What to do & where to eat in Saint Martin de Ré

We’ve just come back from a wonderful few days away staying in Galathée to celebrate my daughter Lili’s 21st birthday. After eating and drinking ourselves silly, I thought I’d do a round-up of my favourite places to eat, drink and things to do while on the island.
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Eat

  • Le Bistrot du Marin – delicious home-cooking in informal surroundings. For meat eaters, you absolutely have to order the Côte de Bœuf, a delicious cut of beef to share between two. Served with chips and the perfect accompaniment to a glass of red, make sure you head to Bistrot du Marin hungry!
  • Les Colonnes – a family run hotel, Les Colonnes is a great spot for a reasonably priced light lunch of galettes and a gin fizz.
  • Cote Jardin – this is a special restaurant with a gorgeous courtyard out the back. The fish dishes are exquisite and the house wine delicious.
  • Les Embruns – great music, tasty cocktails and mind-blowing food, Les Embruns combines unusual, seasonal flavours with delicious results.
  • La Martiniere – you can’t come to Saint Martin and not have an ice cream or a box of macarons from La Martiniere. Try the wide range of ice cream flavours at the waterfront counter or visit the cute shop tucked away in the side streets for macarons, cakes and other sweet delights.
  • Visit the Biere shop and pick up all manner of weird and wonderful beers from around the world. So far we’ve tried a coconut beer, raspberry beers and good old fashioned blonde Belgian beers. Some are questionable, some are delicious and it’s fun going in and picking a random selection!
  • Dine beach side and order the island’s famous oysters or, if you’re not such a fan, a delicious pan of Moules. Cabanajam is one of the best places to stop off during a cycle ride and enjoy a light lunch of mussels and white wine.
  • Go the to local marché and shop for dinner to make at home (if you’re self-catered) that evening. Fresh fruit, an array of seafood, fresh bread and pastries, saucisson and scrumptious salads are on offer.

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Do

  • Hire bicycles from one of the bike shops in Saint Martin and cycle as far as you like around the island. There are lots of different routes you can take, either round the shoreline or from harbour village to harbour village.
  • Climb the Church Saint-Martin‘s tower and get a stunning view across the island and out to sea.
  • Have spa treatments at La Baronnie Hotel & Spa. This beautiful 18th-century manor house hotel has beautiful gardens, sumptuous rooms and a spa with a pool, whirlpool and sauna. You don’t have to be a guest to book in for a treatment and we can vouch for their full  body massages – they’re fantastic!

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