NANTES: SURPRISINGLY FASHIONABLE, ALWAYS WELCOMING
HOW TO GET THERE
Air France offers flights via Hong Kong and Paris starting at NT$26,000 for a return excluding taxes.
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel Pommeraye (2 rue Boileau, 33-2-4048-7879; www.hotel-pommeraye.com) is centrally located and has a great staff and modern decor. Doubles start at US$81.
Hotel La Perouse (3 allee Duquesne, 33-2-4089-7500; www.hotel-laperouse.fr) is avant-garde yet welcoming. Prices start at US$109 a night.
WHERE TO EAT
La Petite Epicerie (14 rue du Chateau, 33-2-4048-6591).
Tabl'o Gourmand (6 alle Duquesne, 33-2-4047-5770, and 12 rue du Chateau, 33-2-5182-7913; www.tablo-gourmand.com) presents open-faced sandwiches, large salads, and desserts in two city locations.
Perched above the Loire with a panoramic view, L'Atlantide is an upper-crust mainstay (Centre des Salorges, 16 Quai Ernest Renaud, 33-2-4073-2323; www.restaurant-atlantide.net).
La Cigale is a fantastic 1895 Brasserie (4 Place Graslin, 33-2-5184-9494; www.lacigale.com).
WHERE TO HANG OUT
At the newly rehabbed Hangar a Bananes (21 Quai des Antilles; www.hangarabananes.com) you'll find the mod IDN Cafe (33-2-5182-8871) and Le Cargo restaurant (33-2-5182-8612).
Le Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne, 4 place Marc Elder, 33-2-5117-4948; www.chateau-nantes.fr.
Musee des Beaux-Arts de Nantes, 10 rue Georges-Clemenceau, 33-2-5117-4500.
Estuaire 2007 runs until Sept. 1. More details are at www.estuaire.info.
Source: NY TIME NEWS SERVICE
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