Hôtel & Restaurant Le Pré

Hôtel & Restaurant Le Pré

Every morning at Hôtel & Restaurant Le Pré, in Durtol on the hills above Clermont-Ferrand, the kitchen's day begins with a walk through nearby forests and meadows, where chef Xavier Beaudiment and his team gather whatever the season has actually produced and build dinner around it. That kitchen, Le Pré, holds two Michelin stars, and the hotel sharing its name has just five rooms above it, each done in a contemporary style with a discreet, natural charm, part of the Relais & Chateaux group. This is what sets it apart from other stays in the region: guests get a serious dining destination as their own address rather than a reservation made elsewhere. Rooms come as twin or double, fitted with air conditioning, bathrobes, and a private bathroom, though none are large, and with only five on offer and a 50 EUR nightly charge for any extra bed, this is not a base for families or groups. Check-in starts at 16:30 and checkout is at 11:00, both adjustable for a 50 EUR fee, which suits a leisurely arrival more than an early flight connection. There is a garden, free Wi-Fi, parking, and a lift, though pets are not allowed. Montjuzet Park and Place de Jaude in central Clermont-Ferrand sit close enough for an afternoon out, but most people who choose this address are here for what is on the plate, not what is nearby. Anyone wanting a large hotel with full facilities should look elsewhere; anyone wanting to sleep a short walk from a table built on foraged Auvergne ingredients will not find that combination twice in this city. Five contemporary rooms sit above Le Pré, Xavier Beaudiment's two-Michelin-star restaurant in the hills above Clermont-Ferrand, where the daily menu is built from foraged, seasonal ingredients. Part of Relais & Chateaux, it suits couples chasing serious food over facilities, not families needing space or pets.