La Maison d'à Côté, Montlivault
Chef Christophe Hay's two-Michelin-star restaurant sits in the tiny village of Montlivault, eight kilometres from Chambord, and delivers one of France's most thrilling expressions of Loire terroir — river fish, wild herbs, local honey and vegetables from his own kitchen garden plated with quiet, confident brilliance. Booking weeks ahead is essential and entirely worth it.
What Makes It Special
Hay is obsessed with the Loire's aquatic larder: Loire salmon (now sustainably farmed locally after wild stocks collapsed), freshwater crayfish, pike-perch and shad all appear on the tasting menu in preparations that feel simultaneously rooted in classical French technique and genuinely new.
The dining room is calm and unhurried, with views over the village garden; the sommelier pairs each course with wines from small Loire appellations — Jasnières, Cour-Cheverny, Montlouis-sur-Loire — that most visitors have never encountered, which is half the education.
Lunch as the Smart Move
The weekday lunch menu offers three courses at a fraction of the evening tasting-menu price, making a Michelin two-star experience accessible without a celebratory budget — this is one of the Loire's best kept dining secrets.
After lunch, walk off the meal along the Loire levée footpath directly behind the village; the flat dyke path stretches for miles in both directions with unobstructed river views and zero other tourists.
More of Loire Valley
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Loire Valley →
