Mickey C.
Yelp
Comfortable, quiet and peaceful hotel with terrific Cuisine
We spent three nights here in September. We enjoyed it a lot and would definitely go back. Don't be put off by the approach to the hotel (they seem to be touchy about not calling it an "auberge" even though that is in its name). The suburban neighborhood surrounds the hotel and it's hard to imagine what it will be like inside as you pull into a small driveway with an unassuming entrance where the signage is a bit downscale. But once you are inside, it's another story.
You can get a room in the main house or a room in the cottages. We stayed in the cottages and are glad we did - they are more private, and have a patio to sit outside and read and have a drink. They are also a bit bigger. We had a small suite. There was even an espresso machine in the room. The bathrooms are excellent and modern and spacious. The linens are high quality and feel good to the touch. Some of the rooms have a Provençal theme - ask for one of those if you want that.
The staff is terrific. They are very friendly and service-oriented. They will help you plan your day if you ask. They are multi lingual. They will attend to special requests or needs.
The restaurant is outstanding and is the highlight of the experience. The chef is an artist. I think his name is Mr. Boucher. We took the gastronomic package for two of the nights and are glad we did. It is first class cuisine and service in a beautiful dining room that is comfortable and warm, but elegant. The staff here were plentiful in number and very obliging and attentive. The chef prepares excellent modern cuisine, and the choices are limited - which we liked since they were great choices and the chef puts a lot into each course. Between courses they offer a cheese tray with thirty five cheeses, many local ones. It's all part of a prix-fixe which is decently priced for the level of the cuisine.
The spa is not much to get excited about, especially if you've been to nice spas. It feels very dated and worn around the edges. They say they will be doing some renovations soon. Until then, you'll have an indoor pool and a jacuzzi, some dim lights and a shower with a fancy name (chromotherapy) that weirdly changes colors and irritatingly shuts off every 20 seconds. And there is no relaxation room, or tea served, or soft music.
The outdoor pool area is very nice, though the season is short. The grounds are pleasant and well-planted.
The nice thing about this place is that it is family-owned, not a corporate venue. Actually there are three couples who own it and they all seem to work there including the chef. So you won't have the feeling of a high-powered spa hotel, but more of a personal and intimate experience that feels very authentic.