Located in the heart of the old town, a few steps from the fishing port, the Absinthe hotel takes you on a journey through time. Whether you sleep in the old presbytery or in the annex, you will be immersed in the charming world of Honfleur.
In this article, we propose you a return in images on our stay in the hotel L’Absinthe, as well as our opinion and all the practical information for you also, to relax in this beautiful hotel!
This review is completely independent, we stayed anonymously and paid our bill in full.
Why stay at the hotel L’Abinsthe
Among the very rich hotel offer in Honfleur, the hotel L’Absinthe is a good option for several reasons:
- For its location
It’s hard to beat that. You are at 2 steps from the old port and the basin, in the heart of the old city, next to the old salt storehouses.
You are in a flat area, close to one of the large parking lots.
Above, the view from our room.
- For the historic building
The hotel is separated into 2 buildings: The 16th century presbytery and the annex.
In the first one, you can enjoy a historical atmosphere with a beautiful lounge where all travelers can come and have a drink and relax.
The rooms are not square, considering the age of the building. That’s what makes it so charming!
- For the view on the fishing port
And if you sleep in the annex, you have less twisted rooms, but also wooden beams, and with a view on the estuary.
See the availability of the hotel L’Abinsthe
or See all our favorite hotels in Honfleur
DISCOVER Honfleur
- Best things to do in Honfleur
- Where to sleep in Honfleur: our best hotels
- Where to eat in Honfleur: our best restaurants
- Best museums
- Visit the surpicious Sainte Catherine’s Church
- Discover the Eugène Boudin Museum
- Honfleur or Deauville or Cabourg: where to go?
Is L’Abinsthe hotel worth it? Our review
Yes, it is an excellent option to settle down and discover Honfleur.
If you are looking for a very historical stay, with the feeling of traveling back in time, this is a good choice.
You can sit by the fireplace with the old 16th century beams, or face the window and watch the fishing boats come and go.
Also, the location is perfect, in our opinion. On the picture above, you can see the Honfleur basin by night, it is only a few steps from the hotel!
See the availability of the hotel L’Abinsthe
Decoration and ambiance – The Room
We stayed in one of the rooms of the old presbytery. The rooms are therefore more convoluted, and this is what makes the charm. We find beams and half-timbering.
Our room was very large with a sitting area and a bed area. We would have liked a few more touches of decor, but we appreciated the historical aspect of the building.
Our favorite part of the room was the nook with the windows. It was a lot of fun, with the sliding wooden shutters.
The bathroom was spacious and modern with a bathtub and double sinks.
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Common areas
In the entrance of the old presbytery, you can enjoy the living room with the fireplace.
This is the most beautiful corner of the hotel.
Enjoy the beams, the stone fireplace, the leather armchairs and the forged chandelier. And take the time to discover the works displayed, including the absinthe poster!
Next to the lounge, you can heat water for a tea or an infusion.
History
We didn’t have the opportunity to ask the person at the front desk many questions about the history of the place and the name of the hotel, and we didn’t manage to find much information.The main building is an old presbytery. It dates from the 16th century.
Absinthe is a plant-based spirit. The origin could go back to ancient Egypt but it is officially marketed as alcohol by Switzerland.
The link between Absinthe and Honfleur is through Alphonse Allais.
The writer and humorist was born in Honfleur in 1854, of pharmacist parents. He was known for telling stories to his friends over a glass of absinthe, also called “La Verte”.
We also find his quote: “Life is not funny, but it’s still life…It’s made of nothing, an absinthe on the corner of a café terrace…It’s good absinthe…Not the first sip but after. It’s okay..” (according to the Absinthe Museum).
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Breakfast
The breakfast was very pleasant.
It is served in the old presbytery, at the table.
We bring you bread and pastries, homemade cake, cheese, eggs, cereals… The yoghurts are our favorites, those of the Bordier brand!
Very good and nourishing.
The restaurant L’Absinthe
Facing the fishing harbor, this beautiful address declines in particular all the products of the sea, in 2 beautiful rooms with visible stones and beams of time. The wine list is rich with 400 references, with a small penchant (quite understandable) for Burgundy. Discover the menu.
And see all our tips on where to eat in Honfleur.
Price range
The hotel offer is quite important in Honfleur and the demand varies a lot depending on the period and the weather. If the prices are quite high on weekends, there are many offers for weekdays.
La Maison de Lucie is a 3 star hotel.
See the prices and availability of the hotel L’Abinsthe
Practical information about L’Abinsthe, hotel in Honfleur
Type of accommodation
Hotel
Where is the hotel L’Abinsthe
- Driving time from Rouen: 1h
- Driving time from Evreux: 1h20
- Driving time from Caen: 1h
- Driving time from Alençon: 1h40
- Driving time from Cherbourg: 2h
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Normandy
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is comfortable enough (distances can be long) but compact (some parking lots and villages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
How to get there
The city of Honfleur has been for a long time rather poorly served, even if this has improved (a little) with the construction of the beautiful Pont de Normandie in 1988.
We clearly advise you to opt for the car by renting your car if necessary from Paris.
If you are more adventurous, you can take a train from Paris Saint Lazare either to Le Havre or to Deauville and finish by bus (minimum 3h30 of travel)…
Parking
When you think of poor transport links, the seaside and a tourist town, you think of parking problems! Even though the number of parking lots has increased tenfold in the last few years, they can fill up quite quickly in summer.
The hotel has a private parking lot with a lower price per night than the public parking lots.
But remember to reserve your place.
Otherwise, not far away, you have the Parking Bassin du Centre, open all night.
Do not make
THE SAME MISTAKE WE MADE
On one of our last trips to Europe, a hacker stole our credit card details while we were using a hotel WiFi.
So our trip began with a “card blocked” call… Not funny at all!
Learn from our mistake, make a small VPN investment to surf without worry.
Is the hotel family friendly?
Hotel L’Ansinthe has only rooms for 2 persons.
Our top 3 things to do in Honfleur
Walk around the old basin
Became the most most typical of Honfleur, the old basin was used for a long time by fishermen and sailors who armed their boats in the shelter, before facing the dreaded Sleeve! Lined with tall Norman houses, some of whose facades are covered with slate, the old basin has inspired a whole generation of impressionist paintersinspired by the reflections of the water and the 50 shades of sky so characteristic of the mouth of the Seine. Let yourself be charmed!
Discover the church of Sainte Catherine
This church in the heart of Honfleur is a rare piece of religious heritage in France. Entirely built in wood, its vault has the shape of an overturned boat hull (15th century). Its oak belfry was moved to an annex building for fear of lightning igniting the frame, but also because it could not withstand the weight of the 6 bells sheltered for a time in the belfry. We particularly like the atmosphere of this church which recalls the maritime vocation of Honfleur with its numerous ex-voto plaques dedicated to fishermen and the sea.
Read our article.
Visit the Eugène Boudin Museum
Born in Honfleur in 1824, Eugène Boudin is an emblematic painter of the impressionist movement who was greatly inspired by the landscapes of Normandy and Brittany. He has become famous for his marine works, knowing how to render, like no other, theharbor atmosphere that we love so much. The Eugène Boudin Museum in Honfleur, located in the former chapel of the Augustine convent, houses a rich collection dedicated to the famous painter and the Impressionists, but also to lesser known aspects of Norman popular art (wooden games, posters…).
Read our article.
And to learn more:
