La Roche d'Esteil is a charming "Chambre d'hôte" (B&B) situated just 6 km from the beautiful town of Sarlat in the Dordogne in France.

We were lucky enough to spend this past weekend there thanks to a gift from some of my wife's work colleagues, and what a gift it was!

I admit I am not a major fan of B&B's, but this is no ordinary B&B (and I also feel French B&B's are a little different to their Irish and UK equivalents).

So where to start?

The building and installations:

La Roche d'Esteil is a charming 18th century farm house which was entirely renovated in 2003. The hosts told us they spent three years renovating the entire building and its adjacent buildings for three years before moving definitively from the Paris region three years and opening this wonderful accommodation. It offers a total of 5 bedrooms, all en-suite, and each room with a charming name.
Each room seems to have its own small individual terrace with table and chairs.
Let me describe our bedroom: We were in the room they call "Hortensia" which from what I see is their cheapest room at around €54. I cannot even imagine the comfort offered in their other rooms if this was the cheapest one. The room has one double-bed and a single bed, thus accommodating up to 3 people. It was a bright and modern room, with very tasteful furnishings (which can be said for all the common areas of the B&B that I saw... they really seem to have decorated and furnished this plac with great love and care). The room was of a good size, and was impeccably clean. The bed was very comfy and the bedding (linen, etc) was of good quality.
To be honest, the room was much more comfortable than rooms I've paid a lot more money for in 4 star hotels around Europe. The only thing that differentiated it from a 4 * hotel bedroom... well not easy to think of anything, perhaps that there was no TV (yet there was a modern cd-player/radio system), no mini-bar, and the fact that it felt more homely than just about any 4* hotel room I've stayed in.
Breakfast is an enjoyable event served in the also very tastefully decorated dining room. A buffet style selection of different breads, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cereals, dried fruits and orange juice are on offer and is served from 8:30. The charming proprietors, Sandrine and Marc, are present during breakfast.
They also offer dinner on certain nights and which must be reserved in advance. At €24 per person, it's well worth it. Dinner was available the Friday night we were there and is served at 7:30. It starts off with an aperitif (an offering of local typical aperitifs). Our started was a wonderful "feuilleté" (pastry) filled with goats cheese and fresh mint from the garden (which added a very wonderful taste to the meal) and was served with a leaf salad and great French dressing. The main course was duck, potatoes "Sarlat" style and a grilled tomato with herbs. This was followed by a cheese board and then a very delicious desert. Wine is included, as is coffee and tea or a selection of herbal teas. The dining-room was full on Friday night with 10 guests (plus our 20 month old son), and Sandrine and Marc did a great job ensuring a pleasant, relaxing and convivial, yet not at all invasive atmosphere.
The large gardens include a nice green gardened area, a swimming pool, and a wooded area in the back which even has a coupe of young goats our son found very amusing to look at. They also have a lovely and very friendly dog who also became our son's best friend.
I could go on and on, but don't want to bore you. All I can say is that La Roche d'Esteil is a true pleasure, the service / installations are nearly hotel-like (as was commented by some of the other guests... yet of course, it's all in the intimacy of a wonderful B&B. The place is small enough to make you feel as if you are all part of one big family (hosts and guests), yet large enough to allow you to relax and enjoy yourselves in your own intimacy. And of course, it is situated in one of the most beautiful regions of France.
And of course both Sandrine and Marc are available to give excellent advice on the many places to visit nearby.
I have no hesitations in recommending La Roched'Esteil, and I am looking forward to returning in the not so distant future.