What is Restaurant Hotel Merlet?

Restaurant Hotel Merlet is a Selected hotel located in Schoorl, Netherlands. It has been recognized by the Michelin Guide for its exceptional hospitality and unique experience.

How many Michelin Keys does Restaurant Hotel Merlet have?

Restaurant Hotel Merlet has been awarded Selected by the Michelin Guide, indicating a very special stay.

Where is Restaurant Hotel Merlet located?

Restaurant Hotel Merlet is located in Schoorl, Netherlands, in the Europe region.

What makes a Selected hotel special?

Selected hotels provide very special stays with excellent service and a unique sense of place.

How do I book Restaurant Hotel Merlet?

You can view more details and booking information for Restaurant Hotel Merlet through the Michelin Guide website. Each Michelin Keys hotel offers a unique booking experience tailored to their guests.

Restaurant Hotel Merlet | Selected in Schoorl, Netherlands

Name: Restaurant Hotel Merlet
Address: Schoorl, Europe, Netherlands
Rating: 4.5

Restaurant Hotel Merlet in Schoorl, Netherlands, a distinguished Michelin Key Selected property, consistently receives high praise for its exceptional hospitality, culinary excellence, and picturesque location amidst the Dutch dunes. Guests frequently highlight the attentive staff, luxurious rooms, and the exquisite dining experiences offered at both the Michelin-starred restaurant and the Grand Café.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Restaurant Hotel Merlet garners an overwhelmingly positive sentiment, reflected in its "Excellent" rating on platforms like Booking.com, with scores such as 9.3 for staff and location, 9.1 for cleanliness and comfort, and 8.9 for facilities. Many guests describe it as a "special place" and a "Tophotel," with recurring themes of relaxation, enjoyment, and a desire to return. Its inclusion in the Michelin Guide's hotel selection further underscores its reputation for quality and distinction.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of Restaurant Hotel Merlet:

Service: The staff are frequently described as "excellent," "very friendly," "helpful," and "attentive," creating a welcoming atmosphere where guests feel "immediately comfortable and looked after".
Location: The hotel boasts a unique and tranquil setting in the quaint dune-side village of Schoorl, offering beautiful views over the dunes and meadows. It's ideally situated for nature lovers, being close to the expansive Schoorl Dunes and just 5 km (3.1 miles) from the beach.
Design: The accommodations feature modern decor with an artistic touch, including renovated interiors adorned with an interesting art collection. The dining spaces are stylish, with unique elements like a moss wall and a glass wall with colored sand.
Amenities: The hotel offers a comprehensive range of facilities, including an indoor swimming pool, sauna, fitness center, a well-equipped spa with beauty services, solarium, lounge, and bicycle rental. Free Wi-Fi is available in all areas, and free on-site parking is provided.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at Restaurant Hotel Merlet are generally described as "modern decorated," "bright," and "spacious," featuring "luxury bedding" and well-appointed, spacious bathrooms. Standard amenities include a flat-screen TV, free toiletries, and a work desk. Many guests appreciate the thoughtful design, with some rooms boasting balconies offering peaceful views over fields or the forest dunes. Upgrades to "plush," "lovely," or "royal and luxurious" rooms, often with bathtubs, are frequently mentioned as a pleasant surprise for guests. Themed suites are particularly highlighted for their attractiveness and character.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience is a significant draw, with two distinct offerings:

Michelin-starred Restaurant Merlet: Holding a Michelin star since 1998, this restaurant is a culinary highlight. Under the guidance of Chef de Cuisine Marco Helsloot, it serves refined Dutch cuisine with French and subtle Asian influences, emphasizing premium, locally sourced ingredients like Wadden Sea prawns and Texel lamb. Guests consistently praise the "fantastic," "amazing," and "excellent" food, often calling dinner a "celebration" from amuse-bouche to dessert. The elegant dining room features a cozy fireplace and beautiful views of the dunes, with the option to dine on a sunny terrace in good weather.
Grand Café Bourgogne: This "little sister" to the Michelin restaurant offers a more informal setting for coffee, tea with cake, lunch, drinks, and dinner. It provides a delicious seasonal menu and is noted for its good price-quality ratio.
Breakfast: Guests report a "prima ontbijt" (excellent breakfast) that is "zeer uitgebreid" (very comprehensive), featuring fresh bread rolls daily.

5. Service & Staff

Feedback on service and staff is overwhelmingly positive. Guests frequently commend the team for being "excellent," "very friendly," "helpful," "attentive," and genuinely "hospitable". Many reviewers note feeling well-cared for from arrival to departure. The sommelier in the Michelin restaurant receives specific accolades for their expertise in selecting perfect wine pairings. The Grand Café Bourgogne also boasts a young, enthusiastic, and professional team known for their friendliness and humor.

6. Location & Accessibility

Restaurant Hotel Merlet is situated in the peaceful, rustic village of Schoorl, offering unique views of the extensive dune landscape. It's conveniently located just a few meters from the center of the village and the 51-meter-high Klimduin (climbing dune), a popular local attraction. The beach is approximately 5 km (3.1 miles) away. The charming village of Bergen, known for its art galleries and cafes, is a short bike ride away, and coastal towns like Callantsoog and Egmond aan Zee are less than a 25-minute drive. The hotel provides free on-site parking and is about a 45-minute drive from Amsterdam.

7. Value & Pricing

While some guests mention that the Michelin-starred dining can be "pricey," the overall consensus is that the experience at Restaurant Hotel Merlet offers good value for money, with Booking.com rating it 8.2 in this category. The quality of service, accommodations, and dining justifies the cost for many. Rates for rooms can start from approximately $155, with various packages available that often include overnight stays, multi-course dinners, and access to the hotel's wellness facilities, providing an inclusive experience.

8. Common Complaints

While reviews are overwhelmingly positive, a few minor points of criticism have been noted:

One guest mentioned that the wellness area felt "strongly outdated," with a lack of washbasins/fountains in the pool/sauna toilet area and insufficient extraction in the hotel room shower leading to fogging.
The free Wi-Fi received a slightly lower rating of 7.2 on Booking.com, suggesting that while available and free, its performance might not always be perfect.
Pets are welcome in the hotel and Grand Café, but they are not permitted in the Michelin-starred restaurant, which is a policy to be aware of for guests traveling with animals.