Ardent

The story

Ardent in Tours – Michelin-Recommended Dining in the Loire Valley

Ardent – A Dialogue with the Forest

In the Loire Valley, just south of Tours, the restaurant Ardent occupies a light-filled space within the Loire Valley Lodges estate. Chef Thomas Besnault leads the kitchen with a philosophy that is both elemental and precise: “What drives me in my work is to stir emotion, to create surprise. At Ardent, we play this melody with the living notes of the forest, the flame, and the superb products of our organic farm.”

The menu changes regularly, shaped by the day’s catch from the woodland floor and the estate’s own farm. For the Summer Session 2026, Ardent is open daily for lunch and dinner, offering a carte and daily suggestions that evolve to showcase the best of the season. The chef’s foraging in the surrounding forest is not a garnish but the backbone of each plate, lending a wild, aromatic signature to every course.

This approach has earned the restaurant a Michelin Recommended distinction in 2026, a recognition that speaks to the clarity and sincerity of the cooking. The dining room, with its air conditioning and outdoor seating, invites guests to linger over an interesting wine list that complements the kitchen’s wood-fired, farm-driven cuisine. The atmosphere is relaxed yet attentive, reflecting the estate’s broader philosophy of slow, thoughtful hospitality.

Ardent is a place where the forest, the farm, and the flame meet on the plate. No fuss, no pretence – just the quiet confidence of a chef who knows exactly what he wants to say.