Dijon for under £100 a night! The gastro city to rival Lyon?
Daily Mail
WE POUND THE STREETS... YOU REAP THE REWARDS!
THERE’S more to Dijon than its mustard. Home to France’s International City of Gastronomy and Wine – a 16-acre site devoted to eating and drinking with museums, workshops and tastings – Burgundy’s capital celebrates dining as a ritual art form. The city’s medieval streets, pictured, Gothic churches and proximity to the region’s famed vineyards offer plenty to savour over a long weekend. Hop on a morning train from London, change in Paris, and you’ll be sipping chablis by lunchtime.
Where to stay
■ Maison Philippe Le Bon
ROOMS in this charming hotel with 15th-century origins have exposed beams and period furniture, while stone hearths and a large gothic courtyard garden lend a stately tone. Its restaurant, Les Oenophiles, serves inventive dishes – and the wine list is long. Located in the old town, it’s close to the Musee des Beaux-Arts. Doubles from £92 (maisonphilippelebon.com).
■ Hotel des Ducs
CLOSE to the Palace of the Dukes – this hotel is in Dijon’s medieval centre. Its clean, simple rooms have wood accents and crisp linen, but the highlight is its wine-tasting room. Local cheeses, honey and pastries make up a fine continental breakfast. Doubles from £80 (hoteldesducs.com).
■ Vertigo Hotel
THE cool cousin of Dijon’s more traditional digs, this hotel overlooking Place Darcy pairs Haussmann architecture with minimalist interiors – sleek furnishings, Mac minis and Nespresso machines. Its Nuxe Spa has a pool, sauna and hammam. Or borrow an electric BMW or bike for free. Doubles from £104 (vertigohoteldijon.com).
■ Hotel du Palais
THIS boutique charmer in Dijon’s historic centre has just nine rooms, each with quirks like hand-painted ceilings and elegant Burgundy stone staircases. It is intimate, understated and perfectly placed for exploring the sights. The hotelier’s husband does a fantastic wine tasting, too. Doubles from £101 (hoteldupalais-dijon.com).
Where to eat
■ Chez Leon
THIS is the kind of unpretentious, convivial bistro that feels like it’s been around for ever. Stick to the classics: the beef bourguignon and escargots are famed. For dessert, don’t miss the crepes suzette, flambeed tableside. Mains from £14 (restochezleon.fr).
■ Le Bistrot des Halles
OPPOSITE Dijon’s famous Les Halles food market, this brasserie has its pick of ingredients. Try the tarte flambee (a thin Alsatian-style pizza topped with creme fraiche, lardons, and onions) or the saucisson chaud (hot sausage), a Burgundian specialty. Mains from £16.45 (lebistrotdeshalles.fr).
■ La Maison des Cariatides
LA Maison des Cariatides sits pretty in Dijon’s antiques district, its 17thcentury façade adorned with caryatids. Chefs Vincent and Marie Cecile Gomis deliver a seasonal tasting menu that sings Burgundy’s praises. And a spot in the Michelin Guide seals the deal, but do book ahead. Four courses from £67 (maisondescariatides.com).
HOW TO GET THERE
DIJON is 1 hour 40 minutes from Paris by TGV train and tickets cost from £26.50 each way (raileurope.com). London-Paris return trains from £64 (eurostar.com). Drivers can reach the city in about 5.5 hours from Calais. Lyon and Geneva airports connect to Dijon via regional trains.