Hôtel Le Pré

The eight-course menu had the best flavor combinations I've come across, and the small staff team were exceptionally friendly and helpful, even by Relais & Châteaux standards. We stayed two nights on our way south, mainly to visit Puy de Dôme again. I hadn't realized from booking through Expedia for once that this was a Relais & Châteaux hotel or that the chef had two Michelin stars. Those credentials speak for themselves, so that's all I'll add. The setting is practical rather than touristy, but with Puy de Dôme right nearby, landscaped gardens aren't needed.

The relaxed, warm service felt professional and attentive throughout our meal at Le Pré near Clermont-Ferrand. The sommelier's wine pairings worked beautifully with the food, and the kitchen handled the vegetarian in our group with just as much care as the rest of the tasting menu. Fresh herbs from the chef's garden brought a lovely touch to the subtle flavors in each course. Everything was executed with real skill, and the dishes showed plenty of creativity. We had an extraordinary evening and would gladly recommend it to anyone after a memorable meal.

The hotel had a great atmosphere, and breakfast was great too. We didn't get to have dinner there, unfortunately, but I hope we can return and try it another time.

We loved the service, the beautiful dining room, and the incredible breakfast. The restaurant itself was fantastic, one of the most inventive and delicious two-star places we've eaten. We chose the seven-course tasting menu, and the floral notes and forest flavors, including spruce ice cream, were wonderful. The rooms looked nice, but didn't live up to the restaurant. They weren't very expensive, though we ran into a few problems. Our window faced the road, so it was noisy, and the room was very hot. For some reason the floor was hot too, maybe because it was above the kitchen. The air conditioning was set to "efficiency" and would switch itself to 23c at random. We couldn't open the window because of smoke from the kitchen. Better ventilation, nicer towels and bedding, and an extra soundproof door could easily bring the rooms closer to the restaurant's standard.