La Closerie - Bay of Bengal

We recently stayed at La Closerie – Bay of Bengal, a property listed as a boutique resort/homestay, during our one-night trip from Chennai to Pondicherry for the Glow Fest — which, by the way, was absolutely spectacular and the highlight of our visit. We booked a single night stay for our family of three — my husband, our 9-year-old daughter, and myself. The pricing was on par with a premium 5-star hotel, so we had certain expectations. The Property: The location is charming — tucked away in the busy streets near Pondy’s beach road, the building has a nostalgic fusion of Tamil and French architecture. The ambiance and interiors were pleasant and gave us a warm homestay feel. The staff were courteous and helpful throughout. However, the property was more compact than we imagined — the common areas felt congested, and the pool was quite small. But these were manageable given our short stay and the limited time we spent on the premises. The Real Disappointment: We checked in at 3:30 PM (though check-in was allowed from 2 PM) and left almost immediately for the Glow Fest, returning only after dinner around 11 PM. The next morning, we were informed that breakfast was available between 9 and 10 AM — a surprisingly short window. After a quick breakfast, my daughter requested some pool time with her dad, which we thought we could squeeze in before checkout at 11 AM. At 10:45 AM, just as we got into the pool, a staff member approached me to remind us that checkout was at 11 AM. I politely acknowledged, mentioning we’d wrap up in 15 minutes and check out by 11:15 AM at the latest. But shockingly, within 2 minutes, she returned and firmly asked us to vacate immediately, claiming that the next guest had already arrived for check-in — at 10:50 AM! That was the moment everything soured. Where does this happen — guests being pushed out before checkout time because the next guest has already shown up early? Especially when your official check-in time is 2 PM? And all this when a child was joyfully spending a rare moment with her father in the pool? This was not just poor coordination — it was a complete disregard for guest experience. We weren’t asking for a late checkout or causing delays. Just a simple, decent buffer of 15 minutes — something even budget hotels and 5-star properties allow as standard courtesy. I don’t fault the staff — she was clearly following instructions from her management. But this review is directed at the owner/manager: Where is your sense of hospitality? Where is your commitment to guest satisfaction? You may have a beautifully done homestay, but hospitality is not just about ambience — it’s about the moments you let your guests experience. You stole that from us. We left feeling rushed, unwelcome, and deeply disappointed — not the kind of memory you want to leave your guests with. For the premium you charge, basic customer delight should be the bare minimum. Would I recommend La Closerie? Unfortunately, no. I would’ve preferred a bran

Loved the quaintness of this place and the various outdoor seating/lounging options. It's best thr promenade and all the major/good eatieries. The staff is very very nice and courteous and helpful. Having said the above, the following is what will make me choose some other hotel in future: 1. The washroom is very badly planned. Typical of South India, there is no shower curtain nor partition in the shower area. After a shower the entire floor gets flooded. Secondly thr basin and faucet choice is so bad that when tap is opened your crotch area will get wet! Water splashes in such a manner. 2.the breakfast timing (9-10am) is very very limiting esp for an early riser. Even though they have just 7 rooms breakfast should start an hour early.

Very tastefully done up place ,with excellent service . Fine balance of French and Tamil cultures. It has a nice swimming pool too, which was a surprise, and the location from the beach is less than 500 MTR walk. All around all wonder cafe's and restaurant, it's quite at the heart of the white quarters.

We were a family of 15 staying at this sweet villa . It’s at a vantage point as far as location goes . 5 min from beach . N in the French quarters . It’s a great place to stay if you have a big group . Big rooms ( except one ) a small cute pool for kids ( n a good prop for pics ) , lazed out open spaces for evening chats , top floor for a chatty dinner . The chef is good n catered to our odd hour requests . The owner Roshan is an excellent host . He is there to help you out anytime . We did our city tour also with him . La Closerie is a perfect place to stay with friends and family .