In Batroun, on the Mediterranean Sea, sits a Phoenician wall, thousands of years of history, an old fishing port and a small boutique hotel "L’Auberge de la Mer ". Built in the 19th century, in the shadow of two historic churches, this hotel is located in the ancient city and separates the old souks from the Phoenician port.
Last time I was here, shooting the Mechwar episode of Batroun, L'Auberge was one of our breakfast stops, but I promised myself to come back to experience a night's stay.
Located in the heart of the old town is a hotel one can't miss, a place offering a breathtaking view on the port with access to the beautifully lit old town. A glass door opens up on the lobby...
Beautiful, this old house has been transformed into a five star boutique hotel offering large rooms and suites with sea views or souk views. A professional receptionist embraced us with her charm while showing us to the room up on the first floor.
Featuring free Wi-Fi, a terrace and a sun terrace, L'Auberge de la Mer deserves its 5 stars. The hotel has a very nice hot tub overlooking the Mediterranean. The large room with a wall painted in pink and a wooden floor had two queen sized beds, two windows, a large bathroom and, most importantly, finesse and style. Air conditioned, it features a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, complementary coffee, two water bottles, bathroom amenities, slippers and bathrobes, a safe, a minibar, tissue boxes and a large closet. Every bed has four pillows.
While going up to the room, I couldn't but stop at every corner to enjoy the restaurant, bar area with a view, terrace and the wooden stairs that take you up to the rooms. Dimmed lights and cozy decorations set the perfect atmosphere. If you didn't know yet, this hotel is owned by Dr. Tahchy and his lovely wife, who is also a medical doctor, the couple built this house at first as a guesthouse for their friends before transforming it into a five star hotel, the finest and cleanest in the area and the only luxury one.
The clock passed midnight after a long day in Batroun, it was time to go to sleep. I was so excited to wake up to breakfast. I remember it to be good from the last time, a buffet selection of labneh and cheese, foul, knefeh and croissants.
Waking up at 07:30 was inevitable, with those sunny spells coming from the east passing through the window straight onto my bed. Happy to see Batroun that early, I jumped out of bed for a quick shower.
You can't but notice the materials used in this hotel. The finest brands for bathrooms, the bed sheets, air conditioning units and even door opening systems. The soothing bath robe and the fine quality towels... I could go on...
After that I went for breakfast.
Breakfast is served from 8 to 11 on the closed terrace overlooking the old seaport. What a beautiful day it was; fishermen preparing their boats, each painted in a different color, a light wind caressing the water in this peaceful space. The tables are covered with cloths of different colors, old style tiles and stone walls fill the space and some ventilators move the air.
On the menu are freshly made Saj manakish, eggs on demand, knefeh, labneh and a cheese selection, jams and honey, sahlab, cucumbers and tomatoes, croissants, a chocolate cake and espresso.
Thin crispy manakish were on the menu, two thick and juicy sunny side up eggs sprinkled with salt and pepper served with cheese on the side, a water jar filled as you sit at your table, lemon and apple juices, olives... It's so calm you feel like spending the day here.
What impressed me about this place is the professionalism. A place oozing positive vibes offers the services of a five star hotel without any effort. The staff is discrete and professional, the air conditioning units cool the air all around the hotel, the furniture is carefully chosen to blend with the environment, breakfast is tasty and unpretentious while the hotel has a Jacuzzi one can enjoy while having a view of the port. It is indeed a dream place.
I was happy and really satisfied to have discovered a place like this here in Lebanon, high standards reasonably priced.
I invite you to visit a place, a dream place that would make you smile. Escape and rejoice.
