French Hospitality at Hotel La Residence in Narbonne, France

Located in Narbonne, France, Hotel La Residence is ideally situated in the heart of the city. The boutique hotel in southwestern France is perfect for a relaxing holiday. 

My husband and I were joining a week-long luxury barge cruise on Canal du Midi. The city of Narbonne, France and Hotel La Residence were the best way to spend a few days recovering from jet lag and taking in the French culture. Do take advantage of the Narbonne Tourism office, steps away from the hotel. The friendly and knowledgeable staff booked our dinner reservations on our behalf. We also learned about the free shuttle buses and the weekly open-air market. Don’t miss Les Halles, as well. 

With 26 rooms, the family-owned hotel is housed in a 19th century mansion. The classic architecture offers charming rooms that are lovingly looked after. We were pleasantly surprised to find this affordably priced, 3-star hotel located so close to Narbonne city center. 

Upon entering the hotel you’ll notice the bar on the right and the breakfast room on the left. The breakfast room is open daily from 7:00 – 10:30 a.m. with a breakfast buffet, as well as a continental breakfast option. Both offerings are for an additional fee. 

Our breakfast included organic hard-boiled eggs, fresh yogurt, homemade granola, a selection of meats and local cheeses, as well as fresh baked breads, pastries and fresh fruit. My husband appreciated the coffee maker, while I enjoyed the fresh and local apple juice and orange juice. Don’t miss the regional honey and locally made jams. 

Room service is available, complimentary, if you would like breakfast delivered to your room. 

Room categories include classic, comfort and superior

We selected room 17 on the second floor. While we didn’t stay in other rooms, I think we had the best room in the hotel. All rooms include private bathrooms, one with a jetted bathtub. 

Our room included white cotton robes, slippers and Marius Fabre bath products. My husband appreciated his daily Nespresso before we went down to breakfast. I liked the mini fridge that was stocked with drinks, additional fees applied to the honor bar. We also had a tea kettle and Biscoff cookies. These little attention to details made our 3-day stay memorable. The staff was exceedingly friendly. 

Rooms 33 and 34 offer views of Narbonne’s cathedral. Rooms 16 and 17 offer balconies. Rooms 19 and 32 accommodate persons with disabilities and room 34 has the Jacuzzi tub. 

The bar and wine cellar feature local beer and wine from nearby Occitanie. Dial 9 for meal or drink delivery to your room.

As mentioned, Hotel La Residence is in a former mansion. The building has been a hotel since 1956. Fortunately for guests, the hotel includes an elevator. There is also a garage, for an additional fee, and street parking is available. This hotel was also popular with bicycle groups. 

Room rates range from 107 euro to 240 euro depending on the time of year. The hotel is pet-friendly with an additional fee. Gluten-free bread is available in the breakfast room. All rooms include complimentary WiFi. There is also a possibility of an in-room massage with advance booking. You can also check rates at Booking.com to see if you can get a better price.

Check-in time was 2:30 with 11:30 a.m. check-out. 

Hotel review and all photos by Oregon-based travel writer Nancy D. Brown.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are her own.