Le Domaine de Beaulieu

My partner and I stayed for 3 nights over the new year at the Chateau de Beaulieu. The room was spacious and comfortable. We ate the first 2 nights at the brasserie. The food and service was good and we looked forward to our New Year’s dinner in the Michelin star restaurant. The 7 course menu was prepaid at €350 a head. We were seated at 8.30 in the restaurant. We ordered water and after 20 minutes we were served a glass of Taittinger champagne and a small tub of local caviar and 6 small blinis. It seemed like part of the menu and we assumed that it was the amuse bouche. We ordered wine and had to wait 1 hour for the first course to arrive. Throughout the evening we had to repeatedly serve our own drinks as we seemed to have been forgotten. The food was pretty average. For the meat course we had chicken and after we had started eating a member of staff came to grate some tasteless truffle over the dish ( which was already half eaten). The shock came the next day when settling the bill. The caviar and champagne was charged €250. The tasteless truffle €60. We were also charged 2 extra glasses of champagne at €96 and €45 more than the list price of the wine and €140 for a brunch we never had. I understand that certain dishes are extra charged but one should inform the customer and give the customer the choice. I would have never ordered the caviar or the extra truffle. I ended up paying €310 extra on food I never ordered. I felt very disappointed overall

Fabulous modernisation of an historic property with a fine swimming pool, lovely kitchen gardens and a memorable breakfast.

This was our second visit, the first was in November 23 when it was cold and grey but we enjoyed it so much we came back to enjoy it in the summer. The gastronomic restaurant is as good as you would expect with prices to match but the brasserie is also outstanding with a far lower price tag. The hotel staff are exceptional, nothing is too much trouble (in the November my wife left her glasses in the room which were promptly dispatched to our home in the UK without issue). The rooms are well equipped, clean and tastefully furnished - we have had rooms overlooking the lawn and ponds both times - and the beds are comfortable. In short, a very relaxing place to stay and/or enjoy superb meals cooked by a renowned chef.

Wonderful experience

Not our idea of a chateau hotel, a feel of a motel in some areas. Lots of guests complaining at reception, noisy guest in a connected room - dealt with by the hotel but not in the best way. Good food in the brasserie but very cafe feel