Hotel du Vin Cambridge

I had my bridal party stay here in prep for my wedding. The staff was amazing and helpful for such an important day. They also hosted my rehearsal dinner for 50 people and everything was seamless. Great communication, service, and food.

This is one of the oder HDVs and is showing its age a bit. Reception staff were great and recommended parking which I should have heeded. Ended up paying £47.50 for overnight parking in Grand Arcade car park. Worth parking outside if possible, it's free after 5 until 9 next day. Our room, Brown Brothers, was very comfortable in the attic, but lift stops a floor short! The weather was lovely, so chose to recover from our journey in the hotel bar. Wrong move. It's in the basement with all the charm and warmth of Slade prison's warder's club. Apparently there is a Terrace but didn't find it. Tables alfresco outside the Bistro were eventually sought and proved very comfortable. It's not a bad hote, but I think HDV chain needs to up their game to compete with some of the newer hotel groups

I visited the Hotel du Vin restaurant yesterday. We had booked in the hotel in advance and arrived at 8pm as planned. The restaurant was almost empty, yet a young woman with dark hair just looked at us and left us waiting to be seated. We eventually had to call her over, which is unacceptable in a supposedly high-end restaurant. When we said we had a reservation, she told us there was none. She spoke to us with an “I don’t care” attitude and said we couldn’t stay long because the place would close in an hour and she was the only one working. It was obvious she just wanted to avoid more work. This is not the service you expect from a restaurant of this level, it felt more like cheap pub hospitality. Another staff member, a polite Spanish gentleman, did try to make us stay, but the first impression had already ruined the mood. We came to relax, enjoy ourselves, and spend money on food and drinks, not to be rushed or made to feel unwelcome. Two of my guests had come from France and Portugal, and they had chosen Hotel du Vin based on good reviews and high expectations. Sadly, they will never return. We ended up next door at Browns, where we spent around £400. So, not only did you lose four customers that night, but also all the potential recommendations we could have given. I would never recommend this place to friends or family. Don't waste your time!

The highlight of this hotel is the staff - absolute superhumans! So friendly and charismatic. Special thanks to Patrick in the Bistro/Bar and Kai on Reception - you're a pair of star-spangled bangers! During my midweek stay, I was kindly upgraded to a larger room with a beautiful roll-top bath, and also treated to a couple of complimentary cocktails, which helped make a birthday trip even more special. The excellent air conditioning was appreciated during a heatwave, and the bed was exceedingly comfortable. Breakfast was delicious and very generous (although there was some confusion about whether or not the cost was included in my booking). This hotel is superbly positioned, too; you're moments away from the fabulous Fitzwilliam Museum. As others have noted, this building is getting on a bit and showing a little wear and tear, although apart from the multiple spiderwebs that greeted me upon arrival in the shower which made me wonder how thoroughly the bathroom had been cleaned/how industrious Cambridge's arachnids are, I found the slight creakiness charming. It's worth being aware that the hot taps are HOT: I accidentally ran a bath that could have skinned me alive! Be careful with small children washing their hands. Overall, a gem of a spot. I would happily return.

The hotel itself is charming, with a perfect mix of modern amenities and historical character, all set in a beautiful location. What really made my stay exceptional, though, was the service. Kalpana, the manager, was simply amazing. From the moment I arrived, she went out of her way to ensure that I had everything I needed, offering helpful recommendations and creating a welcoming atmosphere that made me feel right at home. Her attention to detail and willingness to assist with anything, from restaurant reservations to local tips, really stood out. It's rare to encounter someone so dedicated and professional, and Kalpana truly elevated the whole experience. If you're looking for a memorable stay in Cambridge, I highly recommend Du Vin. The combination of fantastic service, especially from Kalpana, and the lovely setting made my visit one I won't soon forget.

Initially I booked for just one night but then needed to change it to 2 nights. I tried calling and reached some kind of central reservation service. I could not understand a single word the person spoke, her English was unintelligible so I hung up and called the hotel directly. This was a bit better and I managed to get what I wanted, a suite for 2 nights. In a suite I expect a separate seating area, this more resembled a junior suite, The lighting in the room was appalling, unable to read in bed, low energy bulbs and tiny ceiling lights, none at all above the bed, only the edges of the room. A standard lamp in the room didn't work and wasn't replaced until the next day. The windows in the room were filthy and a kind of veranda outside was littered with pieces of broken plastic, broken glass and empty drinks cans. The room was otherwise well appointed, nice bath and huge walk in shower. The hot water was almost boiling. We came home on the 2nd day to find that our room door had been left opened by housekeeping, fortunately there did not appear to have been any entry nor was anything missing.|I was disappointed to find that the bar was closed all day till 5 pm, this did not used to be the case, nor was the library opened at all during our stay. The excuse was it was being used for a meeting but at no time did I see or hear and activity there at all.|I lived in Cambridge between 1993 and 2015 and frequently put guests in this hotel and indeed stayed several times myself. This hotel is clearly under new management who simply do not care, there is clear evidence of cost cutting. It is obvious it is not doing well. Personally I won't ever set foot in there again. Sadly Cambridge is not very good for hotels in my opinion, unlike Bath where I live.

Very nice hotel with very nice staff. Had a slight issue with the barman in the cellar bar who tried to charge me £10 corkage to take 2 wine glasses to the room.|The steak was very good but came with a £10 supplement but it was worth it.|I was disappointed with the cooked breakfast. The black pudding was cold and under cooked. The fried eggs were burnt and solid. |Very good hotel with a great outside terrace.

This is a brand we like and stay at pretty often. Location was great but this is not the best Hotel du Vin and is due a refurbished apparently. Certainly good enough though. |Our room was comfortable but definitely had signs of wear and tear. The lighting in the bathroom was not fit for purpose and should be addressed now. It was too dark to use the makeup mirror.|We ate in the restaurant on our first night and it was fine but not outstanding. Hotel du Vin in Bristol is better for dining.

Great hotel with very friendly staff. Loved our stay here. There are nearby cafes and places to see.

This review is for the hotel bar, which is on the sidelines down in the dungeon cellar. Bit unusual for a hotel bar. But it's quite cozy and a relaxing place. With some separate seating areas aside from the main bar area. I had the non-alcoholic drink called Bouquet. Apparently it's a drink for ladies, but that's ok. Non-alcoholic gin, tonic water, rose water. The slice of grape fruit on top was old, tired and Miscolored. More attention to detail on presentation needed. The drink itself was refreshing.

We are staying at the hotel, and our party of four chose the Bistro because it was convenient- big mistake. It took over 1 hour to get our order, it was wrong on a number of items, and the quality of food was sub-par. The service was lacking and the bill incorrect. The only good experience was the young lady who corrected the bill for us. They may do better if we give them another chance, but the experience was bad enough that I doubt I will go back.

I feel so conflicted about this place - service is so variable. On occasion, I visit for Sunday lunch - which, in my opinion, is amazing value. It's something like £27 for a four course meal - starting with soup, a 'market table', a choice of main course and a dessert. The market table is obviously the best bit - a lovely spread of seafood, fresh bread, charcuterie, cold cuts, salad etc. It's buffet-style so you can get as much or as little of it as you like - as many times as you like. It's all really good - but my personal favourites are the prawns (SO well cooked), smoked fish and crab pate. The main courses are standard 'british' fare - ranging from roast beef, fish and chips, steak frites, ratatouille and a fish du jour and pie du jour. My personal favourites are the pies (fish pie is amazing, when it's on) and the 'roast du vin'. The frites are also amazing - as is the Bearnaise sauce that comes with the steak. Like literally amazing. If you have room (you probably won't - the market table is pretty exciting ... but I always do) - the desserts are pretty good. I usually go for the profiteroles or tarte tatin - but most recently had he bred and butter pudding which is GREAT. Generally the dessert portions are quite small (which is good, because you'll be stuffed). They also do a cheese board as an alternative to dessert. So in an essence, the food is great. I have absolute no complaints, other than that they might want to think about changing up the mains on the menu a little more frequently. Especially regarding the veggie options - which can be a little boring. The service however leads much to be desired. It's rarely very busy, but service is so slow and they often forget drinks orders completely. There's really no excuse for it during Sunday lunch, as pretty much everything is pre-prepared (soup, market table, desserts are mostly chilled). So this is a shame - because it has the potential to be something special. I don't visit HDV for a la Carte dining for two reasons. 1) I think it's pretty overpriced for a pretty uninspiring menu, and 2) the service as explained above. Friends and family have had similar issues to this during dinner service - again, a shame, because there's so much potential. The building and location is fantastic, I just feel it's badly managed.

I am one of those folks that don't write Yelp reviews, but use the service from time to time to get a sense of things. I ate there tonight and was astonished by not only the poor service, but the poor quality of food. If you want the details here goes: 1. I am on business and was eating alone without reservation. I ate there before and it was fine, though a little pricey. I arrived without reservation, rather late (8:30), and there was plenty of tables, yet the maitre de had to ask his manager if it was OK to seat me. 2. I was (joy!) seated and it took 5 minutes for a server to greet me and ask if I'd like *water*. Requested sparkling, and another 5 minutes for still to arrive. 3. Another 10 minutes before another server arrived to ask if I'd like an appertif. Ordered that, and another 10 minutes for that to arrive. 4. Ordered everything at once, small bowl of olives and a filet of beef with a side of peppercorn sauce. I told them to come back for a wine order as I wanted to spend more time on the list. Never came back. 5. The filet arrived 30 minutes later, and I had to remind them about the wine order. Wine arrived about 10 minutes later. The peppercorn sauce was so unpeppery that I asked if there was a mistake and they said you have to stir it because the peppercorns sink to the bottom. It tasted very ketchupy, I was shocked. Found two peppercorns! 6. The filet was overcooked, and I swear it had been frozen. By far the worst I've had in my life. 7. Seeing the handwriting on the wall, I didn't complain and a bus boy arrived about 10 minutes after I finished with a dessert menu. I was inclined just to see what came out, as the comedy was in full effect. While waiting another 15 minutes, the table next to me sent their dessert back. 8. The bus boy returned finally and I declined the dessert and asked for the check as it wasn't even fun to see the next act in the catastrophe. Another 10 minutes to pay. It'll be a long time before I return and I will never take a client here again.

Smack dab in the city of Cambridge, its location is wonderful! It's a charming hotel where the staff really wants to make you happy. Need an umbrella, they have you covered. The rooms are lovely, each one different. First rate amenities. We didn't dine in their cafe because there were so many other restaurants we wanted to try, but I cannot imagine it being anything but lovely! Don't miss this gem of a hotel in Cambridge!

this is a great place if you like wine... be sure to book in advance the food was superb and the wine list extensive very much recommended if you want one of the best bistro's in cambridge then this is the only place to go ! regards John Jones http://www.johnjones.me.uk

Dining at the bistro was a great experience. The food was exceptional and service attentive. Our party of four truly enjoyed a wonderful meal. Check out their library while you're there. Really beautiful.

The food was great - but the service was surprisingly inattentive. I went here with a friend of mine on a Thursday night reservation, and we were seated with no problems. At first, our server and wine server (two separate people) were extremely attentive - we were asked about drinks and starters well before we had a chance to read over the menu, and had water delivered very quickly. The bistro gives you some bread with butter and olive oil & balsalmic vinegar, which was nothing amazing, but was nice to whet our appetites. We ordered glasses of wine (the Château Bauduc Rouge for my friend and the Saumur Champigny for me, both of which we enjoyed), and a starter of the shetland scallops for us to split. We also put our main order in at this time. After was seemed like quite a long time, our starter came out. It was very good, and if you like scallops, I recommend it - there were 5 on the plate. However, after this, we weren't checked on by our servers for what seemed like nearly half an hour - not even to see if we wanted more wine or needed water refills (both of which we did). That being said, perhaps they took the wrong cue from the start of the night and decided to slow down talking to us. Regardless, our mains were also very good - I had the coq au Riesling, and my fried had the roasted rump of lamb (which is a LOT of lamb). I would have liked a little more on my plate - had I not had our scallop starter, I think I would have still been a bit hungry at the end of the meal. After what seemed like another long delay, we were asked if we wanted dessert menus (yes) and ended up ordering the apple tarte tatin and the rhubarab trifle. I would have preferred a little more apple and a little less dough, but it was still pretty good - if I did it again, I would try the mint chocolate chip tart, because that looked delicious! One slight downside is that their wine selection is a bit pricey - the cheapest glass is still £6, and most are closer to the £10 range. I know the Bistro is more upscale than many other Cambridge restaurants, but I wish they had a few less expensive drink options - two glasses can easily be more than your main. The food is overall some of the best I've had in Cambridge, although that is admittedly not saying much. I would definitely recommend them.

This upmarket bistro is in Trumpington Street, in a delightful old building that fits well with The Hotel du Vin brand. Although only five minutes walk from Cambridge Uni colleges, it is an oasis of calm and at lunch time had mainly attracted business customers. The set menu was excellent value, the bread very tasty and the service discreet. The salmon was very good and fresh, and a large variety of wine was available by the glass.

The downstairs bar conveys the atmosphere of a private country club with soft lounge music and a menu as thick as a phone book. Impressive selection of international beers, ales and wheat ales (only place in Cambridge to get belgian Mort subite). Due to the old cellar setting you get several small private rooms with speakeasy atmoshere that fit groups of 10-20 people (call for reservations!). Hotel du Vin is always a good option when Cambridge pubs are helplessly crowded on weekends. The staff is what you expect from an up-market hotel and the prices only slightly more expensive than other Cambridge favourites as The Anchor and The Eagle. Not something for every day but a fantastic setting for larger groups or when you need a place that is classy and not too loud. Verdict: classic hideaway for a different night in Cambridge.

You know it's a big deal when I'm too startled to take pictures. I decided to put a little ketchup on my eggs. I opened the cap, and I had a ketchup blitzkrieg. A blast of ketchup exploded from the bottle like lava out of Mt. Vesuvius. It was EVERYWHERE--all over my clothes, on the wall next to me, the table--pretty much everywhere except my food, ironically. It even got in my hair. In a further ironic twist, this occurred while I was reading an article on food borne illness. I mentioned to the maitre' that they should probably throw out the bottle (which would have been easier than wiping of all the ketchup that erupted onto the bottle itself. I was offered a fresh breakfast after mentioning possible contamination, but I was half done, so I declined. There is no time to have my tracksuit cleaned, because I am flying home tomorrow, but considering I was covered in ketchup, an offer of more than a damp rag--even comping my breakfast--would've been a nice gesture. Especially considering I'm the Duchess, and all. I've had three breakfasts, two dinners, and one room service order from the Bistro. Food is consistently good French fare--moules frites, cassoulet, fish platter, and onion soup were all quite good, as were breakfasts. Dinner waitstaff is wonderful, but breakfast waitstaff is inattentive. The hotel room (Penfolds) is comfortable, but dark, dark, dark. Poor task lighting and poor lighting everywhere except the loo. Extra points for fresh milk in the fridge daily, and heated bathroom floors. I got my wake-up call three days out of five, and once was on Saturday. I might come back. The location is good, and just far enough from the office that I can justify a taxi.

Tried the lunchtime special 2 courses for 2 people £20 or £30 if you want vino. Leek & potato soup bland but ok when seasoned, but my partner didn't really like it. Smoked haddock on crushed potatoes, spinach with poached egg and creamy sauce was tasty though. By the time we'd had two bottles of water, bread, side salad to share and service it came to £36. Staff friendly but irritatingly kept pouring our water without asking. Otherwise fine, didnt mind us changing table halfway thru meal - very hot in the window Wine list looks fantastic but nothing much under £25 and runs to £200+. Bread basket v tasty as someone else mentioned. Would try again but definitely take the platinum card.

[...] (READ FULL REVIEW AT http://louisekwoods.wordpress.com) I came here with my mother, on Mothers' Day, which seems perilously close to tautology until you realise that although the restaurant demographic did divide down the kind of age-gap you'd expect on Mothers' Day, those on either side of it kept to themselves. Which is a fancy way of saying that there were older couples, and younger couples, and one pair of teenage love-birds who looked to have hit adolescence only slightly later than our sommelier, but no mothers. Or at least not acting ones. "Mothers have lunches," said mine, helpfully. "Scones, jam, tea, and lunches. Not dinners." Who knew? It turned out they also have strong opinions about cocktails. I failed to tempt her with a veritable nosegay of a violet and ginger-infused champagne cocktail (because mothers like florals, too, right? Not mine.); and since I wasn't ready, either, to experience "kicks like a mule, scented like a Victorian" (the greatest line Johnny Cash never wrote) as a flavour-combination, we both settled on the Corsica: a deliciously, tooth-rottingly sweet confection of amaretto, date liqueur, and champagne sufficiently dry, if you can believe it, to claw the whole thing back from sickliness. Among the hotel's most lauded features is its underground bar (and I mean that not in the sense of blind pigs or New Wave electronica; it's where the wine-cellars used to be), impressive not least for the feats of adjective-shuffling ingenuity it inspires in hotel reviewers and PR writers alike. (To attempt a round-up, these are vaulted labyrinthine cellars [with optional atmosphere] or [optionally atmospheric] labyrinthine cellar vaults. With a healthy dose of hyperbole. On the whole, I think we can safely assume they're vaulted.) Actually, it's a terrific space; more Brambly Hedge than The Bull From the Sea, and all the nicer for it: flagstone floors and brickwork in warm, earthy hues, with muted top-notes of warehouse chic in the exposed-piping light-fittings, and intimate little cellarlets which, named after Cambridge colleges with a true du Vin deference to location, give a discreet tip of the mortarboard to my alma mater. [...] The menu is sub-divided to prevent, as it were, the locally-sourced mallard from straying onto the pristine green college lawns of the vegetarian section. My mother's choice of herbed gnocchi with cauliflower velouté and wilted spinach (£12.50) felt very much like the centre-piece of that section (the pea and mint risotto could have done with a hand in the PR department, and the garden salad in the allotment - but we'll come to that in a moment.) Eternally thankful as those of us still digesting the nut loaf we ate in 1992 must be for the gloriously rich, punchy, and, in short, Mediterranean-cribbed flavours available to the vegetarian palate nowadays (and, no, I don't mean hemp-seed loaf; did we learn nothing from the noughties?), it was refreshing to see imaginative vegetarian cookery with a few of those punches pulled. In other words, not a Périgord truffle or a glug of barolo in sight, the chef (and my mother) having opted for an very elegant, very English, springtime dish that resembled nothing more, on first sight, than a plateful of speckled quail eggs. Which, happily, is about as far as that particular analogy can take us, because judging from their lightness, these gnocchi were quenelled miles from the nearest egg. With the very notion of potato, too, passatuttoed from their genetic memory, they were coddled little pillows - the merest hint of pan-searing in the golden tiger-stripes on their undersides - perked beautifully by flecks of spinach (whose counterpart in the garnish, meanwhile, was wilted to just the right side of languid.) The velouté was trademark Hotel du Vin Egyptian linen to the gnocchi's pillows: delicately pastel-coloured and creamy in the way that asparagus is creamy, without the interference of cream; and besprinkled with dinky little cauliflower florets that demanded chivalrous scooping, being a hair's breadth too narrow to spear with a fork. A bit of surreptitious neck-craning discovered most of our fellow diners to have gone for the gnocchi, or else something hip and rustic-looking on a board, with chips. Unduly gratified, however, to find under "Main Courses" something I'd normally have to dredge up from the far reaches of the menu or cobble together from existing ingredients ("Yes, the orange confit, please. Hold the mallard."), I bit my thumb at the universal palate and ordered the garden salad (£7.50). What I'd failed to notice was that this dish, the veritable "Where's Wally?" of salads, kept popping up all over the menu: hic et ubique, upstairs, downstairs and no doubt also in my lady's chamber, like yet another example of trespassing poultry (the gander, that is; not King Hamlet). [...] NO SPACE LEFT TO CONTINUE REVIEW HERE; SEE http://louisekwoods.wordpress.com for full review.

Great suites with the most amazing Monsoon showers, and a restaurant to die for. Try the beef hashe, it's real man food.

Service was good, but food always great quality. Fantastic flavours, menu changes and usually there's good choice. Very helpful sommelier. Can be busy, but still great for a dinner for two, very good atmosphere. Try a drink in the cellar bar before the dinner.

The downstairs bar is beautiful - decorated with an eclectic mix of wine-related bits and bobs as well as interesting uses for other items... There are a number of hiding holes to slink into as well as the main bar area with large leather couches. A stunning wine list, almost matched by the selection of beers and spirits/liqueurs but they also make some delicious cocktails. Not cheap, but comparatively better value for wine by the glass than many pubs and restaurants which serve sub-standard wines for a bit less. Knowledgeable staff and quality glassware (including speciality glasses for individual Belgian beers). A perfect place to go for a night cap after a romantic dinner. Nut allergy warning: they serve peanuts throughout the bar, so this is not the place for severe allergy sufferers.

The hotel rooms are contemporary and modern. The service is great. Some rooms have awkward layouts because of the structure of the building. The bistro has an excellent breakfast. Note: business conversation at lunch during the week. Enjoy:)

The bar is tucked away below and behind quite a swanky looking restaurant with quite a pricey and complicated menu (which this Qyper has not visited). The wine selection is phenomenal. The decor is like a country lodge but with a modern edge so its luxurious and comfy. The only downside to this place is the price £7 and up for a glass of wine, but its nice for a treat every once in a while

This is a review of the restaurant and not the hotel. We had dinner here while visiting Cambridge for a few days. We had the smoked salmon appetizer, autumn salad, the beef bourguignon, and the monkfish grande. The smoked salmon was very good with plenty of salmon and the autumn salad was okay but we would have liked some greens to round it out and make it more of a salad. The beef bourguignon was very dry and not very good while the monkfish was a very small piece of fish but quite tasty. Overall, Du Vin bistro wins points for decor and atmosphere along with an attentive staff but the food could be better for the price.

I came here for a celebratory post-finals drink with a friend, and I really enjoyed it. While cocktail and wine prices are on the higher side, the ambiance was great - quiet and adult - a welcome reprieve from the boisterous venues in the centre filled with drunken students.

Love the hotel, this is my third stay here - this review is about the restaurant only. Stopped in for a quick bite after taking the redeye from the US. I selected an item from the lunch specials, pre fixe menu, thinking this would be the best way to go for a quick meal. 30 minutes later, I ended up with my lunch. I wouldn't have minded this so much if the waitress had informed me in advance that I would have to wait so long for my meal. I also wouldn't have minded it so much if the waitress came by to check on me during my 30 minute wait; however, she did not look at me during this time as I think it was uncomfortable knowing that my food was taking so long to come out (she did go back and speak to the chef who not only didn't care that this was a long time to wait for lunch, she acted as if I should have expected it). In the end, I asked if I could skip the second part of the pre fixe menu (dessert) because it had taken so long to receive the first course and I was tired after a long trip. The waitress informed me this wasn't a problem and after speaking to the chef, she took off only one British pound. Again, if I had been told my choice was to keep the second course or save only one pound, I probably would have opted to eat the second course. On top of it all, I have eaten here before and never received a service charge on my bill. I think because the waitress knew my experience had been so bad, she opted to add on the service charge. With so many charming and delicious choices in Cambridge, I will spend the rest of my week enjoying other nearby restaurants.

Fantastic cosy little hotel in walking distance to the city centre. Beautiful rooms and facilities. Service quality mixed, some are very friendly, others quite court.