OUISTREHAM Ft. Funny Fish
Date of visit – 22nd October 2025
SHELLFISH ARE RIFE IN NORMANDY. Travelling to Normandy is a must, unless plagued by shellfish allergies. Sweet, saline seafood, encased by shell. Prawns of all sizes, crabs bursting with meat and fat and of course, oysters. There’s more that trawl these shorelines. Caught, farmed, then sold alive, or plated: in Normandy’s oyster bars, bistros, restaurants.
Brittany, famous for its oysters; its huîtres in France, is synonymous with raising children to eat well, eat oysters. If you don’t believe me, see it for yourself. Take a look at a French school child’s menu in this reason to understand.
Where it’s the dream of many lovers of seafood – of shellfish and perhaps, simply oysters – to visit Brittany or in my case, Normandie, France, I quite fancied avoiding any tours. Perhaps even try oyster farming on a, well, an oyster farm.
So on the overnight ferry I popped from Portsmouth to Oistreham in Normandy, France. No, I hadn’t heard of it either (Ouistreham that is) but then Normandy is big. Being spoilt for choice deciding where to visit in Normandie, means only one thing. Coming back isn’t an option. On y va!..
What to eat in Normandy
Apart from oysters, food lovers will delight in Normandy’s famous four cheeses. Camembert is just the start. Other soft, less creamy characters, include Livarot. Heart shaped, the bonbon de Neufchâtel attracts the eye, making it a lovely cadeaux. Pont Lévêque formerly known as “l’angelot” is a high fat dairy devotee. (Yes that’s four cheeses. I double-checked).
More on dairy in Normandie, shortly. Back to oysters!
When eating or cooking something frequently, its anatomy becomes familiar. Although we’ve got oysters in England, they’re typically at fine dining spots; speciality shops, expensive gastropubs. They’re also a real faff to shuck and prepare at home. France has me curious about the anatomy on oyster, for the first time.
Harbouring a belief that oysters are to be savoured, bodes well with eating as many as possible in Normandy. As well as France, overall and in general. With intention, yet, no particular plan, finding a good oyster bar in Normandy isn’t difficult. Several oysters bars is a favourable. So we savour.
Oyster bar in Normandy
Funny Fish in Ouistreham has a menu that delights: its plethora of shellfish. On display, like at a fishmongers, where locals pop in to take home what they want for the day, as well at the bar. Not just any bar: it’s surrounded by tables and chairs to properly tuck in, if doing the bar stool thing isn’t fitting after the ferry.
There are four types of oysters to choose from. Naturally, I try them all (in the image of the oysters above). My oyster flavour bias goes to the creamy; sweet, slightly saline oyster. Papillon oyster (pictured but labelled incorrectly, due to lack of labels, as I was told) along with the Asnelles no. 3 oyster hit the spot. A single mouth full of three divinely interwoven tastes.
Above, the menu for funny fish in Ouistreham reflects it’s reasonable prices. For a superb shellfish selection: curated for all appetites and diner’s needs. Priced by weight, inclusions of accompanying beverage choices, detailing preference for whole or crab claw. Bread and butter is complimentary.
Not pictured are the lovely staff who know all the locals by name. They frequent Funny Fish to purchase their seafood for the day, having a pleasant chat as they go about their day.
Would I recommend Funny Fish in Ouistreham, Normandy?
Is Ouistreham worth visiting?
Normandy has unique charm; rooted in historic sites, Gothic and Medieval architecture. Waking up to walk is welcoming: for its sweeping countrysides; coastline, finding bakeries and bookstores to soak in life’s simpler significances.
Taking as much, or as little time over a meal, is encouraged either way. Speaking to locals at night in bistro lined streets of Central Caen is less done here as tourists come and go, off the ferries mostly.
To get away for a bit, explore before seeing for of Normandy, Ouistreham is worth spending at least a day in. Eat the oysters.
World class gastronomy can’t be faked. Deeply tied to real French resilience, their fight for freedom. Time doesn’t stand still, however, in spite of profound historical significances, stemming from World War II. It keeps moving with the waves; calmly, throughout the day, with a smile, a “Bonjour!”
With many places, such as Mont-Saint-Michel , Rouen, Dieppe, Caen etc to visit, is there any point to add Ouistreham to your travel itinerary?
Large, historically significant regions of France, possess City pockets from different jackets, that all fashionably fit a traveller’s itinerary. There’s no saying one town or City in the same region, will offer a better experience than another.
In other words, visit Ouistreham. Especially if you are an oyster lover, a shellfish lover or its your first time outside of Paris. Any Francophile, considering visiting parts of France that aren’t Paris, should visit the Northwestern region of Normandy.
The best oyster bar in Ouistreham, France
Taking pleasure in eating food is likely, dear reader, a reason for reaching here. Seeing fresh seafood and cheese from French food markets is thrilling. Discovering what’s in season, what locals purchase as daily produce. Eliciting further still, restaurant chefs may be here too, shopping for their work kitchens. What’s plated has the capacity to alter a return flight time. Or cancelling it, altogether.
Eating the best crab of my life in Normandy was unexpected. It came curtousy of my curiosity to wander, navigate streets lined with apartments, school. Crab of the meatiest, head fat laden kind takes a patience to find. Not to gate keep but it need its own article. This one is dedicated to the best oysters in Normandy.
Overall shellfish in Normandy France Ouistreham
Taste: 8/10
Service: 7.2/10
Value for Money: 8.5/10
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