Hôtel de l’Abbaye

TL;DR

• Michelin dining: – home to one of Lyon’s finest Michelin-starred restaurants.
• Contemporary interiors: – sleek interiors balanced by the charm of a historic building.
• Prime location: – perfectly placed for Vieux Lyon, the Rhône and Presqu’île.
• Relaxed luxury: – stylish rooms, attentive service and a welcoming atmosphere.
• Check prices here

Lyon may be best known for its history, but Hôtel de l’Abbaye, in the 2nd arrondissement, knows how to represent the contemporary side too.

The building is certainly historic, but once inside, Hôtel de l’Abbaye goes for a sleek design hotel aesthetic but with warm, welcoming tones.

At times, the design flirts with feeling a bit sterile, but the character of the building, the iconic Basilique Saint-Martin-d’Ainay right across the street, and the odd shaggy statement chair, keep it all onside.

Hôtel de l’Abbaye is well known as a hotel in Lyon, but its onsite, L’Artichaut, restaurant has to take most of the credit for that.

It’s Michelin-starred and one of the city’s very best.

Rates are reasonable at Hôtel de l’Abbaye, especially when you factor in the restaurant.

What are the rooms like?

• 46 rooms: – stylish, comfortable accommodation with a contemporary feel.
• Modern design: – clean lines softened by playful furniture and warm accents.
• Family friendly: – a variety of layouts with options suited to families.
• Well equipped: – minibars, coffee machines, kettles and plush bathrooms come as standard.
• Bathtub options: – larger room categories include relaxing bathtubs and extra space.
• See each room in detail here

Rooms at Hôtel de l’Abbaye are lighter on the personality than many boutiques, but they’re a solid mix of cute and comfortable.

Expect some sort of blobby furniture piece alongside the typical whites and grays of a hotel room.

Accents are typically gold and black, a little sultry and often shiny.

The smallest rooms are fairly small, we’ll admit. Starting at 15 square metres, L’Écrin nests are better for solo travellers or for couples that really like each other.

But once you get up to L’Élégante, we’re talking spacious options with cushy couches and bathtubs.

The professed family-friendly options have a couple of incredible views and many different layouts.

Nothing goes over 31 square metres, so if you want a full-floor penthouse, we’ll have to send you elsewhere.

If you want a comfortable, stylish spot to hang your hat, you can find it here.

All room options have minibars with coffee machines and kettles, some sort of seating, and plush little bathrooms.

We like the options with bathtubs the most, however.

What are prices like?

• Check dates and prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

• Michelin-starred restaurant: – L’Artichaut is one of the hotel’s biggest attractions.
• Excellent breakfast: – generous buffet served each morning.
• Relaxed café: – Café Basilic serves coffee, cocktails and lighter meals all day.
• Personal touches: – concierge service and in-room massages for Superior Room guests.
• Dining highlight: – outstanding food is the hotel’s standout feature.

Hôtel de l’Abbaye’s food is a huge plus. We may love the atmosphere of a BnB-style breakfast spread, but there’s nothing like having a Michelin-starred restaurant right downstairs.

L’Artichaut is, of course, very fancy but also intimate and somewhat easygoing, relatively speaking.

The menu changes a lot, but the theme seems to be simple, fresh, and seasonal.

Café Basilic is an all-day affair, coffee in the morning and cocktails at night. It’s far more casual than L’Artichaut, and we like that you can find both in the same place.

You can even grab a quick, à la carte breakfast here, rather than the extravagant buffet set up at L’Artichaut each morning, though we’d never suggest you miss the latter.

Beyond snacks and drinks, those in Superior rooms can enjoy in-room massages, and an excellent concierge service is on hand.

How is the neighbourhood? Anything interesting nearby?

• Historic surroundings: – located beside the beautiful Saint-Martin d’Ainay Basilica.
• Walkable district: – easy strolls to Vieux Lyon, riverside paths and boutique shopping.
• Food and culture: – antique shops, gourmet stores and galleries nearby.
• Great transport: – trams are just a short walk away for exploring the city.
• Relaxed atmosphere: – Presqu’île is ideal for leisurely wandering.

Hôtel de l’Abbaye sits in Lyon’s Presqu’île district, in a small sub-area called Ainay.

The owners are proud of their neighbourhood, which features the lovely Saint-Martin d’Ainay Basilica.

It’s also home to a number of antique shops and design boutiques.

You’re close to the Rhône, and in good weather you can wander along the riverside quite happily.

Go ten minutes north, and you’ll hit the nearest bridge off the peninsula, towards the atmospheric streets of Vieux Lyon, the city’s main tourist centre.

Other close attractions are the chic Carnot-Gailleton, where you can find some superb gourmet shops and art galleries.

Presqu’ile makes it easy to do nothing but wander and still find something to enjoy.

To explore the farther reaches of the city, which have plenty of historical sites and museums to explore, you can get on the tram after a 5-minute walk.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“We stayed 3 nights and honestly, it was hard to leave. The room was super clean, bed was comfortable, water refilled every day and the reception staff were a dream!…”

“It was a perfect boutique hotel. The staff were very welcoming and helpful. First class service and the products in the bathroom very nice, L’Occtaine. We loved the area, close to everything. I would love to come back and definitely recommend….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”The bells from the Basilica were charming but others might find them irritating….”

”Bed was harder than we are used to. Stayed for three nights, inconsistent refreshing of towels and replenishing of water in the fridge over the days. Had to request water on one day as wasn’t replaced….”

Read all the reviews right here