Hostellerie de l'Abbaye de La Celle

The restaurant stood out, with such fresh food that all the aromas came through, and breakfast was just as well handled. Staff were friendly and always ready to help, while the hotel and its services met every expectation and often exceeded them. Even the little details lifted the whole stay. It was flawless, and I hope to return many times.

A beautiful spot with a stunning garden, great food, and a strong wine list. One thing to know if you’re dining without staying at the hotel: we were seated in a less attractive room and given the trainee waiter, which made us feel like second-tier guests. For an indoor booking, ask for the main room.

My partner became seriously ill after eating seafood at La Craie Des Mets. He has no food allergies and has never reacted that way to seafood before, so we felt the meal may have been spoiled or poorly prepared. He spent a sleepless night on the bathroom floor, then lost the next day to pain and diarrhea. Not what you want on the first day of a holiday in France. I told the hotel staff what had happened and expected them to offer breakfast or help get a refund for the meal, but they didn’t. After I spent an hour at reception, staff spoke with the La Craie Dea Mets manager. What I heard was that the restaurant wasn’t at fault for my partner getting sick. That response fell far short of the service I expected from a five-star hotel. We had chosen the hotel because it had an Alain DuCasse restaurant, but only learned after booking that it was closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The booking confirmation told us, and when we asked to cancel, we weren’t allowed to do so free of charge. Reception instead offered to book us dinner at nearby La Craie Des Mets. The food there was very average, overpriced, and served quite cold. The hotel itself also felt more like a four-star place than a five-star one. It lacked the luxury touches and service I expected. It might be okay for a single night if you want dinner at the restaurant, but I wouldn’t stay longer. This was our first holiday in the South of France, and we won’t be back. We’ve been to many places in Europe and remote islands like the Maldives and Mauritius without ever having such a bad experience.

Lunch with friends last year was fantastic, and everyone was happy. This year, 2020, was a real disappointment. The food was so heavy and fatty, with hardly any vegetables or fresher options to balance all the fried, oily dishes on a hot summer afternoon.