Best Boutique Hotels in Normandy

Oyster knows what travelers look for in their hotels. When we visit properties around the world, we evaluate how every feature stacks up against the competition, from the rooms to the pools to the restaurants. So if you’re planning a trip and need a place to start, you’ve come to the right place. Take a look at our top boutique hotel picks in Normandy, and get inspired!

1

La Maison du Parc

Honfleur, Normandy, France

There's very little to find fault with at La Maison du Parc, with its lovely gardens, beautifully maintained townhouse, five superbly finished rooms, and excellent fresh continental breakfast. It's located in a quiet neighborhood, a short walk from the town center and its amenities. As the Maison du Parc is a bed and breakfast, don't expect much in the way of facilities -- there's no pool, spa, or business center. Rates are a little higher than at your average B&B, but this place is well above average.

2

La Petite Folie

Honfleur, Normandy, France

La Petite Folie is undeniably special. It's a luxurious B&B in a charming mansion with a few high-end apartments spread over two nearby 14th-century buildings. Interiors are particularly impressive, and each room has been lovingly and distinctly styled with luxury touches. The property is set right in the heart of Honfleur, within walking distance of local attractions and restaurants. Beware that there's no elevator (in keeping with historical preservation laws), and stairwells can be steep. Parking is limited. Rates may be high for a B&B, but are reasonable for a hotel with such class and attention to detail.

3

Hotel Villa Lara

Bayeux, Normandy, France

Villa Lara Hotel is a charming and intimate four-pearl boutique hotel with 28 rooms located in the historical center of Bayeux. The property is popular with tourists visiting World War II sites in the area. Though the building is small, there are some great features including an on-site gift shop selling locally made gifts and textiles, a fitness center, and a breakfast room with a bar in the library-style lounge. Spacious rooms are individually decorated and spotlessly clean. Each is air-conditioned and has varying views of the cathedral. Wi-Fi and parking are free, but breakfast and laundry services cost extra. The neighborhood is walkable and loaded with restaurants, shops, and cultural sights.

4

La Maison de Lucie

Honfleur, Normandy, France

La Maison de Lucie is a charming and intimate boutique property built in a historic 18th-century house within walking distance of the equally charming village of Honfleur. Couples stay here for the stylish rooms lovingly decorated with antiques and curated art, though some rooms are small and storage is hard to come by. A simple breakfast is served for a fee in the lovely courtyard gardens and there's a romantic hot tub in the basement level. Parking requires reservations in advance and costs extra, though both practices are common in this region.

5

Le Manoir Des Impressionnistes

Honfleur, Normandy, France

Le Manoir Des Impressionnistes certainly makes quite an impression upon first sight: the 18th-century manor house surrounded by pretty gardens and ancient woods could easily be the subject of a postcard or a magazine cover. Its setting on a hill overlooking the Seine estuary is quite special, too, and some rooms enjoy lovely sea-view sunsets. The on-site spa in a converted farmhouse is well received, as is the restaurant that uses locally sourced ingredients. There's no pool, but rates are nevertheless reasonable for such charming package.

6

Hotel Restaurant Le Bellevue

Villerville, Normandy, France

Le Bellevue is a mid-range, 26-room hotel occupying a 19th-century villa set in a quiet village overlooking the Seine Estuary. Its excellent restaurant is popular with locals and some of its tables have sea views -- as do many of the simple, cozy guest rooms. Besides the homey bar, there's little else in the way of facilities, and public transport links are pretty nonexistent. However, with both Honfleur and Deauville within 15 minutes by car, it provides a peaceful and relatively good value alternative to these often-overcrowded tourist hot spots. 

7

Hotel l’Ecrin

Honfleur, Normandy, France

The 30-room Hotel l'Ecrin is set in an 18th-century manor house in the center of the pretty, medieval town of Honfleur. Interiors are lavish to the extreme and facilities way beyond what you'd expect from an advertised three-star property. Some annex rooms are disappointing, though generally standards are high and the outdoor swimming pool and spa are impressive. Everything considered, this hotel is great value for money -- just insist on a room in the main building. 

8

Hotel Reine Mathilde

Bayeux, Normandy, France

You'd be hard-pressed to find a better located hotel than the 23-room Hotel Reine Mathilde, set right in the historical heart of Bayeux. Rooms are chic and largely impressive for a value property -- though some are small -- and the annex rooms are particularly well finished. Its cozy restaurant is a pleasant place to relax, and the sun terrace is a real highlight. Overall this hotel more than out-punches its weight with the things that matter, and the rates are reasonable.

9

Ivan Vautier Hotel

Caen, Normandy, France

The 19-room Ivan Vautier Hotel is a luxury boutique built around its renowned restaurant. Set on a somewhat drab, residential street away from central Caen, location certainly isn't its selling point -- though rooms are smart and appropriately high-end with excellent bathrooms and amenities. The spa area is good enough for the caliber of hotel (with steam bath, sauna, and hot tub) but the restaurant is, of course, the highlight and the food certainly won't disappoint. Overall, the hotel is swanky without quite hitting seriously upscale, but reasonable rates do tend to reflect this. 

10

Le Donjon – Domaine Saint Clair

Etretat, Normandy, France

The 21 romantic rooms in this converted 19th-century dungeon are fancifully decorated with colorful draped fabrics and dark-wood furniture that cleaves more or less to a historic and opulent French manor aesthetic. This beautiful, if somewhat ramshackle, property might not be for everyone -- some might find the grounds a bit too rustic. Some guests believe the food is overpriced, and doesn't always seem fresh. Most, though, seem enchanted with the lush gardens, the  heated outdoor pool, and the general air of romance that pervades the property. It's a 10-minute walk to the charming fishing village of Etretat.