Hotel 56

Hotel 56, Bordeaux: A Comprehensive Review of a Michelin Key Selected Property

Hotel 56 in Bordeaux stands out as a highly-rated 4-star establishment, lauded for its modern design, exceptional service, and prime location near the train station. As a Michelin Key Selected property, it promises a distinguished stay, and guest feedback largely confirms this, highlighting excellent value for money and a comfortable experience.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Hotel 56 is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently expressing high satisfaction. Review platforms show excellent ratings, including an 8.9/10 on Booking.com and a 9.4/10 on Hotels.com and Expedia. Many guests describe their stay as exceeding expectations, praising its modernity, cleanliness, and comfort as "amazing value for money".

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently love several aspects of Hotel 56. The friendly and helpful staff receive frequent commendation. The modern and chic design of both rooms and communal spaces is a recurring highlight. The hotel's rooftop restaurant and bar, offering delightful views over the Garonne River, are also a significant draw for many. Its convenient location near the train station (Gare Saint-Jean) and tram services is highly appreciated by travelers.

3. Room Quality

The 98 rooms at Hotel 56 are consistently described as a good size, super clean, and modern, providing a comfortable stay. Guests appreciate the quality beds and bedding, often highlighting "super comfy" beds and "great pillows". The showers are frequently praised as "amazing" or "excellent". Rooms are well-equipped with amenities such as air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, coffee/tea makers, irons, and free toiletries. Many rooms are filled with natural light, and some offer balconies with picturesque views of the Garonne River or the changing city skyline. The decor is noted for being new, extremely chic, and contemporary, with wooden floors adding charm to some rooms. Different room types, including Classic, Superior, and Deluxe, offer varying sizes and views.

4. Dining Experience

Hotel 56 offers a notable dining experience, particularly its buffet breakfast, often enjoyed on the rooftop with expansive views of the Garonne. This "gourmet feast" includes homemade preparations, local flavors, pastries by Bordeaux artisans, fresh fruit, and regional specialties, with gluten-free and vegetarian options available. While most guests find the breakfast "great" or "very good," one review noted it as "quite poor for the price paid".

The on-site French restaurant, Rivamour, serves French cuisine, and the hotel also features a lobby bar and a rooftop bar, offering signature cocktails and refined dishes. Some guests enjoyed the restaurant, while one reviewer found it "disappointing". Room service is also available.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Hotel 56 is consistently rated as exceptional, with a strong emphasis on friendly, helpful, and welcoming staff. Guests have shared positive experiences, such as staff taking bags to rooms, providing free room upgrades, and offering handwritten welcome notes. The multilingual reception operates 24/7, providing services like luggage storage, personalized check-out, and dry cleaning. The concierge team is also praised for its local expertise in crafting bespoke Bordeaux experiences.

6. Location & Accessibility

Located on the Paludate quays in the Saint-Jean district, Hotel 56 benefits from a prime position for travelers. It is a mere 5-minute walk from Saint-Jean Station, a major hub for TGV connections, making it highly convenient for arrivals and departures by train. Public transport, including tram services, is easily accessible, allowing for straightforward navigation around the city.

While the hotel is noted as being a bit further from the immediate historic city center (approximately a 20-minute bus ride or a 25-30 minute walk to attractions like Place de la Bourse or the Water Mirror), the excellent public transport links (tram line C, buses, shared bikes/scooters) ensure that major attractions are easily reachable. Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport is about a 22-30 minute drive away, with shuttle services connecting to Saint-Jean Station. For those arriving by car, major roads lead to the Paludate quays, and parking is available by reservation for an additional fee. The immediate neighborhood is an area undergoing regeneration.

7. Value & Pricing

Hotel 56 is frequently highlighted for its "amazing value for money" and "excellent value for the price". Guests often remark that the quality of the hotel and its amenities surpass their expectations for the price paid, positioning it as a strong contender in its 4-star category.

8. Common Complaints

While largely positive, some minor criticisms and recurring issues have been noted by guests:

• The hotel's main restaurant was found disappointing by one guest, and another felt the breakfast was "quite poor for the price paid".
• Some guests experienced issues with the payment process when booking through third-party sites like Booking.com, citing redirects to external links as unusual.
• A few reviewers mentioned that the rooms could be "a bit tight," though this was acknowledged as typical for accommodations in France.
• One significant complaint detailed loud construction noise within the hotel for several hours and dissatisfaction with how management handled the issue.
• Another guest reported inflexible management, poor water pressure, and issues with mini-bar refills and a broken steamer. This guest also claimed they were charged for a service dog after check-out despite hotel policies stating pets are allowed (with potential charges).
• While convenient for transport, the location is somewhat removed from Bordeaux's historic city center, requiring a walk or reliance on public transport to reach key attractions.

Sources

1. booking.com
2. 56paludate.com
3. booking.com
4. wanderlog.com
5. michelin.com
6. 56paludate.com
7. traveloka.com
8. hotels-in-bordeaux.com
9. bordeauxhotelpage.com
10. hotelsinbordeaux.net
11. 56paludate.com
12. trip.com