Le Café des Arts, Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche – Bib Gourmand Modern Cuisine
In the quiet village of Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche, in the Vendée countryside, Le Café des Arts is the project of chef Antoine Préteux and his wife, Virginie. The restaurant opened its doors in November 2018, the culmination of a career spent cooking alongside some of France's most respected chefs.
Antoine Préteux’s route here was deliberate. He trained in pastry and cuisine, then worked as an apprentice with Bernard Robin at the two-Michelin-starred Relais de Bracieux, followed by stints at La Bastide Saint Antoine in Grasse and at Edouard Loubet’s two-star Bastide de Capelongue, where he absorbed a passion for wild edible herbs. Later, he was second chef at Thierry Drapeau’s two-star La Chabotterie. The move to open his own place, with Virginie managing the front of house, was a natural next step.
The cooking is grounded in local produce. The restaurant describes its food as “cuisine raffinée, issue tant que possible d’une agriculture locale” – refined, and sourced from local farms wherever possible. The current menu (spring 2026) shows that approach in practice: roasted asparagus with orange and coconut, langoustines with soufflé bread and a head reduction, and kid goat in an herb crust with an artichoke barigoule tart. A St Nectaire cheese course with cereals and citrus, and a dessert of honey, milk, and flowers round out the meal. Guests can choose from a three-, four-, or five-part tasting format, with optional wine pairings.
The atmosphere is deliberately understated: sober and relaxed. There is a small lounge for an aperitif or coffee before or after the meal, a detail that regulars mention warmly. The restaurant’s quality has been recognised with a Michelin Bib Gourmand, an award that highlights good quality, good value cooking. For Le Café des Arts, this nod from the guide confirms what its diners already describe: a table that delivers the precision of a starred kitchen without the formality.
Le Café des Arts is a restaurant built on a clear partnership – chef and host, kitchen and dining room – serving modern cuisine that respects its Vendée roots. It is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and for Sunday lunch.
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