Discover the best seafood restaurants in France

From the wilds of Brittany to the sun-drenched creeks of Marseille, from the refined tables of Paris to the gastronomic gems of La Rochelle, France is brimming with unmissable places to savor the treasures of the sea. From iodized oysters and savory lobsters to perfectly grilled fish and authentic bouillabaisses, each region has its own specialties and passionate chefs who sublimate these exceptional products. Today, Gault&Millau unveils a selection of the best restaurants where you can enjoy seafood delicacies, between culinary traditions and daring creations.

Christopher Coutanceau: La Rochelle's committed fisherman-cook

in La Rochelle, Restaurant Christopher Coutanceau (4 toques), a true gastronomic institution, passionately celebrates the treasures of the ocean. Nestled on La Concurrence beach, this Relais & Châteaux establishment embodies the vision of chef Christopher Coutanceau, a committed fisherman-cook, and Nicolas Brossard, Maître de Maison. Here, every dish is an ode to marine flavors, sublimated in an elegant setting inspired by the Atlantic waves. More than just a restaurant, it's a sensory experience where cuisine d'auteur, respect for the terroir and eco-responsibility combine to offer a veritable iodized voyage of emotion and refinement.

• Where to find us Place de la Concurrence, 17000 La Rochelle
• More information on Christopher Coutanceau restaurant

©Phvauressantamaria - Sylvie Curty

Le Petit Nice: an institution in Marseille

in Marseille, overlooking the Mediterranean, Gérald Passedat's Le Petit Nice is a total immersion in the marine world. This 4-Toque restaurant celebrates the sea in all its splendor, to the rhythm of the seasons and new arrivals. The chef's fine, inventive cuisine sublimates each product with precision, from the mythical Lucie Passedat bass to the three-course Bouille Abaisse. Each dish is a sensory exploration, a plunge into deep waters where textures and flavors blend harmoniously. In this uncluttered, light-filled setting, the gastronomic experience becomes a vibrant tribute to the Mediterranean and its most precious treasures.

• Where? 17 rue des Braves Anse de Maldormé, 156 Corniche Président John F. Kennedy, 13007 Marseille
• Further information on Le Petit Nice

Aux Pesked: products from the Bay of Saint-Brieuc made sublime

in Saint-Brieuc, Aux Pesked (3 toques) passionately celebrates the treasures of the sea in a cuisine that is both aquatic and plant-based. True to its Breton name, meaning "fish", this refined restaurant honors the products of the bay: langoustines, wild abalone, scallops, Breton lobster and many other marine wonders. Chef Mathieu Aumont sublimates these flavors by combining them with the finest local vegetables, in creative, well-balanced dishes enhanced by intense juices and floral touches. Elegantly hosted by Sophie Aumont, you'll discover a locavore and eco-responsible cuisine, where each dish is an ode to the riches of Brittany's oceans, in a discreet and refined setting.

• Where? 59 rue du Légué, 22000 Saint-Brieuc
• More information on Aux Pesked

La Marine: exceptional dining in Noirmoutier

in Noirmoutier, Alexandre Couillon's La Marine (5 toques) is a sensory experience where the sea and nature invite themselves into every bite. Guided by his instinct, the chef sublimates the products of his land and ocean with a cuisine of rare intensity. Each dish tells a story, like his infusion of gray shrimp, a powerful, refined concentrate of iodine, or his sole, accompanied by abalone, imperial shrimp and an incredibly precise rock fish broth. In this small, intimate dining room, the experience is enhanced by Céline Couillon's delicate welcome, while the food, rooted in the terroir, is a pleasure to savor.plate, rooted in terroir and seasonality, celebrates the perfect balance between iodine and vegetation.

• Where? 3 rue Marie Lemonnier, 85330 Noirmoutier-en-l'île
• More information on La Marine

Le Bistrot de Cancale: Hugo Roellinger's more accessible cuisine

in Cancale, overlooking Port Mer beach, Le Bistrot de Cancale (1 toque) imagined by Hugo and Marine Roellinger is an ode to conviviality and marine flavors. In this luminous setting with a breathtaking view of Mont-Saint-Michel, the cuisine celebrates the noble products of the sea: sole, turbot and lobster are featured in refined dishes with accents of the Breton Riviera. Homemade bread, Thierry Lemarchand's butter and a careful selection of ciders and wines complete this gourmet experience. Between elegance and simplicity, this bistrot marin is a must for lovers of the sea and fine produce.

• Where? 5 rue Eugène et Auguste Feyen 35260 Cancale
• More information on Le Bistrot de Cancale

Le Divellec: a legendary address in Paris

in Paris, opposite the esplanade des Invalides, Le Divellec continues its maritime heritage under the direction of Mathieu Pacaud. Once run by Jacques Le Divellec, this legendary restaurant still celebrates the treasures of the ocean with a menu guided by the tide. Sole meunière de petit bateau with hazelnut butter, wild turbot from Brittany, abalone and artichokes à la grenobloise: each dish sublimates the nobility of iodized products in an elegant, luminous setting. With its new space inspired by winter gardens, Le Divellec continues to embody the excellence of Parisian marine cuisine, between tradition and modernity.

• Where? 18 rue Fabert, 75007 Paris
• More information on Le Divellec

Le Relais des Salines: a stopover on the Ile d'Oléron

on the Ile d'Oléron, Le Relais des Salines (Table originale) is a charming seafood bistro housed in a former oyster shack on the marshes. With its timber-framed terrace overlooking the unspoilt natural landscape, it's the ideal place to enjoy iodized flavors in complete simplicity. The menu oscillates between timeless classics - oysters, octopus confit with lentils, the owner's lemon tart - and contemporary inspirations, highlighting the freshness of local produce. With a selection of local Charentais wines, this convivial address celebrates the sea in a warm, picturesque setting.

• Where to eat? Village Pêcheurs, 17370 Le Grand-Village-Plage
• More information on Le Relais des Salines

Clamato: a modern take on the sea in Paris

in Paris, Clamato (1 toque) is Bertrand Grébaut's seafood address, inspired by the oyster bars of the American East Coast. Here, no frills: the sea is served in its purest expression, with products from artisanal, sustainable fishing, selected daily according to arrivals from Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Concarneau or Île d'Yeu. On the menu: wild oysters, ceviche of meagre with mandarin satsuma, sea bass with citron or grand aïoli of pollack. All in a friendly, no-reservations atmosphere: first come, first served.

• Where? 80 rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris
• Further information on Clamato

Rolland: the sea in a short circuit in Plourhan

In an old mill in the heart of nature, Pierre and Emmanuel Bonnefont have created a bistronomic restaurant (1 toque) where vegetal and iodized cuisine takes on its full meaning. Far from meat trends, here, no meat, but fish from the fish market and vegetables grown in an ultra-short circuit in the family vegetable garden. The ever-changing menu features refined dishes such as white asparagus with shiitake and miso broth, aiguillette de saint-pierre with carrot and fennel, and light, precise desserts like the Italian cookie with yogurt and citrus syphon. In the light-filled dining room or on the terrace facing the greenhouses, relaxed, attentive service accompanies a carefully chosen selection of wines.

• Where? 12 chemin du moulin Rolland, 22410 Plourhan
• More information on Rolland

La Table de Mare & Gustu: the iodized Corsican table

With Sébastien Rialland in charge of fishing and Anthony Halgand in the kitchen, La Table de Mare & Gustu (1 toque) embodies a cuisine resolutely focused on freshness and eco-responsibility. Here, tuna and swordfish are the stars of a simple, authentic menu, featuring carefully selected seafood. Enjoy crispy fried smelts, fragrant rock fish soup, fresh swordfish tartare, or a whole baked fish to share.

• Where to find us Place du Marché, 20200 Bastia
• More information on La Table de Mare & Gustu