Domaine Rabiega - Vineyard and Boutique Hotel

A calm oasis set on an ambitious vineyard. We stayed two families in four impeccable rooms and enjoyed the views, the pool, the food and the service. Rabiega is a good base for travellers wanting a cozy place to stay while exploring Provence or Côte d’Azur.

Domaine Rabiega is a wineyard founded in the 70-ies. During nearly two decades it was owned by the Swedish wine and spirit monopoly. After some turns with various owners it is since a couple of years back once again owned by a Swedish entrepreneur. The vinification is led by Lars Torstenson who has a well known reputation as a leading winemaker of international rank. The new owners of the domain has invested a lot of money and work to renovate the whole establishment. That is quite clear when you visit - especially this shines when you as a guest stay at the hotel. The goal here is obviously to create a luxury (or nearly luxurious) hotel, including restaurants both casual and with a fine dining ambition. So, how far has it proceeded? Well, the newly renovated rooms are elegant and stylish; lovely bathrooms and comfortable beds. All standard amenities and effectively working AC. The latter is really needed, since this area (Draguignan) is known to be really hot in the summer. Despite being newly refurbished some little things were malfunctioning. Nothing to get upset about, but in view of the room prices it's a bit disturbing. It is understandable that this type of thorough renovation, which also involves the infra-structure (draining, cooling etc), must leave some marks on the ground, so to speak. And so it does: the grounds have been dug up and new greens are not yet grown. So outside the hotel buildings you feel a bit like being on a construction site, even though it will probably get just fine with time. But not right now... This also includes the pool area, which has almost no trees or vegetation to provide some shelter from the sun - which is merciless. Shadow is almost the only thing you seek when temperatures rises to nearly 40 degrees Celsius. Shadow at Domaine Rabiega is - at present - in shortage. The reception is in a building also accommodating a lounge and a room for wine tasting - all with stylish furnishing. Very nice indeed. The restaurant in working order is called Bistrot Rabiega. Located beside the pool it offers casual eating on the terrace. Very few dishes on the menu. Nothing wrong with a short menu, but it offers very limited choices. There is nothing wrong with the bistrot. It's simple and hosts fairly ok cooking. Nothing special though. More "eating" than experience... Breakfast is also served in the bistrot. It was fine with a good selection of charceturies, cheese, eggs etc. Wines served are of course to a large extent from the Domaine. That's good, because the Rabiega wines are really of high quality - some really excellent - and holds a good portion of awards. Besides the bistrot, Rabiega announced opening of a fine dining restaurant this summer. Good initiative and we were quite interested until we saw the prices. Cheapest menu is 225 EUR, albeit including three glasses of wine from the domaine. A lot to ask for an untried restaurant still without any reviews, let alone from institutions like Michelin or Ga

Service très peu professionnel de la part d’une saisonnière, qui nous a tous donné l’envie de quitter les lieux. Ses remarques déplacées et son refus des pourboires (pourtant quémandés de façon insistante) ont rendu cette soirée désagréable, pourtant bien commencée dans ce bel endroit.