Les Ursulines Hotel

The setting for the restaurant part of the hotel of the Ursuline convent is idyllic...a courtyard terrace looking across the Morvan hills, with the sun going down and the stars appearing, grass still green in spite of the current drought, a charming fountain etc. The food was fine, but not worth the high prices. The staff appeared stressed even though there were not too many customers (Monday night). This is just a review of the restaurant NOT the Hotel, which we were not staying at.

We were greeted by a receptionist who was rude and incompetent. Our request for a recommendation for somewhere to go and have dinner was met with a cynical “I suppose I could phone every restaurant in town for you”. It was so bad that despite having paid £111 (non refundable) in advance we got back in the car and went elsewhere

Great location. Old world charm. But the electricity went out and the heater in the bathroom didn’t work. Breakfast was good but too expensive. No one knows English. Parking was available. Thanks. Thanks

Beautiful building close to Cathedral, but sadly neglected, poor desiccated terrace, nothing like the images on-line, flower tubs blown over, broken chairs and parasols dumped in one corner. Gloomy banged up corridors, "standard" room not even up to motel standards - bath and hand shower, no screen or curtain, no cosmetics except a cake of soap (we did speak to front desk who said there had been a problem with suppliers), bathroom ventilator not working, odd light bulbs, side to the bath unfitted and wobbly, WC cistern badly cracked, windows moldy. I won't go on. It was quiet and the bed comfortable. Restaurant a disaster. Grey, badly lit and unatmospheric huge room with poor whispering victims positioned around the edges. "Amuse bouches" were cold and greasy sausage rolls and bacon-wrapped prunes - wouldn't touch them at the worst kind of wedding reception. A "soup" of ?avocado? had literally a couple of bits of thyme twigs left in, dry and unappetising fois gras (with strawberry sauce) was accompanied by an uneatable slime of dressed salad leaves put together hours beforehand, main course proved literally inedible (a bavette steak, dead, slimy green beans, sweet potato "fries" tasting of old oil and salt, raw in the centre). We cancelled deserts and left. The house red is delicious. Staff in the restaurant were sympathetic and courteous. Chef emerged to speak to us later in the evening, professing no English (I do speak French), but our experience was met with "Fair Enough". On check out we had been charged for the steak, which I deleted, and front desk staff were helpful. Breakfast buffet in a side room was like a gloomy waiting room populated by unsmiling guests. Ghastly coffee from a machine. Dreadful end to a hugely disappointing stay.

While it's been a number of years, our stay was no less than wonderful. We are seasoned travelers and this met our expectations. With a view of the hills and it's sheep, the serenity was what the doctor ordered. The meal - ooh la la! We would not hesitate to visit again.