Japanese€ZolaMon-Fri 11:30-19:00; closed Sat-Sun
Soba et Sarrasin puts buckwheat to Japanese use by Place Canclaux in Nantes, with soba bowls, onigiri and mochi and the whole card gluten free.
Signature: Soba noodles, Onigiri, Mochi
Tip: Everything on the menu is gluten free and there is a Japanese grocery counter at the back for fresh soba and condiments to take away.
Pizzeria€€GraslinMon-Fri 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-22:30; Sat 19:00-22:30; closed Sun
AGAPè bakes organic sourdough pizza a step from Place Graslin in Nantes, sourcing most of what goes on top from farms inside its own bioregion.
Signature: Sourdough pizza, Organic Italian plates
Tip: The kitchen is certified organic across food and drink, and Saturday is dinner only, with no lunch service and no Sunday opening.
French bistro€€Île de NantesMon-Fri from 08:00 through to the end of apéritif service; closed Sat-Sun
Bibou runs as bar and bistro together on Quai Hoche in Nantes, serving hearty plates from morning coffee through to a long weekday apéritif.
Signature: Hearty bistro plates, Bar snacks
Tip: It opens at 08:00 for coffee and keeps going until the apéro crowd thins, but the doors stay shut all weekend.
French bistro€€Île de NantesMon-Fri 10:00-01:00; closed Sat-Sun
Magnum runs bistro classics, rotisserie meats and matchstick frites on the Île de Nantes, open from morning coffee through to the last digestif.
Signature: Rotisserie meats, Frites allumettes
Tip: One long weekday service from 10:00 to 01:00 means you can eat at any hour, but it is shut on Saturday and Sunday.
French bistro€€€Hauts-PavésMon-Tue 12:00-14:30; Wed-Fri 12:00-14:30 and 19:45-22:30; closed Sat-Sun
Au Petit Raphaël is a couple-run bistro on Rue des Hauts Pavés in Nantes, careful cooking on regional produce at €27 for three courses at lunch.
Signature: Beef tataki, Mushroom bisque
Tip: Dinner happens only from Wednesday to Friday and runs €36 to €43; the Monday and Tuesday lunch is the cheaper entry point.
Italian€€€Hauts-PavésMon 12:00-15:00 and 19:30-22:00; Tue-Fri 12:00-15:00 and 19:30-23:00; closed Sat-Sun
Emporietto crosses bistronomy with Italy on Rue Adolphe Moitié in Nantes, artisan Italian goods set against produce from farms around the city.
Signature: Seasonal Italian plates, Artisan Italian produce
Tip: The evening menu runs €45 for three courses while lunch starts at €24; the room closes for the whole weekend.