La Grande Maison Hotel

10 rue Labottière, Bordeaux

The latest creation of wine mogul Bernard Magrez, La Grande Maison specialises in the luxury and attention to detail an 18th-century monarch might have enjoyed. You’re greeted by name by every member of staff; the chocolates on the silver dish in your room are hand-made; bathroom unguents are by Hermès. The rooms, of which there are only six, are lined with padded silk and the beds are sinfully comfortable. Each room is decked out in true Napoleon III style, with light floral pinks working harmoniously next to greens and purples, creating spaces worthy of any international dignitary. In spite of being designed in such traditional style, the technology is right up to date. Each room has an iPhone dock, high-grade LCD TV and Bose Bluetooth speakers, while for more sedate pleasures you can peruse a menu for ‘bath infusions’ and massages.

In the book-lined Joël Robuchon restaurant there’s an atmosphere of hushed enjoyment. As you would expect, the food is absolutely exquisite. The silence could be suffocating, but the staff treat you with such smiling friendliness, it’s as if you’re staying with a much-liked (but very, very affluent) cousin. With more Michelin stars to his name than any chef in the world, Robuchon really seizes the opportunity to go to town. Caviar jelly with cream of cauliflower, crispy truffle tart with onion confit and duck foie gras are every bit as opulent as they sound. And when served with Robuchon’s trademark (50 per cent butter) mashed potato, it’s enough to send you back to your room ready to indulge in your selection from the pillow menu, which will, of course, be ready when you return from supper. AL. Doubles from £345