Page 411 - Lonely Planet France’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

Eating & Sleeping

combination. A palette of maroon and cream,
La Rochelle 1 with marble flourishes here and there, bestows
a regal feel on comfortable rooms. Bathrooms
4 Hôtel St-Nicolas Boutique Hotel €€ are lavished with ecofriendly products. The
(%05 46 41 71 55; www.hotel-saint-nicolas.com; 13 breakfast buffet is largely organic. Some
rue Sardinerie et place de la Solette; d/tr €125/145; recently upgraded rooms have mod cons such
paW) This stylish hotel, tucked in a peaceful as USB ports and coffee makers.
courtyard with delightful summer terrace, has
smart comfortable rooms with ultra-modern
bathrooms – think giant rain showers, heated Arles 7
towel rails and sweet-smelling welcome products. Design Hotel €€
A handful of rooms are across the courtyard in 4 Le Cloître
an equally inviting annexe, and breakfast (€12) (%04 88 09 10 00; www.hotel-cloitre.com;
is served in an indoor tropical garden. Check its 18 rue du Cloître; s €105, d €130-185; iW) ATLANTIC COAST 38 ATLANTIC TO MED
website for excellent-value deals. Proving you don’t need to spend a fortune for
originality and imagination, the 19 rooms at this
zingy hotel next to the Cloître Ste-Trophime
St-Émilion 2 combine history and modern design to winning
effect: bold colours, funky patterns and retro
5 La Terrasse Rouge French €€ furniture abound, and the rooftop terrace is a
(%05 57 24 47 05; www.laterrasserouge.com; stunning sundowner spot. The lavish breakfast
1 Château La Dominique; lunch menu €28; spread is (unusually) worth the €14 price tag.
hnoon-2.30pm & 7-11pm Jun-Sep, noon-
2.30pm & 7-11pm Fri & Sat, noon-2.30pm Sun-
Thu Oct-May) Foodies adore this spectacular Nice a
vineyard restaurant. Chefs work exclusively with
small local producers to source the seasonal 5 Le Bistrot
veg, fruit and so on used in their creative d’Antoine Modern French €€
cuisine. Oysters are fresh from Cap Ferret, (%04 93 85 29 57; 27 rue de la Préfecture; menus
caviar comes from Neuvic in the Dordogne and €25-43, mains €15-25; hnoon-2pm & 7-10pm
the wine list is, naturally, extraordinary. Tue-Sat) A quintessential French bistro, right
down to the checked tablecloths, streetside
tables and impeccable service – not to mention
Toulouse 5 the handwritten blackboard, loaded with classic
CaptionCaptionCaptionCaption
dishes like rabbit pâté, pot-cooked pork, blood
5 Le Genty Magre French €€€ sausage and duck breast. For classic French
(%05 61 21 38 60; www.legentymagre.com; food, this is a treat.
3 rue Genty Magre; mains €18-30, menu €38;
h12.30-2.30pm & 8-10pm Tue-Sat) Classic 4 Nice Garden
French cuisine is the order of the day here, but Hôtel Boutique Hotel €€
lauded chef Romain Brard has plenty of modern (%04 93 87 35 62; www.nicegardenhotel.com;
tricks up his sleeve, too. The dining room feels 11 rue du Congrès; s €75, d €90-123, tr €138;
inviting, with brick walls, burnished wood and hreception 8am-9pm; aW) Behind heavy
sultry lighting. It’s arguably the best place in the iron gates hides this gem: nine beautifully
city to try rich, traditional dishes such as confit appointed rooms – the work of the exquisite
de canard (duck confit) or cassoulet (stew). Marion – are a subtle blend of old and new and
overlook a delightful garden with a glorious
4 Hôtel Albert 1er Hotel €€ orange tree. Amazingly, all this charm and
(%05 61 21 47 49; www.hotel-albert1.com; 8 rue peacefulness is just two blocks from the
Rivals; d €65-145; aW) The Albert’s central promenade. Breakfast €9.
location and eager-to-please staff are a winning
409