Hotel de Luxe le Cep

Hotel de Luxe le Cep occupies picturesque stone buildings connected by three courtyards, two of which are from the 15th and 16th centuries. Beautiful details such as stone archways, carved statues, and a living wall make this property feel special. Interiors are a bit of a mixed bag, though. The lobby includes a classically decorated fireplace lounge that features lots of wood, dark reds, and antique accents. Off the lobby there's a more more modern, flashier bar decorated with velvet seating in black, orange, and white, and a purple-lit wine fridge. Nonetheless, the hotel is full of Old World luxury and ambience, particularly on the garden terrace, where black wrought-iron seating and red tablecloths stand out against a beautiful stone floor. Most guests are wine-loving couples, visiting the nearby vineyards of Burgundy.  

The Hotel de Luxe le Cep is located in the center of the walled town of Beaune in France's UNESCO-listed Burgundy winemaking region. This is an ideal location for travelers planning to tour wine country, as it includes côte de nuits (north red wines) and côte de Beaune (south white wines). Beaune itself is a charming town known for its medieval buildings, wine tastings, auctions, and caves. The hotel is within five minutes' walk of the main square, wine museums, the famed Hospices de Beaune building, and the shopping street of Rue Carnot. Restaurants serving regional cuisine, such as snails and eggs poached in wine, dot surrounding streets. Travelers can rent bikes to explore the route des Grands Crus and surrounding towns, such as Pommard (10-minute drive or 15-minute bike ride), Mersault (15-minute drive or 26-minute bike ride), and Volnay (10-minute drive or 22-minute bike ride). Dijon is about 40 minutes away by car. Paris and Charles de Gaulle Airport are about three hours by car. Geneva International Airport is about two hours and 15 minutes by car. 

Rooms and suites are available at Hotel de Luxe le Cep and all are spacious and comfortable. Decor ranges from simple and classic, to opulent and traditional, to more modern and colorful. Most rooms feature dark patterned carpeting and heavy wooden furniture. Crushed velvet, ornate bedspreads, and antique-style lamps are also common. The Nectar Room, however, has a purple winding staircase and pink-and-purple-striped walls. Most rooms face the courtyard and are quiet. All units are air-conditioned and have double-glazed windows, safes, minibars, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, and free Wi-Fi. Suites add espresso machines, fruit baskets, and an expensive wake-up-call system called NightCove, that uses sound and light to improve sleep cycles. Some bathrooms are quite modern and feature glossy white marble and shower/tub combos, while others have dated shower stalls, and the Nectar Room has a purple clawfoot tub. All bathrooms include hairdryers, bath products, and robes and slippers. 

Features are focused on relaxation and food for well-heeled couples. Breakfast is served daily, both indoors and outdoors in a courtyard, as well as in rooms. The buffet includes hot drinks, bread and French pastries, fresh fruit, cheese, wine, and more -- but it isn't included in the room rate. The bar is open 24 hours daily and extends from an indoor space with a fireplace to a 14th-century courtyard. Wine tastings are available and the hotel can arrange vineyard tours. The Loiseau des Vignes restaurant has a Michelin star, serves regionally influenced dishes, and is open for lunch and dinner. The hotel features a large spa that offers cryotherapy, water bikes, a water bed, and a large outdoor barrel sauna in addition to massage cabins. A small fitness room and five meeting rooms/lounges are available. Private parking is available in a garage and outside. Pets are permitted. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.