Thirty-minute stop in the station! The Plouharnel-Carnac train station, which is only used in the summer months, felt quite sad before Julie Rousselet and Magali Touchard took up SNCF’s offer to renovate it. And what a successful reconversion, thanks to this eco-friendly café/eatery complete with deck chairs, a pétanque field and a permaculture garden, where you’ll see Elton, the station masters’ little dog, wandering around. And where we devour local eats, like the day we went for lunch, with a lovely hot dog (sorry Elton!) made with sausage from Le Lavandier, bread from Le Fournil d’Evan, homemade relish and fried onions, plus a generous side of grilled feta with honey and wild oregano; a bun sandwich filled with a pesto cream, mozzarella di bufala and mortadella for the carnivores among you. For dessert (or a snack), there are fat chocolate-hazelnut cookies or extremely local buckwheat ice cream from Le Verger Perdu run by Yoann Gouéry. Snacks are available any time of day, with homemade tzatziki or rillettes from La Ferme du Park, and summer seafood platters for indulgent summer nights. // Guillaume Bulot 

FEELING THIRSTY? Local soft drinks (sparkling Schorle from Les Filles de l’Ouest, available in rhubarb, redcurrant or lemon-ginger, €4.50), Gualala cold brew (€4.50), juices of the day (hibiscus, strawberry purée, lemon and agave, €5), beers (organic Brasserie L’Oblique, €4.50) and local ciders, plus some Loire wines (Muscadet from Batard Langelier, €3.50 a glass). 
PRICE: À la carte €17.20 to €22, brunch €25, €15 for kids’ under 12 (one Sunday a month).