All the information provided here is for guidance purposes only and is subject to change or error.
Shops
LOCAL AMENITIES
Groceries
In Léhon, at 46 Rue du Bas Bourgneuf, there is a lovely boulangerie/pâtisserie (bakers) which sells fresh loaves and croissants for your usual day-to-day requirements along with a wonderful selection of pastries. Just follow the pedestrianised road at the side of Val Rive, up towards the Abbey, until you reach the main road to Dinan where you will see it opposite. The shop is closed on Mondays.
Another good boulangerie/pâtisserie ‘La Maison Tatie Jeanne’ can be found at the port of Dinan (on the corner, next to the bridge) and is open every day from 8am to 7pm, except Wednesdays.
The Intermarché supermarket in Lanvallay is the nearest to Val Rive and should have everything you might require. It’s open from 9am to 7:45pm Monday to Saturday and until 1pm on Sundays. Drive over the bridge opposite Val Rive and up the hill and take the first left turn. Follow this road straight into Lanvallay, and you will reach a T-junction. Turn left and it is on your right-hand side as you approach the town centre. There’s also a great boulangerie/pâtisserie on the same road, next to the traffic lights.
Other large supermarkets are to be found heading out of Dinan on the Rue de Cassepot towards St Brieuc (Leclerc, Lidl and Carrefour) and on the D66 towards Dinard (Lidl and Intermarché). For further grocery essentials in the centre of Dinan, there’s the Monoprix store on Rue du Marchix (open 9am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday) and the Carrefour City store at Place Ducos (open 7am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and until 1pm on Sunday). Pharmacies are also plentiful in and around Dinan.
The ‘Cave des Jacobins’ wine shop at Rue Sainte-Claire in Dinan has a wonderful selection of wines, popular with locals, and offers expert advice with very good English spoken. Tourist shops are plentiful in the historical centre of Dinan, but there are many other shops to peruse and perhaps find something to take home. St. Malo also has a good selection of shops.
Markets
There are many markets throughout the week in the region. Dinan has a good-sized general market on Thursday mornings at Place du-Guesclin. In the winter months, there are Autumn and Christmas markets. ‘Les Halles’ is a small covered market in central Dinan, open every day except Monday, from 8am – 2pm and until 7pm on Friday and Saturday. The fresh produce from this largely rural and seafaring region is of fantastic quality, and the Breton cider is good value too. For a comprehensive list of market days in Brittany, click here.
Details of various ‘brocantes/vide greniers’ (antique fairs/car boot sales) are in an Annual Calendar of Brocantes book available to buy at newsagents.
Restaurants, Cafés & Bars
Restaurants
La Marmite de L’Abbaye
We whole-heartedly recommend ‘La Marmite de L’Abbaye’ just around the corner in the street (Rue du Bourg) immediately to the side of Val Rive. It’s an extremely friendly convivial restaurant, with simple home-cooked food, using only the best locally sourced ingredients at reasonable prices. It recently won a good restaurant award (one of only two in the Dinan area).
The husband and wife team offer a very traditional service. Gerard previously worked at a Michelin Star restaurant on Mont Saint-Michel. Maryse speaks mostly French but some English. They don’t market themselves on the internet or with social media, relying purely on reputation and word of mouth. Pre-booking is advised as they prefer to restrict the number of guests so as to offer their very best service. Open 12-2pm and 7-9pm (closed Monday and Tuesday).
Tel: +33 (0)2 96 87 39 39
Le Bistro du Viaduc
We ventured up to the ‘Le Bistro du Viaduc’ restaurant on our last trip and would certainly recommend it for both the fabulous food and magnificent views over the valley from its lofty position adjacent to the viaduct. Open 12-2pm and 6:45-9:30pm (closed Saturday lunchtime, Sunday evening and all day on Mondays).
22 Rue du Lion d’Or, 22100 Lanvallay
Tel: +33 (0)2 96 85 95 00
Dinan has plenty of good restaurants, and some of these have been recommended by our guests…
Le Cantorbery
“Very good, nice atmosphere, friendly staff and reasonable prices.”
Open 12-2pm and 7-9pm (closed Wednesday evenings and all day on Sundays)
6 Rue Sainte-Claire, 22100 Dinan
Tel: +33 (0)2 96 39 02 52
Chez la Mère Pourcel
“An excellent meal with attentive staff in beautiful surroundings. Be sure to leave room for dessert!”
Open 12-2pm and 7-10pm (closed Wednesdays and Thursdays)
3 Place des Merciers, 22100 Dinan
Tel: +33 (0)2 96 39 03 80
Chez Odette Bongrain
Located in the heart of Port de Dinan, this cosy restaurant serves an excellent selection of meat, fish and pasta dishes. The daily fixed menu offers good value for money.
Open 12-2:30pm and 7-9:30pm (closed Wednesday evenings and all day on Thursdays)
9 Rue du Quai, 22100 Dinan
Tel: +33 (0)2 96 87 57 51
La Fleur de Sel
One of a few restaurants sampled by renowned cook, writer and broadcaster Rachel Khoo on her Brittany tour. It’s more experimental than others.
Open 12-2pm and 7-10:30pm (closed Sunday evenings and all day on Mondays)
7 Rue St Clair, 22100 Dinan
Tel: +33 (0)2 96 85 15 14
Cosy
This small restaurant offers great, inexpensive food right in the centre of Dinan.
Open 12-2pm and 7-9pm Monday to Wednesday and until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays (closed Thursdays and Sundays)
11 Rue de la Poissonnerie, 22100 Dinan
Tel: +33 (0)2 96 85 06 50
Cecco
Right next door to Cosy Restaurant, this great Italian restaurant offers a delicious alternative to the traditional French cuisine.
Open 12-2pm and 7-10pm every day except Sundays and Mondays
15 Rue de la Poissonnerie, 22100 Dinan
Tel: +33 (0)2 96 85 15 32
Crêperie Ahna
Crêpes and galettes (savoury pancakes) are a speciality of the region. This one comes highly recommended by our guests, but you might want to book first as it can get very busy.
Open 11:45am-1:30pm and 7:45-11:30pm Monday to Saturday (closed Sunday)
7 Rue de la Poissonnerie, 22100 Dinan
Tel: +33 (0)2 96 39 09 13
Located elsewhere in Brittany, you might also wish to consider these…
Restaurant Les Terrasses, Logis du Lac Hotel
We liked this restaurant in Combourg that we recently discovered. Good standard set meal and good wine selection (‘Formule midi’ was €14.50 and ‘Menu Decouverte du terroir’ €25.00).
2 Place Chateaubriand, 35270 Combourg
Tel: +33 (0)2 99 73 05 65
Le Chalut
Not tried by us, but featured in magazine articles and with good website reviews, ‘Le Chalut’ at St Malo is highly rated (Michelin star standard).
8 Rue de la Corne de Cerf, 35400 Saint-Malo
Tel: +33 (0)2 99 56 71 58
Alain Audineau
We discovered this seafood wholesaler on our most recent visit to the region and really enjoyed a delicious plate of prawns and oysters in the adjoining café.
Baie de la Fresnaye, Rue du Marais,
Port à la Duc, 22240 Fréhel
Tel: +33 (0)2 96 41 06 68
Cafés & Bars
L’Absinthe Cafe
A lovely location to stop for a coffee or drink. You can sit outside, opposite the delightful square of Saint Sauveur that regularly has antique and flower markets. Next door you will find the equally popular Saint Sauveur Pub, and there’s a second-hand bookshop opposite if you need something to read while you’re seated.
Open 9am-10pm every day
15 Place Saint-Sauveur, 22100 Dinan
Tel: +33 (0)2 96 87 39 28
There are many bars on Rue de la Cordonnerie, in Dinan. This street has been rebaptised ‘Thirst Street’ on account of there being nine bars in less than fifty yards. The narrow street has no traffic, so tables are set up outside. It tends to get very busy in the evening.
Port de Dinan also has numerous places to enjoy a refreshing drink, tasty baguette or perhaps a crêpe/galette alongside the river.
Getting Around
Taxis
Duguesclin Direct
1 Rue du Bas Bourgneuf, Léhon, 22100 Dinan
Tel: +33 (0)2 96 39 67 20
Petrol Stations
Petrol stations can be found on the outskirts of Dinan, mostly close to the supermarkets.
The petrol station at the ‘Super U’ supermarket to to north of Pleurtuit (off the D64 road) is handily close to Dinard Airport if you are returning a hire car (open 8:45am – 8pm).
Parking
If you’ve hired a car for your stay, you may find the following information useful. Parking is charged Monday to Saturday 09.00 to 12.00 (midday) and again from 14.00 to 19.00 hrs. Parking is free at lunchtimes between 12 and 2pm and after 7pm, and all day on Sundays and bank holidays.
At the time of writing, the red parking zones (most of the town centre) cost €0.6 / 30 mins and the green parking zones (eg Rue Carnot) cost €0.3 / 30 mins. Coins are required. The most obvious place to park for easy access to the old town is ‘Place du Guesclin’, but obviously this is closed on Thursdays for the market. There’s also parking by the Château de Dinan at ‘Place Saint-Louis’.