Le Saint-Gelais

Like many a convent or a priory over the years, Le Saint Gelais has been put to secular use as a luxe and stylish little boutique hotel, with much — but crucially not all — of its monastic calm carrying over to the present day. Its exterior remains much as it must have been, while its interiors have been transformed — some period architecture remains, but the design sense is thoroughly modern, from the colors and graphics to the modernist furniture and forward-looking open-plan layouts. The restaurant, Algorithme, is less high-tech than its name implies, serving thoughtfully presented market-fresh fare.