The Best Hotel in Blois, The Loire Valley

From the graceful setting—with Blois and the Loire River set out before you—to the luminous interiors and extraordinary dining, staying at Fleur de Loire is an experience to be savored. Guests are welcomed with a serene decor that extends from the common areas to the elegant contemporary rooms, two gourmet restaurants, and a Sisley spa—with sauna, hammam, pool, and fitness room—all in a sophisticated palette of pastel hues flecked with silver and goldlike glints of light shimmering off the river. But the main draw is Christophe Hay’s gastronomic restaurant, where the two-Michelin-starred chef’s deep appreciation for the bounty of the Loire is expressed in dishes of rare refinement. His Armour Blanc bistro (in a separate contemporary building), billed as a “prelude” to the two-star experience, offers plenty of thrills too and is the setting for breakfast, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river, town, and a picturesque bridge. The first-floor pastry shop and bakery serves as a tearoom for gourmet snacks throughout the day.