Honfleur – Ferme Saint-Simeon

Food: French
Price: Expensive
Rating: Excellent
Web site: Ferme Saint Simeon/Les Impressionnistes

The Ferme Saint-Simeon has been an institution of Honfleur for centuries. It is a former farm that had changed owners many times since its creation in 1593.

Quickly on, the owners started feeding people who were passing by, even put them up in one of their many bedrooms. The “restaurant” was starting to get a good reputation so people in the know would come here for a bite to eat, or even sleep.

The current compound consists of three main buildings, the photo above shows a part of the hotel (and previous sleeping quarters).

The main hotel building that houses the rooms, bar and the excellent “Les Impressionists” restaurant:

In between these two buildings is a small thatched roof cottage which is a bistro restaurant; Bistro Boucane:

All around the three main buildings you will find landscaped gardens including orchards, flowers and many different plants:

Inside the main hotel building, it’s lusciously and stylishly decorated. The bar/lounge is comfortable and even has a fireplace. You would think you are in a old English Gentleman’s club.

Outside, at the rear of the hotel, you will find a nice comfortable terrace with seat, tables and umbrellas:

Form the terrace (and from the restaurant), you have a great view over the Seine river & estuary and the Pont de Normandie bridge. At times you can see cruise ships moored next to the harbour tower.

On the side of the restaurant portion of the hotel you will see a small tower and an old wall. Over the other side of the wall is a large herb garden used by the restaurant:

The Artists

The Saint-Simeon farm was a hotspot of artists (painters, writers, poets) who not only came for the great food but also for the incredible views.

It was the painter Eugene Boudin, who was born in Honfleur but lived in Le Havre, who started the farm visits with other painters. Artists like Eugene Isabey, Johan Barthold Jongkind, Jean-Baptiste Corot, Henri de Saint-Delis, Karl Daubigny, Louis-Alexandre Dubourg, Norbert Goeneutte, Henri Guerard and his wife Eva Gonzales and the most famous of them all: Claude Monet.

Conclusion

The Ferme Saint-Simeon is a great place to stay and/or eat. Getting there is quite simple, a 10-15 minute walk from the town centre and slightly uphill. Further up the road is the famous Chapel Notre-Dame de Grace (click here to read our review of this chapel). Below the farm you will find (and see from the farm), the incredibly beautiful “Famous People gardens” (Jardin des Personnalites) – click here to read our review of these gardens.

The hotel and main restaurant are quite pricey, but worth it. Food is excellently made, service is great and the view are unsurpassed. They do not have a Michelin star, but deserve at least one.

Click here to access the Ferme Saint-Simeon main website.
Click here to access the main restaurant of the Farm.

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