Hotel Restaurant La Mere Poulard

Founded in 1888, La Mere Poulard is the most famous hotel in the area and has historic charm. Autographed celebrity guest photos line every square inch of the walls and original stonework in the restaurant adds coziness and style. But the restaurant’s brown, red, and gold color scheme feels dated rather than antique. The lounge/bar area has exceptional views of the bay of Mont Saint-Michel in addition to live music. Large windows add lots of natural light to the breakfast room, but some of the drapes and chairs are outdated. Hallways and stairways are snug and can be difficult to maneuver luggage through, and there’s no elevator. The hotel carpeting has seen better days and the front desk is tiny and easily crowded when checking in or out.

La Mere Poulard is right inside the entrance to the small island town of Mont Saint-Michel and thus offers guests a prime location. Restaurants, shops, and other tourist destinations are within easy walking distance of the hotel, including the Musée Historique du Mont Saint-Michel, Archéoscope du Mont Saint-Michel, tourism info center, and Chapelle Saint-Aubert. To see any other sights, you’ll need a rental car as there's little public transportation in the area.

Although all guest rooms are soundproofed, some units get street noise and others lack views. The outdated design of some rooms includes boring red drapes and carpets, older wood headboards, and plain black pillows. Certain spaces have been renovated, but there’s still much to be desired. All units have bathrobes, slippers, flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, and fully stocked minibars, and some have views of the bay, gardens, or historic village. Certain bathrooms have pink sinks and tubs with outdated floor tiles that make the room look washed out, but all have toiletries. Others have a more modern look with neutral palettes and white bathtubs, but many guests have mentioned handheld nozzles are difficult to use.

La Mere has an on-site gourmet restaurant that uses the original owner’s traditional French recipes and mixes them with locally sourced ingredients. Meals receive excellent guest reviews, though the food is pricey when compared to other restaurants on the island. The omelets are the eatery’s most famous dish and the venue also serves as a conference room for business travelers, featuring items such as a projector, microphone, TV, and computer. Additionally, an on-site boutique sells the restaurant's esteemed biscuits along with other snacks and treats. Pets are allowed at the hotel and there’s on-site parking, but both incur a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.