38 rue de Richebourg, 44000 Nantes

Hôtel Novella Nantes Centre Gare

Name: Hôtel Novella Nantes Centre Gare
Address: 38 rue de Richebourg, Nantes, 44000, FR
Price range: 77 EUR
Rating: 3.9

Hotel 2-star in Nantes

Presentation

We arrive at the Novella via Rue de Richebourg, a small street that quietly cuts between Nantes station and the historic center. The Originals City, Hôtel Novella, Nantes Centre Gare occupies this quiet part of the city, less than a ten-minute walk from the Château des Ducs de Bretagne. The name has the feel of a serial drama, but the address is straightforward: a two-star hotel that focuses on efficiency rather than showiness.

From the moment you walk in, the tone is set by the team. Guests are welcomed without formality, with a few words about the neighborhood and, sometimes, a hand-sketched map showing the shortcut to the castle. The multilingual staff know their area well and are happy to talk about it, in English or Spanish, depending on who appears at the desk.

Upstairs, the rooms come in several categories, from a 9 m² studio to a 23 m² family room that can accommodate two adults and two children. The spaces remain modest in the entry-level categories, but each room keeps the essentials: careful bedding, a desk, and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. The courtyard-facing rooms, which are quieter, are worth requesting when booking. The street gets a little livelier in the evening, once the neighborhood terraces fill up.

In summer, the lack of air conditioning is noticeable on hot days. The building’s thick walls and the courtyard-facing rooms help reduce the impact, but on a scorching night you’ll need to open the window rather than rely on a thermostat. Something to know before booking, not a reason to cancel.

On the ground floor, breakfast is served in the dining room, as an all-you-can-eat buffet, or delivered to the room for late risers. It is not included in the room rate, which leaves you free to have it elsewhere, in one of the neighborhood bakeries, or to be tempted by the buffet and its still-warm pastries around eight o’clock.

At the end of the day, heading back down toward the station, the neighborhood changes character: shops pull down their shutters, bars light up. Novella remains that quiet spot, away from the noise without being far from anything.

One final tip: book a courtyard-facing room and head to breakfast around 7:15 a.m., before the groups heading to the station arrive. The coffee is still hot and the room almost empty.

Summary of a few positive reviews read on the web

Hotel a stone’s throw from the station and the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, with the city center reachable on foot in ten minutes without using public transport.
The receptionist spoke Spanish and took the time to explain the neighborhood, with a quick check-in and no waiting.
Comfortable bed, spotless bathroom with a walk-in shower, small but well-laid-out room.
Very quiet courtyard-facing room despite the central location, you can hardly hear anything from the street in the evening.
Generous buffet breakfast and hot coffee right from opening, efficient service even on a busy Sunday morning.
Good value for money for a room in the very center of Nantes, with a possible discount using a Genius account at the time of booking.