Hotel L'Auberge, Tea Room & Restaurant — Hotel in San Rafael - El Placer

A family of nearly 20 ( including 5 kids aged 10 months to 7 years) travelled from Australia to Punta del Este in early March to attend a wedding. First time in Uruguay for all of us.Timing was not great with the corona virus pandemic but it was early March and the world’s reaction to it was still being formulated.||We stayed at L’Auberge for upbto 9 nights. L’Auberge is a wonderful hotel. Old style English architecture built around an amazing water tower, that houses the classic rooms and a gym on the top floor, with beautiful gardens and a most relaxing area around a very large swimming pool that is tucked into one end of the garden. There is so much external space that we felt like it was ours alone although other guests were also relaxing in the gardens and around the pool.||We had booked rooms at all levels from classic to suites and the two bedroom suite for a family of 5. The rooms, although not super modern in style, were supremely comfortable and very well appointed, even the classic rooms. Bathrooms were large and modern with great showers. The suites had views of the gardens. Very quiet and secure.||L’Auberge has many large common rooms. Appointed with very comfortable lounges, dining tables, TVs and In one a grand piano! The restaurant staff were happy to serve drinks or food in these areas. Again, there were so many of common area rooms that you could effectively claim one large space for yourself and friends leaving many other spaces available for hotel guests.||Breakfasts were delicious, served in an open restaurant or the terrace. Everything was freshly cooked or baked. Fruit,coffee, breads and pastries were to die for. We had a large farewell dinner for all of us in the terrace garden on our last night which gave us the opportunity to taste the formal menu items, all were very tasty, well cooked and with fresh produce. The wine list is good and cocktails amazing. Although not entirely clear why this was the case, they gave in house guests a 20% discount on all in house dining including wines and drinks....this was a significant saving and a great surprise.||L’Auberge is about 2-3 kilometres from Punta del Este town in a residential area about 2 street blocks from the beach. It was easy to arrange taxis or ubers, anytime of the day or late at night. We had a large van for 9 people. Driving was easy. By early March the large numbers of tourists who visit Punta del Este had mostly left. So restaurant bookings etc were easily obtained.||The staff at L’Auberge went out of their way to ensure our stay there was comfortable and memorable. This applied to everyone, from the front desk staff, restaurant staff and housekeepers. The place has a real family feeling about it and everyone is there to make things easy for guests. I cannot recommend the staff more highly.||I hope we get a chance to return to Punta del Este. If we do there is no doubt that we will be delighted to return to L’Auberge. A great hotel indeed. We had stayed there for 9 nights but wished we could have...

So the first thing I should say is it’s winter so out of season.|The property is old and quaint as many places are here and some form of landmark, so lots of history and cute. |My room was in the main water tower, I’m not sure if that’s the location of all the rooms.|Let’s get back to the rooms later. |The decor is very traditional throughout with soft music playing, and I’d say romantic and soothing. |In winter there was an open fire lit in the main building where you can sit and relax and a lovely grand piano is in view. |There are separate buildings joined to the main water tower building in which guests have to enter via exterior courtyard to the rear. |The grounds and gardens are well presented and I can imagine how this would come alive in summer.|The breakfast was 9/10. A great spread and additional options of cooked eggs and omelettes for example. Exceptional service. The omelette I had was cooked to perfection, almost best on my entire trip. |I didn’t experience any other food. The staff are all beautiful and accommodating, nothing is too much trouble. |The rooms I felt were the major let down. They are of unusual size due to the structural columns holding the building up and small. So let’s put that aside and we accept that due to the nostalgia of the building. Windows have been upgraded to double glazed so sound is no issue and the temperature was fine during winter. |The wardrobes were old and run down and poor lighting as in so many of these hotels, and very basic fixtures throughout including a pathetic Tv. It’s the only hotel I’ve ever stayed in that has no coffee and tea making facilities. In addition to that I was charged for basic bottled water. |The beds were slightly soft but comfortable, I had a good sleep.|The shower was over the bath with a curtain and not ideal for me but it was hot and good pressure. |Having said all of that it was very clean, no questions there. |Red wine selection by the glass was poor to what I like hence me not staying for dinner as a like a glass of red with my meal. |I didn’t feel the place was located in a great location if you don’t have a car but it was a peaceful part of town. |The Gym was small/ basic and bordering dangerous as run down and from the1980 if I’m honest. |I didn’t know what to expect when I booked this place and it was a little disappointing at first but the place grew on me and if you can deal with a small basic room and no gym I think you’ll be happy.|I think an upgrade of the rooms and bathrooms would make this place next level but when can a hotel do a renovation? It has to close I suppose. My score of 3.5/5 and I guess if I came back and didn’t find anything else I would reconsider especially if I was...

This little hotel/restaurant is cute enough with a pretty garden, the problem is the service at the front desk. There is a lady who works there named Ana who should not be running any front desk. Not a friendly nor efficient person to be doing that job. Upon arrival, I checked in at midnight (I was coming straight from a dinner) and they gave me a very small room, in the morning i called to switch to a bigger one (paying a difference) I didnt unpack at all nor shower (I explained to her) so i would switch rooms and unpack only one time. Mind you the hotel was almost empty. I had a long breakfast and went to the lobby to see if my room was ready, and she kept making me wait. First she said she would check with cleaning, then after 20 mins of me just sitting there (remember I had a paid room from the night before, this was not an early check in) she said oh, they are programming a control remote. This lady is unaware that i need my room to shower, etc. After I explained to her that i needed to use the shower/bathroom, that they could program the remote control (I dont even watch TV) she made me wait another ten mins, almost as she was enjoing it. Then i finally got my room. The last day, after beint here for 5 nights and inviting people for lunch and dinner to the hotel, I tell them I will have a late checkout like 7 pm (this was Monday, I belive the hotel was completely empty minus me and one or two rooms) this lady leaves orders to charge me a full room, in an empty hotel. Just bad business, bad judgement, bad intentions with someone that is a repeat customer for many years and brings so much business to the hotel. Will not be recommending it any more, nor staying...