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I was so excited that Le Bristol has finally opened. As you all know by now, breakfast at hotels is something I truly enjoy and it’s one of the main things that helps give me an insight into a hotel. I came down for breakfast one early morning to experience Le Bristol in a quick manner.
The hotel was totally renovated with a more modern touch and style. The first impression is that the hotel has taken a more serious uplift. The famous mustached Majordomo has disappeared and the old cachet has disappeared. The glass door opens to a beautiful lobby, well lit and inspiring... We were shown to the Cafe where breakfast is served.
To date Le Bristol hasn't started their buffet breakfast yet. You are welcomed at Les Gourmandises, Bristol's famous pastry shop for breakfast a la carte. A $22 formula where fresh juices, croissants, labneh and olives with eggs is proposed. Five choices of croissant, three choices of eggs or upscale to the tailor made offered proposing the Bristol omelette and eggs Benedict. I ordered the eggs Benedict!
Les Gourmandises is a beautiful space, a pastry shop and coffee house filled with colors and life. Burgundy, light pink and beige lights decorate the ceiling over a floor of mosaic stones and walls of colors. Yellow, pink, violet and grey. We sat on the upper level hosting five tables, black tables surrounded by leather chairs and a blue sofa.
Table napkin, a set of new cutlery, bread plate and a glass of water. We waited to be served.
Everything is neat and luxurious. Stainless coffee dispensers, China printed with the Bristol logo, thin glasses of water and juice and paper coasters. There are some nice details to enjoy here. Music plays in the background; as coffee is served, while we enjoyed the moment.
A plate of labneh, fresh and tasty labneh, a plate of Zaatar with its olive oil, very good non acidic Zaatar, a generous portion of white cheese - halloum, accawi, double crème - a plate of vegetables thinly sliced and beautifully presented with three croissants and a raisin roll.
I enjoyed how the Lebanese bread is heated and presented in individual portions to every guest.
The croissants are good, very good indeed, carefully buttered and intensively flavorful, topped with sesame and filled with cheese or zaatar, premium quality. I would have preferred that they were heated a bit before served…
Eggs Benedict: They look nice with the little colorful dots, but it stops here. The muffins are too thin and that makes them unpleasantly chewy and the sauce flavorless. Perfectly cooked, the eggs are cooked but the sauce spoiled the moment - zero flavors. Where are the ingredients, where is the vinegar, salt and pepper? Please work in the flavors and you'll have a decent plate of eggs Benedict.
The omelet is one great plate I'll surely order again. Extremely juicy, beautifully decorated and presented mixed with green bell pepper, cheese, salt and pepper, tomatoes and mushrooms. I simply loved it!
I then tried their chocolate croissant which not only has one or two chocolate sticks but four. Generously filled with dark chocolate the croissant has a strong taste to it. Even though a bit chewy, one can't deny the premium quality it hosts. Pain au raisin also is flavorful but lacks a bit of lightness.
I loved:
- The ambiance
- The coffee
- Professionalism of the management
- Set of cutlery and China
- General toy and pricing
Le Bristol is now open and you should plan a visit. The hotel will be fully operational as of December with two restaurants, breakfast on the roof and much more. Les Gourmandises is where I started my day this morning.
