The Place
The Hotel des Quatre Dauphins, occupying an attractive little 19thC maison bourgeoise on a quiet corner near the pretty Place des 4 Dauphins in Aix-en-Provence, opened as a family-run hotel more than a decade ago.
The dark green front door sports four brass dolphins and bright red geraniums grow in window boxes behind the wrought-iron bars on the ground floor. Built on three floors, there is no lift; it is simple and excellent value for money. Some original features have remained – the lovely tiled terracotta floors – and there are some nice antique pieces throughout the house, such as handsome big mirrors, little wooden tables and a pine chest in the breakfast room. The plain decoration in the rooms is pleasing: walls are painted in pale pastel shades and bedspreads and curtains are in Provençal prints. Furniture is minimal, mainly painted wood. Bathrooms are well equipped. Large, framed Impressionist posters hang in the corridors. The only public room is the breakfast/sitting room in a gentle pale yellow, with large painted wooden Provençal-style armchairs, big ceramic pots, dried flowers and pretty tablecloths. Air conditioning in the bedrooms is a welcome new addition.