• an excellent award-winning restaurant
• bar and grill
• Bar/Tabac - cafe, newspapers, tabac, fishing permits 
• pizzeria and ice cream parlour
• general store (8am - 8pm)
• 2 bread vans (9.40 and 11am outside the house)
• other passing vans including fish vans on Wednesdays and Fridays
• delicatessen
• souvenir shop
• hotel and restaurant
• butcher
• Post Office
• Tourist Info
• various artisan shops
• antique centre
• boat rental
• bike hire (La Bicyclette Verte)
• Petrol station and car mechanics
• Doctors surgery
• Even 'La Sapphire' a night club!

The nearest large supermarket is in Magne, a very pretty drive through Coulon and about 15 minutes away. 

For all your others needs, La Rochelle or Niort are about half an hour by car.

We liked Arcais straight away because we didn't have to keep jumping in the car to get croissants, have a beer, ice-cream, pop out for a meal.

It is a place where you can relax and forget the car for a couple of days, get on your bike or get in your boat!