L'Hostellerie de Plaisance

L'Hostellerie de Plaisance Review

Flaunting a unique interior design masterminded by Alberto Pinto and an elite location in the upper part of town, just across the way from the famous Église Monolithe, this stunningly elegant Italianate mansion has long been considered the top hotel in St-Émilion. Public areas and appealing guest rooms are a symphony of tangerines, beiges, and blacks (too bad about the gaudy paintings); many rooms come with their own terrace overlooking the tile roofs of the town, and some have excellent views of the vineyards. The dining room (closed Sunday and Monday) is luxuriously understated and makes an elegant stage for chef Philippe Etchebest's exotic menu: the crab stuffed with cabbage, pork with mango chutney, or truffled bananas are all home runs.