Hostellerie de la pointe Saint Mathieu & Spa Nuxe

Pointe St-Mathieu has a very end of the world feel, and it is not called Finistere for nothing. The Hostellerie de la Pointe St-Mathieu is very modern and we were in a well-appointed Superior Double room with windows on three sides [#6], which was 159 euros plus breakfast at 24 euros pp [£181 in total for B&B]. They have both a Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurant and their Bistrot 1954; however since the former was closed the night we were there, we ate in the latter. Parking is under the hotel with a Tesla destination charger (both payable) or in the large public car park opposite. We charged at Brest so we choose the latter. Our room was very modernist [read: trendy] and seemed curiously clinical and not especially homely. The duvet had obviously been specified for when the temperatures are sub-zero, and our (north-facing?) balcony must be a chocolate teapot nine months of the year (including now). The room was a bit hot and stuffy and when we mentioned this on checkout they breezily told us that all the rooms in that wing had that problem. So fix it! The food in Bistrot 1954 was not bad and we both had their 35 euro menu. We ended up drinking all wines by the glass, which we thought were good value. Dinner came to 105 euros [£92]. Can't comment on the gastronomic restaurant, which we would have eaten in had we not mucked up the dates (closed Mondays). The breakfast was a highlight, with a great spread, plus great fried eggs and bacon. Would we stay here again? Unlikely, having now been to this windswept corner of France. But it is probably a great place to stop for lunch if you are touring Brittany.

The setting is idyllic. From the outside, the architecture blends perfectly with the traditional building style. Inside, the modern vibe is appropriately beach front. There are good (if not exceptional) bistro and gourmet restaurants on site. The price point is reasonable. Perhaps because I spend 70 or more nights in mostly 4 star hotels each year, and have done so for decades, I am a bit attuned to what makes a traveler comfortable and what does the opposite. Our room here was spacious, and on some points rather comfortable, i.e. bed, desk, some of the lighting. But in other respects, there were some very annoying flaws. Having a narrow water closet, with an in closing door with 2 inch clearance to the end of the toilet is stupid, unless you are catering to two dimensional clients. There is a fairly large enclosed shower. The door opens outward, blocks the towel rack, and most significantly, there is a 10 inch drop to the bathroom floor. At best, this is odd, and at worst,a real safety hazard. There would be plenty of room to put a hook at the far end of the shower for a towel. Otherwise, are you supposed to hand one on the door knob? A shower gel bottle with a tendency to get stuck. A bright light near the sink, a good idea. Placing it on one side, so the other side is in perpetual shadow, not so smart. With the spacious floor space, you have two large teardrop chairs really low to the floor. So low, you might as well sit on the floor. Getting in and out of the them is excruciating unless you regularly practice yoga, and not everyone does. You have the usual expected niceties; flat screen television (although no English or other "foreign" language channels. A large armoire, with those we don't trust you hangars you have to pull out of the sockets. A coffee maker, safe, minibar. A better than average breakfast in the bistro, and at 24 Euros per person, that might be expected. Plenty of free parking if the attractions across the street are not at capacity. A small underground garage for hotel guests too. So, a rather good hotel that could be better.