Brittany's Beating Heart: A Guide to the Most Charming Luxury Hotels in Rennes
Brittany's Beating Heart: A Guide to the Most Charming Luxury Hotels in Rennes
Rennes
Welcome to Rennes, the vibrant capital of Brittany. A city where medieval history and a youthful, creative energy collide, Rennes is a treasure of colorful half-timbered houses, magnificent classical squares, and a lively cultural scene. From its bustling Saturday market to its beautiful parks, this guide to the best luxury hotels in Rennes reveals the city’s most charming stays.
Welcome to Rennes: The Vibrant and Historic Heart of Brittany
Welcome to Rennes, the vibrant and dynamic capital of the beautiful and historic region of Brittany. A city where magnificent and ancient medieval history and a lively, youthful, and creative energy spectacularly collide, Rennes is a true and often-overlooked treasure. It boasts a magnificent and beautifully preserved historic center filled with colorful, leaning half-timbered houses, magnificent and grand classical squares, and a vibrant and exciting cultural scene that is fueled by its large student population. From its world-famous and bustling Saturday market to its beautiful and serene public parks, this comprehensive guide to the best luxury hotels in Rennes will reveal the city’s most charming, stylish, and elegant stays.
1. Balthazar Hôtel & Spa – MGallery
The Place: Unquestionably the most prestigious and luxurious 5-star hotel in the heart of Rennes. This magnificent hotel is a true sanctuary of contemporary elegance and tranquility, celebrated for its sophisticated interior design by the acclaimed designer IGLOO. It is also renowned for its magnificent and serene NUXE spa, and its beautiful, hidden garden courtyard.
My Top Pick: The magnificent and deeply serene NUXE Spa, with its beautiful sensory pool, is a true and undisputed oasis of wellness and relaxation.
1. Balthazar Hôtel & Spa – MGallery: A Sanctuary of Contemporary Luxury
The Place: Unquestionably the most prestigious and luxurious 5-star hotel in the heart of Rennes, the magnificent Balthazar is a true and undisputed sanctuary of contemporary elegance and deep tranquility. The hotel is celebrated for its sophisticated and timeless interior design by the acclaimed designer IGLOO, which creates a warm, chic, and welcoming atmosphere. It is also renowned for its magnificent and serene NUXE spa, its popular restaurant, and its beautiful and surprisingly large hidden garden courtyard.
My Top Pick: The magnificent and deeply serene NUXE Spa is a true and undisputed oasis of wellness and relaxation in the heart of the city. It features a beautiful sensory pool, a sauna, and a hammam, providing the ultimate escape.
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2. Château d’Apigné
The Place: A magnificent and romantic 19th-century château hotel, set within a vast and beautiful 25-hectare park on the outskirts of the city. This spectacular hotel offers a true fairytale experience, with opulent, historic interiors, grand reception rooms, and a serene, natural setting. It is the perfect choice for a deeply luxurious and tranquil countryside escape.
My Top Pick: The incredible and truly unforgettable experience of staying in a genuine and magnificent 19th-century château, surrounded by a beautiful and vast private park.
2. Château d’Apigné: A Fairytale Castle Retreat
The Place: A magnificent and deeply romantic 19th-century château hotel, the Château d’Apigné is beautifully set within a vast and beautiful 25-hectare private park, just a very short and scenic drive from the city center of Rennes. This spectacular and historic hotel offers a true and unforgettable fairytale experience, with opulent, classic, and historic interiors, magnificent grand reception rooms, and a serene, deeply natural and tranquil setting. It is the perfect choice for a deeply luxurious and peaceful countryside escape.
My Top Pick: The incredible and truly unforgettable experience of staying in a genuine and magnificent 19th-century château, which is surrounded by a beautiful and vast private park with ancient trees and a serene river, is a true journey back in time.
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3. Le Saint-Antoine Hotel & Spa, BW Premier Collection
The Place: A modern and very stylish hotel with a prime location in the heart of the city, right next to the main train station and the Théâtre National de Bretagne. The hotel is known for its chic, contemporary design, its sophisticated atmosphere, and its magnificent and serene spa. It offers a luxurious and convenient base.
My Top Pick: The magnificent and serene spa is a true highlight, featuring a beautiful indoor swimming pool with hydro-massage jets for ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation.
3. Le Saint-Antoine Hotel & Spa, BW Premier Collection: A Hub of Modern Wellness
The Place: A modern and incredibly stylish hotel, Le Saint-Antoine boasts a prime and highly convenient location in the heart of the city, right next to the main train station and the prestigious Théâtre National de Bretagne. The hotel is known for its chic, sleek, and contemporary interior design, its sophisticated and cosmopolitan atmosphere, and, most notably, for its magnificent and serene on-site spa. It offers a luxurious and convenient base for exploring the city.
My Top Pick: The magnificent and deeply serene spa is a true highlight of the hotel. It features a beautiful and inviting indoor swimming pool with hydro-massage jets, a sauna, and a hammam, providing the perfect sanctuary for ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation.
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4. Mama Shelter Rennes
The Place: A vibrant and playful design hotel with a fantastic and unique location on the beautiful and historic Place des Lices. The hotel is a lively social hub, known for its quirky and colorful design by the renowned designer Dion & Arles. It also features a magnificent rooftop bar with breathtaking, panoramic views of the city.
My Top Pick: The magnificent and very popular rooftop bar and restaurant, which offers some of the most breathtaking, panoramic views of the city’s historic rooftops.
4. Mama Shelter Rennes: A Rooftop with a View
The Place: A vibrant and deeply playful design hotel, the Mama Shelter enjoys a fantastic and unique location on the beautiful and historic Place des Lices, the site of the famous weekly market. The hotel is a lively and bustling social hub, known for its quirky, colorful, and creative interior design by the renowned Parisian designer Dion & Arles. It also features a magnificent and very popular rooftop bar with breathtaking, panoramic views of the entire historic city.
My Top Pick: The magnificent and very popular rooftop bar and its adjacent restaurant are the hotel’s crowning glory. They offer some of the most breathtaking, sweeping, and panoramic views of the city’s historic rooftops, towers, and the distant cathedral.
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5. Hôtel de la Cour-Il-Grêt
The Place: A charming and deeply historic hotel housed in a beautiful 17th-century building in a quiet and peaceful part of the city center. The hotel is known for its warm, personalized hospitality, its classic, elegant decor, and its beautiful and serene private garden. It offers a tranquil and deeply comfortable ‘home away from home’ experience.
My Top Pick: The beautiful and serene private garden is a true hidden oasis, providing a wonderfully peaceful and green environment for relaxing with a delicious book.
5. Hôtel de la Cour-Il-Grêt: An Intimate Garden Hideaway
The Place: A charming and deeply historic hotel, this property is housed in a beautiful and carefully restored 17th-century building in a quiet and peaceful part of the city center. The hotel is particularly known for its exceptionally warm, welcoming, and personalized hospitality from the owners, its classic, elegant decor that respects the building’s history, and its beautiful and serene private garden. It offers a tranquil and deeply comfortable ‘home away from home’ experience for its guests.
My Top Pick: The beautiful and serene private garden is a true and unexpected hidden oasis in the heart of the city. It provides a wonderfully peaceful and green environment for relaxing with a book or enjoying a delicious homemade breakfast.
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6. Le Nemours Hôtel & Appartements
The Place: A chic and contemporary aparthotel offering a range of stylish and beautifully designed studios and apartments. Located in the heart of the city, the hotel combines the independence and space of a private apartment with the services of a luxury hotel. It provides a sophisticated and convenient base for both short and longer stays.
My Top Pick: The spaciousness and convenience of the modern and very well-equipped apartments provide a comfortable and independent base for exploring the beautiful city of Rennes.
6. Le Nemours Hôtel & Appartements: A Chic and Independent Stay
The Place: A chic and highly contemporary aparthotel, Le Nemours offers a wide range of stylish and beautifully designed studios and apartments for its guests. Perfectly located in the heart of the city, the hotel masterfully combines the independence, space, and convenience of a private apartment with the luxurious services and amenities of a high-end hotel. It provides a sophisticated and highly convenient base for both short and much longer stays in the city.
My Top Pick: The incredible spaciousness and convenience of the modern and very well-equipped apartments is the main draw of this property. They provide a comfortable, flexible, and deeply independent base for exploring the beautiful and historic city of Rennes.
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7. Mercure Rennes Centre Parlement
The Place: A classic and elegant hotel housed in a beautiful historic building that was once the city’s main printing press. The hotel has an unbeatable location in the heart of the city, just steps from the magnificent Parliament of Brittany building. It offers a sophisticated and deeply comfortable experience with a strong sense of place.
My Top Pick: The hotel’s prime and unbeatable central location makes it incredibly easy to explore all of Rennes’ historic sights, shops, and excellent restaurants on foot.
7. Mercure Rennes Centre Parlement: Historic Elegance, Modern Comfort
The Place: A classic and deeply elegant hotel, the Mercure Centre Parlement is housed in a beautiful historic building that was once the city’s main printing press and newspaper headquarters. The hotel has an absolutely unbeatable and prestigious location in the very heart of the city, just a few steps away from the magnificent and historic Parliament of Brittany building. It offers a sophisticated and deeply comfortable experience with a very strong and palpable sense of place and history.
My Top Pick: The hotel’s prime and unbeatable central location is its greatest asset. It makes it incredibly easy and convenient to explore all of Rennes’ magnificent historic sights, its best shops, and its many excellent and authentic restaurants entirely on foot.
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8. Marnie et Mister H
The Place: An intimate and incredibly stylish boutique hotel with a unique and creative design, located in the heart of the city. The hotel is known for its bold, contemporary decor, its warm, welcoming atmosphere, and its highly personalized service. It offers a chic and deeply comfortable home-away-from-home experience for design-loving travelers and visitors to the city.
My Top Pick: The unique and beautifully curated interior design, which creates a warm, welcoming, and incredibly stylish atmosphere, makes this a truly special place to stay.
8. Marnie et Mister H: A Bold Boutique Statement
The Place: An intimate and incredibly stylish boutique hotel, Marnie et Mister H features a unique and highly creative interior design and is located in the very heart of the city. The hotel is known for its bold, dramatic, and contemporary decor, its warm, welcoming, and vibrant atmosphere, and its highly personalized and friendly service. It offers a chic and deeply comfortable home-away-from-home experience that is perfect for design-loving travelers and visitors to the city.
My Top Pick: The unique and beautifully curated interior design is a true highlight of the hotel. It creates a warm, welcoming, and incredibly stylish atmosphere with its bold colors and unique furnishings, making this a truly special place to stay.
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9. Hotel Anne De Bretagne
The Place: A charming and traditional hotel with a fantastic central location, known for its warm, welcoming hospitality and its classic, comfortable rooms. The hotel offers a relaxed and authentic Breton experience, providing a perfect and highly convenient base for exploring the city’s rich history and its vibrant cultural scene, as well as its many sights.
My Top Pick: The hotel’s exceptionally warm, friendly, and personalized hospitality makes every single guest feel truly welcome and at home in this very charming hotel.
9. Hotel Anne De Bretagne: A Touch of Traditional Charm
The Place: A charming and traditional hotel, the Hotel Anne De Bretagne enjoys a fantastic and very central location in the heart of the city. The hotel is known for its warm, welcoming, and authentic Breton hospitality and for its classic, comfortable, and well-maintained rooms. It offers a relaxed and deeply authentic experience, providing a perfect and highly convenient base for exploring the city’s rich history and its vibrant and dynamic cultural scene, as well as its many sights.
My Top Pick: The hotel’s exceptionally warm, friendly, and highly personalized hospitality makes every single guest feel truly welcome and at home. The staff are renowned for their helpful and insightful local recommendations, ensuring a wonderful and authentic stay.
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10. Hôtel Le Florin
The Place: A modern and convenient hotel with a prime location directly opposite the main Rennes train station. The hotel is known for its comfortable, soundproofed rooms, its friendly, efficient service, and for providing excellent value. It is the perfect and most practical choice for travelers arriving by train or planning to explore the wider Brittany region.
My Top Pick: The hotel’s unbeatable location makes it incredibly easy and stress-free for travelers who are planning to take day trips by train to other destinations.
10. Hôtel Le Florin: The Ultimate in Convenience
The Place: A modern and highly convenient hotel, Le Florin boasts a prime location directly opposite the main Rennes train station, making it incredibly easy for travelers. The hotel is known for its comfortable, modern, and fully soundproofed rooms, its friendly and highly efficient service, and for providing excellent and consistent value. It is the perfect and most practical choice for travelers who are arriving by train or who are planning to explore the wider and beautiful Brittany region.
My Top Pick: The hotel’s unbeatable location right next to the main train station makes it incredibly easy and completely stress-free for travelers who are planning to take day trips by train to other magnificent destinations like Mont Saint-Michel or Saint-Malo.
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Bonus: Castelbrac Hôtel & Spa
Located in the magnificent seaside town of Dinard, a scenic drive from Rennes, this spectacular and unique 5-star hotel is carved into a cliffside, offering breathtaking, panoramic sea views. Housed in a beautifully restored 1930s Art Deco villa, this hotel is a true sanctuary of marine wellness and gastronomy, featuring a Michelin-starred restaurant and a magnificent spa.
Bonus: Castelbrac Hôtel & Spa, Dinard: A Seaside Art Deco Masterpiece
The Place: Located in the magnificent and historic seaside town of Dinard, a very scenic and beautiful drive from the city of Rennes, this spectacular and unique 5-star hotel is dramatically carved into a cliffside, offering breathtaking and panoramic sea views. Housed in a beautifully and meticulously restored 1930s Art Deco villa, this magnificent hotel is a true sanctuary of marine wellness and gastronomy. It features a Michelin-starred restaurant and a magnificent and serene spa for its guests.
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Expert’s Opinion: One to Choose?
Here’s our recommendation to help you choose the perfect luxury hotel in Rennes for your trip:
- For ultimate five-star luxury and wellness: The magnificent Balthazar Hôtel & Spa – MGallery is the city’s undisputed top luxury hotel.
- For a fairytale château experience: The spectacular and romantic Château d’Apigné offers an unforgettable countryside retreat.
- For a vibrant rooftop scene: The new and stylish Mama Shelter Rennes has the best panoramic views and a lively atmosphere.
- For an elegant, historic stay: The beautiful Oceania Hôtel de France provides a sophisticated and timeless experience in the city.
Expert’s Opinion: One to Choose?
Here’s our recommendation to help you choose the perfect luxury hotel in Rennes for your trip:
- For ultimate five-star luxury and wellness: The magnificent and deeply sophisticated Balthazar Hôtel & Spa – MGallery is the undisputed top luxury hotel in the heart of the city.
- For a fairytale château experience: The spectacular and deeply romantic Château d’Apigné, set within its own vast private park, offers an unforgettable and truly magical countryside retreat.
- For a vibrant rooftop scene with the best views: The new and incredibly stylish Mama Shelter Rennes, located on the historic Place des Lices, has the best panoramic views and a lively, fun atmosphere.
- For an elegant, historic stay: The beautiful and recently renovated Oceania Hôtel de France Nantes provides a sophisticated and timeless experience in a magnificent and historic building in the heart of the city.
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Travel Guides: Rennes, France
A stay at a luxury hotel is the perfect start to your Rennes adventure. To make the most of your trip, here is a travel guide that complements the article on luxury hotels in Rennes.
1. Best Time to Visit Rennes
- Late Spring (May-June) & Early Autumn (September): These are the absolute best times to visit Rennes. The weather is pleasant and often sunny, which is perfect for exploring the city’s beautiful historic center and its magnificent parks.
- Summer (July-August): The city has a wonderfully vibrant and lively atmosphere during the summer, with many free outdoor festivals and events, such as the ‘Transat en Ville’ concert series which takes place in the city’s main squares.
- Winter (November-February): The weather is cooler and can be rainy, but it’s a great time to enjoy the city’s cozy creperies and its excellent museums with fewer crowds.
1. When to Go?
- Late Spring (May-June) & Early Autumn (September): These are the best times to visit, with pleasant weather perfect for exploring the city and its beautiful parks.
- Summer (July-August): The city has a vibrant atmosphere with many outdoor festivals and events, including the Transat en Ville.
2. Getting Around Rennes
- Walking: The magnificent and beautifully preserved medieval historic center of Rennes is very compact and a true joy to explore entirely on foot, with its many charming, pedestrianized cobblestone streets.
- Metro and Buses: The city has a highly efficient, modern, and very easy-to-use public transport system, which includes two driverless and automatic metro lines that are very convenient for getting around.
- Biking: Rennes is an incredibly bike-friendly city, with many dedicated and safe cycle paths, especially along the beautiful banks of the Vilaine river, making it a great way to explore.
2. Getting Around Rennes
- Walking: The magnificent medieval historic center of Rennes is very compact and a true joy to explore on foot.
- Metro and Buses: The city has a highly efficient, modern, and easy-to-use public transport system, including two driverless metro lines.
- Biking: Rennes is a very bike-friendly city with many dedicated cycle paths, especially along the river.
3. Must-See Sights
- Historic Center (Vieux Rennes): Explore the magnificent and incredibly well-preserved medieval quarter, with its spectacular, colorful, and leaning half-timbered houses and its charming, winding cobblestone streets that transport you back in time.
- Parliament of Brittany Building (Parlement de Bretagne): A magnificent and historic 17th-century palace that is a true masterpiece of French classical architecture. It is one of the most important and symbolic buildings in all of Brittany.
- Parc du Thabor: One of the most beautiful and acclaimed public parks in all of France. This magnificent park features a formal French garden, a romantic English garden, a rose garden, and a botanical garden.
- Place des Lices and Market: The magnificent and historic square that was once the site of medieval jousting tournaments. It is now home to the spectacular Marché des Lices, one of France’s largest and best weekly food markets.
3. Must-See Sights
- Historic Center (Vieux Rennes): Explore the magnificent and incredibly well-preserved medieval quarter, with its colorful, half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets.
- Parliament of Brittany Building: A magnificent and historic 17th-century palace that is a true masterpiece of French architecture.
- Parc du Thabor: One of the most beautiful and acclaimed public parks in all of France, featuring a French garden, an English garden, and a botanical garden.
- Place des Lices and Market: The location of the famous ‘jousting’ square and home to the Marché des Lices, one of France’s largest and best weekly food markets.
4. Unique Experiences
- Visit the Marché des Lices: On a Saturday morning, you must immerse yourself in the incredible and vibrant atmosphere of this magnificent market. It is a true feast for the senses, with the best of Breton produce.
- Enjoy a Galette Saucisse: You absolutely must try the iconic and delicious local street food of Rennes. It is a simple but perfect grilled sausage that is wrapped in a savory, freshly made buckwheat crêpe (‘galette’).
- Explore the Banks of the Vilaine: Stroll or cycle along the beautiful and recently redeveloped riverbanks, which now feature gardens, public art, and trendy outdoor cafes (‘guinguettes’).
- Day Trip to Mont Saint-Michel or Saint-Malo: Use Rennes as a perfect and highly convenient base for exploring the world-famous and magnificent historic sites of both Brittany and Normandy, which are easily reachable by car or train.
4. Unique Experiences
- Visit the Marché des Lices: Immerse yourself in the incredible atmosphere of the Saturday morning market, a true feast for the senses.
- Enjoy a Galette Saucisse: You must try the iconic local street food, a grilled sausage wrapped in a savory buckwheat crêpe (‘galette’).
- Explore the Banks of the Vilaine: Stroll or cycle along the beautiful, redeveloped riverbanks for a different perspective of the city.
- Day Trip to Mont Saint-Michel or Saint-Malo: Use Rennes as a perfect base for exploring the world-famous historic sites of Brittany and Normandy.
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