cozy spot can’t be beat.

If you're looking for a quick, traditional meal a few steps from the cathedral, look no further than this crêperie, a favorite in Chartres. You'll find a full list of savory (made with buckwheat flour) delights—ham, egg, smoked salmon, veggies, potatoes, and cheese—or sweet (made with white flour)—caramel au beurre salé, crêpes suzette, Grand Marnier, and ice cream—all washed down with a delicious Normandy cider. Whether you dine upstairs, downstairs, or on the sidewalk terrace, it's a good choice for a delicious, unfussy meal that's perfect for adults and kids.