Les Epis d'Or

What a fantastic place.

We arrived late, but our host was still there waiting for us, with a thoughtful touch that made us feel welcome right away. L'Épi d'Or is in the village square in L'Isle-sur-Sérien (Yonne), just 17 km from the motorway. It feels like the real French countryside, with the small cafés and restaurants that help keep villages alive, rather than a standardized chain hotel. The building looks onto a lovely 15th-century church. The café-restaurant, "L'Épi d'Or," has a local stone front and handsome wooden French doors with arches above them. It brought "Amélie" to mind. Inside, the bistro touches, including cement tiles and the typical bar, sit alongside a Buddhist atmosphere. We later learned that reflects the owner's wife's origins. We especially liked how comfortable and warm the rooms were, along with the immaculate shared areas, toilets, and bathrooms. They're spacious and typical of the region, with enormous wooden beds you don't see just anywhere. Getting to them means climbing a beautiful old staircase of stone and wood, worn smooth over time by all the people who've used it. A night's stay is €90, which seemed fair for what you get. Breakfast was generous and just what you'd expect at a village café-restaurant: baguette, butter, jams, fruit, a freshly baked croissant, orange juice, and coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. The menus show their prices clearly, with lunch at €14 and dinner at €18. There's a powerful charging station in the square across from the café, plus two more 150 meters away by the Gendarmerie. They're accessible by credit card, handy if you're travelling by electric car. A wonderful find for us.

The breakfast was excellent, and the rooms were tastefully done. The welcome was very warm, in a place with old-world charm.

There’s free public parking behind the hotel. Once you’re inside, it’s very nice, with an authentic café, breakfast, and restaurant area. The outside didn’t look very appealing to us, but don’t judge it by its cover. Our room was excellent, and the bathroom was bigger than in most hotels. Dinner and breakfast were both good. The owners are really friendly and know how to crack a joke. Good address!