Hôtel La Zoologie

“Hotel 10/10 Location 5/10”

We stayed here for a three night city break. The hotel itself is fabulous, we stayed in the zoological section of the hotel and had a delightful balcony overlooking the hotel’s central garden which we absolutely loved. The room itself was large with everything we needed apart from a fridge to store… more

We stayed here for a three night city break. The hotel itself is fabulous, we stayed in the zoological section of the hotel and had a delightful balcony overlooking the hotel’s central garden which we absolutely loved. The room itself was large with everything we needed apart from a fridge to store some milk for coffee but it was speedily delivered when rang for. The rooms are stocked with L’Occitane products and Evian water. We ate in the hotel restaurant the first night and had a really lovely dinner. Special word of mention must go to the two ladies serving us, one of which was the sommelier - she provided us with exceptional service and provided us with a fabulous wine pairing for our dinner. That being said all the staff in this hotel were wonderful especially the two guys running the bar - great cocktails and gin and tonics. We had lunch at the hotel’s Italian restaurant on our first day, the menu is small but the service and quality of food is exceptional. One thing to note if booking this hotel and I can only speak for our room in the zoológica section - the shower is open to the room by a clear screen, not a problem for us as a married couple but would be awkward for friends sharing or perhaps a newly dating couple!! Some things should be kept a mystery! The only downside we found with this hotel is the location, it is a 20 minute walk up to the old town and in quite an industrial area, the tram is about a 6 minute walk, okay during the day but we were a little nervous walking back at night. There seems to be some sort of school/child care facility right beside the hotel - the noise from this during the day from early morning until evening is quite extensive - if screaming children is not your thing perhaps ask for a room at the front of the hotel. The roof terrace is a great amenity on a warm day however it could do with some comfortable chairs for relaxing in, the ones there at the moment are not great! My husband had two massages at the spa and throughly enjoyed them, the only thing that’s missing is a pool. We had a lovely stay and would like to thank all the staff for being so lovely, we really felt at home - merci Beaucoup!

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“A green haven in the midst of a bustling city”

A delightful hotel keeping many of the features of the old zoology faculty of Bordeaux University, but with a modern, industrial twist to the rooms. The restaurant offered good French cuisine and wine. The rooftop bar is a great place to unwind after a day’s sightseeing, but sadly the wine on offer… more

A delightful hotel keeping many of the features of the old zoology faculty of Bordeaux University, but with a modern, industrial twist to the rooms. The restaurant offered good French cuisine and wine. The rooftop bar is a great place to unwind after a day’s sightseeing, but sadly the wine on offer there was dreadful. A big thank you and special mention for the staff on Reception who could not have been more helpful, friendly and went over and above the call of duty to make us welcome and to help with recommendations and with booking other restaurants.

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“Good First Impression, Let Down by Room Design and Service”

On first arrival, this appears to be a lovely boutique-style hotel with attractive public areas and a welcoming atmosphere. However, we found the room design and overall practicality could be improved, particularly for two friends sharing. Lighting in the bedroom was quite limited, and there was n… more

On first arrival, this appears to be a lovely boutique-style hotel with attractive public areas and a welcoming atmosphere. However, we found the room design and overall practicality could be improved, particularly for two friends sharing. Lighting in the bedroom was quite limited, and there was no fridge. We also had to request cups and milk twice (though staff were quick and courteous in providing them). The main issue for us was privacy — our room faced directly onto the outdoor terrace, so we felt very visible from the restaurant area. The bathroom and shower were fully glazed without any frosting or screens, which was uncomfortable for two people sharing. To their credit, the staff did provide two bamboo screens, which helped. In the bar, service was rather slow — after waiting about 15 minutes without being approached, we eventually decided to leave. The spa area is small but pleasant, though access for hotel guests is quite restricted in timing. There are a few steps into the hotel, and it would have been nice to have some assistance with luggage when checking out. The location is slightly outside the main centre in a less polished area, but there are good transport links nearby. Overall, this hotel has charm and potential, but some improvements in room design, amenities, and service would make it a much better experience.

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