As part of a stay in the Lille metropolis, I stayed at the Hermitage Gantois, a hotel located in the heart of Lille.
Although very expensive for a provincial town, the property is of a very high quality.
Booking
I made this booking through the Marriott Bonvoy app, as the hotel is part of the Autograph Collection, a brand in the Marriott portfolio.
As usual, I use my business’s corporate code, which offers me attractive prices and flexibility, and proceed with the booking.
Arrival
As I was on mission in Béthune, I arrived and left via Lille Flandres station.
The hotel is a 10-minute walk from the station, and the route is very easy to follow.
The welcome was excellent.
The hotel upgraded me to a suite (the highest category) from the booked standard room (the lowest category).
In addition, as a Platinum member, I choose the breakfast and catering voucher as a welcome gift.
One of the receptionists accompanies me to my Suite, introducing me to the different services of the hotel and telling me the history of the property built on a former hospice. Very nice welcome.
Room
My suite, located on the second floor of the property, is spacious.
Pushing open the door, you come to an entrance with a toilet separate from the bathroom.
The lounge has a large sofa, a desk and an espresso machine.
A carafe of port wine and chocolates are available.
The bathroom is well decorated and has plenty of toiletries. Bathrobes are available.
The room has a very comfortable bed, a television and a wardrobe.
A turn down service will be carried out to change the towels and close the shutters.
The room proved to be very pleasant throughout my stay.
Hotel facilities
Like any 5 star hotel, the property has a 24 hour fitness room and a spa, which I didn’t get to try this time.
Catering
The hotel has a restaurant and a brasserie, the restaurant being a well-known Lille property, frequented by guests from outside the hotel. I tried both the restaurant for dinner and breakfast, and the brasserie again for dinner.
Dinner service at the gourmet restaurant – Le H
I chose to have dinner at the hotel, the fatigue of the trip militating for a simple option.
I made the reservation via the LaFourchette website. My table was waiting for me at the appointed time.
I opted for the “Signature” menu, served in 5 courses, with the option of food and wine pairing.
No amuse-bouche was served to me, although one was served to other tables.
The first starter served was a homemade foie gras served with a beetroot brunoise and some fig quarters. If the combination of fig and foie gras is rather classic and successful, the combination with the beetroot did not convince me.
The second course (not pictured), was a sashimi of smoked salmon and coleslaw. Well seasoned but nothing revolutionary.
The third course was a hay-smoked cod (slightly overcooked) with an excellent mustard salsify purée, and a well-seasoned tetragonia salad.
The fourth course was a lamb chop, very well cooked, but not enough. The side dishes were not up to par.
The fifth course, a strawberry parfait, stood out because of its rather messy presentation.
A disappointing and, above all, grossly overpriced dinner. There are starred restaurants in Lille that are cheaper and have much better service!
Dinner service at the Estaminet Gantois
On the second evening, I chose to dine at the Estaminet Gantois, the property’s brasserie with a rather appetising menu.
I would choose a confit lamb shoulder (succulent) with a glass of chablis. 3 times cheaper than at the gastronomic restaurant and just as good… A shame. And the service was perfect.
Breakfast service
Breakfast is served in the same room as the gourmet restaurant. Everything is self-service, even the coffee (surprising for a 5-star property).
The buffet is limited, but of excellent quality.
Departure
The departure formalities were carried out quickly and without fuss.
Bottom line
An excellent property as one would like to find more in provincial cities. Disappointing gastronomic establishment, the last straw for the best hotel in town.
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