In this article, you’ll find our reviews of what we think are the best restaurants to eat at in Caen.
The town boasts some very good addresses and a varied choice of cuisines to suit your tastes. Whether you’re looking for Normandy cuisine, unusual restaurants or healthy dishes, we’re sure you’ll find what you’re looking for. Reservations are strongly recommended for all establishments where possible.
In our opinion, culinary discovery is an integral part of the journey andexperience, so don’t wait to treat your taste buds!
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the area anonymously, making our own choices, and paying all our bills in full.
Caen’s best restaurants: our 3 favourites
In this article, you’ll find our detailed reviews of each of our selected establishments. We share with you our favorite restaurants in Caen in this section:
- Restaurant L’Aromate: Axel de Caseneuve and Inès de Saint Jores’ bistronomic table is a real invitation to travel, and we were transported!
- Salon de thé L’Okara: this organic and ethical vegetarian canteen will add color to your plates. A variety of flavours and textures are also on offer, all in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
- Bar-restaurant Moon & Sons: this subdued pub inspired by the world of Harry Potter offers a 100% plant-based menu (dishes, pastries and snacks).
WHERE TO STAY IN Caen
Option 1: in the old town center
We recommend..:
- Hotel Best Western Plus Le moderne not far from the castle – see prices, photos and availability
- Hotel La Fontaine also near the castle – see prices, photos and availability
- B&B Les Chambres de L’Abbaye, near Abbaye-aux-Hommes – see prices, photos and availability
Option 2: to Ouistreham
To sleep more in the countryside or near the beach (15 to 20min from Rouen). We recommend..:
- Hotel Manoir Hastings and its stone houses – see prices, photos and availability.
- Hotel La Mare Ô Poissons and its swimming pool – see prices, photos and availability
Option 3: near the port or station
We recommend..:
- Campanile hotel next to the station – see prices, photos and availability.
The best bistronomic restaurants in Caen
1. Restaurant L’Aromate
This bistronomic restaurant is one of our top addresses in Caen. We’re sure you’ll tell us all about it. Inspired by the many encounters and travels of Axel de Caseneuve and Inès de Saint Jores, the chef’s cuisine is an invitation to discover new flavors, textures and colors!
Here, it’s all about the product, no fuss, with of course a few essential products for a gourmet table. Herbs and spices, combined with the chef’s know-how, sublimate this precious raw material from local agriculture. Even the decor of the room is uncluttered yet sophisticated. We love it! The bar menu, meanwhile, is highly sought-after: aperitifs, a wide range of wines, beers, whisky, gin and fruit spirits, not forgetting Calvados, a must in the region.
Practical information:
- District: Château de Caen.
- Type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: approx. 25 place settings.
- Price range: between €36 and €56 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations required here.
Our article dedicated to Restaurant L’Aromate in Caen will be available soon.
2. Restaurant Fragments (unfortunately closed, replaced by l’Assiette au beurre)
One of our old favorites in Caen sadly closed its doors recently. The quality of a gourmet and organic restaurant, that’s what this fine establishment in the historic heart of Caen offered. The menu was designed around local products with 2 mottos: 100% organic and 100% artisanal. A lively, original and refined cuisine characterized this warm and elegant place, which we particularly appreciated during our visit to Caen. Fragments has been replaced by L’Assiette au beurre, a restaurant run by young chef Paul Quetel.
Practical information about the restaurant L’Assiette au beurre:
- District: Château de Caen.
- Type: bistro rotisserie.
- Capacity: approx. 25 place settings.
- Price range: between €22 and €40 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations required on 09 86 49 20 35.
3. Restaurant Stéphane Carbone
Enjoy contemporary cuisine in a modern setting near Caen’s charming marina. Chef Stéphane Carbone and his brigade are busy in the kitchen of this beautiful establishment, which has been awarded Michelin stars for 10 years until 2019. In fact, you’ll have the privilege of admiring the team at work behind the glass door of the kitchen. The menu is varied, designed around the riches of Normandy’s terroir. The chef’s specialties include crab, sautéed sweetbread apple and Valrhona chocolate.
If you love lobster, you’ll love the menu featuring European blue lobster, the flagship product of the Normandy coast. Last but not least, to extend the experience, the restaurant offers the chance to sign up for weekly cooking classes and benefit from the chef’s invaluable advice. Time to eat!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Marina.
- Type: gastronomic.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Price range: between €30 and €120 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations required here.
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4. M-c-p Restaurant
Surprise, seasonal cuisine, local produce and zero waste: that’s the promise of bistronomic restaurant M-c-p in Caen. The establishment offers a range of sweet and savory recipes that can be adapted to suit your tastes. For example, duck can be sublimated in a variety of ways: duck leg in pâté croûte, duck fillet cooked on the chest with duck jus, or duck gizzard confit.
Antoine in the kitchen and Kévin in the dining room will take great care to ensure you have an unforgettable time!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Marina.
- Type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: approx. 25 place settings.
- Price range: from €22 to €55 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations required here.
5. Restaurant La Vraie Vie
Eating well is a real tradition for the owners of this establishment, who have been perpetuating it for several generations. The Restaurant La Vraie Vie, located in the Abbaye aux Hommes district, reveals the rigor and love of the product that drive this fine team. This establishment aims to be a place close to the people, where conviviality and the pleasure of the table come first. The menu changes regularly with the seasons, with several formulas to suit your tastes and desires. You’ll be able to choose from an extensive drinks menu, with advice from the sommelier Ronan, former head sommelier at the SaQuaNa restaurant, which we’ve listed among our best places to eat in Honfleur.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Abbaye aux Hommes.
- Type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: approx. 25 place settings.
- Price range: from €29 to €65 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Bookings can be made by calling 02 14 40 51 54.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Normandy
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is comfortable enough (distances can be long) but compact (some parking lots and villages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
The best Michelin-starred restaurants in Caen
6. Restaurant Le Dauphin – 1 star
Restaurant Le Dauphin, located in the spa hotel of the same name, is a veritable Caen institution. Its Michelin-starred chef Stéphane Pugnat concocts delicious dishes in which every ingredient is meticulously selected for a subtle, delicate mouthfeel.
In a luminous, bright and authentic setting, you can enjoy your meal between stone walls. of this Mecca of Caen gastronomy with the chef’s seasonal specialities. The menu is designed around seafood, with fish and shellfish from the Normandy coast taking center stage. Blue lobster, turbot, langoustines, noble fish are magnified by the chef’s savoir-faire. You’ll also find local produce on the menu. All of this, along with wine and food pairings for the perfect match between food and drink. Enjoy your meal!
To extend the experience, you can also spend one or more nights at the spa hotel that houses this excellent establishment.
Practical information:
- District: Château de Caen.
- Type: gastronomic starred.
- Capacity: approx. 25 place settings.
- Price range: between €35 and €65 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations required here.
7. Restaurant À Contre Sens – 1 star
Paradoxes, opposites and counter-intuitive cuisine are the hallmarks of Anthony Caillot, head chef at the Michelin-starred À Contre Sens restaurant in Caen. Located in one of the city’s oldest streets, rue des Croisiers, this establishment offers meaningful cuisine in an authentic, contemporary setting.
The chef has designed his menu according to his intuition, which is also the title of his flagship menu, an invitation to a journey of the senses. Anthony Caillot highlights what he calls peasant wisdom, and puts one of the 5 elements or movements – the earth – back at the center. Because without it, there are no products, no cuisine and no inspiration.
Practical information:
- District: Château de Caen.
- Type: gastronomic starred.
- Capacity: approx. 25 place settings.
- Price range: between €48 and €78 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations required on 02 31 97 44 48 or [email protected].
8. Restaurant Ivan Vauthier – 1 star
Located in the beautiful 5-star Ivan Vautier spa hotel, the Michelin-starred restaurant of the same name is well worth a visit. Combining gastronomy and well-being, what a wonderful philosophy. Refinement, appeasement, creativity and emotion are the principles that guide Chef Ivan Vautier in his cooking. He’ll introduce you to his culinary world of land and sea, and you’ll even have the chance to watch him at work in his kitchen, which opens onto the dining room.
To make this moment of pleasure, calm and serenity last longer, you also have the option of spending one or more nights at the spa hotel that houses this fine Caen restaurant.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Abbaye aux Hommes.
- Type: gastronomic starred.
- Capacity: approx. 25 place settings.
- Price range: from €38 to €122 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations required here.
DISCOVER Caen
- What to do in Caen
- Where to stay in Caen: our best hotels
- Where to eat in Caen: our best restaurants
- Caen’s best museums
- Itineraries: 1 day – 2 days
- Caen Castle
- Caen Memorial Museum
- Rent a car in Caen: our tips
The best restaurants for healthy eating in Caen
9. Popotes Restaurant
Home-cooked cuisine with global influences, with a menu that changes almost daily according to what’s available and what’s in season, but above all made with love! That’s what you’ll find at Popotes, where everything is made on site with healthy ingredients and products! Enjoy on site or take away with you.
Practical information:
- District: Château de Caen.
- Type: organic restaurant.
- Capacity: less than 25 covers.
- Price range: between €10 and €15 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialties: no.
- Particularly suitable for children: yes.
- Find out more here.
10. Restaurant Le Triple V
Organic, vegan and gluten-free are the watchwords of this restaurant where everything is homemade, savoury and sweet, without hurting your wallet! Just a 3-minute walk from Caen’s Saint-Sauveur Church, come and discover hot dishes, generous salads and succulent pastries from Tuesday to Saturday at Le Triple V restaurant. The establishment even offers a “catered” order formula on request.
Practical information:
- District: Château de Caen.
- Type: organic restaurant.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Price range: between €3 and €15 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialties: no.
- Particularly suitable for children: yes.
- Further information on 02 31 43 65 66.
11. L’Okara tea room
Less than 5 minutes’ walk from the Château de Caen, we’ve found this organic and ethical plant-based canteen, the L’Okara tea room. Ideal for a gourmet break or a more complete lunch, this establishment offers on-site dining or take-away. Colors, flavors and textures come together on your plate, and we particularly liked the colorful decor and plates.
Eating well at any time of day is the promise of this Caen-based canteen, which prepares hot and cold dishes based on local, seasonal organic produce. You’ll discover products you won’t find anywhere else, like“Pipi du Dragon“, a natural and organic alternative to industrial energy drinks!
In keeping with its ethical and transparent approach, L’Okara also organizes themed workshops to raise awareness of ecological issues. Conceived by owners Mélissa and Virginie as a place where people can meet and exchange ideas, the L’Okara canteen, where everything is homemade, is committed to always offering fair, affordable prices.
Practical information:
- District: Château de Caen.
- Type: canteen tea room.
- Capacity: less than 25 covers.
- Price range: between €5 and €15 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: yes.
Our full article on the L’Okara canteen tea room in Caen will be available soon.
USE OUR GUIDE TO PLAN A
DREAM TRIP TO Normandy
All the information you need for your trip:
- 8 maps that make planning easier
- 160+ pre-selected locations
- Practical advice
- 300+ photos to help you choose
Caen’s best restaurants with unusual settings
12. Restaurant bar Moon & Sons
As we turned a corner, we were intrigued by the Moon & Sons bar in Caen’s Chateau district. This English pub, with its mysterious exterior, immerses you in a magical atmosphere. We felt like Harry Potter as we pushed open the doors of this themed bar-restaurant.
Make yourself comfortable in this place where the immersive decor transports you to the Diagon Alley among magicians and surprising creatures! We’d almost forgotten where we were and what time it was, so timeless is the place. Take the time to look at every detail of the décor that gives this place its real cachet.
For a drink, the pub owners give you the menu or “Book of Potions” to choose your beverage. Around 30 different beers are available on the menu, as well as several themed cocktails and hot drinks. To start, we opted for a classic coffee before sampling the “Polynectar” cocktail. In J.K. Rowling’s novel, this famous potion enables a wizard to temporarily take on the appearance of another human being. Guess who we’ve turned into?
Practical information:
- District: Château de Caen.
- Type: English pub – theme restaurant.
- Capacity: approx. 25 place settings.
- Price range: between €15 and €40 per person.
- Normandy specialties: no.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations required on 02 31 74 05 01.
13. Le Café Mancel
Nestled in the heart of Caen’s Château Ducal, next to the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Musée de Normandie, Café Mancel welcomes you to this historic and atypical setting. Enjoy typical Normandy dishes between the castle ramparts, 2 steps from St Pierre church and the town’s historic center.
Whether you visit this open-air museum in the heart of the fortifications or come directly to enjoy the restaurant, you’ll enjoy an unusual experience enhanced by creative cuisine.
Practical information:
- District: Château de Caen.
- Type: gastronomic.
- Capacity: approx. 25 place settings.
- Price range: between €21 and €47 per person (excluding drinks) depending on menu.
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations required here.
Where to eat with your children in Caen
14. Crêperie Gaby
Head to Crêperie Gaby for a moment of sweetness. Modernity, quality and tradition best describe this fine address near Caen Castle, with a chef who’s not afraid to innovate. Whether you’re with family, friends or on your own, you’ll be warmly welcomed, with a wide choice of galettes and crêpes, and even a few salads on the à la carte menu! Chez Gaby is also a cider bar, with over 30 references on the menu!
Whether on the terrace or indoors, the decor remains authentic. Whether outdoors in the historic district or indoors between stone walls, we appreciated the sophisticated decor that blends the old with the new. And it’s just the place for your little ones. Highchairs and a toddler’s menu are on offer for a pleasant family experience.
Practical information:
- District: Château de Caen.
- Type: crêperie.
- Capacity: approx. 25 place settings.
- Price range: between €10 and €25 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes, but revisited.
- Particularly suitable for children: yes.
- Reservations required on 02 31 39 72 00.
15. Restaurant Le Bouchon du Vaugueux
Bistro-style cuisine set to music by Corinne in the dining room and Emmanuel in the kitchen awaits you at Restaurant Le Bouchon du Vaugueux in the historic heart of Caen. Classics revisited while preserving traditions, that’s what you’ll find on the menu of this friendly restaurant where a good atmosphere reigns.
You’ll love the semi-cooked foie gras with blackberry and black garlic condiment, or the cassolette of Pré d’Auge snails with chine confit and sweet smoked pepper. Doesn’t that make your mouth water?
Practical information:
- District: Château de Caen.
- Type: French brewery.
- Capacity: approx. 25 place settings.
- Price range: between €26 and €45 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: yes.
- Reservations required on 02 31 44 26 26.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Normandy
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is comfortable enough (distances can be long) but compact (some parking lots and villages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Restaurants where to eat in Caen on Sunday
Restaurant Keys&Co
A café-restaurant with a New Zealand flair near Caen’s Port de Plaisance serving gluten-free dishes and, above all, eggs Benedict to die for, that’s what you’ll find when you push open the door of Keys&Co. In a relaxing and pleasant setting, come and enjoy dishes that are always of the highest quality. And let yourself be tempted by the Sunday morning brunch served by a friendly, attentive team! What more could you ask for to have a good time?
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Marina.
- Type: New Zealand café-restaurant.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Price range: between €18 and €40 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialties: no.
- Particularly suitable for children: yes.
- Reservations required on 02 31 34 60 83.
Restaurant L’entre-deux
Refinement and simplicity are the watchwords at Restaurant L’Entre-Deux in Caen’s railway station district. The promise of this semi-gastronomic establishment, housed in a historic art deco building, is to add pleasure to every bite. Come and taste Normandy’s terroir sublimated by the chef’s savoir-faire for an explosion of flavors on your plate.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: train station.
- Type: semi-gastronomic.
- Capacity: less than 25 covers.
- Price range: between €31 and €45 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations required here.
Restaurant Monsieur Louis
In Old Caen, enjoy a gastronomic interlude in this historic and luminous setting. Restaurant Monsieur Louis serves the cuisine of Fréderic Devy, its head chef, and is led by Christian Capel, its orchestra conductor in the dining room. You’ll enjoy a wonderful culinary experience, thanks in particular to the wines in the cellars, which are the perfect accompaniment to your meal.
The restaurant even offers children’s menus for their youngest customers. And if you’re more the Sunday lunch type, a buffet is available every Sunday for €44 per person.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Abbaye aux Hommes.
- Type: gastronomic.
- Capacity: approx. 25 place settings.
- Price range: between €15 and €45 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: yes.
- Reservations required here.
Restaurant Les gens heureux
Part neighborhood restaurant, part artisan workshop, Restaurant Les gens heureux welcomes you to its warm, colorful world.
Home-cooked dishes vary according to the day’s specials, vegetarian dishes, etc.
or meat products. The choice is yours! On the other hand, all dishes are gluten-free and always generous.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Abbaye aux Hommes.
- Type: canteen restaurant.
- Capacity: less than 25 covers.
- Price range: between €14 and €25 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes, but revisited.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations required on 09 53 18 64 06.
Our full article on Les gens heureux restaurant in Caen will be available soon.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Normandy
Inspiration destinations
- Deciding where to go in Normandy – the best destinations
- Our weekend ideas: best-of, romantic, unusual, seaside, luxury, family
- 16 seaside hotels in Normandy
- The most beautiful charming hotels in Normandy
Best of
Practice
- Where to stay in Normandy – best places and hotels
- See our tips for renting a car at CDG airport, Orly airport, Beauvais airport, Caen, Rouen, Bayeux…
Cheap restaurants in Caen
Les Quilles wine bar
In Caen’s Château district, on one of the many cobbled streets, you’ll find Les Quilles. The team will welcome you in a warm atmosphere to taste good products. Wines, cheeses, burrata, roast beef chiffonnade, croque truffe or chocolate moelleux, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for for a convivial lunch or dinner, or even just a drink.
Practical information:
- District: Château de Caen.
- Type: wine bar.
- Capacity: approx. 25 place settings.
- Price range: between €10 and €30 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialties: no.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations recommended on 02 31 93 20 30.
Boeuf & Cow Restaurant
In an elegant setting, come and discover the cuisine of Boeuf & Cow in the heart of downtown Caen, with a magnificent view of Saint-Pierre Church. The meat-based menu features local, quality products. Each course features a different piece of Normandy-raised beef.
Practical information:
- District: Château de Caen.
- Type: French brewery.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Price range: between €10 and €32 per person (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations required here.
All our tips in this article were put into words with the help of Myriam.
