Hostellerie Saint Louis

The historic-style building is in a fairly quiet neighborhood, and the staff were welcoming. My room and bathroom were quite clean, though there was a stuffy smell as soon as I walked in, like the room hadn’t been aired out well. The dated carpet inside the building also bothered me. WiFi stopped working later in the evening. Otherwise, all good.

Dinner was the standout: three courses for a set €29, with a few extras included, and it was outstanding. The hotel is in rural Flanders, about 10 miles from St Omer, making it a good base for exploring the area. We were warmly welcomed, and the owner/manager spoke English. The room was well equipped, even with a kettle, and there are lovely gardens. I can’t recommend the place highly enough.

The building feels tired and dated. It’s clean and has what you need, but the updates seem to have been layered on rather than worked into the original, and it could use a proper refresh to appeal more to younger travellers. It brought back memories of Logis hotels I stayed in during the 80s and 90s. The restaurant is the reason I’d return: a wonderful menu, good service, and reasonable prices. The courteous, helpful staff also reaffirmed my trust in the Logis collection of independent hotels. The location is far enough from the channel crossings to avoid the mayhem, though it seems popular with plenty of other Brits.

We had a very comfortable bed and a comfy room, though the floorboards creak, probably because the building is old. Dinner was excellent, but it took its time: with just two courses, we spent nearly two hours in the restaurant. The ensuite has a shower over the bath, which isn’t ideal.