Hôtel Le Père Léon

The rooms are compact but very comfortable, and the buffet breakfast is simple and perfectly fine. Rue Metz is a great base, right beside Esquirol metro station and only a short walk from lots of bars, restaurants and historic sights. I’d happily stay here again on another trip.

The room was so clean that it may be the cleanest hotel room I’ve ever stayed in. It was also quiet and comfortable, and the staff at the desk were very friendly and gave us good restaurant tips. The hotel is right by the metro, with plenty of restaurants nearby, plus a cute bistro out front for morning coffee. You can walk all around Vieux Toulouse. One small oddity: the bathroom door is translucent, which is fine unless you’re sharing with a stranger. I’d definitely return.

The hotel’s location in Toulouse’s old town was the main reason we chose it, so my wife and I could explore the historic centre on foot. It is a great spot, and could be a good place to stay if the service improved and the city worked to make the area more appealing to tourists. We were met by lots of homeless people asking for money, and the next morning there were several sleeping outside. I know that isn’t the hotel’s fault, but it made us feel uneasy walking around. There’s an odd rule that you must leave your room key at reception whenever you go out. The Wi-Fi was slow and blocked some sites and connections to outside networks, so I had to use my phone data to reach my company network and work remotely. Breakfast was the poorest I’ve had on this trip: few options, and I ended up with bread, butter, ham and coffee. The hotel restaurant was closed. Reception said it now only opens for lunch, with drinks served until 7:30 pm. I’m not sure why; perhaps it has something to do with the number of homeless people outside.

The room was quiet, with a very comfortable bed, strong cool AC and a great shower. The bathroom is modern, enclosed by frosted panels. It’s a handy place for walking, biking, shopping and eating, close to the la Garonne canal. Leeanne at reception was so welcoming and helpful. She spoke perfect English and made us feel like old friends, then showed us on a map where locals eat and pointed out other highlights. Toulouse was our first stop in France, and we felt at ease right away despite not speaking French. Many younger people speak English too. Le Pere León would be a perfect base for a day or two, or even a week in Toulouse.