30 Best Hotels in Brittany, France

If you're enticed by all the perks of a five-star hotel—full spa and fitness room, on-site bar and restaurant, top-notch service—then this centrally located lodging is your best bet in town. Rooms are modern, spacious (especially the two suites complete with lovely terraces and views of Rennes), and very quiet. The hotel boasts a spa by Nuxe, one of France's most beloved natural cosmetics brands, with sauna and steam rooms and a small pool. The on-site restaurant (with an outdoor terrace) is one of the nicer tables in town, and the bar-lounge features live music on some weekends.

A gracious welcome and infinite sea views greet you at this beachfront hotel, handsomely accented with a terra-cotta facade and stylish mansard roof. Tastefully decorated in pale earth tones, the guest rooms are bright, comfortable, and meant to harmonize with the sea and sky just outside your window or private terrace, should you be lucky enough to nab one of the six on offer; bathrooms are petite but modern and well equipped. Although meals are limited to a bountiful breakfast, a lovely café-bar area, overlooking an expanse of beach and sea, offers wines, teas, and coffees throughout the day. For active types, the famed La Digue promenade just in front is ideal for an early morning jog along the beach.

Perched on a cliff overlooking the surf and the narrow Anse de Goulphar Bay, this 1970s-era hotel was François Mitterrand's address when he vacationed on Belle-Île and it still retains presidential glamour, with its renowned spa, saltwater pool, and spectacular views. In the bright, airy restaurant, chef Franck Moisan specializes in seafood, caught just offshore. The herb-crusted turbot and the line-caught sea bass are simple but delicious. Castel Clara's expansive wooden-deck terrace is the perfect lounging spot for cocktails at sundown.

Nineteenth-century writers Alfred de Musset, Honoré de Balzac, and Victor Hugo were all once guests at this quintessential Normand château, famed for sophisticated gardens that feature witty sculptures, leafy groves, impressive columns of yew, a fernery, a labyrinth, and a Temple of Diana. Dating from 1620, La Ballue has a rather severe and forbidding exterior. Inside, however, the dynamic English-speaking owners Alain and Marie-Françoise Mathiot-Mathon offer a warm welcome. Gleaming wood paneling and period antiques adorn the main floor, from which a huge granite staircase leads up to the lovely guest rooms—four large, beautifully decorated, fabric-swathed salons (each with a four-poster bed) and a luxury suite.

Retired chef Olivier Roellinger and his wife, Jane, still preside over their family's luxurious hotel empire, which includes the beautiful, castellated, 1920s waterfront Château Richeux. The rooms are sumptuously appointed, large, and airy, with a voluptuous mix of the modern and the antique. Readers rave about Le Coquillage, the hotel's Michelin-starred bistro, which specializes in local oysters and seafood platters served up in a relaxed, cozy atmosphere—the weekday lunch menu is good value for money. The Richeux is built on the ruins of the Du Guesclin family's 11th-century château, 5 km (3 miles) south of Cancale, and is surrounded by a "Celtic garden." Request one of the rooms with large bay windows, which have stunning views of Mont-St-Michel. Several miles away are two more private adjuncts to the Château, also overseen by the Roellingers: Les Rimains, with four guest rooms set in a very handsome Breton stone house, perched over Cancale's harbor; and Gîtes Marins, with two airy, almost Cape Cod–style seaside vacation houses fit for several people.

This bright-blue-shuttered, white-walled establishment ranks among the least expensive "good" hotels in pricey La Baule. Once past the Formica-clad front desk, the lobby reassures with its elegant Louis Treize–style chairs, antique armoires, and solid wood beams. Upstairs, guest rooms are calm, comfortable, and modernized—faux Louis XV furniture lends a nice grace note.

At the tip of the magical Pen Lan Peninsula, this luxurious collection of 15th- and 16th-century Breton stone buildings resembles a tiny village—albeit one surrounded by terraced gardens that promise grand vistas of the Baie de Vilaine (Vilaine Bay). Once you step through the 13th-century "Portail de la Verité" entryway, the public areas entice with Baroque ex-votos, Louis Treize chairs, rock-face fireplaces, and plate-glass windows; guest rooms sparkle with checked fabrics, veneered woods, and modern furnishings. Chef Maxime Nouail rules the restaurant, which has a straightforward, classical menu. For a different type of indulgence, head to the spectacular Aqua Phénicia, which has a full spectrum of seawater hydrotherapy facilities and a gigantic indoor pool.

With all rooms overlooking a stone-lined, treillage-bedecked garden, this budget hotel likes to welcome visitors to "silent nights"—and cheerful ones, too, thanks to the guest rooms, which are plainly but pleasingly decorated. Breakfast (at an additional cost) is served in the garden when possible, and its age-old wooden gallery makes the sunny inner courtyard a sweet place to reboot. Well-priced apartments with kitchenettes and spacious baths are great for families or longer stays, and its central location, only a five-minute walk from the Musée des Beaux Arts, is a big plus.

The cobbled streets of the Vieille Ville are visible from this comfortable 18th-century hotel directly across from the town theater. Guest rooms are bright and modern with stylish bathroom; Rooms 11 and 21 are largest, with pleasing views over the Old Town. Tall patrons take note: rooms on the top floor have sloping ceilings. Service is personable and friendly, and parking is reasonable (€10 per day), a real plus in the busy town center.

Nestled in a cove on a quiet strip of sandy beach on the Bay of Douarnenez, this mansion, with its sturdy round tower, is a remote retreat perfect for long, restorative walks; some of the comfortably furnished guest rooms face the water, as does the glass-front restaurant, where reservations are essential. After a seafood starter (sea bream tartare, oysters), try the grilled lobster "Sainte Anne," the turbot with marrow, or the fillet of beef "Rossini."

A centrally located budget hotel just a short walk from the château, Hôtel Okko Château is ultramodern without sacrificing warmth, comfort, or amenities. Rooms may be compact, but they are also functional, cozy, and immaculate. In the welcoming "club" room, guests can browse the Internet on a Mac while imbibing unlimited free soft drinks, tea, or coffee. At cocktail hour, predinner gourmet appetizers and your first cocktail or glass of wine are on the house. If that's not enough of a welcome, the staff goes out of its way to make your stay at the hotel, and in Nantes, an all-around pleasure.

Besides having one of the town's better restaurants, this alluring stone mansion and its four half-timbered villas' proximity to the famous beach and La Baule's landmark sights make it a top choice for a fun-filled stay. There's old-fashioned charm to spare, but also plenty of contemporary chic in nicely decorated rooms (some with cathedral or ocean views) with spacious bathrooms. Be sure to investigate the hotel's demi-pension offers, with breakfast and dinner included at reasonable rates.

Dramatic views over Carnac and Quiberon Bay, coupled with a prime location just beneath the famous Tumulus de St-Michel, have been big draws for this modest, family-run hotel from its inception in the 1930s. Many of the comfortable, well-equipped rooms have views to the bay, and those in back overlook the Tumulus chapel. A small spa offers a surprising number of treatments—from thalassotherapy to seaweed wraps and massage—with good-value packages available. Weary travelers can steep in the outdoor hot tub or take an invigorating swim in the pool. An airy dining room with lovely views offers excellent fare (including reasonable prix-fixe menus, replete with fresh seafood) and a sophisticated wine list.

In an old but thoroughly modernized building, this hotel attracts a varied foreign clientele, drawn by homey guest rooms that are clean, bright, and simple with budget prices. Frédéric Thébaud serves a traditional menu in the long-established Image Sainte-Anne restaurant, stylishly refurbished with plush red carpet, gold-and-red wallpaper, and round-back designer chairs. You can't go wrong with straightforward seasonal specialties like scallops à la Bretonne, grilled sole, and kidneys flambéed in Calvados.

Partly built into a rock face on a bank of the Aven, this efficiently run hotel is a perfect blend of antique and modern—offering simple, clean rooms with 18th- and 19th-century-style touches. Choose from lodgings in two locations: the enchanting, 16th-century thatched "chaumière" house (four rooms) or the modern annex (10 rooms). Visitors can now have lunch in the hotel "salon de thé," which serves afternoon tea, and in the bar that serves tapas and other light fare.

Bright, welcoming, and blissfully quiet, there's plenty to love about this bed-and-breakfast set in an 18th-century mansion on a lovely 22-acre wooded property a 20-minute drive from Rennes. Spacious, contemporary rooms are decorated with tasteful art (art collecting is the owners' passion) and a mix of modern and antique furniture. Bathrooms are roomy and the extensive gardens are lovely for a stroll or for enjoying a delicious breakfast. Home-cooked dinners (by reservation) mean you hardly need to leave the property, but there's plenty to see within an easy drive. A charming vine-clad rental cottage is also available at a steal for a larger family.

Up a storybook-perfect street lined with ancient half-timber houses, this fetching maison d'hôte dates to the 15th century and has been brought up-to-date in the best way, retaining much of its substantial character and charm. Each of five cozy guest rooms is done up in period antiques with botanical prints and matching fabrics. The Pastorale room, all in sky-blue toile, has Oriental rugs and a view over the pretty garden; the largest room, La Messidor, has a fireplace, rustic antiques, and a view through leaded-glass windows to the quiet street below. Breakfast (included) is served in a quaint dining room or outdoors in the garden with views of the medieval city.

This small hotel has been brought into the 21st century with a streamlined modern look; you'll find that the guest rooms may not be spacious, but they are contemporary, spic-and-span, and a steal at the price. The hotel has an informal relationship with La Table de Vitré, the best gastronomic bistro in town, that's conveniently right next door.

One of the fine-white-sand beaches that distinguish the Morbihan coast serves as the perfect backdrop for this spare, modern hotel, which calls to mind a cruise ship. All accommodations have a terrace or balcony facing the sea, where guests can indulge in an ample Breton breakfast or simply enjoy a bracing breeze. One bright suite has enormous windows and a wraparound terrace that seems to jut out over the water; smaller digs, decorated in earth tones, have sleek bathrooms and every modern convenience. Another plus is the on-site restaurant with—what else—plenty of fresh seafood offered either in the handsome dining room or, weather permitting, on a large sea-view terrace.

This stately hotel in the countryside about 10 minutes from Quimper offers attractive and spacious rooms, a good restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, a pool, and, lovely grounds. In other words, pretty much everything you need for a relaxing stay, including plenty of peace and quiet. The hotel also offers some unique rooms, like the dovecote, set in the manor's turreted . . . well, dovecote. Guests are encouraged to use the sauna in the relaxation area and the game room is nice for kids.

The beauty of the coastline is embraced by this Relais & Châteaux hotel, where guest rooms are far more than just comfortable; long and cruise-liner-low, the renovated 19th-century Breton manor house has been outfitted with dramatic windows—plate-glass, round, panoramic—so as to frame stirring vistas of the endless sea and the cliffs of the Côte de Granit Rose (all rooms have sea views and some have terraces). The excellent restaurant, with a wood-beam ceiling inspired by a hull, has a delightful model of the St-Yves ship suspended from its ceiling; it mostly serves seafood, but the squab is also good.

Surrounded by extensive forested grounds, this storybook 17th-century granite manor, landmarked by a sturdy tower and filled with lovely antiques, offers enviable lodgings; guest rooms vary greatly in size, but most have terraces overlooking the peaceful country garden. Five duplexes in the charming old stone stables offer all the comforts of a fine hotel, including new bathrooms and skylights. Another high point is its fine restaurant (closed mid-November–March), featuring an acclaimed seafood-centric menu. The hotel is close to Quimper and within walking distance of Locronan, one of Brittany's most charming villages.

Between Dinard and St-Malo on the beautiful Rance Estuary, this newly renovated country estate provides exceptional comfort and style inside and great views outside, courtesy of its promontory perch. Medieval Dinan is 10 minutes away by car, the beaches of Dinard are 15, St-Malo is 20, and looming Mont-St-Michel is 40, making le manoir an ideal base for exploring Brittany's Emerald Coast. Rooms are tasteful, many with timbered ceilings; and the bar, lounge, and terraces ensure that opportunities for relaxation are ample.

At this cozy B&B set in a charming 16th-century half-timbered house, your host goes out of her way to ensure a warm welcome and total comfort. The beautiful decor capitalizes on the historic building's lovely assets, including massive wooden beams, parquet or French-tiled floors, pretty windows, and fireplaces. All of the rooms (there are three guest rooms, a spacious suite, and an apartment for families) have a kitchenette, a sitting area, and contemporary bathrooms. Breakfasts, included in the price, are a highlight.

Enter into Dinard's seafaring past at this beguiling seafront hotel, each of whose four floors offers an Art Deco–inspired theme that conjures the building's elegant Belle Époque roots. Cozy, carpeted rooms come with quaint touches like shaded fixtures, original art, and wood furnishings polished to a brilliant finish. Some have unobstructed sea views while others come with a private terrace. All the common areas capitalize on its original features to make drinks in the colonial-theme bar or breakfast in the dining room a pleasant experience.

This landmark hotel—frequented by artists and writers such as Picasso and Breton native Max Jacob in the 1920s—has been completely refitted with cool, light, modern furnishings that blend perfectly with its cove and beach setting. Guest rooms are not large, but 11 of them have great sea views. A garden now adorns the property, and a separate house has been outfitted with three independent apartments with terraces for larger groups and longer stays. Though on the small side, they are private and ideal for families. Didier Lecuisinier's menu, served in the glass-enclosed restaurant, focuses on fresh organic produce sourced from neighboring farms and fishing boats.

All the Napoléon III glamour of 19th-century-resort France is yours when you stay at this folie—a villa built by the Russian Prince Vlassov in homage to his "queen," Hortense de Beauharnais (daughter of Napoléon's beloved Joséphine and mother to Emperor Napoléon III). A magical grand salon topped with a trompe-l'oeil treillage, guest rooms with soaring, fairy-tale beds crowned with Empire-style canopies, and glamorous beach views are just some of the delights on tap here. The lucky guest who lands Room 4 will even get to bathe in Queen Hortense's own silver-plated bathtub.