We have recently returned from a HORRID Sunday lunch experience at La Colombe d'Or, where for 102 Euros we were treated with either indifference or distain. We had arranged a luncheon reservation about three weeks prior to our trip and were looking forward to a special lunch. When we arrived, the beautiful garden was empty, yet we were seated right by the busy front gate where everyone needs to come through to enter the restaurant. When my boyfriend (who is French but lives in US) asked for a quieter table we were told thay all were reserved - although for over an hour 95% of the tables were empty!!! My boyfriend ordered a lamb dish and I ordered the wild mushroom appetizer for my entree as I was not that hungry - (the appetizer was 30 Euros!) the rude waitress said that was not enough to order and would have to talk to the chef because that was not a large (expensive) enough order. We should have walked out then and we really regretted that we did not. My boyfriend's meal was average and my chicken dish was overcooked and flavorless and consisted of a chicken leg and thigh and mushy rice!! It was next to impossible to get the attention of our waitress who was busy soley chatting up other customers and acting " clubby" with what I imagine are repeat European clients making other customers feel totally neglected. For example, my miserable mushroom appetizer took one hour and ten minutes to come to the table and we needed to even ask another waiter what happened to our appetizer.

We have eaten in many excellent restaurants world wide and this was by far the weirdest experience. On the other hand, the Table d'Amis in Vence is truly worthy of a Michelin restaurant and we highly suggest it for beautiful ambiance, gracious service and gourmet dining.

Save your money- this place is living on past reputation. Yes, the paintings are beautiful, but not worth the exasperating and obnoxious experience.....

My wife and I spent three nights at this wonderfully charming hotel. We had a lovely room, great view, wonderful service and truly gourmet food. The hotel caters to it's guests and sometimes due to it's location at the entrance to the walled city of St Paul it does get a certain amount of traffic from non guests which frankly I percieved as a nuisance to the staff. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone with an appreciation of the asthetic.

The only drawback, and this is really beyond the control of the hotel, is that the city does see quite a bit of tourist activity during the day. After dark it is extermely quite and a spetacular walk after dinner. I would suggst that the hotel is more of a getaway, geared for relaxation rather than excitement.

My wife and I have travelled alot and love staying in upmarket individual hotels (eg Tresanton, Babington House and The Samling in the UK and others abroad) but we were knocked out by this place. It is very simple but quite unique, just what you expect from an idyllic Provencal country hotel but with some interesting twists - the art is simply breathtaking. Having read some of the other reviews I think you either "get" this place or you don't - by that I mean understand, accept and become absorbed in its wonderfully quirky spirit. Within hours we felt like we were staying in a private country house that we had the complete run of. I must say apart from a typically French (some might think slightly snooty!) maitre d we found the staff extremely helpful, friendly and professional. We stayed 3 nights and decided to eat in the hotel every night - we couldn’t wait to come down and observe the theatre of the bar and restaurant. We felt really relaxed and invigorated and can't wait to come back. Thank goodness individual family owned/run places like this still exist.

I thought i would treat myself a night at colombe do'r as i had heard so many wonderful things - I arrived one afternoon just before dinner in May of 2004 - I checked in - service was nothing special - the rate i paid was about $450 which was the going rate of this type of hotel - my room had a lovely view of the hills - but the room itself was far from simple rustic elegance - it was filthy and dirty with no charm - i walked through the parking lot to get to my room - but they made no effort to make up for the bad location - fresh flowers would have brightened the room - anyways, i'm a forgiving person so that wasn't the worst part - i returned to the front desk to turn in my key so that i could have dinner after a long day (my husband in was in cannes hospital w/ kidney stone) - The hostess at the restaurant would not seat me in the restaurant - she made it very clear that you had to be guest in hotel - oops, but i was very confused since i was paying guest in hotel - she refused to believe me probably because i am age 32 - she demanded to see my room key - since i had turned it in - this was a problem so after struggling with her - after she humilated me in front of every other dinner guest when she found out i was hotel guest she continued to harrass me at my table several times - shaking her head - asking me if i was sure that was my room key and number etc. After all this excitement, the food was rather marginal - overcooked, oversauced, overboiled - oviously hotel and restaurant are living off their reputation and not their current standard - no doubt the hotel must have been great at one point - most clientel was 50's and 60's - the art in restaurant was beautiful - maybe its a better lunch spot for walk ins and not paying guests - when i woke up early and could not wait to get out of the hotel fast enough, i even passed up the prepaid tea/crossaint breakfast - i checked out and had a nice heart to heart with the lady at front desk - she felt terrible and asked if i could do her a favor and please speak to the hotel Owner/Manager as this had been a very common problem and she felt it would be better coming from a customer - The Owner heard me out for less than a minute and he smirked, admitted that my issues were valid but offered no apologies, even walked away during mid-conversation. I paid my $700 check out bill for one night/dinner and breakfast - i certainly won't be going back there! - I frequent many hotels in the world, colombe do'r was not worth the money nor the humilation.