Hotel Restaurant & Spa La Magdeleine - Mathias Dandine

For our 20th anniversary, my wife and I stayed here for a few days and used the hotel as a base to explore the region. Genenos is a small provence town, and we had a lovely time. The staff were warm and kind, and our room was wonderful. We added breakfast and each morning left full and ready to head out. We also had a couples massage that left us feeling invigorated. Twice during our stay the staff left us fruit and pastries, a lovely surprise. Dinner at the restaurant was amazing: we chose the five-course menu, with an amuse bouche and a wonderful cheese cart, and were glad we added the wine pairing. We got to try some sweet dessert wines we otherwise wouldn't have. Even though we were already stuffed, the desserts were the night's highlight. My wife had an amazing chocolate taste, and I had Baba au Rhum, unlike any other Rum baba I've had. I highly recommend it for a romantic stay in Provence.

(Review for the restaurant only) I booked lunch at the one star Michelin restaurant through its website for 31 December, then called right away to discuss a few things and confirm the booking. A month later, they told me the restaurant wouldn't open for lunch that day, so my reservation was cancelled. By then the other couple of places I had considered were full, leaving me basically without options. This is terrible service before I even walked in the door, and shouldn't happen at a Michelin star restaurant. (Update following a reply to my comment from the business) 1. The business replied: “Our Michelin-starred restaurant was indeed closed on December 31st for LUNCH”. That's the issue. The website let me book lunch at its Michelin-starred restaurant on 31 December, and they confirmed it by phone straight after. Later, they decided not to open for lunch and cancelled the booking, by which time the alternatives I'd first considered were no longer available. 2. The business also said: “we had proactively contracted you to explain this and offer an alternative”. That's false. Over two days, I got contradictory information by email and from three different people at the business on the phone. Nobody could tell me whether my reservation would be honoured. Eventually someone said it would be cancelled. They offered the cafe/bistrot instead, but that's clearly a very different experience from a Michelin-starred restaurant, so I politely declined. 3. They also wrote: “it is unfortunate that you chose to post a negative review without engaging with us further or considering the solution we proposed”. I did consider the cafe/bistrot, but it's not an equivalent option. As for engaging further, after four phone calls, emails and a lot of contradictory information, I'm not sure what else I could have said. Still happy to discuss it further if you wish.

The outdoor seating feels both elevated and relaxed, and we could have stayed there for hours. The restaurant sits in an idyllic French garden with lovely ambient lighting and gave us an exceptional meal from start to finish. Service was among the best I've experienced, warm, attentive and refined; the owner welcomed us personally and made us feel cared for. The ingredients were remarkably fresh, and the menu treated them with elegance and restraint. I especially liked the beautifully composed tomato appetizer and the standout lobster dish, delicate, flavourful and artfully prepared, with the pure essence of the sea. We also stayed on the property and loved the quiet beauty of the French countryside. The peaceful, picturesque grounds made a perfect retreat after a day exploring Provence. A serene and memorable culinary escape, highly recommended for travellers, romantic dates or celebrations with friends and family.

The restaurant is definitely worth a meal. There are three menus to choose from, each offering a glimpse of local culture with real finesse. The staff were professional, informative, helpful and kind. I loved the beautiful garden, the views and the charming outdoor seating, and my spacious room had large windows and a lovely bathtub. Even the little design touches, from the keys to the pottery at the breakfast buffet, were thoughtfully done. An idyllic slice of Provence. I can't wait to come back.