Le Couvent des Minimes, Un Hôtel & Spa L'Occitane en Provence

Tranquil and stylish The reception area is stunning, it literally takes your breath away. We received a lovely welcome. Our room was beautiful. The bar area inside was absolutely amazing but we were very disappointed that it was not open. The food in and service in the bistro style restaurant was absolutely excellent. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The service in the pool area needs to be improved. We felt the menu choice was limited and you had to go to an order point whenever you wanted anything, no one walked round to ask if you needed drinks etc. The setting, the interiors and the spa itself are absolutely excellent. It is remote so a car is essential. We did not have one but we did use a local taxi that was great.

A lifestyle experience One of my best hotel experience ever ! First and the most important, the staff is amazing (The sommelier lady, Corentin from the Gastro restaurant) and in every department. We always say, staffing is complicate in France, well they do it very well in this hotel. 2nd amazing point is the architecture and decoration, all is perfect ! 3rd, the food, wow. Of course the Michelin Star 7 courses menu is a must, and what an experience. But also the Breakfast, nothing is missing and the "normal"restaurant also is a great experience. And 4th point, the SPA, amazing water experience, amazing massage. Fabien Piacentino, I did not manage to see you during my check out (thank you for greating us a check in), but you must be an amazing GM to reach this level of service everywhere. Thank you so much !

A Mixed Experience Our three nights stay was a blend of luxury and minor inconveniences. Here’s a breakdown of our experience: Positives: 1. The room was spacious, providing space to relax and unwind. 2. The pool area was a highlight, with its stylish design and well-maintained surroundings, offering a perfect spot to lounge and soak up the sun. 3. The interior design of the hotel was stunning, blending modern elegance with classic charm. 4. The spa facilities were top-notch, offering a serene escape for relaxation and rejuvenation. 5. The overall tranquility of the hotel was impressive, making it a peaceful retreat. 6. The building itself is a marvel, showcasing exquisite architecture that adds to the luxurious ambiance. 7. The staff, especially at the restaurant, were friendly. However, staff at reception did seem a little hesitant, which affected the overall service experience slightly. Negatives: 1. Unfortunately, the beds were not to our liking, as we found them quite hard for a good night's sleep. Also, there are two separate matresses that we normally try to avoid. 2. Our terrace / balcony was facing the backyard and was situated right by the kitchen exhaust, which was not ideal due to the smells from the kitchen. Even with closed windows, the smell would be in the room. 3. In the spa, we noticed that towels were often left lying around and not promptly put away, which detracted from the otherwise pristine environment. 4. The sunbeds in the spa were not uncovered, despite there being no rain since the previous night. We needed to uncover them ourselves, which is not reflecting a 5* environment. 5. There was no proactive suggestions in the room regarding hotel amenities or local attractions, which would have been helpful. 6. While the breakfast buffet was nicely presented with big enough selection, the a la carte options came at an extra cost (even boiled egggs) and the selection of the buffet (marmalade, cake, fruit etc) was basically the same every day, which felt unnecessary. 7. The air conditioning in our room dripped and leaked, which was quite inconvenient and uncomfortable. Overall, while the hotel has many strong points, there were several areas that need improvement. The stunning building, tranquility, and excellent spa facilities are commendable, but attention to detail, especially regarding room comfort and service efficiency, could enhance the guest experience significantly.

One of the most outstanding places on earth Perfection is out of this world but sometimes, if you're lucky, you can discover a place which is so close to this rare perfection... Le Couvent des Minimes is definitively one of these places and, even if I'm very demanding about hotels since this is my passion, I can easily say that this divine house settled in the middle of authentic Provence is one of the most magical hotels on earth. I'm french but I'll be not arrogant saying we have the best hotels of the world and I haven't had many emotions when staying in an hotel in France apart of La Villa La Coste near Aix and La Bouitte in the Alps. A fantastic hotel experience is based on the design for sure, the decor, the atmosphere which is essential, the food and people which makes all the difference. Le couvent des Minimes has checked all the boxes and based on our too short but outstanding experience, I can easily rank this wonderful hotel in the top 5 we experienced around the globe. This hotel has been recently fully redesigned after 3 years of massive refurbishment and reopened last year to reveal an impressive transformation. This convent of 1613 is originally pretty incredible and when entering through the former chapel, you can measure and enjoy the rich history and you'll be speechless by the work of the talented architect Anthony Micoud who has transformed this space into the most magnificent lobby you can imagine. After leaving your car to one of the very friendly valet, you'll be wonderfully welcomed by a staff full of elegance, kindness and professionalism but always with a friendly touch to make you the most comfortable ever. Huge sense for details with fresh towels and refreshing homemade peach tea as a welcome drink and then will come the time to discover your room, spacious, relaxing, ultra comfy and just so beautiful. We stayed in the Albertine suite 105 and we felt in love immediately. It's pure and sober with beige and white scheme of colors. This is what I called "understated luxury" with incredible comfortable bed, a sense for space like nowhere else and a perfect and very bright bathroom with bath and shower. Perfection at every corner and it's priceless to listen the sound of nature and nothing else when opening the windows. A truly sensational accommodation for a full relaxation. But staying in the room would be a shame knowing how much this place has to offer. You can explore the restanque (multi levels garden in Provence) and climb to the belvedere to enjoy a stunning view of the village of Mane, the wonderful surroundings and the hotel for sure. You can lay down by the heated pool which is one of the nicest I've seen or you can plan a full day at the INCREDIBLE L'Occitane Spa which os the most fabulous ever and something incomparable in France with state of the art facilities and exquisite treatments. Frankly, I've visited numerous spas around the world but this one is simply the best, a wellness paradise where to recharge and refuel the body with positive energy. Not to be missed... Food lovers will find their paradise as well at Le Couvent des Minimes. The executive chef Louis Gachet (meilleur ouvrier de France) is offering a gastronomic option Le Feuillee (regretfully not experienced this time but listening other clients talking about it, it sounds one of the best new restaurants in France) and a more Bistronomic option named Pamperigouste where we had a simple but beautiful dinner. Dishes were excellent and flavourful, service was adorable and atmosphere was excellent. In the morning time, after a deep sleep full of beautiful dreams in the comfort of our suite, we enjoyed a yummy breakfast served at Pamperigouste. All products are excellent and there is a machine making fresh hazelnut and almond spreading paste... irresistible and so delicious just like all the elements of this chic buffet breakfast. We noticed once again a staff fully dedicated to the happiness of the guests and truly full of smiles and we liked meeting the general managers Valerie and Fabien Piacentino who are coming to each table to say hi and ensure each guest is happy about the experience. An other proof of how unique is this place... So with so many amazing things, with such a wonderful team and this unparalleled atmosphere, the hardest thing at Le Couvent des Minimes is to say goodbye but we will absolutely come back and in the meantime, I want to thank you everyone and the whole Piacentino family to turn this moment into something unforgettable and full of magical emotions.

Sublime hotel and spa with great staff The hotel is a wonderful conversion of the ancient convent. It is clear that mountains of money, but also tons of taste, were expended in achieving it. The result is sublime: like living in a beautiful château, except comfortable. As for the spa, it is superb, the best we’ve seen (and we’ve seen a few). It would impress a Roman emperor (if there were more slaves). We didn’t benefit from the huge outdoor pool or the terraces, since we were there in winter, but they would be a delight in warm weather. Someone has done a terrific job in assembling and training a rather young staff of charming and intelligent people. From the parking attendants to the receptionists, and from the waiters and waitresses to the exceptional sommelière (Ms. Pauline), there wasn't a one that we wouldn’t happily adopt and take home with us. The buffet breakfast: simply the best (really). The hotel has its own full-time boulanger, as well as a pastry chef. Okay, full disclosure: the coffee could be better. There is (of course) a gourmet restaurant (we can all imagine what that’s like), as well as a “bistro" on the premises. (Fortunately, since the local village doesn’t offer much at all.) The bistro serves mainly fanciful haute cuisine; we would have preferred that it be more authentically bistro-like, with some classic bistro-type food (steaks, daubes, foie gras, magret, confit de canard…yes, maybe even french fries!). It goes to show: even paradise can stand to be tweaked a bit.