Le Royal (Lyon)

Le Royal (Lyon), a Michelin Key Selected property, is consistently praised as an elegant and well-located hotel, offering a blend of traditional charm and modern comfort in the heart of Lyon.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Le Royal Lyon generally receives very positive feedback, with guests often describing their stays as "excellent" and "very good." Review scores include an 8.5 out of 10 ("Rated very good") from over 983 reviews and a 4.6/5 from 1,544 reviews on Accor's platform. Many guests give it "5 stars on all levels," highlighting a sentiment of high satisfaction. Its selection by the Michelin Key further underscores its quality and distinction.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud Le Royal Lyon for several key aspects:

• Location: Its prime spot on Place Bellecour, between the Saône and Rhône rivers, is frequently cited as "amazing" and "perfect" for exploring Lyon.
• Service: The staff's friendliness, attentiveness, and helpfulness are recurrent themes in positive reviews. The hotel also functions as a training ground for the Institute Paul Bocuse hotel school, contributing to its eager and professional staff.
• Design & Comfort: The hotel, housed in a renovated 1888 Haussmann-style building, blends historical restoration with modern touches, featuring classic patterned fabrics and a rich palette of reds and blues. Guests appreciate the clean, well-decorated public spaces and comfortable accommodations.
• Breakfast: The breakfast experience, whether continental or American, is often highlighted as "delicious" and "excellent."

3. Room Quality

The rooms at Le Royal Lyon are described as impeccably clean, well-decorated, and comfortable. Many guests appreciate their spaciousness, with some even having city views. Rooms feature air conditioning, soundproof windows, carpet flooring, private bathrooms with walk-in showers, mini-bars, and tea/coffee making facilities. Some guests have specifically praised the "best pillows EVER" for exceptional comfort. While the decor blends historical and contemporary elements, some smaller rooms might feel limited in space.

4. Dining Experience

Le Royal Lyon offers a notable dining experience. "Côté Cuisine" is lauded for serving "one of the best breakfasts in Lyon," with a variety of options including continental, American, buffet, vegetarian, and gluten-free choices, featuring local specialties and fresh pastries. The gastronomic restaurant, "l'Institut," under Chef Cyril Bosviel, offers contemporary and delectable upscale French cuisine, sourced locally. Additionally, the "Côté Bellecour" lounge bar provides a cozy setting for drinks.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Le Royal Lyon are consistently highly praised. Guests frequently describe the team as "friendly, eager to please and amazingly helpful." Terms like "attentive and helpful," "high professional and courteous staff," and "exceptional" appear across numerous reviews. The hotel's connection to the Institute Paul Bocuse means guests often interact with enthusiastic staff committed to hospitality.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel boasts an "excellent location in the heart of Lyon" at 20 Place Bellecour, positioned between the Saône and Rhône rivers. This central spot provides easy access to major attractions like the Musée Miniature et Cinéma (less than 0.6 miles away) and the Museum of Fine Arts (a 15-minute walk). A convenient metro stop is just one block away, connecting guests to Lyon Perrache Train Station (1 km away) and Lyon Part-Dieu Train Station (3 km away). For those arriving by car, valet parking is available, and public parking garages are a short walk away.

7. Value & Pricing

Le Royal Lyon is considered a luxurious hotel, with room prices reflecting its 5-star status and prime location. Standard rooms typically range from $174 to $306, and suites from $256 to $381, with an average price recently found around $230-$242 per night. While this places it in a higher price bracket, many guests feel it offers "good value" and can be "surprisingly affordable" for the exceptional experience provided. However, some guests find the breakfast to be on the pricier side (around €27 per person).

8. Common Complaints

While largely positive, some recurring criticisms include:

• Room Size: Some guests have found the smallest rooms to be "very tired and extremely small," lacking sufficient space for luggage.
• Maintenance Issues: Isolated complaints mention issues like carpets coming up in certain rooms or a noisy air conditioning unit.
• Bathroom Size: A few reviews noted that some bathrooms were not spacious enough.
• Limited Facilities: The hotel primarily focuses on its core offerings and does not feature extensive facilities such as a health club, spa, or large meeting spaces.
• Concierge Knowledge: One guest reported a concierge being unhelpful with restaurant recommendations for a specific day.

Sources

1. booking.com
2. accor.com
3. accor.com
4. travelweekly.com
5. michelin.com
6. hotels-lyon-france.com
7. lyonhotel-leroyal.com
8. booking.com
9. agoda.com
10. hotelscombined.com
11. orbitz.com