Les Jardins du Mess Hotel Review: A Stay in Verdun

Last Updated on 15th October 2021 by Sophie Nadeau

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Fluffy robes, friendly staff, and impeccable decor: Les Jardins du Mess Hotel is located in the heart of Verdun, on the banks of the mighty River Meuse. This four-star hotel is a little bit of luxury in the heart of the city. And, as soon as you wander up the grand steps, into the well-lit entrance hall and through the ornate doors, you’ll be greeted by friendly staff ready to welcome you into this 19th-century building…

Les Jardins du Mess Hotel Location

The hotel is located in the very heart of the city of Verdun, overlooking the River Meuse and the rest of the city. Many rooms even come with their own little wrought-iron balcony on which you can sit, sip your coffee and watch the world go by. From here, you can see many of the city’s iconic landmarks.

These include Verdun Cathedral (the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Verdun’s current building has existed in some form or another for well over one thousand years), and the Châtel Gate (a 13th Century fortified gatepost and all that remains of Verdun’s medieval city walls). You’ll also see all of the typically French bars, brasseries and cute cafés that line the other side of the Meuse.

The hotel itself is situated in a once abandoned building, that has been brought to life thanks to the passion of Meusiens who wanted to attract more visitors to this less explored area of North-East France.

After all, the Lorraine region is sandwiched between the wildly popular areas of Alsace and Champagne, meaning that it often misses out on much of the press it deserves in favour of its more famous neighbours.

I mean, I’m sure you’ve drunk the bubbling wine from Champagne and The 19th-Century building makes the perfect setting for a classic hotel with a modern twist, and is an excellent starting point for exploring the region.

Les Jardins du Mess Bedrooms & Other Amenities

In total, the hotel has 40 rooms, each of varying size and space. If you’re visiting the hotel by car (and I recommend renting a car to explore the region if you do head to the Lorraine), then the accommodation also offers free parking.

Rooms come with a larger than King sized bed, speedy WiFi, a fully stocked minibar (though be warned that this obviously comes with hotel room prices!), as well as a dedicated study space (which is where I started writing this very article).

The ensuite bathroom comes fully stocked with goodies (think bath salts, shower gel, shampoo, moisturiser), a walk in power shower (whose lights change colour as you wash yourself!) and a Spa bathtub that I could easily have stayed in it all evening if I didn’t have to get up early the next day!

Food and Drink at Les Jardins du Mess

During our stay at the hotel, we enjoyed dinner and breakfast (both of these are available for an extra fee during your stay). The two meals were served in the hotel’s very own on-site restaurant, Le Cercle du Mess.

Breakfast was served buffet style and it comprised of a Continental spread with all the trimmings you’d expect to find in France: a large cheese selection, cold meats, pastry baskets, as well as a large selection of hot and cold beverages. 

Dinner was served over four courses, and the hotel was more than happy to accommodate the fact that I was vegetarian (always a bonus!). Each course came beautifully presented and I was more than happy to see that Mirabelle with sparkling wine was served with dinner. The sweet plum liqueur is definitely one of those must-try local specialties from Lorraine!

Piano Bar at Les Jardins du Mess

Dimly lit with soft live piano music drifting out the door, the Piano Bar is adjacent to the grand entrance hall and is just as welcoming as the rest of the hotel. It’s open to non-residents, as well as guests.

Head here to enjoy a whole variety of alcoholic and soft drinks. I’m told that the cocktails served here are simply excellent! For those feeling a little braver, there is also a dance floor which is open late into the night.

During the day, the piano bar serves a large selection of coffees, teas, and cold drinks, making it the perfect meeting point for friends or a stopping area for you to rest in between learning all about the history of Verdun.

I stayed at Les Jardins du Mess Hotel as a guest in collaboration with Atout France, Meuse Tourism, and Lorraine Tourism. All opinions, photos, and words remain my own.