Radio

Hotel Radio, Chamalières, France: A Comprehensive Review of a Michelin Key Selected Property

Hotel Radio in Chamalières, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently earns high marks from guests who praise its unique Art Deco charm, exceptional dining, and warm hospitality. This boutique hotel, with its rich history and gastronomic reputation, offers a delightful experience on the heights overlooking Clermont-Ferrand.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The overall sentiment for Hotel Radio is overwhelmingly positive. It boasts an impressive guest score of 17.6 out of 20 from verified Michelin Guide guests. On Expedia, it holds a "Wonderful" rating of 9.2 out of 10 based on 73 reviews, while Booking.com shows an "Excellent" 8.6 out of 10 from 430 reviews, with particularly high scores for staff (9.5) and comfort (8.9). Guests frequently describe their stay as a delightful and memorable experience.

2. Key Highlights

Guests are particularly enamored with several aspects of Hotel Radio:

• Distinctive Art Deco Design: Built in 1930, the hotel exudes Art Deco glamour with its original mosaic floors, wrought-iron arched doorway, mirrors, and decorative elements inspired by the radio theme. This creates a unique and stylish ambiance often likened to dining on a luxury ocean liner.
• Michelin-Starred Restaurant: The on-site restaurant, "La Radio," holds a Michelin star and is a significant draw, celebrated for its exceptional gastronomic cuisine.
• Outstanding Service: The staff consistently receives accolades for being professional, kind, helpful, knowledgeable, and genuinely friendly.
• Scenic Location: Perched on the heights of Chamalières, the hotel offers beautiful views of the town and surrounding hills.
• Convenient Amenities: Free Wi-Fi and complimentary self-parking are highly valued by guests. Other amenities include a 24-hour front desk, a garden, a terrace, a bar, and concierge services. The hotel is also pet-friendly, often without extra charges.

3. Room Quality

The hotel offers 24 rooms described as simple yet modern, featuring a monochromatic palette with tasteful colorful accents. Rooms are spacious and elegantly furnished, equipped with a TV and a private bathroom. Some accommodations also include separate seating areas. Guests frequently praise the comfort of the rooms, reflected in an 8.9 rating on Booking.com. Bathrooms are well-appointed with rainfall showerheads or a combination of tub/shower and complimentary toiletries. Cleanliness is consistently rated high by guests.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience at Hotel Radio is a major highlight:

• La Radio Restaurant: Chef Wilfrid Chaplain's Michelin-starred restaurant, "La Radio," is renowned for its ambitious, subtle, and delicate modern French cuisine. Guests rave about dishes such as Charolais beef, monkfish, mackerel, and an impressive platter of Auvergne cheeses. Reviews frequently describe the food as "excellent," "sublime," and "exceptional".
• Breakfast: A stylish continental breakfast is served daily, featuring fresh-squeezed juices, homemade jams, and traditional pastries. Guests have called it "first class" and "great value". This buffet breakfast is available for a surcharge (approximately EUR 15 for adults and EUR 9 for children) and can also be enjoyed in guest rooms.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Hotel Radio are consistently highlighted as exemplary. Michelin Guide guests rated services at 17.5 out of 20, and Booking.com reviews give staff a high score of 9.5. Guests use terms like "very professional and kind," "helpful, knowledgeable and friendly," "delightful," and "attentive and thoughtful" to describe the team. The owner is particularly noted for their welcoming demeanor and impeccable English. Multilingual staff are available to assist guests.

6. Location & Accessibility

Hotel Radio is located in Chamalières, providing beautiful views from its elevated position. It sits at the edge of the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park. The hotel offers excellent accessibility to local transport and attractions:

• Royat Chamalières Station is just a 5-minute walk away.
• Royat Spa is a mere 6-minute walk.
• Major Clermont-Ferrand attractions, including Place de Jaude, Clermont-Ferrand Cathedral, and L'Aventure Michelin, are all within 3 miles (5 km). While one guest noted the location is "out of main city but able to walk to main city in 30 minutes" and "quite hilly," the availability of free self-parking on site mitigates any concerns about urban accessibility.

7. Value & Pricing

Hotel Radio is generally considered to offer good value, especially given its Michelin Key selection and a Michelin-starred restaurant. A one-night stay for two adults can start from approximately $139.19 (prices are subject to change). Guests specifically mention the hotel and its gastronomic restaurant as "great value" for the quality of the experience provided, and many feel the restaurant is "definitely worth it for a special occasion".

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some minor criticisms have been noted by guests:

• A few Michelin guests suggested that "the beds could be a bit better".
• One guest found the coffee served at breakfast to be "indifferent".
• The walk into the main city center of Clermont-Ferrand is described as "quite hilly" and takes about 30 minutes, which might be a consideration for those preferring flatter or quicker pedestrian access.

Sources

1. michelin.com
2. michelin.com
3. expedia.com
4. hotels.com
5. booking.com
6. booking.com
7. booking.com
8. hotel-radio.fr
9. pagesjaunes.fr
10. thefork.com