24h Le Mans
Le Mans, ignite your senses | The 24 Hours of Le Mans whets more than an appetite for exciting on-track thrills. It’s also an invitation to a culinary journey. Let’s look at some of the eating experiences to be enjoyed at the event.
With over 60 eateries spread all over the circuit, the 24 Hours of Le Mans offers an array of delights for all tastes. A wide variety of foods to satisfy the healthiest of appetites: fresh salads, crusty pizzas, scrumptious burgers, sweet and savoury pancakes, cheesy chips, empanadas, donuts, focaccias, tasty grills and even seafood. Each mealtime offers a unique opportunity to taste something just a little different at one of the many stalls.
But whatever you fancy, you simply have to try out these establishments at some point during your stay. At Le Bon Bœuf, race fans can enjoy succulent French beef in a jovial atmosphere. P'tit Délice uses fresh, local ingredients in preparing tasty organic buckwheat galettes, sweet crêpes and churros. For those who prefer table service, La Brasserie’s staff are keen to share their know-how of traditional Brittany cuisine with discerning diners.
Finally, a visit to La Taverne is almost a ritual for many racegoers. The restaurant has been a fixture here since 1955, welcoming diners eager to enjoy a hearty meal of fresh salad, juicy grilled meat and its generously flavoured and perfectly cooked pork shank.
More exclusive gourmet experiences also await at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The VIP hospitality venues offer visitors an opportunity to sample refined delicacies. The Starter 24 venue at the Karting des 24 Heures du Mans serves local produce in a cosy bistro-style setting.
Looking for a place with a livelier atmosphere? Then the festive Pavillon 24 at the heart of the race village will be right up your street. Le Mans Spirit Club, a stone’s throw from the paddock, takes diners on a culinary journey inspired by the countries hosting a round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, with specialities from Italy, Brazil, the USA, Japan and Bahrain. This eatery serves dishes from around the globe all day in an elegant, cosmopolitan setting.
Lovers of French cuisine should head to Panoramic 24 – on the fourth and sixth floors of the ACO’s headquarters – where the chefs work with the very best local and regional produce. Endurance is the name of the game for the chefs and kitchen staff in these venues too as they serve up meals to visitors at all times of all day and night during the race. Here, VIPs can enjoy something to eat without worrying about the time. Like a driver between two stints, you can even tuck into a plate of chicken and pasta at 3 a.m.!
Food workshops and tasting sessions add a special ingredient to the VIP experience. For instance, a wine producer from south-west France stages a presentation in Panoramic 24, pancakes and ice creams are specially prepared before sweet-toothed visitors, and cocktails are mixed for guests to sip at their leisure. Every year, caterers take up the challenge to innovate with ever more sophisticated dishes. Delighted guests enjoy a culinary experience befitting of the legendary race.
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Staying awake during the 24 Hours of Le Mans demands coffee. For spectators, a nice espresso or a strong, black coffee is an important ally in keeping on top of the race action. But fans are not the only ones who indulge. Down in the pits, mechanics knock back cup after cup to keep their focus sharp through the night while journalists in the press room also appreciate its benefits as they strive to stay alert to report the latest incidents. Available all around the track, coffee is simply a symbol of resistance!
During the French endurance classic, mealtimes aren’t simply an opportunity to “take on board fuel”. They are also a moment of pleasure and conviviality. Whether you sit down for an improvised picnic with friends or join the whole family at a table in the race village, these are precious moments where you can talk about the race, share stories and recall the feats of drivers and teams of the past.
One fine example is a group of friends – mostly Club ACO members – from all over France and further afield. Over the last 15 years or so, they have established a tradition of meeting up at the Houx campsite every Friday of race week for a memorable lunch. Each one of them brings a speciality from their own region or country. Laughter and recollections abound as culinary differences become something to be shared and savoured. But, above all, it is an excellent opportunity to strength the special bond that unites these race fans year after year.
A visit to the 24 Hours of Le Mans also offers a chance to tempt your tastebuds with some local delicacies that honour the gastronomy of La Sarthe. One of the most renowned products is the famous shortbread biscuit, baked with fresh butter. These biscuits have been made in the Pays de la Loire region since the 17th century and have become a true institution. The biscuit comes in several flavours but all are guaranteed to melt in your mouth! The celebrated manufacturer La Sablésienne even produces special 24 Hours of Le Mans tins – perfect for collectors and biscuit lovers!
Another of the region’s specialities is of course the potted meat known as Rillettes du Mans. Pouic-Cochon, renowned for its authentic pork-based products, has designed an original 24 Hours of Le Mans three-pack with new flavours: chorizo, thyme and lemon. These variations bring a new twist to this well-loved favourite with its unique texture and savoury taste.
Sweet-toothed visitors will not be able to resist the chocolates produced by Bellanger. This artisan chocolate maker has produced a unique Bolides des Hunaudières collection in honour of the cars that speed down the famous Mulsanne Straight. Each milk chocolate car has a deliciously crisp filling while the dark chocolate models have a tasty butterscotch flavour. Another variety is filled with a select combination of Italian hazelnut praline and peanut praline that conceals an oasis of butterscotch.
Finally, to quench your thirst, "Les Hunaudières” by Délices et Casteloir is a citrus cordial also inspired by the circuit’s celebrated straight. This creation is a tangy, alcohol-free alternative to a fruit liqueur and brings the refreshing zip of citrus fruits to a variety of cocktails and mocktails.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans offers an experience to stimulate all the senses. The smell of food designed to whet the appetite, the pleasure of sitting down to enjoy a meal with family, friends or fellow race fans, and the delight of tasting authentic products create a culinary adventure that brings an extra dimension to the race. Whether you come to Le Mans for the cars or for the atmosphere, there is always a dish, snack or treat to tantalise your tastebuds and make the experience a memorable one.
Since 2019, the ACO has set new targets on sustainable development matters. We have therefore put initiatives into place to reinforce the positive impact of our events on the community. In particular, we select restaurateurs committed to an environmentally friendly approach that benefits the local economy. Our commitment to responsible catering includes reducing our carbon footprint and encouraging farm-to-fork systems which rely on local producers.
We have also entered into a partnership with Les Restos du Cœur food banks. Through this arrangement, unconsumed food is collected at the end of the event and redistributed to the needy. The amount of food collected has risen from 1567 kg in 2019 to a staggering 10.28 tonnes in 2024, highlighting the growing impact of this commitment. This partnership illustrates how sport can aid those less fortunate and how a spectacular sporting occasion like the 24 Hours of Le Mans can become a socially responsible event.
