La Cigale, the institution of Nantes
Nantes so much traffic of ideas and so little fear of failure that every corner is a novelty . Its urbanism, flexible, everything has a place and it shows in the restaurants. Yes, he could have settled for exploiting the well-known arguments for the success of French cuisine, and yet he doesn't. It is one more symptom, a demonstration that in leisure its inhabitants are demanding and that the traveler gene stands out in its DNA. These four restaurants are a delicious x-ray of the most varied stretch of riverbank of all those watered by the Loire.
** La Cigale ** This restaurant instead of having a door should have a frame. Aesthetically it is an absolute wonder, a trip to the most materialistic dreams. Opened in 1895, From the beginning, La Cigale aspired to be the place where you had to go and be seen . The location could not be more ideal, in Graslin Square, right in front of the homonymous opera house that during the 19th century attracted, for the money, the best composers on the planet.
Today, its modernist and pompous decoration is its main attraction. Well, you eat well, although perhaps the visual and palatial luxury is a bit ecstatic. It is pure extravagance and exuberance that mixes golden motifs with other more exotic ones such as the tiles and the large palm trees that preside over its many rooms. The good service has maintained it since its inception and today its public is much broader since its prices have been adjusted to the demand of the middle class.
** Le Lieu Unique The most international food that this land has given birth to is the mythical LU** biscuits. His factory was located in the heart of Nantes, just opposite the famous Ducal Palace. The aroma that their chimneys poured permeated all the surroundings. When in doubt as to the origin of such a smell, the building itself responded with its tower, crowned by the brand's old logo in a marketing strategy only comparable to the mythical Tío Pepe poster at Puerta del Sol in Madrid. This little beacon for gourmands is the only thing left of its cookie-making past.
Le Lieu Unique is the name that has been sought to respect the acronym of the initial object of the building . What it really is is a center for contemporary art where there is room for all disciplines, including a gigantic Hammam in the basement. And, of course, of course, there is a great bar where you can have a snack while inspiration strikes . It's one of those places where you get the feeling that the guy sitting in the next seat in 5 years will be a genius or, failing that, a psychopath. Of course, the vintage décor and lofty feel help the muses pay a visit every Tuesday.
Contemporary art center and bar: Le Lieu Unique
** La Civelle ** La Civelle is the best restaurant in Trentemoult. And to Trentemoult you have to go. So resounding. This neighborhood is an old fishing village and it is today the preferred destination for the mini-excursions of the inhabitants of Nantes. There are only four badly laid streets, but it is so different and so special that it only generates good experiences and memories. Firstly, because you have to take a boat and cross the Loire, which is quite wide at this point in the riverbed. Second, because here there is only one urban rule: chaos . The houses are painted with leftover paint from the hulls of fishing boats, so the mosaic is striking. To this we must add that it is inhabited by artists with quite a good humor who tune the facades with tender and hilarious messages. oh! Y a surprisingly high rate of cats per capita in its streets.
With this presentation, it might seem that Civelle is served by street mimes but no, it is a 'usual' restaurant. Its interior recalls the seafaring past of Trentemoult imitating the holds of large wooden freighters and its menu is overflowing with fish and shellfish . What could be expected from a site that is located at the junction of a river with the ocean?
La Civele: marine flavor
** Le 1 ** The island of Nantes is very cool. Only a few winks remain from the old free trade zone, such as its huge crane and its modernization is a very interesting project governed by a mechanical elephant. Its large lots are being populated by contemporary buildings, creating a small city of the future today still a bit soulless . Jean Nouvel's Palace of Justice or the school of architecture are two of the most obvious examples that tomorrow is already here and that there is no room on this island for the traditional and the well-known.
Under these premises stands Le 1, a restaurant-bar that captures the hint of its neighboring buildings and offers a fairly modern, international and sophisticated menu. It is not one of those places that puts on designer make-up to hide culinary shortcomings, not at all. . The atmosphere is modern, yes, but also cozy thanks in part to the friendliness of its waiters and the good taste of the decoration. Its original night lighting invites you to be discovered at a dinner that is digested taking a walk along the modern riverside.
Le 1: quite modern, international and sophisticated menu