Highly recommend Hotel de Biencourt in Azay-le-Rideau. The innkeepers could not have been nicer. They were incredibly helpful and pleasant. Our room was very clean and comfortable, and the building is charming, with a courtyard area where you can sit and have breakfast, weather permitting. The breakfast was delicious too!
This village is southwest of some of the most popular Loire Valley chateaux, which means it's a bit off the beaten track. The lovely chateau of Azay-le-Rideau is just a stone's throw from this hotel, and the chateaux of Villandry and Chinon (actually more accurately described as a fortress -- and well worth a visit!) are each about half hour's drive, to the north and southwest respectively. To the east/northeast it's about an hour to Chenonceaux, and to the west about an hour to Saumur.
There are several excellent restaurants in town as well as more casual eateries and a weekly outdoor market where we bought picnic food.