Alice, le bistrot - Manoir de la Mortière

The story

Alice, le bistrot at Manoir de la Mortière in Olonne-sur-Mer – French Bistro

Alice, le bistrot – a family affair in a medieval manor

In the quiet centre of Olonne-sur-Mer, just outside Les Sables d’Olonne, a medieval manor house has been brought back to life. Le Manoir de la Mortière is home to two very different dining experiences, and on the ground floor you will find Alice, le bistrot. This is the more casual, convivial side of the house, run by Marjorie and Nicolas Ferré with warmth and purpose.

The name Alice is no accident – it is a nod to the Ferrés’ daughter, who grew up alongside the project, sketching restaurant plans and dreaming of the table. The result is a place that feels personal, where the cooking is honest and the spirit is generous. As Marjorie puts it, “at Alice, we put homemade rillettes and bread on the table, we spread, we share.”

Simple, seasonal French cuisine

Nicolas Ferré and his team prepare everything on site: the terrines, the bread, the desserts, the mashed potatoes. There are no shortcuts here. The menu changes with the seasons and with what is available from the local market and from the family’s own farm, the Ferme de Beauregard. A recent lunch menu included œuf de Marans cocotte with parsley and parmesan, poitrine de cochon fermier de Vendée with a house-made BBQ glaze and gratin dauphinois, and an île flottante with Mexican vanilla. The cooking is French, traditional and generous – the kind that makes you want to linger.

A Michelin-recommended address

The quality of what Nicolas Ferré does has not gone unnoticed. Alice, le bistrot – and the Manoir de la Mortière as a whole – has been recognised by the Michelin guide, a testament to the consistency and care that defines the kitchen. Whether you come for the bistrot’s hearty dishes or for the more refined creations at GAIA upstairs, the philosophy is the same: respect for the ingredient, for the season and for the people at the table.

A place to gather

The dining room at Alice is warm and unpretentious, with a medieval stone setting that has been restored with attention to light and texture. Accompaniments are placed in the middle of the table, encouraging the kind of shared meal that feels like lunch at a friend’s house. Private rooms are available for events, but the heart of the bistrot is its everyday welcome: a place to come with family, with colleagues or simply on your own, and to leave feeling well fed.