Hôtel du Parc

We first came for lunch last year and returned this year because we liked it so much. There’s a lovely private outdoor courtyard for dining, though you might not know it’s there unless you ask inside the hotel about a lunch or dinner booking, or you’re staying there. They have a wood-fired pizza oven outside, and lots of people order the pizzas. I’ve tried one and it was fantastic. Pizzas have their own menu, separate from the rest, and are available to take away too. A great place for lunch when you’re in the area.

The food is good, though not amazing. The British, Welsh waitress gave very good service. Families are welcome, with child seats available and a small kids’ play area in the back garden by the outdoor seating.

We had to wait far too long for the main course. Apparently the waitress forgot to send our order to the kitchen. When the meat finally arrived, it wasn’t cooked properly and I couldn’t eat it. We told the waitress, but she didn’t seem to care. She didn’t reduce the bill or offer a glass of wine as an apology, like they do in other places. I won’t be going back!

The people at the hotel, restaurant, and bar were so nice. Everyone made us feel very welcome, even the hotel cats. Special mention to the young guys working incredibly hard in the restaurant and bar, and an extra special one for the fiery Sauce Piquante with the home-cooked pizzas. I’d hurt my knee shortly before we set off, so having a room on the second floor with no lift was harder than it would usually have been. It was unusually hot, even for Provence, so we couldn’t close the double-glazed windows. Our front room was just above the bar, and there was noise at all hours: on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, assorted drunks were yelling, whooping, and revving mopeds until 2. On Monday, the beer wagon delivered at about 4. Tuesday, the market started setting up from 4.30. On Wednesday and Thursday, the pavement cleaning machine whirred and thumped away. That’s life, and I wouldn’t hold it against the hotel management. I just thought it might help to know what to expect. As I said, a little pain is good for the soul.