Villa Clarisse & Spa. — Erika Alvarez

Every once in a while, you feel the urge to step away from the city, the noise, and the constant rush of everyday life. That’s exactly how I felt before deciding to spend a few days on the Île de Ré, at a small boutique hotel I’d heard about called Villa Clarisse & Spa.

I couldn’t have chosen better. It turned out to be the perfect little pocket of calm a place where the air smells of salt and pine, and where the only thing on your to-do list is to slow down.

First Impressions

Arriving in Saint-Martin-de-Ré felt like stepping into a watercolor painting. Narrow cobbled streets, whitewashed houses with green shutters, bicycles propped against old stone walls everything about it felt timeless.

Tucked away on a quiet street, Villa Clarisse immediately felt special. Behind its simple white façade was a peaceful courtyard and a garden filled with sunlight. The atmosphere was relaxed but elegant, like staying in a friend’s beautifully designed home if that friend happened to have impeccable taste and a heated swimming pool.

My room was pure serenity: pale tones, linen curtains, and sunlight spilling across the wooden floor. Mornings began with the sound of the church bells nearby and the smell of fresh coffee drifting in from the courtyard.

Days of Quiet Bliss

Most of my days followed a wonderfully slow rhythm. After breakfast , warm croissants, fresh fruit, and island honey . I’d borrow a bike and explore the island. The landscapes were breathtaking: vineyards, salt marshes, and quiet beaches that seemed to stretch forever.

In the afternoons, I’d retreat to the garden at Villa Clarisse a little sanctuary of olive trees and lavender surrounding a turquoise heated pool. Sometimes I’d swim, sometimes I’d just nap in the shade. There’s also a small honesty bar, which I used as an excuse to pour myself a glass of chilled rosé and pretend I lived there.

One evening, I booked a spa treatment with products by Olivier Claire, and it was everything you’d want from a small, intimate spa soothing, natural, and unhurried. It’s amazing how quickly your whole body remembers what calm feels like.

Dinner at Hôtel de Toiras — A Culinary Highlight

One of the highlights of the trip was dinner at Hôtel de Toiras, Villa Clarisse’s sister property just a short stroll away on the port. The restaurant is overseen by Chef Ronan Fillâtre, whose cooking is as elegant as it is grounded in the island’s terroir.

We sat by the window overlooking the harbor as the sun set, the sky turning shades of rose and gold. Every dish that arrived felt like a small masterpiece precise, thoughtful, but never pretentious. From the fresh local oysters to the perfectly cooked fish with seasonal vegetables, it was a meal that felt both refined and deeply connected to the sea just outside the window.

It wasn’t just dinner it was an experience that captured the spirit of the Île de Ré: fresh, simple, and quietly exquisite.

Leaving the Island

On my last morning, I lingered over breakfast in the garden, croissants still warm, birdsong in the background, sunlight filtering through the fig trees. It was one of those moments you try to stretch just a little longer.

Leaving Villa Clarisse felt like waking from a beautiful dream. Those few days reminded me how good it feels to slow down, to breathe, to listen, to simply be.

If you ever need to escape the pace of city life, Villa Clarisse & Spa with its calm garden, warm hospitality, and the unforgettable cuisine of Chef Ronan Fillâtre at Hôtel de Toiras is the perfect antidote.