Hotel Splendide Royal

The food at the Michelin-starred restaurant was exquisite, and its staff were the best part of the evening. A phone rang loudly through dinner, though, and kept breaking the atmosphere. For that price, it was frustrating to have such a refined meal interrupted like that. The historic decor and charm at Hotel Splendide are lovely, and we enjoyed parts of our stay. Still, the hotel doesn't feel like it's operating at a five-star level anymore. Service was slow, the lobby lacked any sense of activity or elevated hospitality, and several basic things in the room didn't work: the shower head, the AC, one phone, and Chromecast. The internet also felt outdated, since we had to log in again whenever we reconnected. We paid to upgrade to a suite, but the only clear difference from a regular suite seemed to be a coffee machine, even though coffee was already served at breakfast. The pillows were painfully hard, including the feather ones we requested, and there were only a few of those available. There were maintenance and cleanliness problems too. Black algae and debris came out into the tub when we switched on the jets. Bellhop service was lackluster, with staff often not greeting us or helping with the revolving door. That may seem small, but at this level those details matter. Breakfast was good, but being asked over and over if I had a room there and what my room number was made it feel less welcoming. It's a beautiful property, but for the price, the comfort, upkeep, service, and attention to detail didn't meet the expectations of a five-star hotel. I wouldn't confidently recommend it unless meaningful updates are made.