1 Bd des Martyrs Nantais, 44200 Nantes

Novotel Nantes Centre Bord de Loire

Name: Novotel Nantes Centre Bord de Loire
Address: 1 Bd des Martyrs Nantais, Nantes, 44200, FR
Price range: 94 EUR
Rating: 4.15

Hotel-restaurant 4-star in Nantes

Presentation

Novotel Nantes Centre Bord de Loire occupies a position that is easy to understand on a map: almost right on the riverbank, on Île de Nantes, at the border between the hospital district and the old industrial warehouses converted into performance venues. The building can be spotted from far away, with its glass facade catching the changing light of the Loire depending on the time of day.

Beyond the glass doors, the reception opens onto a bright space, open day and night. No grand speeches here, just a functional welcome, the kind that reassures you when you arrive tired from a train or a drive.

As you go up to the upper floors, the rooms all look rather similar, in the best sense of the word: clean lines, white duvet, air conditioning running silently, safe and minibar tucked into a corner. The flat-screen television picks up Canal+ and satellite channels, for evenings when you do not feel like going out. Executive rooms add a Nespresso machine and a bathrobe left on the bed, a little luxury that costs nothing to appreciate.

Not all rooms overlook the Loire, so it is worth knowing before booking. Part of the building faces the courtyard, opposite the nearby hospital center, less spectacular but just as quiet, and often calmer at weekends. For a view over the water, it is better to specify your preference when booking, especially on the side of the 31-square-meter suites, with two rooms and a bathroom arranged around a panorama that changes with the daylight.

The morning starts early here. From 4 a.m., a service called Early Bird lets you pick up a coffee and a snack directly at reception, for travelers caught by an early train. A little later, breakfast is set up in the downstairs room, with pastries, juice, yogurt, the usual spread found everywhere but enjoyed here with time, facing the river.

On the ground floor, the BDL restaurant serves simple cuisine at lunchtime during the week, then in the evening. Nothing spectacular on the plate, rather fresh products prepared without fuss. The bar stays open later, with cocktails that deliver on their promises; some guests order them on the terrace to watch the lights reflect on the Loire once night falls.

Getting around from the hotel requires no particular effort. Two tram lines and a bus line stop at the foot of the building, and a self-service bike station is located across the street. On foot, it takes about fifteen minutes to reach the Machines de l’Île and their giant mechanisms, a little longer to get to the Hangar à Bananes and its lively terraces in the evening.

For those arriving by car, there is an underground covered parking area with direct access to the rooms by elevator. It remains paid during the week and free on weekends, a distinction to keep in mind if you plan to arrive on a Tuesday rather than a Saturday.

One final tip to finish: book the breakfast buffet rather than the takeaway option if you have half an hour to spare; the room overlooks the water, and the morning light on the Loire is well worth the extra ten minutes.

Summary of some positive reviews read on the Web

Wheelchair travel reported without difficulty, easy movement in the common areas all the way to the room.
Spacious, well-kept room, firm bed, effective rain shower in the morning.
Friendly welcome at reception, an issue resolved without waiting late one evening.
Generous breakfast, pastries and juice unlimited, room service arrived quickly one evening when there was no desire to go downstairs.
Vincent Gâche tram stop right outside the door, view of the Loire from the restaurant room at the end of the day.
Parking space obtained free of charge during the stay, convenient for not having to look elsewhere in the city center.