In this article, you’ll find our reviews of what we think are the best restaurants to eat at in Cherbourg.
The range of restaurants in this port city is very diverse, though small. A stopover in Cherbourg for lunch before admiring the sumptuous, unspoilt landscapes of the Cotentin region is a great idea! From gourmet restaurants to brasseries and crêperies, there’s something for everyone.
Follow the guide to find your next memorable culinary moment, whatever your preferences (healthy, with children, sea view…).
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Best starred and gourmet restaurants
1. Restaurant Le Pily (1 star)
First and foremost, we recommend this excellent Michelin-starred restaurant. Chef Pierre Marion is a virtuoso at working with seafood and all kinds of fresh, local, seasonal produce. Enjoy appetizers, main courses and desserts from our 4 to 6-course menus. We enjoyed ourselves and were pleasantly surprised by the originality of what we ate. In addition to Norman traditions, the chef also draws inspiration from world cuisine. Makis, for example, whetted our appetites. Last but not least, we advise you to take the food/wine pairing which, in our opinion, is really worth it!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: port.
- Type: gastronomic starred.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Price range: €68 to €98 (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes, but revisited.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations highly recommended here.
2. Restaurant Le Patio
Unlike the previous restaurant, Le Patio is not Michelin-starred, but it is a very good gourmet restaurant. If you have a small appetite, we recommend this address, as you’ll be able to enjoy à la carte dishes. However, if you’re looking for a complete experience with a tasting menu, you may be disappointed, as Le Patio only offers lunchtime formulas. Rest assured, rates are affordable. The dishes are fairly classic, but the originality of some of the starters and desserts drew us in. One example is cabbage stuffed with foie gras and shredded beef, accompanied by a broth of porcini mushrooms, soy, yuzu and mushrooms. At the end of the meal, why not try the assortment of cheeses with pear gel with Madagascar pepper, mesclun salad and red onion pickles?
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: downtown.
- Type: gastronomic.
- Capacity: less than 25 covers.
- Price range: €35 to €60 (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialties: no.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations recommended here.
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.
Best traditional restaurants
3. Restaurant Le Plouc 2
The name of this restaurant does not do justice to its setting. In fact, you’ll discover a pleasant, well-cared-for décor. The stone walls and exposed beams are a perfect match for the rustic rococo chairs, whose pink tones add a splash of color. Both a la carte and on the various menus, you can enjoy classic dishes that we found to be perfectly executed. For example, we enjoyed a roast duck breast with crispy chestnut stuffing. Finally, we highly recommend the assortment of regional cheeses and their black garlic cream, which will allow you to discover the emblematic products of the Normandy region!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: downtown.
- Type: traditional.
- Capacity: less than 25 covers.
- Price range: from €16 to €50 (à la carte), menu from €27 to €40 (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations can be made here.
4. Restaurant Le Sequin
This is the restaurant of the Casino de Cherbourg. We appreciate its modern, elegant and chic decor, and its subdued atmosphere. Although this setting may not be suitable for children, there is a special menu for them. Adults, meanwhile, will find classic yet refined dishes presented with great care (morel risotto, duck fillet, foie gras with shallot chutney…). As at Le Plouc 2, we recommend a plate of 3 Normandy PDO cheeses (Camembert, Livarot, Pont-l’Évêque), subtly enhanced by a strawberry jam vinaigrette. The little extra? The restaurant is part of an eco-responsible approach (recycling of cooking oil, organic products, etc.).
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: downtown.
- Type: traditional.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Price range: from €14 to €50 (à la carte), menu at €29 or €36 (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: yes (children’s menu).
- Reservations can be made here.
5. Restaurant L’Armoire à délices
Facing the marina, this restaurant is also a beer and rum cellar, and a tea room. You can also buy local produce. At the back, the decoration is rather rustic, while the entrance is more modern. The menu changes with the season, but we appreciated the creativity of the dishes on offer. For example, the herb-crusted hake fillet with homemade purée and citrus cream made our mouths water! The plates are rather neat and above all very generous! This address is ideal for gourmets looking for a warm, friendly atmosphere. In summer, we recommend its large, pleasant terrace.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: marina.
- Type: traditional.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Price range: €20 to €30 (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialties: no.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations recommended here.
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
Best restaurants on the harbor (seafood and fish)
6. Restaurant Le Carabot
Are you a seafood lover? We recommend Carabot! This friendly restaurant offers creative dishes based on these products. The menu changes regularly according to new arrivals, but you’ll be able to try skate, shrimp, octopus or oysters, for example. Rest assured, there are also alternatives for those who prefer meat, such as the pulled pork burger. We were particularly drawn to the evening menu, with its tapas to share (burrata, squid, charcuterie board…). Add to this modern furnishings and a summer terrace, and you’ve got an ideal address for an evening out with friends!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: downtown.
- Type: brewery.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Price range: €15 to €30 (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialties: no.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Bookings can be made on +33 2 33 04 78 26.
7. Restaurant Le Quai des Mers
This restaurant is located in the famous Cité de la Mer, Cherbourg’s major tourist site, which we listed in our article on the best museums in Normandy. As its name suggests, it is dedicated to to the world of the sea, with Europe’s deepest aquarium and underwater machines. So it’s only natural that its large restaurant offers a wide choice of seafood dishes. The setting, open to the outdoors but also to the kitchen where chef Philippe Godot works, is particularly pleasant. We enjoyed the wide choice of dishes on the menu, with plenty of fish, but also the Némo salad (salmon confit with seaweed, fish rillettes, pink shrimps, marinated mussels, cod gravlax, crudités, green salad and chickpeas), which we found particularly tempting. Gourmets will also enjoy a wide variety of desserts.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: marina.
- Type: traditional.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Price range: from €16 to €50 (à la carte, excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations can be made here.
WHERE TO STAY IN Cherbourg
Option 1: with harbour view
- Mercure Hotel – prices, pictures and availability
- Ambassadeur Hotel – prices, pictures and availability
Option 2: Rest of downtown
- Hotel Le Cercle – prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Chantereyne – prices, pictures and availability
See our reviews of the best hotels in Cherbourg (coming soon)
Best restaurant for a cheap and healthy lunch in Cherbourg
8. Club Dinette Restaurant
This restaurant is a must if you want to eat healthy in Cherbourg! Specializing in brunches, it features vegetarian cuisine with an ecological approach. For example, we enjoyed an excellent “assiette composée”. However, meat and fish alternatives are sometimes available. The menu changes regularly, but you can always enjoy salads, sandwiches or a dish of the day. Desserts, too, are often modified, but you’re likely to choose between mousse, clafoutis or moelleux, featuring seasonal fruits. This large, friendly restaurant hosts a wide range of events (concerts, ecological conferences, etc.).
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: downtown.
- Type: light catering.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Price range: €15 to €30 (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialties: no.
- Particularly suitable for children: yes (children’s dishes).
- Bookings can be made by calling +33 9 86 51 98 72.
- To find out more about the restaurant’s events, visit their official website here.
Best restaurants to eat out at in Cherbourg
9. Restaurant Maître Corbeau
This restaurant’s colorful, playful façade will immediately attract your children! In our opinion, it’s an ideal address for a warm family meal. Inside, the bold decoration continues. It reflects the restaurant’s speciality: cheese-based recipes (fondues, tartiflette…). We really liked the furniture, reminiscent of Norman cow dresses, but especially the bar, shaped like a cheese box! We’re sure your kids will love the decor and the main course/dessert menu. More generally, we recommend this restaurant for Normandy specialities (escalope de veau normand flambée au Calvados, tartiflette normande, crêpe normande…). The region’s cheeses are available in a wide variety of forms!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: downtown.
- Type: traditional.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Price range: from €14 to €40 (à la carte), menu from €15 to €27.50 (excluding drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: yes.
- Bookings can be made on +33 2 33 93 67 05.
10. Crêperie Le Ty-Billic
What better way to delight your children than in a crêperie? We recommend the crêperie Le Ty-Billic. Creative and affordable galettes are on offer. We were attracted by traditional Normandy dishes such as the “Vire” (andouille de Vire, cooked apples, crème fraîche) or the “Fromagère” (Pont-l’Evêque, Livarot, Camembert, served with green salad). For dessert, crêpes are very tasty and refined. Of course, we have to recommend the “Normande”, made with baked apples and crème fraîche, flambéed in Calvados. If you’re more inspired by world cuisine, their galette du mois is often inspired by exotic flavors. Your children will no doubt be delighted with a menu featuring a galette with two ingredients (your choice of egg, cheese or ham), a sweet crêpe (sugar, chocolate or jam) or an ice cream, with syrup or apple juice.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: downtown.
- Type: light catering.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Price range: from €7.50 to €16.40 (à la carte), menu from €14 to €17 (with drinks).
- Normandy specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: yes.
- Bookings can be made on +33 2 33 01 11 90.
Other restaurants in and around Cherbourg
They didn’t make our top 10, but these restaurants are also good places to try out during your stay in Cherbourg.
Other world cuisine restaurants
Don’t think you’ve found what you’re looking for? Cherbourg is home to many world cuisine restaurants. Here are a few suggestions if you’re interested in culinary travel!
- Restaurant Supra (Indian): this traditional restaurant will delight you if you appreciate Indian flavors. The tikka massala and cheese naan are worth the detour!
- Restaurant Le Comptoir Libanais: this small restaurant offers the best of Lebanese cuisine at affordable prices. We recommend the mezze menu to enjoy a wide variety of flavours!
- Restaurant Le Melting-Pot: this is a rather atypical address. As the name suggests, the menu features both Thai and West Indian-inspired dishes. An ideal table for the undecided!
- Coco Shop (Thai): the Thai cuisine served in this small restaurant offers excellent value for money, using local produce wherever possible.
Other restaurants around Cherbourg
There are some very good gourmet restaurants close to Cherbourg. Here are a few addresses that will satisfy the most discerning palates:
- Restaurant Le Panoramique (La Pernelle): this gourmet restaurant, a 30-minute drive from Cherbourg, offers an exceptional setting with a sublime sea view. You can even seeÎle de Tatihou in the distance! Sophisticated menus are available for adults and children.
- Restaurant Le Moulin à Vent (La Hague): 30 minutes from Cherbourg, this is an ideal place to take a break before strolling around the magnificent Cap de la Hague. Creative, refined cuisine awaits you in a calm, relaxing environment.
- Restaurant Le Landemer (Urville-Nacqueville): 20min drive from Cherbourg, enjoy modern cuisine concocted by a Dutch chef. Housed in a beautiful stone building, he sublimates local and wild produce (herbs, flowers…).
DISCOVER Cherbourg
- Things to do in Cherbourg (coming soon)
- Best hotels in Cherbourg (coming soon)
- Best restaurants in Chrebourg (coming soon)
- Cité de la mer (coming soon)
HE MADE THE TRIP Manu
