Abbaye De La Bussiere

The grounds are beautiful, and the dessert was good. The venison was cooked well, too, and the sommelier was friendly. Still, we left early and probably wouldn’t return. There wasn’t anything to do, some staff were hostile or indifferent, and the rooms felt very dated. The bistro was closed, leaving the gastronomic restaurant as our option. The meal was a mess. The lightly poached fish was hammered into a mess, the sauce work was a zero out of ten, and the foie gras was sinewy. The tomato starter tasted like uncooked passata, and something on the fish tasted like canned fruit. The presentation was the worst part, all grey and brown. The grey, deflated sabayon seemed like it needed a health warning, and broth poured over aubergine mash looked shockingly bad. My wife sent most of the plates back untouched, and nobody checked on us.

In June 2025, we waited two hours and got only one cold starter while other tables received their meals. My wine never came, and there was no main course. The soup that eventually arrived was clearly being held and served cold on purpose. This happened after a middle-aged male staff member with short, curly, greying hair, who seemed to be a permanent presence, decided not to serve us properly. He was selectively cold, dismissive, and petty. Food was delayed until cold, drinks didn’t arrive, and we were left sitting for hours without even water. If you’ve been there more than five minutes without a menu or water, I’d leave. We learned the hard way that patience and kindness didn’t change the outcome. We were polite and respectful the whole time. I smiled, waited, made no demands, and treated him as an equal, as we do when we travel. He didn’t return that kindness. This kind of behavior is unprofessional and undercuts what a Michelin-recognized restaurant should stand for. Staff should offer basic hospitality rather than use their position to punish guests at their whim. It’s a shame this is allowed at a restaurant listed in the Michelin Guide. I genuinely feel sorry for someone who treats people this way, and hope he never has to experience the same while traveling.

The rooms are a little old, and there are no baby cribs. Even so, we found the hotel beautiful, with a carefully maintained front garden and back garden that were lovely to stroll through. Inside, it’s well cared for, with antiques and lots of meticulous details. There’s parking with Tesla charging stations, and the food at 1311 restaurant was delicious with excellent service.

We ate at the Bistro since the gastronomic restaurant was closed during our stay, and the food was outstanding, every dish delicious. The staff were very kind and helpful. There are several rooms to explore, including men's and women's lounges and a music room with an old gramophone. Our Prestige room had a small balcony looking out over the lake and garden. The restored Abbaye is a beautiful 12th-century English-style castle, and the whole place, including the forested surroundings, felt scenic and peaceful. We had so many wine tasting tours planned in Burgundy that we couldn’t spend as much time here as we wanted. Next time, we’d love to relax in the gardens and spend time by the lake. We had an amazing stay and would recommend it to anyone wanting a peaceful stay in a 12th-century castle. We’ll certainly come back.