The Bouffay is the oldest part of Nantes, a compact tangle of medieval streets behind the cathedral that survived the 18th and 19th-century urban expansion relatively intact. The timber-framed houses, narrow lanes, and small squares give it a character quite different from the rest of the city. The Rue de la Juiverie was the centre of the medieval Jewish quarter.
The Bouffay is the main restaurant and bar district of old Nantes — the streets are packed with restaurants from French traditional to Vietnamese, Breton crêperies, and wine bars. It's the obvious choice for dinner, particularly on a warm evening when the streets are lively until late.