The following restaurants have all been recommended. To avoid disappointment, please check the details yourselves, as some venues have different opening hours and some may have temporarily closed.
Remember, it is quite common for restaurants to be closed on Mondays in France and many have a strict 12.00 to 14.00 lunch service.
Villebois Lavalette
In the nearby small town of Villebois Lavalette, (12k m away) you will find Le Lavalette. This charming and popular French restaurant serves traditional cuisine using seasonal produce as well as imaginative contemporary and, unusually for France, vegetarian dishes. It also serves coffee every morning excluding Mondays. The best place to dine is outside under the shade of the incredible roof structure over the ancient covered marketplace. 9, Place des Halles, 16320 Villebois Lavalette (+33 5 45 61 71 37)
There is also Halle Dente in Villebois Lavalette which is a small, simple and unassuming restaurant, but serves great pizzas and a delicious and wide range of artisanal ice cream. This is a great place for a no frills family meal out. 16 Grand Rue, 16320 Villebois Lavalette (+33 5 45 21 28 56)
Salles Lavalette
L'Envie Gourmande (below) is our local restaurant and serves excellent traditional homemade cuisine. They pride themselves on a simple and authentic menu highlighting the culinary traditions of the Charente region and using local produce. Le Bourg 16190 Salles Lavalette (+33 6 20 35 47 43)
Montboyer
Bistro Des Halles (below) is an authentic and creative French restaurant near Challais (approx 20 minutes away) using fresh local produce and we are told they make amazing pizzas! See their Facebook page here too for lots of photos of their creations. Guerin Harmony 1 rue d'Aquitaine 16620 Montboyer (+33 5 79 87 21 24)
Aubetterre-sur-Dronne
A charming town with lots of boutique shops, the spectacular subterranean church and a beach with water sports is a 15 minute drive away. There are a variety of very good casual restaurants and cafés, including the crêperie Sel et Sucre which may be found in the pretty main square. There's also a superb ice cream shop.
La Taverne Maison Pierre Véry also comes highly recommended. Found opposite the incredible subterranean church of Saint Jean, the friendly and polite service enhances the fine dining experience, at surprisingly reasonable prices for the quality of the cuisine. 2 Rue Barbichon, 16390 Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, (+33 5 49 98 15 53)
Angoulême
For the biggest choice we recommend Angoulême (30 mins drive away). It offers a huge range of dining options from family-run pizzerias to the innovative and original Cokotte (see left) for a very special dining experience. Cokotte, 6 Rue des Trois Notre Dame, Angoulême 16000 (+33 5 45 95 15 19)
Le Lion Rouge is an authentic style trattoria set in an incredible art deco atrium creating fabulous Italian and mediterranean cuisine. 3 Place Francis Louvel, Angoulême (+33 5 45 20 08 35)
Restaurant Le Saint André. Delicious food in a fabulous location next to one of the oldest churches in the area and opposite an incredible mural, “Memoirs du XXeme Ciel”. 6 Rue de Saint André, 16000 Angoulême (+33 5 45 92 25 85)
Delightful Dining: Indulge in the flavours of Southwest France
Food lovers will feel right at home in this region, where the emphasis is on locally sourced ingredients and authentic French recipes. Whether you're in the mood for a casual bite or an elegant meal, our area has something for every palate.
- Creperie de la Source (Aubeterre-sur-Dronne): To quote a happy customer on TripAdvisor, “What a wonderful find. Super ambience, great food and a friendly welcome from the owner and daughter. View to die for.” We couldn’t agree more! Creperie de la Source is situated just off the main square on the way to the (not to miss) largest underground church in Europe.
- Le Moulin de L’Abbaye (Brantôme): Located in the beautifully picturesque town of Brantôme, this Michelin starred restaurant offers a predictably delicious menu! You have a choice of places to eat – enjoy either their elegant, white-stoned walled restaurant or eat out on the terrace and watch the River Dronne flow past.
- Le Lion Rouge (Angoulême): Situated in the most beautiful building in Angoulême (think Art Deco style, an enormous glass lantern ceiling and lots of plants), this trattoria serves a typically Italian menu at reasonable cost.
- Chez Hannah (Cherval): Well worth a visit for a relaxed meal and just a short drive from us, Chez Hannah is a family-run bar-restaurant with an excellent and extensive menu(vegetarian and vegan options included). They also pride themselves on their artisan beers and extensive wine list.
- La Cloche (Bors): Also just a short drive from us and enjoying the most beautiful views overlooking the local vineyard (which supplies the wine) this pub attracts a highly multicultural clientele. Serves a very simple menu of, mainly, burgers (but the best you’ll get!) and, as a passionate micro-brewer, the owner’s excellent home brewed beers.