La Résidence des Indes

This is not your average B&B. This is something quite special and I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to stay there. This is a beautiful old house which has been restored over many years - a real labour of love for the owners Michel & Beroze. The house is full of art, books, artefacts and historical pieces which have been collected by Michel and his late father on their world travels. This private collection is displayed throughout the house and as guests you are free to view it and spend time in the lovely rooms or outside in the garden or courtyard. Michel and Beroze are wonderful hosts and always on hand to talk about the collection, to advise on things to do in La Rochelle or just talk about life in general. Beroze has some great recommendations for restaurants and will happily make reservations for you. We stayed in the India room at the front of the building and the bed is one of the most comfortable I have ever slept in. The room is spacious and tastefully furnished and decorated. The room overlooks the street but there was no real noise from the road. Just be aware that you can’t really have windows open at night as it is ground floor. Due to the rooms containing also artefacts, be aware that there is strictly no eating or drinking allowed in the bedrooms. We loved the continental breakfast - tea/coffee, fruit juice, yogurt, bread and jam, cakes/pastries, cheese and fresh fruit. We stayed for 5 nights and Beroze made a real effort to provide different things each day. There is a lovely tea room on site open during the summer from 3-8pm serving delicious cakes and a wide selection of teas. The property location is great - very central but just out of the hubbub. We arrived by train and it was an easy 15 minute walk to the house. If you want an anonymous mainstream and bland B&B then this is not for you. But if you’d like an eye-opening, interesting and thought provoking place to stay then this could be perfect.