Hôtel Domaine de la Chabotterie ★★★★

I’ve always said that if I ever came into some money, I’d get myself a chef. So, when I heard that award-winning Chef Thierry Drapeau had opened a hotel above his restaurant in the rolling green fields of Vendee, I began packing my bags immediately. If I couldn’t have a chef for myself, I’d get the next best thing.

With only fourteen rooms across the premises, it offers an intimate, cosy experience, and ties in with the peaceful ambience of the surrounding French countryside. Just outside of Nantes, the hotel basks in the glory of rural French scenes, complete with rolling vineyards, dipping hills, and charming towns.

Of course, the main draw for the hotel was the adjoining restaurant and the culinary visions of award-winning Drapeau. The restaurant is a rustic, elegant affair with exposed brick walls and plenty of locally sourced wines dotted on shelves around the perimeter. Great rounds of cheese, fusion dishes, and traditional tastes adorned the menu, whilst the cellar boasts a vast selection of wines from the region.

But it wasn’t just the restaurant that reminded me I was staying in the ‘home’ of a top chef. Everything else was entwined with foodie elements, from the breakfast which was a performance, showcasing sweet jams, and local meats and cheeses, to the in-house bakery. Imagine waking up to the smell of freshly baked bread every day – delicious, if a little dangerous.

Drapeau has also incorporated a relaxing wellness area with saunas, hot tubs, massage services, and numerous other facilities including a tearoom.

Being so close to Nantes meant I was also able to explore the rest of the region, dipping into the captivating French culture, admiring some of the spectacular architecture, and learning more about the history of the area.

My trip was a well-rounded combination of culture, countryside, and culinary delights, topped off with the relaxing spa facilities and the intimate, peaceful ambience of the hotel itself. The best bit? Well, of course the food!