Review: Domaine Les Crayères

How did it strike you on arrival?
Grand is the operative word at this Relais & Châteaux property adjacent to the Pommery champagne house. The building is surrounded by 17 acres of verdant parkland, the best view of which can be had from the La Rotonde bar, a warm space with clear British accents (think: plaid furnishings, dark wood bar), live music, and tall bay windows. A grand staircase takes guests up to one of 20 rooms done up in classic French style.

What’s the crowd like?
Culinary travelers, largely hailing from Europe or the United states.

The good stuff: Tell us about the rooms.
I stayed in a Prestige Room that felt designed with a princess-in-training state of mind. The color palette was dominated by yellows and blues, and the furnishings were plush and heavily embroidered. The period-relevant portraits lining the walls, decorative accessories, and the bed with a canopy headboard transported us to another century. The ceilings were sky-high, as were the windows overlooking the park and garden, and the room was spacious—sized more like an apartment.

We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?
The bed was large, but the mattress worn and extremely firm. Given the royal vibes of the room, it should have been more comfortable.

How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that worth a mention?
A bottle of Champagne was waiting for us upon check-in, and following our lunch, we returned to find beautiful chocolates and marshmallows on the coffee table for our goûter (snack). I loved some of the one-of-a-kind decorative pieces, including statues and clocks.

Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.
Massive walk-in bathroom with a rainfall shower and a deep bathtub. The bathroom was at the opposite end of the walk-in closet, also a nice feature. Products were Hermès.

Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?
Free Wi-Fi, but service would cut in and out.

Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?
Every single server in the Michelin-starred restaurant that made the experience so memorable. And the bartender at La Rotonde Bar for taking the time to tell us about the bar's history, despite having other clients to serve.

Anything stand out about other services and features?
It's all about the food. The restaurant has two Michelin stars; there's also a daytime bistro and a wonderful bar worth spending a few hours in.

What was most memorable about your stay?
It's like experiencing life as a Champagne royal. The period-relevant design is transporting while the food, in the Michelin-starred restaurant is memorable for its modernity.

Bottom line: Why are we choosing Domaine Les Crayères?
It's a kind of grandiose that is only this appealing in France. The best part: it doesn't require quite as deep a wallet as the same level of accommodation in Paris.