La Licorne
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Hotel Details
Location
La Licorne · Lyons-la Forêt, France
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Key Highlights
- ✓Tranquil Location: Situated in the heart of the Lyons forest, the hotel provides a peaceful escape with beautiful garden spaces and a terrace.
Expert Review: La Licorne
La Licorne, Lyons-la Forêt: A Charming Michelin Key Selected Escape
Nestled in the picturesque village of Lyons-la-Forêt, designated one of "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France," Hôtel La Licorne & Spa stands as a testament to traditional Norman elegance combined with modern comforts. This Michelin Key Selected property offers guests a tranquil retreat, highlighted by its renowned gastronomic restaurant, luxurious Nuxe spa, and serene forest surroundings.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
The general sentiment for La Licorne is highly positive, reflecting its status as a distinguished property. Guests frequently praise the hotel's charm, its exceptional dining, and the relaxing spa facilities. Review scores vary across platforms, with TheFork showing an impressive 9.6 out of 10 for its restaurant, Booking.com reviews averaging 8.0 out of 10, and Weekendesk indicating a "Bien" (Good) rating of 7.2 out of 10 based on four client reviews. KAYAK shows rates from $124, suggesting good value for a hotel of this caliber.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently laud several aspects of La Licorne:
- Michelin-Starred Dining: The "La Licorne Royale" restaurant, boasting one Michelin star since 2014, is a major draw, celebrated for its high-quality, delicate, and elaborate cuisine.
- Luxurious Spa & Wellness: The Nuxe spa, including an indoor and seasonal outdoor pool, offers a relaxing experience, with access often included in packages.
- Historic Charm & Design: Housed in a building dating back to 1610, the hotel retains its authentic Norman architecture with timber-framed façades, creating a captivating atmosphere.
- Tranquil Location: Situated in the heart of the Lyons forest, the hotel provides a peaceful escape with beautiful garden spaces and a terrace.
- Attentive Service: The staff's hospitality is frequently highlighted, with TheFork rating service at 9.9 out of 10.
3. Room Quality
The rooms at La Licorne are described as compact, modern, and elegant, featuring sophisticated neutral decor and black and white photography. Some rooms offer luxurious touches such as sleek four-poster beds or clawfoot tubs, while suites and apartments provide separate living areas. While generally comfortable, one guest noted an issue with two single mattresses pushed together and a lack of coat hangers.
4. Dining Experience
The "La Licorne Royale" restaurant is a culinary highlight, earning a Michelin star for its refined and creative dishes. It offers a delicate and elaborate gastronomic experience, with guests praising the ambiance (9.1/10 on TheFork) and the quality of the food. Breakfast is typically a continental buffet, with the option to enjoy it on the terrace during warmer months. The cost for breakfast is €12 per person in the dining room or €15 for in-room service.
5. Service & Staff
The service at La Licorne receives high praise, with many guests commending the attentive and caring staff. TheFork rated the service at an exceptional 9.9 out of 10. Guests have described the personnel as "aux petits soins" (very attentive), contributing significantly to a positive stay. The welcome, as rated by Weekendesk, scored 7.8 out of 10.
6. Location & Accessibility
La Licorne is ideally situated in Lyons-la-Forêt, a charming village renowned for its beauty and surrounded by the expansive Lyons forest, considered one of Europe's most beautiful beech forests. This tranquil setting is perfect for those seeking a peaceful retreat. The hotel is approximately 40 kilometers from Rouen and Giverny, making it a convenient base for exploring the Normandy region. Free self-parking is available on-site, enhancing accessibility for guests traveling by car.
7. Value & Pricing
Pricing for La Licorne varies depending on the room type, season, and inclusions. KAYAK shows rates starting from $124. Weekendesk offers a double privilege room for one night, including breakfast and spa access, from €183. Gastronomic packages, which include a night in a Privilege room, breakfast, 1-hour spa access, and a 3-course dinner for two, are available from €368. Additional costs include a visitor tax of €1.11 per person per night, a €15 per night fee for a rollaway bed, and pet fees of €15 per pet per night. Some sources cite a pet fee of €40 per day. While not the cheapest option, guests generally consider the experience, especially the dining and spa, to be well worth the cost for a Michelin-selected property.
8. Common Complaints
While overall satisfaction is high, a few minor issues have been noted by guests:
- Room Configuration: One review mentioned two single mattresses pushed together instead of a single double mattress, and a lack of a coat rack.
- Comfort Score: Weekendesk shows a "Confort" score of 6.5 out of 10, which could indicate some guests found certain aspects of comfort lacking, although specific details are not widely available.
- No Elevators: The property does not have elevators, which might be a consideration for guests with mobility issues.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •While overall satisfaction is high, a few minor issues have been noted by guests:
- •Comfort Score: Weekendesk shows a "Confort" score of 6.5 out of 10, which could indicate some guests found certain aspects of comfort lacking, although specific details are not widely available.
- •No Elevators: The property does not have elevators, which might be a consideration for guests with mobility issues.
Google Reviews
504 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Jim Aldridge
Relaxing stay, which I picked based on having dinner at the (superb!) restaurant La Licorne Royale. Comfortable bed. Quirky room, e.g. bathroom door layout, but that is to be expected in a beautiful, historic building. Polite and professional service throughout!
Sophie tan
Big room, good breakfast. Service is not worth a 4 star hotel. I asked for a baby cot no-one ever came back on this. We waited 15mns to get a menu I finally had to go to the reception to get one but then no-one ever came to take the order so we just gave up. There was no AC in the room on a really hot day. Lots of hazards in the room I don't think it is suitable for people with walking difficultie...
Géraldine Jardin
Edit 15th June: The answer from the Hotel is 100% empty bullsh*t! Don't waste your time and mine with such useless answer. Nice place.. but the room was small and the plaid on the bed had some burn holes. Bathroom was small and kind of weird, with a shrinked access to WC. Breakfast is way overpriced, 20 euros / person and no scrambled eggs or even proper croissants.
Response from the owner
Dear Guest,<br><br>Thank you for your visit to Lyons and for taking the time to send us your review.<br><br>We are very sorry to hear that your stay did not live up to your expectations.<br><br>Your e...
Richard Wax
Excellent hotel in quaint village in beautiful Normandy. All aspects from the restaurants, spa bedrooms etc is top quality.
Tom Reilly
Great generous breakfast, pastries were excellent!
Johnny Mai
Great restaurant, hôtel, Spa with calm atmosphere
