Where to Stay and Eat in Calvados

The best restaurants and hotels in the region, from A-list accommodation to homely seaside eateries

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Not-to-Miss Remembrance Sites in Calvados, Normandy
Things to See and Do in Calvados

HOTELS

La Ferme Saint-Siméon

A hop and a skip from Honfleur, this five-star hotel was once a favourite haunt of Boudin and Monet. Baudelaire was also known to seek refuge from the capital’s grey monotony at the 17th-century farmhouse. Exposed beams, period features and gourmet fare are par for the course. www.fermesaintsimeon.fr

Le Grand Hôtel Cabourg

A triumph of Belle-Époque splendour on Cabourg’s beachfront, this luxurious hotel was put on the map by Marcel Proust (one of its most illustrious – and demanding – patrons). You can even visit Proust’s bedroom and munch on his famous madeleines in the tearooms. www.grand-hotel-cabourg.com

Le Normandy

The glitterati’s go-to retreat in Deauville, this neo-Norman hotel exudes sepia-toned glamour. If your budget doesn’t stretch to a room, why not pull up a stool at the bar and indulge in shameless celeb-spotting? www.hotelsbarriere.com

Hotel Le Normandy

Best Western Hôtel Le Dauphin

A two-minute dash from William the Conqueror’s castle in the heart of Caen, this is a convenient base from which to explore the historic city. Feeling brave? Why not give the restaurant’s award-winning tripes à la mode de Caen a try? www.bestwestern.fr

Hôtel Le Fer à Cheval

Cosy and affordable, this three-star hotel is right near Trouville’s famous boardwalk. Wake up to wafts of freshly baked brioche! www.hotel-trouville.com

Château d’Audrieu

Close to the D-Day landing beaches, this 18th-century château has all the period trappings and then some. The swimming pool secreted amid the walled garden is the cherry on top. www.chateaudaudrieu.com

Self-contained apartments at the Maison Matelot in Port-en-Bessin-Huppain

B&B/GÎTES

Auberge de la Luzerne

A short drive from Juno Beach, this freshly refurbished farmhouse in Bernières-sur-Mer boasts the tallest dovecote in Lower Normandy and offers a choice of hotel rooms, gîte facilities or a private studio. www.auberge-luzerne.fr

La Maison Matelot

La Maison Matelot’s three self-contained apartments in Port-en-Bessin-Huppain are a lesson in interior design! Midway between Parisian loft and beach house, the maritime theme blends effortlessly with more contemporary touches. www.lamaisonmatelot.com

Four Seasons

Fancy a sleepover with wild critters? Why not rent a log cabin on the edge of Cerza Safari Park near Lisieux. www.fourseasonsfrance.co.uk

RESTAURANTS

Dégustation de l’Île

An institution in Courseulles-sur-Mer, this seafood restaurant is one of
the most sought-after addresses in Calvados. Drop into the fishmongers/ deli next door and Mr Benoist may just treat you to an oyster tasting! www.restaurant-degustationdelile.fr

La Crémaillère

Overlooking Juno beach, La Crémailllère hotel and restaurant enjoys the best sea views in the entire Côte de Nacre – and the grub is quite a treat too. The seafood is literally ocean-fresh and the menu inventive. www.la-cremaillere.com

Le Bistrot d’à Côté

This small bistrot in Port-en-Bessin-Huppain certainly makes the most of its proximity to the sea. You can’t go wrong with the catch of the day. www.barque-bleue.fr

Le P’tit Bistrot

In the historic heart of Bayeux, this unassuming joint serves classic Normande fare with a twist. Bistronomy at its very best. www.leptitbistrot.com

Le Central

One of the finest hotel-brasseries in Trouville, it has retained many of the 1930s accoutrements that once charmed a coterie of artists and thinkers, not least author Marguerite Duras. The seafood platter is enough to feed a small army. le-central-trouville.com

Enjoy decidedly unfussy fare at Le Bougnat in Dives-sur-Mer

Chez Le Bougnat

Decked out in a jumble of antiques and retro knick-knacks, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled into a brocante. While the quirky ambience is one of the main draws of this Dives-sur-Mer eatery, it’s the cockles-warming fare that keeps locals coming back for more. www.chezlebougnat.fr

Bistrot Les Quatre Chats

All red lighting, Formica and 1950s banquettes, this American-style diner is the stomping ground of Hollywood A-listers in Trouville. Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Andy Garcia are long-time fans. www.facebook.com/les4chats

La Cantine de Deauville

The brasserie’s gargantuan portions have earned it a devoted clientele. Treat yourself to the oh-so indulgent café gourmand – a feast of four (not-so-mini) desserts washed down with an espresso! www.lacantinedeauville.fr

From France Today magazine