About this hotel
Jason and I have been tracking this hotel since we first heard about it during a stay at its sister property, Royal Champagne (read that review here) a few years back. Once bookings opened, we made our reservation. We were actually the property’s very first reservation!
Chateau la Commaraine is in Pommard, a tiny village in Burgundy about 20 minutes from the better-known town of Beaune. The building itself dates back to the 12th century and has been meticulously restored. It also happens to sit on a working winery, with Paul Krug (yes, of the Champagne dynasty) leading the winemaking. Neat!
If you know us, you know our trips are usually built around food and wine, and this one delivered. Even a few months into being open, the staff operated like they’d been running the place for years.
The hotel’s mission, per owner Ms. Dupré in an interview last November, is to unlock access to some of Burgundy’s most exclusive and historically hard to visit wineries, the kind that don’t typically open their doors to tourists. The team did secure us tastings during our stay, just not at the handful of ultra exclusive names we’d specifically requested. It was an ambitious, unique ask and not one that would have been easy to accommodate. I think most visitors to Burgundy will be really happy with the access the hotel can provide, and we still got to taste some delicious wine without leaving property.
Check In at Chateau la Commaraine
We flew into Geneva and arranged a private driver through the hotel for the roughly two and a half hour ride to Pommard. It wasn’t cheap (starting at €560), but on a short trip we didn’t want to deal with a rental car and unfamiliar roads. We landed around 6pm and pulled up to the chateau just before 9.
Check in happens right at the entrance, and they give you a glass of local wine while they run through the standard passport process. That’s when they told us we’d been upgraded from our vineyard view room to the Commaraine Suite, which was already ready.
The Commaraine Suite
Gorgeous. The decor is thoughtful and layered, though the suite ran smaller than expected for two people plus luggage. We found ourselves bumping into each other and the furniture more than once. The bed, though, might be the best we’ve slept in and it rivals the Four Seasons bed.
The real star was the view. We had two balconies: one overlooking the front of the property, the other with sweeping views across the vineyards. It’s the kind of view that makes you stop mid conversation.
The Property
With only 37 rooms, Chateau la Commaraine feels intimate rather than grand, which I loved. The common areas felt more like living rooms than hotel lobbies. The main floor holds check in and Le Clos, the more casual restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Downstairs you’ll find the gym and spa, designed to feel like you’re in a wine cave.
The spa includes a sauna, steam room, and cold plunge, all complimentary whether or not you book a treatment. A lot of luxury properties have started charging for spa access, and at this price point, that always feels like nickel and diming. Jason and I used the spa facilities multiple times during our stay and really enjoyed the space.
Service
Service here was excellent – the kind of attentive without being hovering that you hope for at this price point. Small but the staff serving breakfast each morning remembered our coffee preferences. One night we mentioned we’d love bath salts but they didn’t stock any, so the next day they brought some from off property for us. They also handled a car transfer to an off-property dinner without a hitch.
The only small thing worth flagging: costs for these extras tend to come up after the request rather than upfront, so it’s worth asking about pricing in the moment if that matters to you. Minor feedback in the scheme of an otherwise flawless experience.
Food and Beverage
Everything we ate on property was delicious – not an exaggeration. Breakfast is included, with both a buffet and an a la carte menu. We were there celebrating our anniversary, and the team surprised us with a small tart that morning. A small touch, but the kind that sticks with you. And most hotels seem to overlook small personal touches like this these days.
Lunch was either room service or Le Clos, and we came back to Le Clos one evening for the four course tasting menu, which we loved every dish from start to finish. The setting overlooking the vineyard was picturesque and romantic.
Final considerations
This has been one of my favorite hotel stays this year. Stunning location, chic design, and delicious food and wine. It checks nearly every box, and we’re planning to return. This is a great spot for wine lovers, anniversary trips, anyone looking for a quieter, more intimate side of Burgundy.
