10 bucket-list American dishes worth travelling for – and where to find them
From fully-loaded sandwiches to much-loved regional desserts, these are the US dishes worth travelling for
If you're planning a gourmet tour of the US, there are certain iconic dishes in each state that are a must try. Seek out the dishes that locals are the most passionate about and you’ll find yourself in the best restaurants, bakeries and neighbourhood institutions – many of which have lasted for generations. Whether you try a silky slice of Key lime pie in Florida or a comforting bowl of clam chowder in Boston, these are the US dishes worth travelling for. For more US inspiration, check out our guide to 8 US cities that offer spectacular value for money. New Haven: scorch your fingers on ‘ah-beetz’ New Haven may be famed as the home of Yale University – but for food lovers, it's the pizza that is more important. Or, more accurately, ‘ah-beetz’, as New Haven-style pizza is known. 'Apizza' is a direct descendant of thin-crusted Neapolitan-style pie, tapping into the background of the local Italian-American community. But what sets apizza apart is the three Cs: crust, char and coal. These thin-crust pizzas are cooked at high temperature in a coal-fired brick oven and when done right, have a blistered, blackened crust. In a classic apizza, adornment is minimal – in the original, not even mozzarella besmirched the flavourful tomato sauce. If you want it, ask for ‘mootz’ (mozzarella). Head for Wooster St where you’ll find the apizza originator Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, founded in 1925, and Sally’s Apizza, founded in 1938, on the same street. Apizza has won fans across the USA and across the Atlantic. You can try it in the UK at Gracey’s in St Albans and London. New Orleans: get stuck into gumbo Complex and richly flavoured, this hearty stew, which can incorporate just about any combination of meat, seafood and vegetables, is emblematic of the cooking of the American South – and New Orleans is gumbo’s spiritual home. Much like Mardi Gras, the dish encapsulates the diverse culture and culinary heritage of the region. The name is a matter of debate, deriving either from West African ‘gombo’ or the Choctaw ‘kombo’. A key ingredient is okra, which West African cooks use to thicken dishes. The filé powder (made from dried, ground sassafras leaves), used to thicken the stew at the end of cooking, was used by First Nation cooks. And the roux – the slowly cooked mixture of flour and fat that forms the base of gumbo – has French origins. The best gumbo is the one your family makes (try our prawn gumbo recipe or vegan gumbo), but if you’re not lucky enough for that, Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, which chef Leah Chase, known as ‘the queen of Creole cuisine’ helmed for seven decades, is an institution. At French Quarter Restaurant R’evolution, Mississippi-born chef John Folse serves a stew called ‘death by gumbo’ made with roasted quail, andouille sausage and oysters. Philadelphia: get a big bite of Philly cheesesteak The namesake sandwich of the City of Brotherly Love is the cause of cravings – and contention. Everyone agrees that a Philly cheesesteak consists of quality beef, either thinly sliced or roughly chopped, fried on a grill, then stuffed into a long crunchy hoagie roll and topped with cheese. Whether the sandwich is served ‘wit’ or ‘wit’out’ fried onions is a matter of preference – as is the type of cheese that ought to top it all off. Provolone is said to be traditional (and is what we've used in our own Philly cheesesteak recipe), but there is a strong camp in favour of Cheez Wiz, that love-it-or-loathe-it bright-orange liquid-cheese that harks back to the 1970s. Created in South Philly in the 1930s by hot dog cart owner Pat Olivieri, the cheesesteak is now an institution – it even has its own national appreciation day on March 24. The original Pat’s King of Steaks in South Philly is still owned by the same family. Rival Geno’s Steaks (founded 1966) is just across the street. New York City: nosh a knish The bagel and New York cheesecake claim much of the gastronomic glory in the Big Apple, but no visitor should leave the city without tracking down a knish. These pockets of leavened bread enclosing mashed potato, kasha (buckwheat), sauerkraut, ground meat or mushrooms are a staple of Jewish-American cuisine. They were first made in New York by immigrants from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, many of whom settled in Manhattan’s Lower East Side in the 1900s – and this is still the neighbourhood where the best knishes hang out. Yonah Schimmel was a Romanian rabbi who sold potato knishes with a smear of mustard from a pushcart before setting up Yonah Schimmel’s Knish Bakery – established in 1910 and still dishing knish. Go for the classic potato. Katz’s Delicatessen, established in 1888 and reputed to be the city’s oldest deli, sells classic square potato knishes or round ones made with sweet potato or kasha. Miami: wrap your hands around a Cuban sandwich South Florida’s cigar industry initially drew skilled workers from Cuba to Miami and Tampa from the 18th century, but it was Fidel Castro’s 1959 Revolution that sparked the largest influx of Cubans to the state. Miami-Dade County is now home to just under 1 million residents of Cuban origin, and Little Havana is the place to find the best Cuban cuisine – sandwiches included. Also called Cubanos, they’re filled with slow-roast pork, glazed ham and swiss cheese, finished with mustard and thinly sliced dill pickle for piquancy, then pressed and toasted. In the heart of Little Havana, Calle Ocho (8th St) is where to find some of the best. The version found at Versailles, founded in 1971, is a classic, made with bread from the restaurant’s own bakery. Sanguich de Miami takes its ingredient-sourcing seriously (‘no shortcuts, no additives’) and is made with ham and garlic-confit-marinated pork. San Francisco: get messy with a bowl of cioppino The City by the Bay is famous for its sourdough – but the real San Francisco treat is this seafood stew. Its roots most likely lie in a similar dish called ciuppin, which was brought to California by Genoese immigrants who came here during the Gold Rush. It’s a classic ‘fisherman’s stew’ in that can be made with a mix of seafood, although mussels and local Dungeness crab (when in season) are pretty much de rigueur. A proper cioppino is made with a tomato base and most versions are made with red wine – a good California Cabernet or Zinfandel would be ideal – and it’s served with (or over) garlic-rubbed toasted sourdough. To enjoy it at its best, be prepared to get go in with your hands and get messy. In North Beach, San Francisco’s Little Italy, Sotto Mare serves some of the best cioppino in the city, in portions big enough for two to share. Family-run Tadich Grill in the Financial District opened 1849 (before California was even a state). Its shellfish-rich cioppino, a house special, is served with garlic bread on the side. If you can't get to San Francisco, try our cioppino recipe to recreate it at home. Boston: tuck into New England clam chowder Affectionately known as ‘Beantown’, Boston’s culinary clout extends way beyond baked beans – and clam chowder (pronounced ‘chowda’ in these parts) is the mustn’t-miss dish. Chowder in various forms are made all over the Northeast and beyond (the name is derived from the French ‘chaudrée’, meaning cauldron). Some are made with tomato, some plain, some with corn (like our very own seafood chowder recipe). None can beat the New England-style version: a combination of salt pork (or bacon), potatoes and big, tender clams in a rich, creamy base thick enough to stand a spoon in. The version made at North End seafood specialist Neptune Oyster is made the classic way – with salt pork, Wellfleet oysters from Cape Cod and a hint of thyme. Row 34 (three locations in Boston and Cambridge) sources its seafood locally and goes so far as to make its own saltines – the crunchy biscuits traditionally served alongside a bowl of chowder. Cincinnati: rethink chilli It’s chilli, but not as you know it… Ohio’s claim to culinary fame can be perplexing at first taste. Banish thoughts of the burn-your-tongue chilli con carne you’ll find in Texas – the Cincinnati version is a gently spicy meat sauce flavoured with cinnamon, allspice and cloves, with tomato, a hit of cayenne and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. It’s served in two main ways: over a bowl of spaghetti with optional add-ons of grated cheddar, chopped raw onion or kidney beans (try our recipe here), or as a topping to a hot dog (which transforms the latter into a ‘coney’). It was first cooked up in the early 1920s by Tom and John Kiradjieff, brothers from what is now northern Greece, who were fleeing post-war strife. Little did they know that this dish would turn their city into a chilli capital of the USA – there are now some 250 chilli parlours in the region. Top places to become a ‘chilli-head’ include the James Beard Award-winning Camp Washington Chilli, established in 1940, and Skyline Chilli (160 branches), which got the thumbs-up from the late Anthony Bourdain. Florida: ponder the origins of Key lime pie No dessert could be more ‘Florida’ than Key lime pie – but its history isn’t as simple as it seems. The ‘key’ to this iconic dessert is the citrus fruit that gives it its name. Smaller than the supermarket-variety Persian lime, has a lifted, floral flavour – and it’s native to Florida, right? Actually, no. It’s a hybrid variety, originally from Southeast Asia, brought to the Florida Keys in the 1830s. And, while the pie’s origin story says that Key lime pie was first made by the Florida Keys fishing community, that idea has been called into question. The author of a cookbook called BraveTart suggested the recipe came from a condensed milk company. Others contend that the original recipe came from (gasp) New York, or that it was originally made with (ugh) lemons. What’s not up for debate is the taste: one bite of the tart, sharp, creamy filling on a crunchy biscuit base will show why it’s a dessert worth having strong opinions about. In Key West, try the ‘original’ version from Kermit’s Key Lime Shop. In Key Largo, the pies from Mrs Mac’s Kitchen, established in 1976, have dedicated fans. Pennsylvania: untwist the history of the pretzel They’re sold by vendors on the streets of New York and Chicago and turn up in ballparks, cinemas and shopping malls across the USA. Soft, warm, flecked with salt and comfortingly doughy, they smell of yeasty goodness, and practically beg to be dunked in mustard and enjoyed with a cold beer. The roots of these perfect handheld snacks lie in southern Germany – but the city of Reading, Pennsylvania, is the self-proclaimed ‘pretzel capital of the world’. The state of Pennsylvania (or ‘Pretzelvania’ if you like) is responsible for turning out 80 percent of the pretzels baked in the US each year. They’re most popular in cities with a strong German heritage, following the wave of emigration to the US in the 19th century, and are now thoroughly woven into the fabric of ‘all-American’ fare. In Philadelphia, try the knots from Miller’s Twist at Reading Terminal Market. In New York City, try the handmade ones from Union Square Pretzel Co, made from wholegrain heritage wheat. If you want a kitchen project, we've also got several pretzel recipes to try: from street cart soft pretzels to beer and rock salt pretzels (served with a decadent camembert dip), fragrant salt and cardamom pretzels and easy pretzel bites with a clever shortcut. Related content Best hotels in Wales Best UK islands for food lovers European hidden gem hotels 10 best European hotels with Michelin starred restaurants Best day trips from London by train Best seaside staycations Best restaurants in St Albans
Best hotels in the Cotswolds for a chocolate-box country getaway
This quaint corner of England is home to cosy hotels and some culinary surprises, among them artisan Israeli baking, hip burger vans and fragrant Asian broths
Looking for where to stay in the Cotswolds? Want to find Cotswolds hotels for foodies? Check out our guide to the best places to eat, drink and stay in the Cotswolds.... The Cotswolds is all your chocolate-box fantasies rolled into one – honey-hued cottages, gardens brimming with hollyhocks huddled around duck-paddled ponds. The names are as pretty as the scenery: Moreton-in-Marsh, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold. Even the local rare breeds (Gloucestershire Old Spots pigs) have a bonny ring. The Cotswolds is Cider with Rosie country: a bucolic idyll packaged for tourists who traipse here to mooch around antique shops and take afternoon tea. The Cotswolds is quintessentially quaint. It’s also unexpectedly vast. Count its counties: Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, plus corners of Wiltshire, Somerset, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. From north to south it’s a 100-mile schlep. Off-the-beaten-track is a concept the Cotswolds lost long ago, but its central belt – a lopsided oblong with Burford, Cheltenham, Stroud and Lechlade at the corners – does fly slightly below the radar. Check our our guide to the best restaurants in the Cotswolds for all the must visit places to eat and drink during your visit. For more travel inspiration, check out our guide to the best Scottish hotels, best UK boutique hotels, best UK spa hotels for food lovers or best European hidden gem hotels. Where to stay in the Cotswolds for foodies The Bell at Charlbury, Daylesford Rooms start at £194 per night, based on two adults sharing. Check availability on their website. The newest of its stable of pubs with rooms, The Bell has all the hallmarks of a Daylesford bolthole: a commitment to local suppliers, largely British menu and cute motif (see the bell on plates, menus and staff T-shirts). The 17th-century building is home to a dozen cosy bedrooms, with a contemporary barn at the rear. There’s more to the pub than a smart market town boozer. Discreetly positioned behind the main building, The Barn serves weekend wood-fired feasting menus – rotisserie chicken, roasts, whole lobster. In summer there’s an additional dining space in The Bell’s acre of apple orchard. The pub’s small, welcoming dining room serves classics like a half pint of prawns, soups, salads, cheeseburger, fish pie, sticky toffee pudding and crumbles, with locally farmed ingredients. Daily specials range from the luxurious, including a chateaubriand for two or whole roasted brill, to a simple porchetta and apple sauce bap. Beers on tap are from family-owned Hook Norton and Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone, Daylesford’s own cider, gins and English sparkling wine. Exposed brick, embroidered bedspreads and reclaimed wooden furniture create a homely, rustic atmosphere. And four posters, red stripes, and crisp blue and white checks feel very British. Rooms start at £194 per night, based on two adults sharing. Check availability on their website. Bower House, Shipston-on-Stour Doubles from £127, check rates and availability at booking.com or bower.house Tucked into the very centre of Shipston-on-Stour, The Bower House makes a compelling case for this corner of Warwickshire as a destination in its own right. Just 10 miles from Stratford-upon-Avon, it combines a restaurant and five bedrooms with the kind of quietly confident hospitality that feels earned rather than performed. Inside, exposed brick, warm timber and low lighting create an atmosphere that is sophisticated without being stiff. Upstairs the bedrooms are individually decorated and properly comfortable – Hypnos mattresses, Egyptian cotton, bespoke beds – and if you're lucky a freestanding bath. Head chef Leo Kattou's cooking is produce-led, with menus that shift to reflect what's available and at its best. A beef tartare arrives with a small scoop of caviar on top – a classic dish made even more luxurious. Lamb with asparagus, wild garlic and stuffed morels follows and is perfectly executed. The wine list, developed with The Stroud Wine Company and the town's own Sheldon's, mixes familiar producers with smaller vineyards – the team is incredibly knowledgeable so feel free to lean on them for recommendations. Breakfast is delicious whether you are going for the cooked offering or something lighter, it’s best accompanied with a glass of apple juice pressed from the owner's own orchard. Doubles from £127, check rates and availability at booking.com or bower.house The Fox at Oddington From £225 per night, check availability at thefoxatoddington.com The newest addition to the Daylesford stable, the group’s pared-back aesthetic is tempered here with a light-hearted foxy theme on everything from topiary to tableware. Its airy bar and Saddle Room is built around a lively open kitchen where chefs knock out the kind of relaxed, seasonal food we could eat every day. Sustainability is built into all Daylesford does, most visibly in the pub’s living roof, planted with wildflowers and herbs, and acting as a nectar source for bees. Chef Alan Gleeson’s menu of modern classics encourages sharing, from a half-pint of prawns and some Daylesford cheese to the full three courses. Small plates including tuna tartare with soy and ginger, and heritage tomatoes teamed with feta and mint are a promising start. A decent, tender pork chop comes with greens and apple; a simple plaice with seaweed butter and Ratte potatoes. Flatbread with lardo, anchovy and salsa verde is a must-try, as is Korean fried chicken. There’s usually a fruit tart and a dark chocolate mousse with pistachio biscotti. At breakfast, The Fox is flooded with light. Oversized plants and artfully placed saddles all echo the Gloucestershire location. Omelette Arnold Bennett, a rich haddock and cheese concoction, is served with hollandaise in a mini skillet; french toast with poached apricots is equally luxurious, as are breakfast brioche rolls. Wood-beamed rooms are decorated with hunting scenes and local wildlife from local artists. Sheepskins, woollen rugs and quilted blankets add a cosy touch to crisp white bedding. Some rooms include a free-standing bath, showers are powerful and fragrant with sage and geranium Bamford botanical products. Check availability at thefoxatoddington.com Dormy House, Broadway From £215 per night, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com Despite the grandeur, this 17th-century Cotswolds farmhouse, transformed into a foodie spa hotel, is as welcoming as it is luxurious. There are 38 bedrooms spread across the main house and farmhouse outbuildings. Two Hot Tub Suites, in individual cottages with their own private patios, are decorated with delicate floral-printed wallpaper, upcycled furniture and Kilner jars filled with ginger biscuits. A quaint feel overall, although there are modern additions: tablets instead of books, for example. The Potting Shed serves hearty pub-style food (think spiced cauliflower pie and double-patty burgers) in a low-key setting, while The Back Garden celebrates homegrown produce with simple, seasonal dishes. At the latter, you’ll eat at sleek marble tables, usually with a view of Dormy House’s vegetable plots. Check availability at mrandmrssmith.com The Wheatsheaf, Northleach From £117 per night, check availability on booking.com As glam as it is cosy, former coaching inn The Wheatsheaf Inn, set in a restored 17th-century Cotswold stone building, has three log fires, as well as a wood-burning stove in the snug. Get comfortable with some craft beer or a bottle of wine from the 300-strong list. There’s culinary clout too with seasonal, daily changing dishes, such as grilled whole lemon sole, grapes, capers and limes, or meltingly rare beef from Cirencester. The 14 stylish rooms here are more bourgeois bolthole than humble inn. Check availability on booking.com The Rectory Hotel, Crudwell From £120 per night, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com An 18th century former rectory in the heart of picturesque Crudwell, recently refurbished The Rectory Hotel is all about intimate dinners, fireside cocktails and country walks followed by hearty food. Originally the rectory to the village church, this ancient stone building oozes relaxed country manor. Homemade cordial welcomes rosy-cheeked walkers into the drawing room, where you can warm up by the log fire and sink into pretty peacock feather-hued cushions. The 18 rooms are all unique, with the first floor hosting more spacious rooms, and the second floor benefitting from exposed oak beams. The team at The Rectory Hotel has freshened up the interiors to preserve original features (little fireplaces, sash windows, panelled walls) and antiques, but add a checklist of little hotel luxuries (Robert’s Radios, tea and coffee from local roasters UE and Jeeves and Jericho). Beds are like huge armchairs, with velvet curved headboards in mustard yellow and forest green. The kitchen focuses on refreshed classics. Unfussy comfort food includes fish pie, and pretty salads using fresh produce grown in the allotments behind The Potting Shed pub over the road (sister business to the hotel). The grill section includes flat-iron chicken with lemon, aioli and fries, Chateaubriand for two with roast beetroot, crispy shallots and wild rocket, and grilled catch of the day (turbot from Dorset on our visit, served with buttery Lime Regis new potatoes, watercress and a ramekin of Hollandaise). The breakfast spread, taken in The Glasshouse overlooking the gardens, is impressive. Graze on homemade granola, fresh fruits, mini pastries and ham and cheese before taking your pick from the made-to-order hot menu (French toast, avocado on sourdough, eggs any style) and topping up from the DIY bloody mary station. Check availability at mrandmrssmith.com Artist Residence, South Leigh From £120 per night, check availability at booking.com In a sleepy village in rural Oxfordshire Justin and Charlie Salisbury, the duo behind quirky Artist Residence hotel group, have restored a 16th century Cotswold-stone farmhouse and opened it as their fourth property, Mr Hanbury’s Masons Arms. A community-focused pub, with five perfectly put-together bedrooms upstairs, Mr Hanbury’s is split into two areas – a cosy bar area with a classic pub menu and a more sophisticated dining room where guests can enjoy a fine dining menu. Each of the five bedrooms here has its own unique quirks. Room number 4 boasts a ginormous free-standing copper bath to sink into with Bramley bubble bath, while number 2 has Sri Lankan tea chests as bedside tables and a window that looks out onto the vegetable patch. Check availability at booking.com Thyme, Southrop From £325 per night, check availability at booking.com Set deep in the rolling Cotswolds countryside, in the quiet village of Southrop, Thyme is exactly what you want from a rural escape. A 150-acre estate, it is home to a cookery school, pub, holiday cottages, cocktail bar and restaurant while the 15th century manor house at its heart (and various outlying barns) is now a boutique hotel. The renovation of the latter was a labour of love for its energetic, and charming, owner Caryn Hibbert and it shows. Crunch over a gravel drive and you arrive at an impressive, honey-stone Tithe Barn, home to The Baa (yes, really) with its great cocktail list. Not a bad way to kick off a stay. Check availability at booking.com The Swan, Ascott-under-Wychwood From £100 per night, check availability at booking.com This 16th-century half-timbered inn, at the heart of pretty Ascott-under-Wychwood, has been revamped by hotel gurus Sam and Georgie Pearman (the couple are also behind the spruced-up Talbot in Malton). It bears all their hip-yet-homely hallmarks, including playful, eclectic furnishings and art, sink-into beds and in-room baths stocked with 100 Acres Apothecary products made (by Georgie) from natural botanicals. You’ll also find the usual attention to detail, from swan-shaped room keys crafted at the local forge to homemade cookies in bedrooms. British to the core, it appeals to locals, young and old, and city foodies seeking a rural weekend escape. Seasonality and creativity drives head chef Adam Abbott, previously of The Wild Rabbit in Kingham. You only have to look at his pork pies, made using rare-breed meats from Herefordshire’s Huntsham Court Farm, to see that he doesn’t compromise on quality. Vegetarians will be happy here, too – starters might include broad bean hummus topped with spiced aubergine and grated hazelnuts, served with a platter of mixed sourdough breads from nearby Chipping Norton. From the choice of mains, try The Swan’s signature smoked haddock Monte Carlo and a wholesome vegetables-and-grains bowl. Drinks are local where possible. On tap at the bar is Bobby Beer, Cotswold Lager and Pearson’s cider. Local brewery Hook Norton rules the roost when it comes to beer, and for vodka, there’s Black Cow from Dorset. Check availability at booking.com Sign of the Angel Inn, Lacock From £115 per night, check availability at booking.com Dating back to the 15th century, this former coaching inn sits in the heart of Lacock village. With its rough stone walls, well-worn tiled floors, moody oak-panelled snugs and imposing inglenook fireplace it’s a cosy setting for some hearty West Country food and an early night. Out at the back, a garden leads to a stream and a paddock. West Country ingredients are put to good use in the regularly changing, seasonal menu from the 2 AA rosette kitchen. Expect local game in the autumn, hunks of blushing lamb in the spring and plenty of veg, potato and pastry all year round. Whenever you visit, though, expect to kick things off with homemade bread, slabs of cold, salted butter, oil and balsamic vinegar and a little canapé – on our visit a comforting offering of sliced white enriched with blue cheese, brown flecked with rocket and lemon, and mouthfuls of pressed rabbit, apple and fiercely pickled red onions. There are five bedrooms at Sign of the Angel and each is comfortably chic. With little else to do in the village after dark – there’s only one other pub within walking distance – prepare for an early night. At the foot of our sink-into bed, topped with duck down and feather pillows and fringed with a homely grey blanket, thick, large towels beg to be used after a long soak in the tub. Check availability at booking.com The Bell Inn, Lechlade From £67 per night, check availability at booking.com There are plenty of contemporary-chic gastropubs in the Cotswolds but not all manage to retain the laid-back feel of a village boozer after their Farrow & Ball transformations. Happily The Bell, a 17th-century inn in pretty Langford, on the fringes of west Oxfordshire, does. Its combination of rustic, wood-fired comfort food, stone-flagged dining rooms, and affable service, makes it a congenial space to unwind. Eight stylishly simple bedrooms mean you can settle down to sample that cooking, relaxed in the knowledge you don’t have to drive anywhere afterwards. Digest with a stroll to Langford’s pink-towered Saxon church across the fields, then enjoy an early night. Check availability at booking.com Barnsley House, Barnsley From £309 per night, check availability on booking.com Once the home of renowned garden designer Rosemary Verey, the gardens of this luxury hotel remain a highlight. Produce picked by the chefs take pride of place in dishes such as tangy Barnsley House pickled beetroot, creamy goat’s cheese curd and candied hazelnuts. Amid such ultra-local provenance it’s easy to be caught off-guard when you discover that head chef, Francesco Volgo, is Italian and that the house speciality is vincisgrassi, a rich mushroom and truffle oil lasagne. Wandering up to bed after dinner there were two surprises in store: a packet of Little Gem lettuce seeds on the pillow instead of chocolate and, in the fridge, a handful of fresh mint for tea – reminders that outside the window was a fruitful English country garden. Check availability on booking.com The Wild Rabbit, Kingham Check rates and availability at thewildrabbit.co.uk In the heart of the Cotswolds on the Daylesford estate, The Wild Rabbit is a modern British inn serving seasonal, hyper-local food and offering 12 bedrooms (all, like the inn itself, named after creatures found in the English countryside). There are also two cosy cottages just a short walk away and, as of late 2018, three more opposite the inn. While it attracts an out-of-town crowd, at its heart The Wild Rabbit is a country pub, albeit one with Hugo Guinness block prints on the walls and tea lights flickering on farmhouse-style tables. It acts as a kind of sociable living room for the locals (the notice board was calling out for village bakers on our visit), with squidgy leather sofas taken up by blush-faced walkers escaping the cold, shaggy dogs lounging in front of the crackling fire and families wrapping their hands around mugs of hot chocolate and hot buttered rum. Choose between 12 calm, airy bedrooms above the pub, or, for larger groups, take your pick of the cottages, scattered in the surrounding village of Kingham. All showcase Daylesford’s signature pared-backed country style (think exposed beams, sash windows, duck-egg blue stable doors and lots of muted shades of cream, taupe and stone) but peppered with luxuries; if you’re taken with the decor you can buy everything from the egg cups, chopping boards, throws and toiletries at the Daylesford shop in Kingham (and online, here). Check rates and availability at thewildrabbit.co.uk No 131, Cheltenham From £120 per night, check availability on booking.com Stay in the Cotswold oblong’s northern corner at No 131 in Cheltenham. An elegant Grade-II Georgian hotel with a restaurant and handful of quirky rooms (ours had a free-standing tin bath and a knitted cosy on the teapot), it’s part of the Cotswolds-based Lucky Onion group, a clutch of restaurants, hotels, pubs and b&bs owned by Julian Dunkerton. Much of the restaurant’s produce is sourced from local farmers and producers (order eggs for breakfast and they’ll have come from Cackleberry Farm in Burford). Our lunch of Wiltshire lamb fillet with merguez sausage, caponata and tzatziki, fregola primavera (a vibrant spring green) and beets was a riot of colour and flavour. Check availability on booking.com The Painswick, Painswick From £171 per night, check availability at booking.com With affordable room rates and a playful aesthetic (note the neon sign in the reception area), this is designed as a younger, more affordable addition to the Calcot Collection’s properties (and, possibly, a Cotswolds riposte to The Pig hotels). Bedrooms are decorated in muted natural shades, lounges come with open fires and mountains of cushions, a lawn is perfect for sprawling on sunny days, there are two treatment rooms for facials or massages and, in the hallway, scrolls of printed walking routes and a stack of help-yourself wellies invite guests to tramp out into the neighbouring Slad Valley (of Laurie Lee fame). Check availability at booking.com The Churchill Arms, Paxford From £100 per night, check availability at booking.com Set the SatNav and, whichever way you approach The Churchill Arms in Paxford, you’ll travel along winding roads, lined with thatched cottages, through sleepy Cotswold villages. Your destination is equally quaint – a honey-hued pub dating back to the 17th century but re-opened after a sympathetic refurbishment earlier this year. You’re made to feel at home as soon as you step through the door of this family-friendly hostelry. Stand with the traditional inglenook fireplace on your right and choose from the bar, on your left, or a cosy dining room on your right (reached across a flagstone floor). The pub’s owner and head chef, Nick Deverell-Smith, is a local boy and grew up eating here with his family. But while he is clearly passionate about this pub, Deverell-Smith also brings the kind of depth to his cooking that can only be won through stints in Michelin-starred kitchens. Book into one of the pubs two, simply furnished, bedrooms and you’ll find walls painted in muted, chalky colours, original beams, hardwood floors and soft, white cotton sheets. Sit and take in the view over rolling fields from the cushioned window seats or relax in the bath after a long walk. Check availability at booking.com Minster Mill, Minster Lovell From £150 per night, check availability at booking.com Set amidst 65 acres of leafy grounds on the banks of the River Windrush (which powers most of the estate via an on-site hydropower turbine), Minster Mill offers a genteel but slick sprawl of honey coloured Cotswold stone buildings to hole up in. Its sister property, the Old Swan country pub with rooms, is just around the corner if you fancy a smidge less formality and a hint more tradition. Light-filled rooms are generously sized and decorated in tasteful neutrals. Scandi-esque touches include pastel-hued wool blankets on the beds and Danish-style loungers. Find L’Occitane toiletries in the plushly modern bathrooms, Cotswolds-made lager, chocolate and crisps in the mini bar, and a room service menu that ranges from Oxford rarebit with brown sauce to rhubarb trifle. MasterChef: The Professionals 2017 semi-finalist Tom Moody is behind the pass at the hotel’s restaurant, which serves polished seasonal plates using produce from the hotel’s vegetable garden. A must-order is the butter-soft veal sweetbreads dressed in beef fat (all the meat and fish is British), with velvety caramelised cauliflower purée and crunchy walnuts. Aged loin of Cotswold lamb, blushing pink, spiked with salty hits of anchovy and feta, is another winner. Pre- and post-dinner tipples, from crisp fino sherry to champagne and classic cocktails, can be found at the hotel’s chic gold-accented Mill Bar. There are also champagne and Cotswold cream teas to try. Check availability at booking.com More hotel guides Best country house hotels in the UK Best health and wellness retreats Best hotels in London Best UK boutique hotels Best hotels in the Cotswolds Best Cornwall hotels Best hotels in the Lake District Best London hotel bars to visit Best romantic hotels in the UK European hidden gems: hotels off the beaten track Best Paris hotels Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best restaurants with rooms in the UK Best Amsterdam hotels
Cuddle up in a cosy British cabin, from off the grid glampsites in Cornwall to grass-roof topped 'dens' in Wales and rustic hideaways in the West Country
Want to stay in a log cabin in the woods? Cabin stays have become more and more popular, thanks to the scandi "hygge" trend and our lust for cosy campfire vibes. We've found some of the best cabin breaks in the UK, including self catering accommodation in forests to unique holidays in the countryside. For more self-catering inspiration, find out the best unique UK holiday cottages for foodies. If you're planning a summer holiday, check out our UK summer travel ideas. UK cabin holidays for food lovers Glebe House, East Devon – relaxing cabins in the woods Check rates and availability at glebehousedevon.co.uk Situated just off the south-west coastal path in East Devon, Glebe House is a quintessential rest stop to hang up your walking boots and retreat from the world. Slung within the rolling hills of the Coly Valley the hotel is comprised of seven bedrooms in the main house and two new cabins aptly named The Crow’s Nest due to the large rookery in the trees above them. Built using larch and cedar, the cabins’ exteriors are thoughtfully crafted to blend into the natural surroundings, while playful interiors juxtapose against the verdant greens of the woodland. There is a keen desire to showcase the best of local craftmanship with the cabins brimming with home-thrown ceramics, paintings and textiles sourced from Devonshire artists. Each cabin is adorned with an outdoor sunken bath encouraging guests to slip in and switch off through the sway of the woodland canopy. Guests can also book a private outdoor sauna to elevate relaxation even further. Much like the grounds, the on-site restaurant has an undeniable charm, awarded a Michelin Green Star through its thoughtful farm to table menu that head chef David Knapman has curated to reflect the seasons bounty. Sustainability shapes the culinary delights and the weekly menu is intuitively led by what is growing within the kitchen garden. The team can often be found pickling, preserving and finding new ways to minimise waste in the kitchen – including using left-over whey from the vacchino cheese making process to spin into new dishes. Check rates and availability at glebehousedevon.co.uk Elmley National Nature Reserve – shepherd's huts and cabins on the Isle of Sheppey Check rates and availability at mrandmrssmith.com or elmleynaturereserve.co.uk Waking up in a hut in Elmley Nature Reserve on the remote Isle of Sheppey is magical. Without getting out of bed you can watch magnificent birds glide past the window and hares hop around the fields, all while sipping your coffee. Preserving nature is at the heart of Elmley, while catering to little luxuries. Accommodation ranges from plushly furnished rooms in the 17th-century farmhouse (available for private hire) to remote vintage-styled huts with wood burners and custom built cabins with fully glazed front walls so you can drool over sunsets while snuggled under Romney Marsh wool throws. Some have separate kitchenettes and lounge areas, and boast outdoor tubs for soaking in while listening to the wildlife. Come evening, toast complimentary marshmallows over your own firepit. Breakfast and dinner, both delivered to your room in a hamper, are hearty and filling – think chicken curry with baked potatoes created with Wasted Kitchen using surplus ingredients, and thick-cut bacon sarnies – perfect fuel for long walks to spot owls. Pass the time with books and board games, or pop to the honesty bar for a quick tipple by the fire. In the summer, pizzas and picnics are available to enjoy around the reserve. Check rates and availability at mrandmrssmith.com or elmleynaturereserve.co.uk The Craftsman's Cabin – hand-crafted cabin in the Somerset countryside Check rates and availability at craftsmanscabin.co.uk Set on the fringes of the Somerset Levels and Moors in the heart of ciderland, this hand-built cabin possesses all the features for you to fully decompress, with an outdoor cast iron bath, wood-burning stove and fire pit with logs and kindling. Creativity and craftsmanship lie at the core of the company’s ethos. The cabin, nestled within its own patch of meadow, is stocked full of practical, beautiful things crafted by makers, artists and friends from the local area. The kitchen comes equipped with all the essentials, including sourdough from local favourite bakery The Bridge in Langport. Doors open directly out onto the wraparound veranda, the perfect spot to breathe in the crisp air and soak up views that stretch across the moors. Light the fire pit and cook supper under the moon then plunge into the roll-top tub as you catch the swallows or the stars. For all things foodie, learn about the rich local history of cider-making on a guided tour at Burrow Hill cider farm and distillery, or book dinner at critically acclaimed Holm for A1 West Country produce (Alford Farm pork, Exmoor venison). If feeling inspired by the artistic surroundings, sign up to one of the many courses that run nearby from stone-carving with Tom Clark or a pottery taster day at Barrington Pottery. Check rates and availability at craftsmanscabin.co.uk Tinwood Vineyard Lodge – vineyard cabins in West Sussex Check rates and availability at booking.com or tinwoodestate.com Once home to a sprawling estate of iceberg lettuces, Tinwood is now known for some of the best award-winning sparkling wines that Sussex has to offer. Switching out lettuce for vines came in 2007 when owners Jody and Art Tukker took the helm of the family business and noticed the terroir of the farm was akin to parts of Champagne and Burgundy in France. Perfectly situated just three miles from the sea, the flint and chalky grounds have led to careful cultivation of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, bottled up into a range of refreshingly crisp sparkling wines. Part of the charm of Tinwood is how visible Jody and Art still are in the day to day running of the estate. It’s not unusual for Jody to personally lead you through a vineyard and wine tasting tour with family dogs, Bubbles and Fizz, zipping through the vines to say hello. If you are keen to make a weekend of it in the South Downs, Tinwood invites guests to stay on the estate in one of its eight lodges, all of which are unique in design and offer supreme comfort and panoramic views across the vineyard. The cabins are crisp and contemporary in design – think wooden floors, white walls, big sliding patio doors. They’re also comprehensively kitted out, with king-size beds, barrel saunas and, naturally, a fully stocked wine fridge. Bikes are available for guests to use at their disposal to explore the grounds or further afield into the beautiful countryside. After a day of walking or wine tasting, relax in the wine barrel sauna or sink into a hot tub in your room. Breakfast hampers are delivered to your doorstep each morning so you can enjoy a tasty continental breakfast without having to leave the lodge. Check rates and availability at booking.com or tinwoodestate.com Tiptoe Retreat – pared-back tree cabins in North Northumberland Check rates and availability at tiptoeretreat.co.uk Bask in the warmth of a crackling wood-burning stove at one of two Scandi-minimalist tree cabins. Nestled in the heart of North Northumberland's landscape on the banks of River Till – between the coastline and rolling hills of the national park – cabins are equipped with all the features for a countryside reset, including a super king-size bed and expansive windows that bring the river and pine atmosphere in. Robes, Laura Thomas Co toiletries and a well-kitted kitchen with a Nespresso Pixie all add to the cabin's cosy, luxury charm. Ultimate relaxation is the name of the game here – soak up the scenic beauty under the open sky by plunging into your outdoor jacuzzi bath or unwind in the mirrored woodland sauna following an in-cabin spa treatment or Pilates lesson. An alternative way to switch off is with a mindful kitchen project: choose between a half-day bread workshop or 90-minute soda bread workshop with baker and author Pauline Beaumont. However you choose to spend your time, you'll be left feeling refreshed yet rested. Check rates and availability at tiptoeretreat.co.uk Wild Escapes – luxury treehouses in Hampshire Check rates and availability at wildescapes.com Nestled in the forest on sprawling Fullerton Farm, four treehouses have been crafted out of local materials to provide a luxuriously wild stay for those wanting to switch off. The structures were designed to minimise impact on the surrounding ecosystem, and rewilding is encouraged, so birds, deer and badgers are abundant. Each of the treehouses is unique – The Perigord is Scandi-chic, The Damselfly more modern-minimalist, The Fallow decked out in earthy tones and The Poppy the most rustic, complete with its own firepit. All have a few things in common: vineyard vistas, wood-burning stoves, snazzy glass showers and terraces with bathtubs that come with sycamore wood champagne flute rests for the complimentary Black Chalk English sparkling wine. Breakfast hampers are curated from Hampshire producers, including small-batch Moon Roast coffee, Nicky’s Kitchen sourdough and Fluffetts Farm free-range eggs. Take a private tour of neighbouring Black Chalk vineyard followed by a Treehouse Tasting with a view of the vines on which the grapes have been grown. On Friday nights, taste street food from local legends such as Son of a Bun fried chicken, Earth to Oven flatbreads and Little Fish sushi. The Mayfly pub is a short walk away for a local ale on the riverside terrace while watching trout jump from the crystal-clear water. wildescapes.com Check rates and availability at wildescapes.com The Treehouses at Lanrick — luxury treehouses in Perthshire Check rates and availability at lanricktreehouses.co.uk or kiphideaways.com Unwind in one of five eco-friendly luxury treehouses on the banks of the River Teith. Named after five woodland birds which you may well spot during your stay, each hideaway flaunts its own character – think special hand-crafted tables, upcycled furniture and luxury fabrics. All treehouses, however, have a few features in common; log-burning stoves, tree-top terraces and outside baths. Treehouses are self-catered and well stocked with cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery. Private banquets in the trees are also possible with the added option of pre-ordered food packages from the local farm shop, from luxury barbecues and picnic hampers to a full-blown breakfast feast. Though perfect for those seeking a peaceful, off-grid location, short foodie trips are also possible – Deanston Distillery is within ten miles, while the world-renowned Gleneagles is also a short distance away. Check rates and availability at lanricktreehouses.co.uk or kiphideaways.com Stars & Vines, Herefordshire – elegant cabins in Broadfield Court Vineyard Estate Check rates and availability at starsandvinesluxurylodges.co.uk For sweeping, uninterrupted views of rolling Herefordshire countryside, Stars & Vines is uniquely placed. Two elegantly furnished modern cabins are situated at one of the highest points of the Broadfield Court Vineyard Estate which produces a small-batch range of whites – including a crisp and very quaffable take on champagne – plus a zippy rosé. Take in those views while soaking in your outdoor hot tub, or feel free to strike out into 1000 acres of the surrounding farmland where the River Lugg weaves through towering woods, and you might happen upon a small lake by one of the cornfields. It’s a family-run estate with a welcoming feel. Esme, who operates this part of the business, will gladly lay out a picnic of locally sourced goodies to enjoy on the walk, including a bottle of that rosé if you opt for it. Hosted wine-tastings are also available to book in advance (£95, including the opened wines) and, on a clear evening, you can ask for a telescope and kick back by the firepit – with marshmallows and other gourmet treats supplied – to marvel at the stars that give this place its name (£125). The cabins are self-catered, but you can request a hamper for a continental or cooked breakfast, again stocked with fresh, local produce. Check rates and availability at starsandvinesluxurylodges.co.uk WildLuing, Isle of Luing, Scotland – remote foodie bolthole Check rates and availability at booking.com or wildluing.com WildLuing is situated on the Isle of Luing – a remote, wild isle accessed via tiny car ferry from the island of Seil. Owners Jack and Emily Cadzow have built eight luxe self-catering cabins or ‘Wild Suites’ perched on the coast. These palatial pods overlook Torsa Bay with 'The Observatory' lodge situated at their centre, where guests gather to relax and enjoy cook ups by in-house chef Kitty. Locally sourced food may include fresh-from-the-Atlantic langoustines and chargrilled squat lobster or perfectly roasted beef with creamy horseradish straight from the farm, served with salads of foraged greens and edible flowers from nearby hedgerows. Each Wild Suite has a private terrace and fire pit for barbecues. Inside the (dog-friendly) cabins, fridges are stocked with freshly baked bread, farm eggs, fruit compote, yogurt, home-made granola and juice for breakfast. The island is a place to switch off and reconnect with nature, meaning there’s no need for a TV: soak up breathtaking sea views from your comfy king-sized bed or freestanding rolltop bathtub instead. The brave at heart might even take a dip in ‘the briney’ or paddle board in the shallows off the slate beach, where otters paddle belly up, though with bracing Atlantic temperatures, that’s best on summer days. Apart from a few other guests and their dogs (also welcome), wild neighbours include curious seals, myriad sea birds, wild deer and the amiable Luing breed of cow ambling along the shoreline. Check rates and availability at booking.com or wildluing.com By Renate Ruge Inshriach, Cairngorms – log cabins in the woods in Cairngorms National Park Check rates and availability at inshriachhouse.com This 200-acre mini Highland estate in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park is home to a rustic gin distillery where owner Walter Micklethwait concocts small-batch Speyside gins in an award-winning shed. The estate’s elegant country house is perfect for a large family gathering (sleeping up to 18, with or without a chef) but, for a back-to-nature experience, there’s a cluster of quirky glamping options peppered throughout the tangled woodland. The long-standing yurt has been replaced by a log cabin which Walter and his family made themselves during lockdown. It’s as popular for holidays as it is with TV and photoshoots. The quaint Swedish-style shepherd’s hut is old-school romantic and cradled by juniper bushes (the key ingredient in gin; most of the botanicals are foraged from the estate) but for those who want something a little more contemporary, there’s the bothy, a little modernist cabin nestled in the birch woods above the Spey. Another cabin is in the pipeline, this one made from wind-blown oak trees. We are promised that this will top them all. Check rates and availability at inshriachhouse.com The Yan at Broadrayne – eco pods in the Lake District Check rates and availability at theyan.co.uk Nestled in the heart of the Lakes near Grasmere – home of the world-famous gingerbread – you’ll find The Yan. This converted 17th-century sheep farm is situated deep in the Cumbrian landscape, making the surroundings truly epic and a haven for keen walkers. There’s a bistro, bedrooms, cottages and glamping pods onsite. The pods are decked in natural materials and have a minimalist, contemporary feel, with comfy areas to lounge and dine, plus a wood-burning fireplace for instant cosiness. Every consideration has been made to ensure a comfortable stay for self-caterers, plus sustainability is front and centre, including eco-friendly cleaning products and toiletries. Hearty, seasonal food from the bistro can be ordered to the pods. After a long day hiking, dishes like shepherd’s pie with braised Grasmere Herdwick lamb and cheesy mash, followed by sticky toffee pudding, will fit the bill. The bistro also serves breakfast – expect more of the same warm hospitality, seasonal ingredients and inventive spins on classic dishes. The county’s finest – the mighty Cumberland sausage – takes centre-stage in a full breakfast that’s sure to fuel a busy day exploring the Lakes. Check rates and availability at theyan.co.uk The Fish, Broadway – shepherd's huts in Worcestershire Check rates and availability at booking.com or thefishhotel.co.uk The 400-acre Farncombe estate is home to a group of luxury boutique hotels, Dormy House, Foxhill Manor and The Fish, all with sweeping views of the Vale of Evesham. Book a Hideaway Hut in the latter for the ultimate glamping experience, where two spacious shepherd’s huts are adjoined in individual secluded woodland plots. Raid the complimentary mini bar for snacks, hand-painted chocolates and Hoogly tea to enjoy in your private outdoor hot tub or snuggled up by the wood burner. Soak in the rolltop bath before plunging into bed and peeking up through the bespoke skylight to watch the trees swish in the breeze. Book the Boaty McBoatface hut to bob around on your own private lake for the ultimate romantic nature weekend. Clamber up the woodland walk to The Lodge, a succession of Scandi-chic rooms where you can enjoy springy pizzas splodged with pools of 'nduja, lavish tipsy tea or Cotswolds-brewed craft beer by contemporary chimney fires. Dinner at The Hook focusses on seafood, including plump pil-pil prawns mopped up with deep-fried bread, delicate sea bream fillet on a citrussy tartare sauce, and a crisp, chunky cod kiev served with seaweed salt fries and umami-rich miso mayo. Continental breakfast can be selected from the table of freshly baked pastries, compotes and juices before tucking into the estate’s cooked-to-order full English. Or request a breakfast hamper for a leisurely start to the day in the secluded cosiness of your hut. Check rates and availability at booking.com or thefishhotel.co.uk Artist Residence – garden shepherd's hut in Oxfordshire Check rates and availability at booking.com At the bottom of Artist Residence Oxfordshire’s abundant kitchen garden, a wooden trailer nestles in the shade of a gigantic fir tree. Inside, quirky fabrics embellish wood-panelled walls and floors, including foliage-patterned curtains, a burnt-orange velvet window seat, and hand-woven cushions in muted tones. Though compact, the tiny space is kitted out with the venue’s signature luxuries – Bramley toiletries to enjoy in the rainfall shower, a flat-screen TV to watch from the double bed, and individual pouches of infusions from Joe’s Tea Co to sip in front of the diddy, tile-backed log burner. Potter through the herbs and vegetables growing in the quintessential allotment to dinner in the 16th-century Cotswold-stone farmhouse. Choose between the cosy bar area with a classic pub menu or the more sophisticated dining room, with its up-cycled crystal decanter lamp shades, to enjoy the likes of lamb loin and crisp courgette flower bhajis, followed by peaches with elderflower cream and delicate puff pastry beneath. Check rates and availability at booking.com West Cawthorne – luxury barn conversion in North Yorkshire Check rates and availability at northyorkshirehideaways.com West Cawthorne is a lush 26-acre private estate that has two stylishly converted barns and chic A-frame cabins overlooking the rolling hills of the Vale of Pickering. It’s also conveniently situated right in the middle of Yorkshire’s food scene. As you drive into the farm to be greeted personally by owners Rich and Sophie, the place has a French feel, with its bleached stone buildings and shaded pétanque area. The barns, which sleep four or six, are interior magazine worthy, decorated in neutral colours with exposed beams, poured concrete details and photogenic décor, while still feeling warm and cosy. We headed straight into the wood-fired hot tub. Accomodation is self-catered and the kitchen in our barn was stocked to a fine detail. Guests get a welcome pack, including macarons from Florian Poirot and Bluebird Bakery sourdough – both at Talbot Yard in nearby foodie Malton – plus Yorkshire crisps, apple juice, butter and eggs. Guests can order a Made in Oldstead recipe box by local food hero Tommy Banks. Our kit was simply named ‘duck, lamb, raspberry’ and was three vibrant, elegant courses that were deceptively intuitive to cook. Whether you want to lounge at your cabin or barn, taking in deep lungfuls of crisp Yorkshire air from your deck, or use it as a base to explore places like Malton, Pickering, Helmsley, York and Sandsend, this tranquil haven is a perfect spot to go off grid (while also enjoying excellent wifi coverage). Check rates and availability at northyorkshirehideaways.com Kudhva – contemporary treehouse cabins in Cornwall Check rates and availability at booking.com or kudhva.com An off-grid glampsite near Trebarwith Strand, Kudhva means ‘hideout’ in Cornish and this former quarry site truly immerses you in the natural world. Among willow groves and dense woodland are tree tents and four kudhva – compact, futuristic cabins on stilts designed by Ben Huggins of New British Design. Each cabin has its own firepit, or you can cook in a shared kitchen. At nearby Hilltop Farm Shop stock up on locally made wines, beers and gins, Davidstow cheddar, clotted cream and sourdough (check out our guide to sourdough here). Slightly further afield, Boscastle Farm Shop sells homemade quiches, pies and cakes, and has a butchery selling meat from its Ruby Red cattle. If you prefer a less DIY approach, there are regular breakfast pop ups, guest chef residencies and long-tables feasts from the likes of Woodfired Canteen. Check rates and availability at booking.com or kudhva.com Inverlona – luxury bothies in Loch Nell Check rates and availability at inverlonan.com Designed for visitors looking to disconnect from the day-to-day Inverlonan’s “rough luxe” bothies are only accessible by boat, on foot or (the slightly less cool option) by buggy. Overlooking Loch Nell, on the west coast of Scotland near Oban, the bothies are surrounded by ancient oaks, inky waters and wild moorland. Each comes with an outdoor wood-fired pizza oven and open fire pit, plus a breakfast hamper stuffed with the likes of Isle of Seil eggs and Inverlonan Farm jams. For an additional charge, everything from a pizza kit to ingredients for a seafood BBQ (think whole bream, langoustines and rustic rolls) can be delivered to the door. Check rates and availability at inverlonan.com Log Jam – hand-crafted log cabins in Cornwall Check rates and availability at littlemenherion.com A stylish log cabin built with locally-sourced wood and lit by old miners’ lamps, to reach Log Jam involves locating Little Menherion smallholding, near Redruth in Cornwall, then bumping over half a mile of unmade track and walking a little way along a lane bordered by fern-thick hedges. Perched at its handmade breakfast bar, guests can listen to woodland birds chirrup outside while warming up saffron buns, or apple and cinnamon Cornish pasties (bought from Portreath Bakery in nearby Lanner), in the wood-burning stove. Check rates and availability at littlemenherion.com The Blue Cabin by the Sea – secluded coastal cabin in Berwickshire Check rates and availability at bluecabinbythesea.co.uk The first task here is finding the place: drive an hour south of Edinburgh (check out the best places to eat and drink in Edinburgh to stop off at en route), park up, chuck your bags in a wheelbarrow and walk, via a tunnel, to reach the beach. There sits this cute cornflower-blue bolthole, tucked into the grasses above a tiny traditional harbour – which the cabin raises funds to maintain. It’s the sort of place to spend days rockpooling, shore-strolling, bird-spotting and, if you dare, wild swimming. Owned by an architect-sculptor couple, the cabin itself is small but thoughtfully designed and creatively decorated, from the vivid-green boxed beds and Orkney chairs to the iron-seaweed cupboard handles and extensive library. Outside a small veranda looks over the sea, the ideal vantage for watching the fishermen who go out every weekday, and who’ll sell you crabs and lobsters direct from their pots for a couldn’t-be-fresher seafood barbecue. Check rates and availability at bluecabinbythesea.co.uk Tinhouse – contemporary cabins on Isle of Skye Check rates and availability at tinhouse.net This lonesome shack does what it says on the, er, tin, but in the most stylish fashion. Winner of many architectural awards, its simple tin-clad exterior hides a cool, modernist inside, with white wooden walls, cement floors and, best of all, generous windows so the wild Skye coast seeps in. It’s well placed for windswept walks, dolphin-spotting boat trips and visits to ruined castles. It’s also well placed for foodies. Two of Scotland’s best restaurants are close by: Michelin-starred Loch Bay is less than 20 miles away while The Three Chimneys, voted number 28 in the Top 100 UK Restaurants Outside London in 2018, is only five. If you’d prefer to eat in, make the short walk downhill from the Tinhouse to Meanish Pier, where fresh seafood can be bought direct from the fishermen. Check rates and availability at tinhouse.net For some of the best places to eat and drink on Isle of Skye, click here One Cat Farm – grass-roofed cabins in Ceredigion Check rates and availability at onecatfarm.com Just south of Aberaeron, One Cat Farm is home to four cosy cabins. These heated, grass-roofed ‘dens’ blend seamlessly into a buttercup-dotted field. Inside, comfy double beds are topped with woollen blankets, and hammocks swing outside in the sun-dappled shade. Showers and toilets sit at the top of the field, as does a communal kitchen, home to a mini honesty shop offering marshmallows, Fentimans ginger beer and bars of NOMNOM chocolate. Stop off at Watson and Pratt farm shop, in Lampeter, to stock up on tubs of creamy Neal’s Yard Dairy yogurt, and country loaves and croissants from Lampeter Bakehouse (and at Aberaeron for scoops of honey ice cream from Hive). In the evening, watch the sunset from an outdoor wood-fired bath, then sit by the fire pit with mugs of fresh mint tea as the sea mist gently engulfs each den in a mystical haze. Check rates and availability at onecatfarm.com Babington House – luxury lodges in Somerset Check rates and availability at mrandmrssmith.com or babingtonhouse.co.uk If you’re seeking a rustic hideaway but don’t want to rough it, The Cabin at Babington House is a neat solution. A two-bedroom wooden lodge (adults only), set overlooking a lake, it may have a wood-burning stove and a kitchen that’s a lotta Little House on the Prairie but, beneath the country styling, it’s every bit as pampering as the hotel’s other rooms. There are two bathrooms, a kitchen supplied with grocery basics and the best hotel drinks tray we’ve seen (including craft mixers). Guests can also wallow in the hotel’s spa, outdoor and indoor pools, fill up on (free) afternoon tea pastries, or book in for dinner in the restaurant – think charcoal-grilled meats, or Cornish plaice served with sweet little shrimp and a buttery lemon sauce. Check rates and availability at mrandmrssmith.com or babingtonhouse.co.uk Glen Dye Cabins and Cottages – woodland cabins in Kincardineshire Check rates and availability at glendyecabinsandcottages.com Glen Dye Cabins and Cottages sits within a 30,000-acre estate in Kincardineshire. Choose from Steading Cottage, with its own woodland hot tub, North Lodge, with a romantic riverside summerhouse, or The Sawmill, with its converted Airstream trailer and private outdoor shower. With interiors designed by the estate’s owners, Pedlars founders Charlie and Caroline Gladstone, and Big Green Eggs to cook on, this is seriously decadent glamping. For eating out there’s Spider on a Bicycle café in Aboyne or Buchanan Bistro in Banchory. Check rates and availability at glendyecabinsandcottages.com More hotel guides Best health and wellness retreats Best Scottish hotels Best hotels in London Best UK boutique hotels Best hotels in the Cotswolds Best Cornwall hotels Best hotels in the Lake District Best London hotel bars to visit Best romantic hotels in the UK European hidden gems: hotels off the beaten track Best Paris hotels Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best restaurants with rooms in the UK Best Amsterdam hotels Words by Clare Hargreaves, Alex Crossley, Sarah Baxter, Ellie Edwards, Rhiannon Batten, Charlotte Morgan and Hannah Guinness Images by Clare Hargreaves, Alex Crossley, George Fielding, Rhiannon Batten
Looking for places to visit in France? Check out our top French food trips and take a spin around olive groves Uzes, relax in luxury in Provence or sample patisserie in Paris
Looking for the best food trips to take in France? Check out our guide to the best places across the country to eat and drink, from hearty ski food in the French Alps to undiscovered corners of Provence. For more French inspiration, check out our picks of the best hotels in Paris and foodie guide to Lyon, then hop across the border with our guide to the best Spanish food trips or further afield with our best Morocco food trips. 17 best French food trips Uzes For chocolat-style villages Pungent truffles and gummy bears? Just two of the more unusual ingredients on the menu in Uzès, one of those achingly pretty French towns whose Chocolat-style looks make it seem like a Hollywood film set. Indeed, its plane-tree-pricked Place aux Herbes once starred in the Gérard Depardieu movie Cyrano de Bergerac. Uzès is surrounded by truffle plantations and hosts a truffle festival every January, while confectionary giant Haribo opened Le Musée du Bonbon here in 1996. The company is synonymous with the gummy bears invented by German founder Hans Riegel in 1920. Your ticket comes with a bag of sweets to suck as you wander from room to room learning about the history of sugar and the candy-making process before ‘nosing’ some of the ingredients. Pressing a button releases a puff of vanilla, cacao or liquorice into the air. This less well-known corner of France is just 40 minutes from Avignon, where you can jump off the Eurostar as it hurtles on to Marseilles. Once here the pace is far more leisurely. Uzès has its share of sites to tick off including the cathedral of Saint Théodorit with its ornate Romanesque bell tower, the Fenestrelle, the Duke’s palace and the Medieval Garden in the grounds of a ruined château which has around 450 plants, many medicinal, and is a lovely spot to unwind with a liquorice tisane after clambering up the tower’s 100 steps for a sweeping panorama. Be sure to visit Uzès on a Wednesday or Saturday when you’ll find a food market in full swing. And don't miss a visit to Boulangerie Fougasse d’Uzès where you can buy fougasse filled with anchovies and olives. Where to stay: spend the night at boutique hotel La Maison d'Uzes set in a listed building the heart of the old town. The hotel restaurant, all parquet floors and vibrant velvet chairs, serves modern French dishes and local specialities, and the hotel has a spa, Roman baths and hammam. Doubles from £255, check availability at booking.com Provence For luxury relaxation Head to Provence to explore pretty villages, ancient vineyards and historical cities. Hike up Mount Ventoux, head to a wine-tasting at Cheateau Pesquie (and enjoy picnic in the pretty garden) or visit the idyllic village of L'Isle Sur-La-Sorgue on market day for antiques, bountiful fresh produce and lavender souvenirs to take home. The pretty walled city of Avignon is perfect for soaking up some history. Where to stay: Hilltop village Crillon Le Brave is a vision of Provençal style; a clutch of honey-hued, pastel-shuttered houses surrounded by slopes carpeted with olive groves and vineyards. The top of the village is now the effortlessly elegant five-star Hotel Crillon Le Brave. The highlight has to be the 180-degree views of unspoilt rolling countryside, vineyards, olive groves and Mount Ventoux. Made of nine houses linked together by the village streets, the 34 rooms are stylishly decorated in soothing neutral tones with Diptyque products in every bathroom. After a day of exploring, return to the hotel for dinner on the terrace at La Table du Ventoux. Admire the panoramic views whilst dining on seasonal French cuisine – expect local asparagus in spring and strawberries in summer. Spend your time playing boules in the terraced garden, relaxing by the pool the or having a massage in the tiny spa set in atmospheric ancient vaulted stables. Should you be able to tear yourself away from the hotel, borrow e-bikes to explore through fields and tiny villages. Doubles from £408, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Cognac For brandy, vineyards and medieval towns In southwestern France the Cognac region – birthplace of the world-famous grape brandy – is a rural one of rolling hills laced with vineyards and pristine medieval towns. It’s an area ripe for exploration, speckled with distilleries and cognac houses, many of which you can visit, from river boat rides and VR tours at Hennessy to intimate private dinners at Delamain, cocktail mixing at Château Montifaud and, of course, cognac tastings galore – sip neat or copy the locals and mix with tonic water. Many producers also use cognac to make a fortified wine, pineau des charentes, which makes a deliciously fruity aperitif. The town of Cognac is where some of the biggest cognac brands are located and makes a great base for exploration. Its quiet cobbled streets, full of medieval and 18th-century architecture, as well as the quay-lined Charente river, are perfect for walking off cognac tastings. It's also where you’ll find buzzy, industrial-chic Poulpette which has a counter lined with natural wines and a roster of pared-back seasonal plates. Or, further afield, head to Montendre for lunch at La Quincaillerie, an ironmonger turned restaurant with a classic French menu (don’t miss the cheese tray). Where to stay: In the heart of Cognac, Hotel Chais Monnet & Spa is a 19th-century cognac house turned five-star retreat, a seamless fusion of period architecture with modern glass structures. Interiors cocoon you in buttery neutrals, and rooms come stocked with French toiletries and madeleines on arrival. Book a junior suite on the upper floor of the original 19th-century part of the hotel, which comes with exposed wooden beams. The Michelin-starred Les Foudres, in the old ageing cellar, serves tasting menus that ripple with seasonal, local produce, while the more casual La Distillerie serves classic Gallic fare as well as a majestic breakfast buffet that includes fresh breads and pastries, eggs cooked to order and pain perdu. From €265 per room, check availability at chaismonnethotel.com and booking.com. Lille For a gourmet city break Close to the Belgian border, Lille is but 1 hour 22 minutes on the Eurostar from London, and one of northern France’s undiscovered culinary gems. It has traditional Flemish estaminet restaurants like Estaminet La Ch’Tite Brigitte, which serves regional classics like carbonnade beef stew in beer, leek flamiche and escargot in maroilles cheese in an eclectic setting. Krevette is a stylish contemporary seafood bistrot serving the freshest local catch in dishes like breaded sardines with oyster mayonnaise and St Jacques with BBQ brown butter. Méert is a Lille institution famous for its pastel patisserie and caramel-filled waffles. Grand Scène is a colourful, neon-lit street-food market hall with 10 stands serving global specialities like tacos, bao, gyros and duck burgers. Finally, BierBuik is a trendy pink-tiled craft brew pub that also serves modern takes on Lille tavern dishes, including moules, crêpes, and some of the best frites in town. Bonnelles For a peaceful countryside escape Bonnelles is the idyllic setting to switch off, get outdoors and reset for a weekend. It’s a huge expanse of countryside just a short drive from Paris but it seems a world away from city life. Explore the protected Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Natural Park or the Bonnelles Ponds nature reserve for serene walks. Le Barn is a must-visit for horse lovers, as it shares grounds with prestigious horsemanship school Haras de la Cense and is now offering a Horse Whisperer’s Experience for guests on Sundays. The two-and-a-half-hour experience introduces you to a horse, their training and behaviours, then gives you the chance to try out what you’ve learned at the lunge ring alongside an expert trainer. The venue is a popular retreat for Parisians looking to switch off from city life and is just as easily accessible from the UK, being just a 45-minute drive from Paris Orly airport. It champions local food, with a vast kitchen garden that provides a lot of the fruit and veg for the daily changing restaurant menu, designed by the head chef according to what’s in season. Other French classics, like award-winning cheese and wine, are locally sourced, and the simple breakfast is a treat. Think freshly baked baguettes, homemade jam, and bacon and eggs. Where to stay: Le Barn offers cosy rooms with tons of activities included in the price. From yoga to archery, there’s plenty on offer to occupy you while enjoying the 500-acre estate, full of grazing horses. The grounds have a sauna, hammam and Nordic baths, and two restaurants serving seasonal, locally sourced menus. Guests can also go for a massage, play board games by the fire or borrow an e-bike to explore the grounds, and kids can enjoy pony rides and games in the garden. Rooms are separate from the main building, across two converted barns with special suites available as well. Most have a balcony that overlooks the horse fields or the hotel’s lake (which is open for wild swimming if that’s your thing). Doubles from £200 per night, check availability at lebarnhotel.com or booking.com Normandy For local produce Calvados, cream, butter, cheese, apples, cider: like many places in France, Normandy is not easy on the arteries. It is, however, a superb place to sample AOC-status booze and food made by small, unfussy family producers, many of whom have been perfecting their produce since William the Conqueror started peppering the landscape with castles. Normandy boasts no fewer than 30 Michelin-starred restaurants and a packed calendar of food festivals throughout the year celebrating its natural larder, from the Fête du Camembert in Orbec in June, July’s oyster festival in Denneville, the Foire aux Fromages in Livarot in August, the scallop festival in Ouistreham in October and an annual cider festival in picturesque Beuvron-en-Auge. With 370 miles of coastline, menus are brimming with seafood. The region’s oysters have their own AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée) and Port-en-Bessin’s scallops are justifiably famous – this is the home of coquilles St Jacques. The countryside is lush and green, grazed by native dairy herds, the region’s cheeseboard showcases the big four: livarot, neufchâtel, pont l’évêque and camembert de Normandie. The rolling hills are also blanketed with orchards of apples and pears, used to produce cider, calvados and poiré. Where to stay: soak up the impressive surroundings of the Château de la Puisaye, a rambling 18th-century property in Verneuil-sur-Avre, now an elegant b&b. British owners, Diana and Bruno Costes, have spent years renovating the Napolean III château, and now offer a handful of rooms in the main house, a studio over the stables and a holiday cottage: the old hunting lodge. Breakfast in the wood-panelled dining room is a delicious spread of home-baked bread and jams, fruit from their orchards, and local cheeses. Doubles from £115, check availability at booking.com Brittany For the home of crêpes You’re never more than a frisbee’s throw from a crêperie in Brittany. The northwest corner of France is famous for its pancakes – sweet, wafer-thin crêpes smeared with salted caramel or buckwheat galettes stuffed with artisan sausage. It’s also a popular bucket-and-spade destination. But there’s more to Brittany than beaches and pancakes. Its larder is bulging with cider, oysters and onions; that French stereotype, the beret-clad man on a bike with a string of onions round his neck, was an ‘onion Johnny,’ hopping from Brittany to Britain to sell sweet, pink onions from Roscoff. Butter is also big in Brittany – rich, creamy and seasoned with fleur de sel from the Guérande. Where to stay: Right by the water’s edge in Dinard, an elegant resort town in Brittany whose belle époque villas and grand hotels still hint at the grandeur of days gone by, Hotel Castelbrac holds its own among the surroundings. This fortress-like jumble of manicured stonework, originally built in the 1930s as a marine research station, sits on the town’s eastern shoreline overlooking St Malo across the water. Inside there’s a sophisticated, modern vibe (think art deco-inspired headboards and bathroom fittings, columns intricately tiled with mosaics and porthole-like windows illuminating velvet banquettes in the bar) while panoramic seaside views reflect the hotel’s restive, peaceful atmosphere. Splash out on one of the prestige rooms and you can enjoy panoramic windows stretching across the entire front of the room. Walk-in rain showers come as standard but some rooms also have elegant bathtubs at the foot of the beds Pampering is very much the order of the day here. Guests have access to private boat trips, bespoke treatments by Parisian spa brand Thémaéand a stunning sliver of a pool – a heated outdoor lap pool that lies just above the shore (bob your head up between strokes and you can look out at the sea below). Doubles from £349, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com The Dordogne For rural idyll There’s a reason why the Dordogne river has long been a magnet for those of us in search of classic beauty: it undulates through some of the loveliest parts of France, curling round towns and villages of gasp-inducing gorgeousness and, despite the odd sighting of jet-skis, gives the impression that nothing much ever changes. Head to Souillac (not for food, but for the slightly creepy Automaton museum; unmissable if you love the bizarre). And Sarlat, whose Saturday market is almost impossibly over-subscribed at the height of the summer season. As with many tourist destinations, the restaurants haven’t the greatest reputation, buy fat, vac-packed sausages and figs from the covered market in the Église Sainte Marie. For a blissful bout of people-watching at the heart of the market square, visit hilarious Jimmy’s Bar, a rockabilly French fantasy of a US diner, to eat oysters from one of the nearby market stalls and quantities of chilled Bergerac rosé. Where to stay: Chateau de la Treyne, clinging to the steep banks of the river, has baronial, wood-panelled rooms, vast open fireplaces and sense of serenity. Breakfast includes tiny, freshly made omelettes, cured ham, just-baked baguette and pastries, homemade jams and butter so luscious you could eat it by the spoonful. Dinner at the Chateau's Michelin-starred restaurant is quite the event, course after course of inventive cuisine making full use of the area’s native bounty – Quércy lamb, Aubrac beef and truffles (of course), in a tapestried room breathing stories of the past. Check rates and availability at chateaudelatreyne.com Read more about edible delights of the Dordogne here Sète For seaside fun Sète’s sandy beaches are thronged with visitors during summer, but the peninsula has bigger fish to fry than tourism – it’s the largest fishing port on the French Mediterranean coast, and behind it is the oyster-filled Thau lagoon. It’s picturesque, too – from the hillside ‘Little Naples’ district to its boat-lined canals, the 19th-century facades are an attractive reminder of the town’s prosperous wine-trading heritage. Local recipes – such as octopus-stuffed tielle pie – have stood the test of time, many brought by the Italian immigrants that settled here in the last century. The best seafood restaurants are along Quai Maximin Lucciardi near the harbour, where you’re likely to spot fishermen unloading still-writhing stock. Where to stay: Le Grand Hotel retains much of its belle époque charm. Velvet curtains and chandeliers set the scene for market-fresh ingredients at Quai 17, the hotel’s opulent restaurant; try the signature lobster risotto with bisque sauce, or local speciality bourride, a monkfish stew with aïoli. The bright bedrooms are spread across three elegant floors – go for one that overlooks the canal and gaze at the shimmering image of buildings and boats reflected in the water. Doubles from £149, check availability at booking.com Languedoc Roussillon For less crowded South of France West of the glitz and glamour of the Côte d’Azur is a quieter, less crowded corner of the South of France: the Languedoc Roussillon. Sweeping from Provence to the Pyrénées via a scenic string of historic towns and villages, shimmering coastline and wild, untamed countryside, the region is also one of the oldest and largest wine growing areas of the world. Inland you can take to the lazy waters of the Canal du Midi or the rugged surroundings of the Cévennes National Park or visit one of the many vineyards of the region. Historic local towns with their bustling produce markets like Pézanas, Béziers and Narbonne provide plenty of scope for picking up ingredients if you want to self-cater. Where to stay: wine forms the central theme of Château St. Pierre de Serjac, a 200-acre hotel-cum-vineyard outside Puissalicon. At its heart is a turreted, 19th century chateau surrounded by fragrant gardens, olive trees and palms. From its windows guests can gaze out over a huge, heated infinity pool onto regimented rows of vines and, beyond it, the fertile Langeudocienne landscape. The ground floor is home to the reception area, bar and a fine dining restaurant, and is decorated in a sophisticated palette of peacock and teal with Art Deco-style chandeliers picked up in the antiques market in nearby Béziers. A Cinq Mondes spa, with tranquil indoor pool, completes the picture. Upstairs in the château are eight, luxurious suites, fittingly decked out with chandeliers, antiques, roll-top baths and singular touches such as (in an eaves room) the hand-painted walls of a former chapel. An extensive renovation has also seen the repurposing of the estates’ many outbuildings, resulting in 36-self catering apartments and houses. These are the real appeal for families. Sleeping two to eight, each one has been tastefully decorated in 50 shades of Elephant’s Breath with lots of linen, oak and wrought iron. They also come with high spec kitchens and all the latest tech – some of the larger properties also have fenced off pools. Amble over to the château for breakfast in the main restaurant – a spread of freshly baked croissants and pastries, fruit, yoghurt, cereals and hot dishes cooked to order. Doubles from £238, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrsssmith.com Loire Valley For a gourmet rural escape The Loire Valley is one of France’s most rewarding gourmet destinations. Often called the garden of France, it produces an abundance of fresh ingredients so youll be spoilt for choice with local produce to enjoy – from asparagus and goat’s cheese to river fish and seasonal fruit. Wine lovers will have plenty to explore with the region's vineyards too. Between meals, visitors can explore storybook châteaux (and even stay in them, see below), lively markets (perfect for stocking up on all those local goodies) and charming towns that feel refreshingly unhurried compared to more crowded regions. Whether you’re cycling between wineries, lingering over a long lunch by the river or discovering small family-run producers, the Loire Valley offers a slower, more intimate way to experience French gastronomy. Where to stay: Tucked into the sleepy Loire Valley village of Vernou-en-Sologne, La Borde en Sologne Châteaux & Spa is a quietly luxurious countryside retreat, drawing couples and slow-travel seekers with its elegant, unfussy charm and sense of seclusion. Rooms are individually styled, blending traditional features with contemporary comfort. Expect soft linens, muted tones and views across the surrounding woodland or gardens. Some rooms offer baths or private terraces, ideal for a more indulgent stay, while thoughtful touches like locally sourced toiletries and well stocked minibars add to the sense of place. The on-site restaurant, Mémoire, is a highlight, with a seasonal menu rooted in the Loire Valley. Think delicately prepared river fish, garden-led vegetable dishes and refined takes on classic French plates. The wine list leans local, showcasing the region’s crisp whites and lighter reds, while the bar offers a relaxed spot for an apéritif or nightcap. In summer the terraces come into their own, with drinks and light bites served outdoors overlooking the gardens. Breakfast is a generous spread of pastries, fresh breads, local cheeses and preserves, alongside cooked to order eggs and seasonal fruit. Doubles from €220, check availability at booking.com or laborde-sologne.fr South Pigalle, Paris For Parisian patisserie The once overlooked SoPi neighbourhood is now a must-visit for its artisan patisseries, hip bistros and stellar cheese shops. If you're travelling to Paris for the patisserie alone, check out Sébastien Gaudard’s Rue des Martyrs boutique. Whether you want a choux bun, or a jar of crème de marrons (chestnut cream), you'll feel like a child in a sweet shop. They look almost too good to eat, but don't let that stop you. After all those cakes, a coffee might be in order, so stop off at KB Café Shop. After spending time in Sydney, the French owner wanted to bring some Australian influence back to France. It's got a relaxed vibe and the beans are roasted on site so they're as fresh as can be. Flaine For a foodie ski trip Looking for the best French ski trip? Set in the French Alps, Flaine is the ideal base for a weekend spent skiing and indulging in vin chaud and crepes. Restaurant Le Michet is set at a handy spot where many of the runs converge. It’s a place to wallow inside on a cold evening, protected by timber rafters, thick stone walls and central fireplace. If you’re after Savoyard specialities you’ll find everything from tartiflette to home-smoked trout and salmon on the menu but it’s worth experimenting with some of the more unusual dishes; the subtly spiced lentils with coconut milk and black rice (essentially a creamy dhal) is great post-ski fuel. Make sure you take a big enough suitcase to squirrel away some gourmet souvenirs from artisan food store Chez Bolzi on your way home. In the centre of Flaine Forum, close to the tourist office, almost everything it sells comes from within a 50km radius of Flaine; take your pick from reblochon and tome cheeses, Savoie salamis, beer from Brasserie Mont Blanc and Savoie-produced Pinot Noir and Cremant. Where to stay: Make Terminal Neige Totem your base, with its views out on the slopes and outdoor hot tub. The buffet food they offer is much more than your average spread, think plates of charcuterie and cheese, pan-fried seabass as well as fondue. Don’t miss out on the dessert bar – a place to indulge in Nutella mug cakes, made-to-order waffles and homemade bluberry marshmallows. If you need a break from all the skiing, head to one of the street food stalls in Flaine Forum and warm yourself up with hot crepes. Read our full guide to Flaine, here. Bordeaux For a winter getaway This city’s robust signature dishes, rib-sticking entrecôte cooked in red wine, butter, shallots, herbs and bone marrow sauce, confit duck and lamprey, come into their own in winter, and it’s an excellent place to shop for foodie stocking fillers. Each year, Bordeaux’s Allées de Tourny is transformed into a Christmas market with wooden huts and stalls selling local gifts, many of them food-related. Stock up on canelés from Baillardran and don’t miss Maison Darricau for handmade chocolates peppered with honey and spices. Where to stay: Twenty minutes’ drive from Bordeaux, Les Sources de Caudalie is the epitome of French country chic. There’s a stone manor house at its heart, a small lake, and a hard-working kitchen garden, plus a hamlet-like extension of suites. Great food and wine are the focus at this gastronomic getaway, but even the finest dining (the hotel’s main restaurant, La Grand’Vigne, holds two Michelin stars) is done without fuss. The newer, cabin-like suites (designed to reflect the oyster fishermen’s huts of Cap Ferret, in the nearby Arcachon Basin), with their whitewashed timber walls, retro-influenced furniture and spa-like bathrooms, are the ones to splash out on; in the evenings you’ll be serenaded by frogs as you return to your room along flower- and water-lined pathways. In the mornings, step onto your private terrace and watch carthorses ploughing the vines just outside. The three restaurants at Les Sources have most tastes covered. Celebrate a special occasion with dinner in La Grand’Vigne and enjoy a meal where even the table salts stick in the memory (one of ours, blended with Bordeaux pimento, was the colour of roast peppers). The cheeseboard comes with fresh cottage cheese, from a local dairy, served with a dot of cherry jam. Doubles from £272, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Biarritz For a foodie French seaside trip If you’re looking for a French spring getaway, head to Biarritz – a glitzy seaside resort which is the perfect place for cheese lovers. Start off with a visit to Crampotte 30, an old fisherman's hut turned restaurant serving a selection of pintxos. Head to halles-biarritz for a selection of regional produce including dry-cured bayonne ham. Don’t leave before visiting Patisserie Miremont, a confectionary shop that dates back to the 19th century. Order the speciality which is a chocolate mousse cake called Le Beret Basque. Bayonne For a visit to the French capital of chocolate The tranquil city of Bayonne embodies the gastronomic energy of the Basque region, historically famed for its artisanal hams, and as the French capital of chocolate. The legendary Chocolat Cazenave serves up intense bubble-topped ‘sparkling’ hot chocolates in porcelain cups. Chocolaterie Xokola Etxetera specialises in chocolate spreads infused with spicy Espelette pepper, and L’Atelier du Chocolat Bayonne has its iconic Bayonne chocolate shard bouquets. Eat pintxos including jamon croquettes, truffled croque monsieur and Pyrenees milk-fed lamb kebabs at Les Basses Pyrénées bar. Then, for dinner, head to La Brasserie Basa for fish dishes with daily catch from the local village of Saint-Jean-De-Luz, and sweet creations such as buckwheat almond praline choux to finish. Europcamp Domaine de Massereau For a foodie family camping trip Eurocamping is an affordable way to have a family holiday, but Domaine de Massereau promises so much more than just a campsite. The on-site vineyard produces 30,000 bottles a year, and you can sample of few of them on the free one hour-tour and tasting each evening. If you find one you like, stock up as they’re rarely exported. If you want to eat on-site, you can order pizzas fresh from the wood-fired oven or seafood platters piled high with crabs, razor clams and langoustines. Should you wish to explore the local area, head into Sommières – a beautiful French town with shuttered buildings and market squares. Check rates and availability at eurocamp.co.uk More travel guides 10 unique walking holidays for foodies 8 of the most breathtaking train journeys across the world Swap popular tourist spots for these lesser known destinations Best Morocco food trips Best Spanish food trips Best Portuguese food trips Best European vineyards to visit and stay Best foodie city breaks by train Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best country house hotels in the UK Best Scottish hotels
Best restaurants in Somerset: where to eat and drink in this green, produce-rich county
Somerset keeps finding its way on to must-eat lists and it’s no surprise – when you’re surrounded by farms, dairies, vineyards and orchards, great plates follow. These places capture exactly why
Looking for great places to eat in Somerset? Local writer Jenna Walters shares her must-visit favourites, from wood-fired pizza in an 18th-century chapel to cider-fuelled afternoons by the river. For more exciting restaurants and weekend ideas for food lovers, check out our best UK city breaks, best pubs with rooms and foodie day trips from London by train. Also discover more of the best restaurants in Bristol, best restaurants in Cornwall and best restaurants in Bath. View Green Video on the source website The Sheppey Inn, Lower Godney Set on the Somerset Levels with little around it for miles, The Sheppey Inn is everything you wouldn’t expect – inside you’re greeted with retro toys, disco balls and live music that drifts out onto the riverside terrace, which is perfect in sunshine and during sunsets, especially with a cider or cocktail in hand. But it’s the food that really stands out: vegetarian dishes are great and the Korean fried chicken burger steals your attention – no small feat in a place this wonderfully weird. thesheppey.co.uk Canteen at Perrys, Dowlish Wake Tucked away on a cider farm with thatched barns and orchards to roam, Canteen at Perrys serves proper street food alongside café classics. Order a meze bowl, add a Perrys cider tasting paddle and settle under the blossom, or, come autumn, soak up the scent of pressed apples. Brunch is notoriously good and the Somerset tea – think scones and jam, but also scotch eggs and toasties – makes it a great coffee and cake stop. canteenatperrys.uk Holm, South Petherton Relaxed restaurant dining that celebrates the very best of Somerset’s produce is exactly what you’ll find here. Set in a former bank in South Petherton, Holm is a calm, modern space with a seasonal menu that’s shaped by local farmers, growers and makers. The wine list is superb – get acquainted with it on the sunny terrace. Go for the chef ’s menu, order the Westcombe cheddar fries and trust that you’ll be talking about the mont blanc choux long after. holmsomerset.co.uk Lord Poulett Arms, Hinton Saint George This is the kind of country pub you’ll end up recommending a lot: thatched roof, low garden with a Somerset Pimm’s beams and open fires that draw you in for a post-dog walk pint and bar snacks. In summer, afternoons in the garden with a Somerset are something of a ritual. The food is reliably excellent – especially the roasts and nostalgic puds. The molten chocolate skillet cookie is always tempting, unless local cheeses get there first. lordpoulettarms.com Da Costa, Bruton A visit to Hauser & Wirth nearly always leads to a table here. This is proper Italian cooking, shaped by the seasons and surrounding countryside. Gather with friends, go big on the sharing plates and pair a bottle with the homemade pasta – the kind you’d normally have to book a flight for. The estate venison with creamy polenta is a favourite for very good reason, and the tiramisu is absolutely essential – indulgent and boozy. da-costa.co.uk Horrell & Horrell, Sparkford Every weekend, Steve and Jules open the doors of their beautiful garden barn and personally invite you in. Or, at least, that’s how you’ll feel. The dining experience is seasonal and menu-free, with four courses guided by the week’s harvest and cooked over fire, all served at a long communal table. Expect generous, sensational dishes like wood-roasted lamb or raspberry crostata with pistachio and Italian meringue, and an evening that feels like a dinner party with friends. horrellandhorrell.co.uk North Down Orchard, Haselbury Plucknett Come summer North Down Orchard transforms into a mini festival most weekends, and locals flock to the rustic cider barn for live music and a weekly rotating line-up of seriously good street food vendors – if you smell wood-fired tacos, don’t hesitate! It’s well loved, the cider’s strong and it’s exactly where you’ll want to spend a warm evening with friends (preferably with no plans the next morning). Completely Somerset and very much a word of mouth favourite. northdownorchard.com At The Station, Frome A former train station turned buzzy food hall, At the Station is home to a brilliant mixture of independents – bakery, cheesemonger, pizzeria and wine bar – all in one lively collaborative space. Order what you fancy to share at a sunny table. Whether it’s a Rye Bakery pizza and south Indian curry, or a bottle paired with a cheeseboard you won’t find elsewhere, it’s one of the easiest places to eat well with friends. atthestationfrome.com The Cotley Inn, Wambrook This peaceful country pub surrounded by rolling hills is as much a rural escape as it is a feasting favourite. Having one of the best beer gardens around makes it the easiest ‘yes’ on summer afternoons, enjoying pizzas served from the hut or spending the evening by the fire pit. The Sunday roasts are seriously good – big sharing boards piled high with all the trimmings. It feels a bit like being on holiday, just with a Somerset cider in hand. cotleyinnwambrook.co.uk The Manor House Inn, Ditcheat A 17th-century inn and boozer at heart, this is everything you want in a proper country pub: relaxed, full of character and with great local pints and cosy corners to settle into. Seasonal, comforting pub food is done really well here and the pizzas pair superbly with lazy garden drinks. Come hungry – three courses are hard to resist. Order the scotch egg to start and leave room for the sticky toffee pudding. Welcoming and well loved, and rightly so. manorhouseinnditcheat.co.uk At the Chapel, Bruton If you spend any time in Bruton you’ll almost certainly end up here. The beautifully renovated 18th-century chapel is home to a very stylish, relaxed restaurant that serves seasonal dishes and much talked about wood-fired pizzas alongside a bakery that’s reason enough to stop by. Get there early for your pick of almond croissants, cinnamon cruffins or a Somerset ham and Westcombe cheddar croissant – or do the sensible thing and order all three before exploring. atthechapel.co.uk Wraxall Vineyard, Shepton Mallet Perched on a hillside with sweeping countryside views, Wraxall Vineyard is a place to truly slow down and enjoy yourself. Book a tour and tasting, wander through the vines, then find a spot on the terrace at The View wine bar to enjoy a Somerset cheese and charcuterie board, and a bottle of extremely sippable Wraxall bacchus just in time for sunset. For a longer stay the cottages and shepherd’s huts make for a wonderfully peaceful escape. wraxallvineyard.co.uk Foodie neighbourhood spotlight Bruton This pint-sized but flavour-steeped Somerset town has an abundance of exceptional field to fork spots, plus galleries, independents and vintage shops dotted in between. Make a weekend of it by staying at Number One Bruton – whether unwinding in the cosy cottages or beautifully decorated Georgian townhouse, you’ll arrive to a welcome hamper filled with local produce. It’s also home to Briar, where chef Sam Lomas serves hyper-seasonal, locally led small plates as part of a menu that changes daily. Wander down the high street to find The Old Pharmacy, a wine bar, bistro and grocery with great things to take home, plus a menu worth staying for. Over at Matt’s Kitchen it’s BYOB alongside a five-course set menu, cooked by Matt and served in his old living room – relaxed, welcoming and reliably brilliant. It’s also worth heading a little further afield – two or three fields, to be precise – to Westcombe Dairy for rich cheddar, or Hauser & Wirth for a post-gallery wine at Roth Bar, before shopping for Somerset bites from the farm shop opposite. More UK restaurant guides Best restaurants in Birmingham Best restaurants in St Albans Best restaurants in Bristol Best restaurants in Edinburgh Best restaurants in York Best restaurants in Whitstable Best restaurants in Oxford Best restaurants in Cambridge Best restaurants in Margate Best restaurants in Manchester Best restaurants in Glasgow Best restaurants in the Lake District
Best European mountain escapes to visit in 2026
Discover the best European mountain escapes to visit in 2026, from a relaxing treetop retreat in the Dolomites, to an ancient spa nestled in the Troodos mountains in Cyprus
Whether you're after a restorative getaway or want to go hiking surrounded by beautiful scenery, a holiday in the mountains offers the ultimate escape. Breathe in fresh mountain air, spot unique wildlife and soak up the views, surrounded by nature. From architectural hideouts in the Italian Dolomites and the forests of the Bavarian Alps, to an ecotourism getaway in Cyprus, Europe offers a wealth of luxury mountain escapes to visit – discover our picks below of the best mountain hotels that foodies will love. Looking for more travel inspiration? Read our guides to the best saunas to visit in the UK, the best Italian hotels for food lovers and 8 lesser-known Italian islands worth visiting. Best European mountain escapes 2026 Forestis, Dolomites, Italy Check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com At 1,800m above sea level, surrounded by panoramic views of the Dolomites, this unique property embraces its original intention as a climate spa for Austrian monarchy. Split between the original 1912 larchwood building and three modern towers, everything is designed to bring the landscape in – floor-to-ceiling windows allow the sun to dance around pinewood suites, bathrooms are made from Dolomites stone and two-level penthouses sit at the tip of two of the towers. Wellbeing is at the hotel’s heart – there’s Plose spring water sweetened with pine syrup on arrival, plus the spa’s successive indoor-outdoor mineral pools and saunas, daily rituals and a wyda studio (a local Celtic version of yoga). Mountain activities include ski-in, ski-out facilities as well as forest bathing and foraging. In the main restaurant, individual booths are arranged in an amphitheatre-like structure, allowing for prime views while you enjoy Roland Lamprecht’s forest cuisine. This is also where breakfast is served – a buffet featuring pretzels, chocolate caprese, ricotta cake, pistachio cream, Eisack Valley honeycomb and wild berry jams. There’s also speck, mountain cheeses, foraged fruits, a salad bar and DIY juice room with bottled mountain apple juice ready to drink. An evening at new restaurant concept Yera is an experience like no other – follow a torch through the forest into an earthy mountain cave, hand in phones at the door and let Roland and his team guide you through an immersive spectacle of fire, ferments and ancient Celtic traditions. A nightcap at the bar might be a fresh fig old fashioned, apricot-enriched Plosestar martini or negronis infused with Plose cranberries for added fruitiness. forestis.it My Arbor, South Tyrol, Italy Rooms from £206 per night based on two people sharing a Nest Suite; check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or My Arbor Expect to be whisked high above the clouds at this architectural hideout in the Dolomites. Conveniently situated just 50 minutes from Bolzano airport, My Arbor stands proud on stilts against the snow-capped South Tyrolean mountains, making this the perfect spot to experience treetop seclusion. Guests are greeted with the signature cocktail, The Arborene, with its warming blend of sweet vermouth and homemade orange-cinnamon liqueur, best enjoyed on the sun-kissed patio. The hotel has more than 100 south-facing suites, each adorned with reclaimed wood from sunburnt larches and firs from the Eisack Valley. Features include large panoramic windows, a private terrace and a cosy nook for hunkering down with a book. With most of the produce for the restaurant sourced directly from Lake Garda and harvested by owner Markus Huber, sustainability is more than just a concept here. The tasting menu changes daily and is often centred around a theme (think ‘essence of water’ or ‘nature’s delight’). Expect bold flavours, from swordfish tagliata with saffron risotto to onsen eggs with potato truffle espuma. The breakfast buffet is an assortment of local treats, including a juice bar for turmeric and ginger shots, eggs as you like them and homemade breads such as South Tyrolean schüttelbrot – a crunchy flatbread peppered with fragrant spices. Make sure you carve out time to experience an invigorating sauna infusion where the sauna master uses balls of snow enriched with essential oils to control the heat and deepen relaxation. Schloss Elmau, Bavarian Alps, Germany Rooms from £580 per night based on two people sharing; check availability at booking.com or Schloss Elmau Set against the backdrop of the Wetterstein mountains and framed by an abundant pine forest and the icy blue Ferchenbach river, it’s hard not to lose yourself in the scenery and facilities at Schloss Elmau. While staying here, guests can enjoy access to six spas, eight restaurants, a concert hall and two hotels (The Retreat and The Hideaway). The lofty presidential suites at The Retreat are softened with plush furnishings, with an Indian elephant motif woven into the textiles, and are designed to show off panoramic mountain views – take your pick between a luxurious free-standing bath or regal chaise longue to soak up the snowscapes. Restaurant Tutto Mondo offers twists on comforting Alpine cuisine, including homemade tagliolini blanketed in Piedmont truffles. At the neighbouring pan-Asian restaurant Fidelio, expect succulent meats grilled over binchōtan charcoal and paired with foamed nori butter. For those wanting a touch more luxury, opt for the two Michelin starred Ikigai. Breakfast is equally bountiful, with a selection of smoothies and health shots, creamy bircher muesli and homemade breads – including the well-loved German pumpernickel that’s ready to be topped with honey from Schloss Elmau’s bees. Start the day with a soothing golden milk – a silky, fragrant hot drink infused with turmeric, cinnamon and maple syrup. As well as its next-level food and drink options, Schloss Elmau boasts a programme of activities for guests, including yoga, qigong, curling, concerts and cross-country skiing. Ideal for switching off and hunkering down. Hotel Bohinj, Slovenia Doubles from £186 per night, check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com This striking eco retreat stands majestically above Slovenia’s largest lake, its larch wood structure designed to imitate the mountainous backdrop. There’s a distinct alpine feel, complete with roaring fireplace, animal hides and traditional ski equipment in the lobby, while the expansive lake-view lawn is scattered with blanket-covered chairs for huddling around firepits well into the night. Floor-to-ceiling windows fill the all-day restaurant with light, or opt for a spot on the terrace with dramatic views in all directions. Contemporary twists on local fare take centre stage – buckwheat flour dumplings with sweet pumpkin purée, Bohinj trout with cauliflower, and upstream flander with pea purée – while pungent local mohant cheese is whipped into the must-order tangy cheesecake. Wines by the glass include Slovenia’s renowned sparkling istenič prestige, the Istrian peninsula’s malvazija and a fruity red from the Vipava Valley. Rooms are simple larch-lined cocoons with pops of alpine chic to add character – craggy peak-shaped lights carved into headboards, the hotel’s mountain hiker motif embossed into cushions and fur throws on bucket seats from which you can gaze out over the lake. Each night includes two hours in the spa, complete with saunas, salt room and outdoor whirlpool to soak up mountain views. Walnuts, dried fruits and regional herbal teas are strategically placed at the end of a ‘natural floor’ corridor, over which guests are encouraged to walk barefoot for grounding. The buffet breakfast is a selection of cold cuts, cheeses and yogurts from local cooperatives as well as seasonal fruits, homemade smoothies and eggs any-style on freshly baked toast. Doubles from £186 per night, check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Nordelaia, Piedmont, Italy Rooms from £261 per night; check availability at Mr & Mrs Smith, booking.com or Nordelaia This stunning property lies in rural Piedmont, a region suspended between the mighty Alps and the coastal province of Liguria in north-west Italy. Occupying an 800- year-old converted farmhouse, the interiors of Nordelaia’s 12 rooms are both contemporary and classic. Two attic suites – all warm wood beams and pleasing oblique angles – evoke a sense of treetop seclusion, complete with freestanding baths for an extra dose of opulence. The four rooms on the first floor are themed around the striking seasonal colour palettes that surround the property: greens in the spring, yellows for summer, fiery reds in the autumn and pearly whites in winter. Two outdoor pools (one heated, one not, but both with views for miles) entice in all seasons, while a visit to the spa, with its stone floors and arches, and barrel-vaulted brick ceiling, is sure to restore a sense of internal equilibrium. Nordelaia is set within five hectares of arable land and boasts a working vineyard. Its offerings feature prominently on the wine list at the hotel’s destination restaurant, Lorto. Here, chef Charles Pearce pays homage both to the earthy, woodland character of Piedmont and the maritime bounty of neighbouring Liguria. His take on perbureira – a thick, bean-based sauce traditionally served with pasta – is instead paired with grilled prawns and a coral emulsion. There’s a potato risotto with mussels that hits all the right notes, and a tangle of barbecued oyster mushrooms served with a deeply savoury, anchovy-based ferment called garum. A bistro menu that leans towards traditional flavours with modern touches offers guests a more relaxed but no less excellent dining experience. Priesteregg, Leogang, Austria Berg chalet from £280 per person per night based on two people sharing, including breakfast and spa access; check availability at Priesteregg Surrounded by the snow-dusted Alps, this collection of 15 wooden chalets is reminiscent of a mountain village. Sitting at a height of 1,100 metres there are panoramic views with fresh Alpine air and the aroma of woodsmoke to greet you on arrival. The focus is on traditional local food using high quality ingredients – bread is freshly baked in a stone oven, bacon is smoked in a smoking chamber and the local cows provide the creamiest milk and butter. Each chalet is generously stocked with local treats and every morning guests are delivered breakfast bundles of cured meats, salmon, cheeses, fresh fruits and baked goods. In the evening you can request to dine in your chalet or bundle up and walk to Huwi’s Alm, the on-site restaurant. The signature dish is an event in itself, served on an iron hat that’s heated by small burners. Diners are given a selection of marinated organic steaks and pork loin to cook, with the brim of the hat filled with a rich beef and vegetable soup that gets more intense as the cooking continues. It’s served with crisp baked potatoes, salad and a selection of sauces. Chalets are a combination of beautiful natural materials and modern luxuries. Glass-fronted bedrooms, mountain views, freestanding outdoor baths, suspended fireplaces, private saunas and snow-clad rooftop hot tubs are just some of the unique features. Sheepskin rugs, cosy sofas and the softest bedding make it hard to leave the comfort of your chalet, despite the ski slopes across the valley being in sight of the sun decks. Wellness is taken very seriously here, too – guests can swim in the heated infinity pool next to an open fireplace, relax in Swiss pine saunas or take an invigorating guided dip in the unheated outdoor nature pool. The expansive open-air terrace has luxurious loungers, pillows and blankets to make the most of the winter sun. Casale Panayiotis, Cyprus From £286 based on a two-night stay for two adults in a comfort studio; check availability at booking.com, Hilton or Casale Panayiotis Nestled in the heart of the Troodos Mountains, the climate is noticeably cooler at Casale Panayiotis than down by the Cyprus coast. An agrotourism project saved Kalopanayiotis village from extinction nearly 13 years ago, restoring the historical buildings to their former glory in the form of 29 beautiful rooms and stone cottage suites. The award-winning spa complete with hydrotherapy pool, sauna, herbal steam room and private outdoor whirlpool harks back to the village’s ancient spa origins. Restaurants celebrate local ingredients, including seasonal fruit and veg from the on-site orchards. Byzantino Restaurant spotlights traditional Cypriot dishes, while Pantheon offers casual dining among magnificent mountain views. Grill restaurant Loutraki serves pan-seared, locally sourced trout, premium fillet steak and chicken breast ballotine. Local cultural, culinary and sporting activities are available to be booked for those seeking adventure and new experiences. Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland Doubles start from £296 based on two sharing, check availability at resortragaz.ch Water is the stuff of life at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz where a special supply trickles down from Tamina Gorge in the Swiss Alps. It fills several pools at the Tamina Spa, an impressive indoor-outdoor omplex, to warmly envelop guests against a stunning backdrop of snowcapped mountains. Earn that soothing dip by striking out into the lush ‘Heidiland’valley. Follow wooded paths stretching out alongside the mighty Rhine or rent an e-bike to explore longer routes through villages and the Bündner Herrschaft vineyards. On Fridays there are tastings in the hotel’s own wine gallery, and there’s art to drink in, too. Martin Creed’s neon roof installation (assuring guests “everything will be alright”) echoes a harmonious balance between old world grandeur and a sharp, contemporary aesthetic. Among seven restaurants, there’s three-Michelin-starred Memories by Sven (Wassmer) for while Verve by Sven (one Michelin star) delivers precise, elegant treatment of local produce, such as braised veal cheek and gleamingly fresh cured alpine salmon. Tuck into heartier alpine fare – stews and signature fondues – at Zollstube, in rustic lodge-style surroundings. As much as you indulge, the alpine air – and something in the water – ensures you’ll leave feeling utterly refreshed. 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From luxury beach hotels in Trancoso to stylish suites in Tuscany, these are the best honeymoons for foodies
Looking for the most idyllic foodie honeymoons? Read on for the best beach hotels, rural estates, charming b&bs and remote getaways to stay in across the world for the ultimate remote experience. For more like this, check out our best romantic holiday destinations around the world and the UK's most luxurious hotels for a special occasion. Hotel Lutetia, Paris – for classic romance The perfect mini-moon destination, who can resist the romance of Paris? Oozing Parisian style, Hotel Lutetia is an impossibly handsome Art Nouveau meets Art Deco building on the corner of St Germain’s Boulevard Raspail and Rue de Sèvres. Luxurious in-room touches – monogrammed pillowcases, lavish fruit plates, chocolate sculptures – speak to its reputation as one of the city’s finest addresses. Its food and wine credentials owe much to its connection with long-time previous owner champagne house Taittinger. The partnership lives on in its own Cuvée Lutetia, enjoyed in the frescoed Bar Josephine, or with an indulgent brunch of truffled scrambled eggs under the stained glass in salon Le Saint Germain. During Fashion Week Lutetia is home to the great, the good and the famous, its serene Akesha Spa being a major pull. Year round, Brasserie Lutetia provides unequalled people-watching opportunities on its perfectly placed outdoor terrace serving caviar, smoked oysters and lobster with black truffle. From €1445. Check rates and availability at hotellutetia.com or booking.com Boca de Agua, Bacalar, Mexico – for a luxury jungle retreat This luxury jungle retreat is set back from the Yucatán Peninsula’s Lagoon of Seven Colours, close to Mexico’s Belize border. Twenty-two treehouse suites, each with turquoise tiled outdoor rain showers, king-size beds, private plunge pools and hammocks strung across shaded decks, are nestled within the forest of mango, banana and kapok trees (believed to be sacred in Mayan culture), from which toucans, woodpeckers and spider monkeys provide a tropical soundtrack. The brutalist-style main building gives the air of an abandoned jungle kingdom, with steps leading to a secluded pool and a man-made cenote. Chef Sergio cooks local specialities over fire in the open kitchen. Lunch options include flame-grilled steak tacos, plump prawn aguachile and black fish, mango and achiote ceviche. Come evening try charcoaled empanadas with chimichurri or a selection of steak cuts with tomato and fresh berry salad. Mexican wines include floral orange from Valle de Parras, or drinks specialist Leandro can guide you through a mezcal tasting. The breakfast menu is split into Mexican and Yucatán specialities. In the latter, you can find huevos rancheros alongside cochinita pibil and lechón tacos, both made with smoky suckling pig cooked underground for 24 hours. Pad down the walkway through the mangroves to the uniquely turquoise waters of Bacalar Lagoon. Take a dip, hop on a kayak to spot the stromatolite fossils and relax on the deck with a mezcal margarita, guacamole and toasted tortilla chips. Doubles from £222, check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Middleton Lodge, North Yorkshire – for a UK minimoon Book a stay at Middleton Lodge to unwind in luxury surroundings after the wedding. Tucked away in 200 acres of peaceful countryside, with Michelin-starred tasting menus and decadent spa, this Georgian estate is the perfect spot for a post-wedding debrief. The collection of honey-hued farmhouse buildings and stables have been lovingly restored – from the charming Tack Room with wood-burning stove, huge free-standing bath and beamed ceilings, to contemporary suites with outdoor copper tubs and views of wildflower meadows. The jewel in the crown of the estate is Forge, a restaurant that earned its first Michelin star in 2025. Dishes highlight foraged ingredients and estate-grown produce, with inventive flavour combinations – think dry-aged Nidderdale hogget and north coast cod with preserved lemon and English sparkling wine. Coach House offers a more relaxed approach for breakfast, all-day dining and cocktails. Guest numbers at Forest Spa are cleverly limited so it can feel like you have it almost to yourself. Swim in the stunning 15-metre outdoor pool with views over the countryside or dip in the outdoor hot tub. Cute treatment huts named for herbs growing nearby offer a range of nature-inspired treatments such as massages and Voya seaweed wraps – the signature In Bloom massage is a favourite, blending deep relaxation techniques with aromatic oils to reflect the estate’s gardens through the seasons. Doubles from £229, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com Argos, Cappadocia, Turkey – for a unique cave stay Make your honeymoon memorable with a stay at this luxury cave hotel in the hilltop village of Uçhisar, with extraordinary views over the dramatic volcanic moonscapes and ‘fairy chimney’ landforms of Cappadocia. Most of the hotel’s 71 rooms are architectural hybrids, making use of caves hewn into the rocky hillside and finishing them in a contemporary style. Suites may take the form of single-storey warrens; others are duplex, with rooftop balconies spilling out onto the hillside. The most romantic options for honeymooners have their own jacuzzi, or even a swimming pool. Argos’s cave spa offers one-of-a-kind subterranean escapism, and dining privately in the hotel’s ancient converted monastery, though an indulgent add-on to your stay, is a one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience. For oenophiles, there’s also the largest natural underground wine cellar in Europe (tours and tastings available) – with accompanying pickle room. Hotel restaurant Nahita is the first farm-to-table restaurant in the region, where all ingredients are sourced within a strict 60km radius. The menu focuses on traditional local cuisine: think succulent lamb cooked in a tandoor for twelve hours, aubergine “testi” (dough-sealed clay cooking pots) kebabs, and pillowy, smoke-scented breads. Sister restaurant Seki retains Nahita’s commitment to local sourcing but, with its pan-Mediterranean offering, finds influences from further afield. Served in Nahita, breakfast is a feast for both eyes and tastebuds, with breads, pastries, salads, dips, meats, cheeses and fruits presented on intricately patterned ceramics. The cooked-to-order menu offers classic Turkish fare like menemen, eggs scrambled with spices and tomatoes. Check rates and availability at booking.com or argosincappadocia.com Villa Paola, Tropea – for luxury in an Italian villa Discover rustic luxury at Villa Paola, a pink-hued former 16th-century convent set among the cliffs of Calabria at the southern tip of Italy. From crisp white linen bedding to cool marble bathrooms, a secluded infinity pool and serene courtyards, it is the perfect location for some honeymoon R&R. Terraces look out to the coast and over the farmland below, where the restaurant grows a lot of its produce. Choose between rooms with views of the rolling hills or sweeping panoramas of the towns below, with bird song to gently wake you and white wooden shutters to throw open in the morning. The Eremita suite is perfect for honeymooners with its own Turkish bath and veranda. There’s a bistro-style menu on offer during the day with dishes such as sourdough pizzas, red onion salads and club sandwiches. Enjoy an aperitivo overlooking the sea after spending time on the beach or wandering around Tropea. De’ Minimi restaurant offers more refined tasting menus, meticulously designed with seasonality at the forefront and an emphasis on local produce and zero waste. At breakfast, a three-tiered stand of daily-changing treats arrives to the table for enjoying with your morning cappuccino. There’s also a continental buffet of fruit, pastries and cakes, with à la carte options including omelettes and local honey, which is the star of the show here – make sure to load your yogurt with a generous drizzle. Rooms from £285 per night, check availability at villapaolatropea.it or booking.com UXUA casa hotel and spa, Trancoso – for luxurious boho beach vibes Dotted around Trancoso, an idyllic, palm-fringed beach in the northeast of Brazil, sit 11 luxury suites, all part of the UXUA casa hotel and spa. Many of the buildings the suites are set in date back over 500 years, and have been sensitively restored using reclaimed materials and local influences. Choose the mint green Gulab Mahal suite, with its exposed beams and two storeys, for light and space, or the Seu João for a cosy pad for two, with its lush gardens, rustic kitchen, outdoor shower and private pool. For more pampering, take time out at the hotel’s spa, indulging in hot stone massages, body scrubs, facials and reflexology (all done using products made with local ingredients such as coconut oil, cocoa and pink pepper seeds). Or stroll the eight-minute route from the hotel to UXUA’s private beach, where you’ll find a bar serving super-fresh ceviche, fish tacos and fresh coconut juice. Guests can also sign up for lessons in how to make moqueca, the traditional Bahian fish stew, with chef Bernardo Silva. The celebrated dish is made with whatever white fish has been caught that day, plus fat prawns, garlic, coconut cream, chilli, sweet peppers, parsley and coriander. Suites from £432 per night, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Palm House Boutique Hotel and Spa, Cape Town – for a tranquil escape Nestled in Cape Town’s southern suburbs, this restored century-old building provides guests with luxury and tranquility, within driving distance of famous tourist spots such as Table Mountain, Constantia Wine Route and Camps Bay – all the sites you'd want to tick off on honeymoon. The property offers 10 luxury rooms and five garden suites, all with generous space and uniquely decorated for you to fully unwind. You can head down to the heated pool for a beautiful space to rest and socialise, and have drinks at the bar on the lawn. This peaceful luxury extends to the Açaí Spa and Wellness Oasis, offering bespoke treatments that use premium products made with African minerals, flowers and essential oils. With two restaurants on site, Palm House offers relaxed and fine dining options. Palm Terrace provides all-day alfresco dining with global and local flavours. Start in the morning with a fresh made-to-order omelette and try the hearty Cape Cubano sandwich packed with pork and cheese for lunch. Open for dinner only, the second restaurant, De Tafel, provides an immersive fine-dining experience inspired by Cape heritage. The multi-course menus feature local, seasonal and foraged ingredients, themed as land and air (meat), sea and salt (fish) and field and forest (vegetarian). Doubles from £160, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Le Barn, Bonnelles, France – for unique rural France If you’re looking for a taste of honeymoon serenity without the burden of long travel, Le Barn, set in France’s Bonnelles countryside, should be high on your wishlist. Just 40 minutes from Paris Orly airport, the 500-acre estate offers an outdoors experience with comfort and luxury. This hotel is all about switching off and enjoying nature. The 73 rooms, mostly spread across two converted barns, provide a cosy home for your stay, with balconies that look over the horses grazing in the fields or the lake (which you can swim in). Digital detoxing and honeymoon unwinding is easy when there are warm Nordic baths, a steam room, sauna, electric bikes and forest walks all on offer. Wind down for the evening with a drink by the fire in the colder months, or under a canopy of wisteria in the garden in summer. The grounds are shared with Haras de la Cense, a prestigious horse riding training centre, and there are horses dotted around the vast space, as well as the option to go riding or try the Whisperer’s Experience. Food is seasonally led, using as much as possible from the kitchen garden and locally sourced produce. The menu changes daily, according to what’s available, but dishes can include stuffed rotisserie chicken or roasted leg of lamb, with sides of roasted carrots, leeks and potatoes. Desserts are a treat not to be missed, including the likes of tarte aux figues and iles flottantes. Breakfast is a satisfyingly French affair: crusty bread, salty butter and homemade jams alongside eggs, bacon, pancakes and bowls of fruit fresh from the garden. Doubles from £200 per night, check availability at lebarnhotel.com or booking.com Potato Head, Bali – for an eco-chic retreat If you're ticking Bali off your travel wishlist, Potato Head is the place to stay. Sustainability is at the forefront of this eco-chic retreat nestled into Seminyak’s palm-fringed coastline. Ceilings are made of recycled Sprite bottles, earthy tones warm up the expansive space and rattan furniture adds local character. Warm, friendly staff in chic shirts and shorts keep the vibe relaxed while ensuring the resort’s award-winning hospitality is consistently brilliant. For the ultimate romantic experience, book the Oceanfront Studio to wake up to daylight pouring in and stunning sea views. To enjoy golden hour as the sun sets, a wood-panelled bath takes centre stage which can be drawn with floating petals and fresh dragon fruit and watermelon platters on the side. The room is complete with a custom-made maxi-bar, stocked with the likes of spiced rum and pink guava kombucha. Seasonal produce grown on the organic regenerative farm, Sweet Potato Project, is used in the multiple restaurants. Try authentic Indonesian dishes at Kaum, fresh from the boat seafood cooked on open fire at Ijen (think grilled octopus, whole roasted barramundi and clams in seaweed butter) and contemporary plant-based versions of classics such as báhn mì and pandang curry at Tanaman. Doubles from £157, check rates and availability at booking.com Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman – for a private beachside escape Its ultra-private beachside setting and a willingness to tailor-make the guest experience makes Six Senses Zighy Bay classic honeymoon territory. Laid out in the style of an Omani village (or, rather, a luxurious reimagining of that) the resort’s 87 villas are all variations on a theme, blending stone, wood and woven palm matting to soothing effect. All have a chic, tropical vibe, with dark wood furniture and bright citrus-coloured cushions, but if you want to wake up with a sea view, opt for one of the more expensive sunrise-facing Beachfront Pool villas. On Friday evenings you can walk barefoot along the beach under a star-speckled sky for dinner at the Shua Shak, a breezy Bedouin-style restaurant with low tables and cushioned seating under a simple palm-leaf canopy. It’s the main course that everyone really comes for: mounds of flaky lamb that’s been marinated for 24 hours in olive oil, date syrup, bay leaves, onion, garlic, carrot, cinnamon, anise, cumin and rosemary, then wrapped in banana leaves and foil and cooked on coals in a pit under the sand for seven hours. It’s the perfect partner for the buttery pistachio, cashew and cardamom-laced saffron rice it’s served with – and one of the most romantic dining experiences in the Middle East. Villas from £809 per night, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or britishairways.com L’Albereta Relais & Châteaux, Lombardy – for a rural Italian vineyard Nestled among the vineyards of Franciacorta, L’Albereta makes for a romantic escape with a slice of la dolce vita. The previously privately owned 19th century villa, adorned with a lovingly curated art and sculpture collection, is on the same estate as Bellavista winery. Franciacorta wines feature alongside others from the region on the restaurants' extensive wine lists. Elegant restaurant Leonefelice Vista Lago boasts a stunning view of Lake Iseo, serving elevated regional dishes including seasonal specials such as fried duck egg with caviar, cacio e pepe with Sicilian red prawns and kiwi sorbet with green apple, regional wine and citrus fruit soup. Stanza 54, a cosy lounge, offers lunches and lighter fare, while La Filiale, the informal pizza restaurant from award-winning pizzaiolo Franco Pepe, serves handmade dough with innovative toppings. Uniquely decorated rooms are large and bright with warm tones, marble bathrooms, elegant furnishings and artistic touches. For a relaxing honeymoon treat, upgrade to a room with a deep hydro-massage tub or choose a superior room complete with balcony overlooking the gardens. Make your stay even more memorable by booking a wine tasting and tour of the on-site winery or indulge in a treatment at the Chenot Espace wellness spa. Superior rooms from £348 per night, check availability at albereta.it or booking.com Wilderness reserves, Zambia and Zimbabwe – for a luxury safari If a once-in-a-lifetime safari is your honeymoon dream, the remote Wilderness reserves in Zambia and Zimbabwe offer a rare kind of travel. Each reserve is built sensitively around its environment to allow wildlife to roam freely and the landscape to remain untouched. The guiding here is world-class and truly tailored to each guest. Days begin and end with river cruises or game drives timed for when the animals are at their most active and the sunsets impossibly vivid. In the golden calm of the afternoon the tempo slows – you can enjoy a dip in the pool, a massage at the spa, or a lingering lunch accompanied by the sound of cicadas and distant bird calls. As well as getting you up close and personal to the animals, the Wilderness reserves offer a touch of luxury throughout your stay. Wilderness Toka Leya’s open-sided river suites with swinging chairs and outdoor bathtubs allow you to soak up the hippos’ nightly chorus from the mighty Zambezi below. Wilderness Linkwasha’s pale woods and glass walls create a modern aesthetic overlooking the watering hole where giraffes stoop to drink as you sip your morning coffee. Wilderness Ruckomechi’s lantern-lit decks and elephants wandering through camp feel timelessly explorer-chic. Many suites also feature outdoor beds – perfectly safe yet open to the night sky – where you fall asleep beneath the Milky Way and wake to the sound of laughing hyenas greeting the dawn. Dining is integral to the experience and meals celebrate the bold, earthy flavours of southern Africa – flame-grilled bream from the Zambezi, slow-cooked game stews, and vegetables grown in camp gardens. Mornings start with a light breakfast of fresh fruit, wood-fired breads and eggs cooked to order before your first adventure. Evenings are pure theatre – gin and tonics around the campfire as the sun sinks below the horizon, followed by candlelit dinners beneath a vast star-studded sky. Check out Wilderness Destinations for destinations, rates and availability. Fontelunga Hotel, Tuscany – for Italian sunsets For a truly unwinding honeymoon amid Tuscany’s romantic rolling hills, make your way to this stylish hotel. Set within an olive estate, the elegant villa at the heart of Fontelunga is home to eight glamorously understated bedrooms, plus a junior suite in a separate cottage for couples seeking more seclusion and two private self-catering villas. Each room is named after an Italian material and colours are reflected in the styling, from plush silver furnishing in Diamante to peachy notes in Tormalina. Spend your days lounging in the Jacuzzi, playing games of doubles on the tennis court or simply taking some time to stretch in the yoga gazebo. All of which will help you work up an appetite for the hotel’s cooking. Breakfast and lunches (homemade cakes and platters of pecorino cheese with local meats) are served on the terrace overlooking the Val di Chiana and – if you don’t want to venture out to the region’s acclaimed restaurants, trattorias and pizzerias – dinners can be ordered on request (you can also book a private chef to come and cook for you if you’re staying in one of the self-catering villas). The big attraction for foodies, however, are the twice-weekly dinner parties thrown for all guests. Family-style sharing dishes start with fried vegetables and mixed crostini before moving onto a three-course dinner which uses local food of the season. Doubles from £273, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com La Mamounia, Marrakech – for a luxury riad La Mamounia can rightly claim to have invented luxury tourism in Morocco. In its 101-year history, this storied hotel has welcomed the great and the glam. Set in 16 acres of fragrant gardens, guests enjoy a huge outdoor pool, tennis courts, spa and hammam and a quirky games room. Dining is world class; feast on traditional Moroccan dishes at Le Marocain; choose between Asian and Italian restaurants overseen by culinary luminary Jean-Georges Vongerichten; the buffet breakfast served poolside is the stuff of legend; Bar Majorelle is the place to see and be seen in Marrakech, while the Le Churchill is an intimate, chic space designed in the style of a Pullman carriage. Bedrooms and suites are richly ornate, with colourful but calming Moroccan interiors and marble clad bathrooms. Out in the gardens are three-bedroom private riads for exclusivity and the services of a private butler. From £442 per night. Check rates and availability at mamounia.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Copal Tree Lodge, Belize – for an eco jungle escape Copal Tree Lodge is a luxurious eco-resort set between the Rio Grande river and lush jungle, blending laid-back Belizean hospitality with serious luxury. For the most unique stay, four Signature Canopy Suites are accessed by a tiny tram that takes you to the top of the jungle canopy. Choose rooms 13 or 16 for sunrise views, and 14 or 15 to watch the sunset from your king-sized bed, veranda hammock or outdoor balcony bathtub. Whichever you go for, the views are out of this world. You also get shared use of the infinity pool and a private bar with bartender Ducky to shake up whatever you fancy. Most of the food you’ll eat at Copal Tree Lodge is grown on site – the estate even produces its own coffee, chocolate and rum, with tours of the distillery, chocolate making or coffee tastings on offer. The Garden Table Restaurant serves dishes from the kitchen garden, cooked in traditional Belizean styles such as Creole, Latin and Garifuna. Lunches combine fresh produce in sandwiches, salads and tacos with spicy pico de gallo, handmade tortillas and homemade queso fresco. Belizean breakfasts are some of the best in the world, combining Central American favourites like huevos rancheros or burritos with a plethora of sweet, fresh tropical fruits and juices, and US-style breakfasts like pancake stacks (served with pineapple butter – a must-try) and thick coconut and cinnamon french toast. Suites from £450, check rates and availability at booking.com Royal Champagne Hotel and Spa, France – for Michelin-starred dining Set in the hills above Champillon and Hautvillers, the Royal Champagne Hotel and Spa is the region’s first contemporary five-star hotel serving Michelin-star food across two restaurants. If you’re looking for a romantic dinner Le Royal offers fine-dining without having to stay the night. The four-course discovery menu is a chance to try a selection of the chef’s favourite dishes, so expect crab and caviar served with mango and citrus fruit marmalade, sole and blue lobster served with Champagne sauce (a nod to the region) and an indulgent chocolate dessert. For a more relaxed dining experience, book a table at Le Bellevue which serves classic French dishes of beef steak with frites and cappuccino puff pastry filled with coffee crémeux. The hotel spa is also not to be missed: overlooking the lush rolling hills, it is home to a yoga studio, eucalyptus-infused saunas along with two swimming pools, one indoor and one outdoor. Doubles from £800 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com One&Only Palmilla, Mexico – for tropical rejuvenation Established as a luxury hideaway in the 1950s, this exquisitely-designed resort, with ocean-facing views and a classic-meets-minimalist Mexican feel, has more than maintained its reputation as a coveted place of rejuvenation and natural wonder. The rugged coastline of the Baja Peninsula allows for fishing, snorkelling, diving and whale watching. Deep relaxation is encouraged on the beach, among the palm-fringed gardens, azure pools and a world-class spa and wellness centre, honouring Majan rituals. A range of top-end dining options, from the freshest sashimi and sushi to seasonal Baja-inspired cuisine, completes the wow factor. From £1.3k. Check rates and availability at oneandonlyresorts.com, booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Jardin Des Douars, Essaouira – for a Moroccan oasis Set in the hills above Essaouira, Jardin des Douars is an oasis of palms, plants and monkey puzzle trees. The French-owned hotel is a calm retreat of 25 rooms, spaced out between a main ksar building and various terracotta villas in Jardin des Douars’ tropical gardens. There’s a laid-back, mellow feel at this tranquil hideaway, with an air of French chicness weaving through traditional Moroccan features – secret courtyards hide fountains decorated with classic zellige tiles and Berber rugs warm up earthy tiled floors. There are two pools and an atmospheric spa, where a traditional hammam is heated with bark from the property’s argan trees. Behind heavy wooden doors are luxurious rooms that stick to a traditional Moroccan style. There are even mini hammam kits in each bathroom to use in the turquoise-tiled power showers for extra luxury. Make sure you do a safari of the restaurant spaces during your stay at Jardin des Douars, as each provides a unique experience. Book a couple of plush armchairs in intimate La Table des Douars for a candlelit dinner, or sprawl out in the sunken, cushioned area of the hotel’s main restaurant Le Ksar, a palatial room boasting spectacular views of the gardens and the argan tree-filled valley below. The Moroccan Corner is your go-to restaurant for traditional tagines, stews and couscous. Jardin des Douars provides a shuttle service into Essaouira medina and we highly recommend making the 15-minute trip into this lively town. Meander through narrow streets and barter for souvenirs in the souks before ducking in to one of Essaouira’s restaurants for tagines and hearty salads. Doubles from £152, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com The St Regis, Langkawi, Malaysia – for tropical luxury Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands off the northwestern coast of Malaysia. It’s a dream destination with an old-school island vibe. Beaches are picture-perfect and, beyond them, is unspoilt nature; waterfalls, jungle and mangrove forests. The St Regis resort sits on the southern tip of Puala Langkawi, the largest island in the archipelago. The beautifully rambling space is made up of 85 suites (including suites with private pools and gates onto a private 600-metre beach) and four private over-water villas. The design of the hotel is deliberately eclectic, mixing European and Middle Eastern influences with local art. Every room comes with the St Regis 24-hour butler service, which includes complimentary packing and unpacking, ironing-on-demand and hot and cold drinks whenever thirst strikes. Served in the resort’s airy L’Orangerie restaurant, the epic buffet-style breakfast offering takes in every imaginable option – from familiar western choices and freshly pressed juices to sushi, a dim sum station, laksa and even an ice cream bar. There’s also an a la carte menu with specialities like local lobster omelette, croissant French toast or wagyu steak. No one is going to go hungry here. For dinner, the star attraction is the beautiful Kayaputi restaturant, standing in the sea on stilts. Enjoy a cocktail and watch the sunset on the terrace bar. If idyllic beach-lounging isn’t enough the St Regis offers a bespoke Geo Forest Safari adventure – a thrilling afternoon trip that starts with a speedboat ride down the local Kilim river, before continuing on foot to reach bat-filled caves. It’s not for the faint-hearted but the connection to nature is an important part of island life and it’s a privilege to witness it first-hand. Suites from £259 per night, check availability at marriott.com, booking.com or expedia.co.uk Birkenhead House, South Africa – for whale watching Birkenhead House, perched above the beach outside the coastal town of Hermanus (about a two-hour drive from Cape Town), isn’t all-inclusive as you know it. There are no wristbands, no all-you-can-eat buffets. Instead you’re free to pour yourself a drink from the bar, crack open a bottle of fizz when you feel like it and order from an à la carte menu. The hotel’s 11 rooms are beach house in style, luxurious but not in an over-the-top way. Many are sea-facing, (all have their own balconies) and room one has unparalleled ocean views, while room five has a ‘honeymoon plunge pool’. The breakfast buffet has been given great thought with fresh fruits and berries and little jars of natural yoghurt topped with home-made fruit purée or granola. The cheeses, charcuterie, pickles and chutney are top notch and there are plenty of hot choices, too. Time your visit right and you can watch majestic southern right whales cavort in the Atlantic below while you tuck into breakfast, or a cocktail, on the hotel’s terrace. At dinner time, Birkenhead House chef Ziyaad Ozayr Brown sources everything from within 10-15 km of the nearby Klein River, including a glorious array of local artisanal charcuterie and cheeses from Klein River Farmstead. Being Cape Malay, a lot of his dishes have Malaysian and Indian influences, marrying a love of spices with a penchant for the sweet and coconutty, on a daily changing menu. Doubles from £539, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Salt, Mauritius – for culturally curious couples Salt is something different from clichéd images of Mauritius: a forward-thinking hotel brand that aims to provide authentic experiences for “culturally curious” travellers. The idea is to introduce guests not just to places but to people. The design of the 59-room hotel, courtesy of French interiors guru Camille Walala, reflects the island’s vivid colours. Among its vast library of 300 carefully curated books, three-quarters are Mauritian. Food is at the resort’s heart (the philosophy explained by catchphrases such as “Farming it, not flying it”) and everything from supper with a Mauritian family to fishing trips with a local fisherman are on the menu. With an eye on environmental impact there are no mini-bars in the rooms and no single-use plastics. Each guest is given an aluminium bottle to refill at the water stations, and to take home. Doubles from £136 per night, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or tui.co.uk More travel guides Best Morocco food trips Best French food trips Best Spanish food trips Best Portuguese food trips Best European vineyards to visit and stay Best foodie city breaks by train Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best country house hotels in the UK Best Scottish hotels
From boutique hotels in Ibiza to city break bases in Barcelona and Madrid, here's our pick of the best Spanish hotels
Looking for the best Spanish hotel to visit? We've found the best Spanish hotels for food lovers in Barcelona, Madrid, Ibiza and everywhere in between. Whether you're on a budget or looking for luxury, need a city break or a relaxing vineyard getaway, check out our round-up of the best Spanish hotels for something for everyone. For more travel and hotel inspiration, check out our guide to the best European hidden gem hotels, best Italian hotels or the best Paris hotels, or get more ideas for your Spanish holiday with our best Spanish trips for foodies. Best Spanish hotels for food lovers Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno, Catalonia Rooms from €350 per night, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com In the vineyard-strewn hills of Catalonia’s Priorat region, Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno reimagines the Spanish manor house with design-led clarity. A Relais & Châteaux property with just 24 suites, it’s a study in refined minimalism, with arched stone walls, polished marble, hand-thrown ceramics and an infinity pool sculpted in the silhouette of a wine bottle. Inside, curves dominate the design language: vaulted ceilings, sculptural fireplaces and custom-made furniture soften the bold, monastic architecture. Food is central to the experience. At restaurant Vinum, chef Josep Queralt draws inspiration from Llibre de Sent Soví, a 14th-century Catalan recipe manuscript. Expect candied leeks with Bellmunt cottage cheese and confit egg yolk, or poultry broth layered with roasted Reus hazelnuts, dishes that feel both timeless and quietly radical. For a more relaxed rhythm, Tarraco serves poolside classics with polish: think citrus-cured ceviche, creamy Ibérico rice and chilled tomato gazpacho elevated by prawns and diced watermelon. Evenings unfold at Bruno’s Bar, where bold regional reds and vermouth-spiked cocktails are poured beneath vaulted stone, best enjoyed fireside or on the terrace overlooking the vines. Book the Bruno Suite for its vineyard-facing freestanding bath, vaulted interiors and full in-room bar stocked with local wines and gourmet Catalan treats. masdenbruno.com/en Rooms from €350 per night, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com Castilla Termal Brihuega, Castilla-La Mancha From £226 per room, check availability at booking.com Surrounded by lavender fields, this little town in the region of La Alcarria is home to a new boutique hotel in a restored cloth factory. Perfect for food lovers seeking to make new discoveries, it showcases regional specialities, while its thermal waters provide an opportunity to fully relax and rejuvenate. Breakfast is a delight: all the Spanish goodies like jamón ibérico, pan con tomate and tortilla, plus local ingredients like manchego, honeycomb and tarta de uvas – a grape sponge cake which teams well with the more contemporary touch in the cold drip coffee offered. At dinner, rustic plates like kid goat and the region’s famous rum baba style cake are served in the large glass-domed restaurant. Nearby food experiences include truffle hunting at family-owned TrufaZero, which supplies many restaurants in the region. Guests can dig for the black gold sniffed out by their dog, Nino. Brihuega’s thermal spa promotes a sense of wellness and relaxation with an outdoor pool, massage jets and a bespoke lavender treatment – a two-hour ritual which includes a lavender scrub, wrap and massage. Exposed brick, wooden beams and floors, a neutral colour palette and dried floral displays add to the calming effect. castillatermal.com From £226 per room, check availability at booking.com Cuatre Finques, Marina Alta Doubles from £165, check availability at cuatrefinques.com or booking.com Nestled in a valley between Valencia and Alicante, this rural retreat is a lesson in rustic elegance. Owner Nicky is a wonderful host, welcoming guests into her idyllic stone finca, complete with parasol-lined pool for disconnecting. The nine ensuite rooms include individual touches – antique dressers, Moscatell’s stone headboard and Olivera’s intricate four-poster bed. Private balconies and terraces look out over pine and almond trees, with Sierra de Bernia vistas and Xaló Valley views beyond. If not grown on the land, produce for the lovingly prepared meals is sourced from local growers. Breakfast spreads are made up of fresh bread, serrano ham and manchego, alongside seasonal cakes and homemade jams, plus melon, mango and figs plucked from the property’s trees, all enjoyed in the garden to soak up surroundings for plotting the day’s activities. Once a week there’s a sharing feast when guests gather around the tiled table beneath an atmospheric veranda. Cava cocktails and Spanish wines are free flowing, a variety of tapas dishes are laid out to share and bossa nova melodies from the in-house band flutter into the night. Sunday lunch is dedicated to paella or fideuà, cooked traditionally in large pans and paired with tumblers of refreshing tinto de verano. There’s also the option of candlelit four-course dinners, while the honesty fridge and bar encourage a grazing make yourself at home feel. Doubles from £165, check availability at cuatrefinques.com or booking.com Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel, Ibiza Doubles from €245, check availability at booking.com Luxury meets nature in a hotel with exquisite indoor-outdoor design, a spa set within orange groves and a hard-working farm. White-washed buildings, manicured gardens and glistening swimming pools surrounded by huge, pristine day beds all create a gorgeous first impression. Discrete, secret VIP deluxe suites are where celebrities can holiday with complete privacy. So far, so luxe. But a stroll through the orange groves to the hotel’s vast vegetable plot reveals how sustainable and farm-to-fork this family-owned estate is. Solar panels and an on-site well supply power and water to the gardens, pools, spa and rooms. Herbs and botanicals are used in rejuvenating spa treatments. Figs, tomatoes, cucumbers and pomegranates are picked that day, and served just minutes and metres aways in the hotel’s sunny, vine-covered veranda. The garden also supplies its nearby, laid-back sister restaurant, Aubergine by Atzaró, where clever combinations like roasted aubergine carpaccio, cherry tomatoes, feta, dates, pistachio and rocket pesto create texture and zing. At Atzaró beach club, tuna ceviche with mango, chilli, coriander and tiger’s milk is light and flavour-packed. Design at Atzaró Agroturismo references Ibiza’s natural beauty with a profusion of plants, natural wicker and wood, bright whites, with splashes of colour provided through bougainvillea or swimming pool azure. atzaro.com Doubles from €245, check availability at booking.com Royal Hideaway Corales Villas, Tenerife Doubles from £297, check availability at booking.com or britishairways.com Framed by panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and bold volcanic peaks, this boutique luxury hotel in the south of Tenerife offers a holistic experience designed for those wanting to recharge and disconnect. It’s sleek and minimalist, a neutral colour palette taking inspiration from the rugged landscape of the island. Large windows and a pool framed with palm trees further the hotel’s spirit of reconnecting with nature. Junior suites have Nordic-inspired interiors, swim-up pools and sea views. For further privacy the two-bedroom deluxe suites or two- and three-bedroom villas are spacious yet secluded, all equipped with a kitchen, vast terrace, private pool and outdoor lounge areas. At the spa, book highly personalised treatments or spend time in the fully equipped gym, sauna and yoga patio. Restaurant Bonfire boasts 360-degree island views and light bites such as beetroot carpaccio with feta and grilled almonds, caviar and smoked seabass sandwiches, and steak tartare with grilled bone marrow. For elevated dining, Crater serves two set menus, each paying homage to a different island in the Canaries. Signature cocktails at Materia Elemental Bar are inspired by the four elements – earth, water, fire and air – enriched with subtle Canary Island influences. Alternatively, book paella from scratch cooked in your villa by a private chef. Expect a lavish breakfast buffet each morning with Canarian cheeses, cured meats, breads and pastries, plus a smoothie bar, hot crispy churros and eggs in any style. There’s even an option to have a floating tray breakfast in your private pool. Doubles from £297, check availability at booking.com or britishairways.com Son Molí, Mallorca Doubles from £218 per night, check availability at booking.com or sonmoli.com Set within 50,000 square metres of gardens and groves, yet still just 15 minutes from Palma’s centre, Son Molí Country House is an 1897 finca that has been renovated to become a 22-room rural retreat. The renovation is carefully judged. Original stone walls and spacious proportions remain, while interiors are pared back with plenty of natural materials and calming neutral tones. Generous bathrooms have walk-in rain showers and cosy underfloor heating; suites open onto sunny private terraces facing the orchards. The kitchen blends Mediterranean cuisine with a clear Mallorcan slant, drawing on local producers and, where possible, the estate itself, using estate olive oil, citrus and garden herbs. Breakfast is served in the dappled courtyard beneath the trees, with local cheeses and jamón, ripe fruit and baked treats. At dinner, the menu draws on the island’s larder – take your pick of seafood, slow-cooked meats and vegetables. Spend your days relaxing by the palm-fringed pool or playing a match on the tennis courts, or head out to explore the island, discovering golden beaches, inland villages with pretty cobbled streets or the bustling galleries and restaurants of Palma all within reach. Doubles from £218 per night, check availability at booking.com or sonmoli.com Monasterio de Valbuena, Castile and León Doubles from £245, check availability at booking.com A kitchen garden, impressive cellar and spa experience make this converted monastery set within vineyards spectacularly unique. As you might expect in the Ribera del Duero, wine is a focus – from a welcome glass of sparkling verdejo to the hotel’s own production of Converso, an earthy tempranillo with well-balanced dark fruits. In the kitchen garden, rare-breed Black Castilian hens happily cluck away. Dishes made with produce nurtured here are expertly paired with the best regional wines in its three restaurants. Pickled partridge, ravioli stuffed with poultry and sheep’s cheese, game and mushroom rice and pigeon combine traditional regional ingredients with modern cooking techniques. A converted 12th-century monastery with high arches, courtyards and cloisters has windows overlooking the vineyards and river. The spa has an intriguing St Peter’s Chapel experience which reimagines the design of the monastery’s working chapel into a private spa experience including a relaxing sauna, invigorating shower and bathing, and atmospheric lighting. The hotel has forged ties with sympathetic businesses who share its values of sustainability and respect, and support for the land and community. At high-end bodega Pago de Carraovejas guests can discover the wine-making process, visit the cellars, taste the wines and have lunch at Michelin-starred restaurant Ambivium. castillatermal.com Doubles from £245, check availability at booking.com El Gran Sueño, Asturias Doubles from £124, check availability at booking.com There’s a “slow hotel” philosophy at El Gran Sueño, a boutique rural retreat in the mountains of Asturias. It uses renewable energy and serves only homemade, organic food, with at least one dinner a week meat-free. Tuck into freshly baked bread with grated tomato and local artisan cheeses for breakfast (with a glass of freshly squeezed Valencia orange juice or pressed Asturian cider-apple juice) before heading out to explore the surrounding mountains and woodlands. Having worked up an appetite, return to base for a hearty, home-cooked three-course dinner (the vegan chocolate and beetroot brownie is a must-try pudding). elgransueno.es Doubles from £124, check availability at booking.com Torralbenc, Menorca Doubles from £208, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com A cluster of 19th-century whitewashed farm buildings, with views out over the sparkling Med, Torralbenc is now a luxury hotel, surrounded by 70 hectares of fields, orchards and vineyards in the south-western corner of Menorca. The restored estate not only makes its own olive oil but also produces wine. Starting with just five hectares of vines in 2006, the property now has 16 hectares dedicated to growing grapes. Its first wine was bottled in 2016 and the estate now produces a merlot and syrah blend (all red berries and spicy black pepper with a tinge of toasted vanilla), a bright rosé from indigenous monstrell and parellada grapes (floral with strawberries and cherries on the palate) and an easy-drinking white blended from sauvignon blanc, viognier, chardonnay and parellada with citrus, stone fruits and floral notes. Guests can book a vineyard experience with the hotel’s oenologist, exploring the vineyards on foot or by bike, learning how the wines are produced and enjoying a tasting, with local Menorcan cheeses, among the vines. torralbenc.com Doubles from £208, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Only YOU Hotel Atocha, Madrid Doubles from £127, check availability at booking.com Usefully positioned opposite Puerta de Atocha railway station, Only YOU Hotel Atocha impresses with its buzzy industrial-chic lobby (complete with barber, patisserie and restaurant) and complimentary glass of fizz on arrival. Spacious rooms have a sleek mid-century feel, and the hotel’s rooftop Sép7ima bar (with panoramic views of the city) puts on a lavish buffet every morning that includes pastries and churros, charcuterie and cheeses, fresh juice, fruit and cooked breakfasts. onlyyouhotels.com Doubles from £127, check availability at booking.com Son Brull, Mallorca, Spain Doubles from £530, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Guests at gastronomic bolthole Son Brull can ask the kitchen to pack a gourmet picnic if they’re heading out to hike or bike around the surrounding hills. This elegant finca, or farmhouse, in the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana, dates back to the 12th century but the approach to food and wine is bang up to date. The kitchen garden, where chef Rafel Perello sources the ingredients for his inventive menus and cookery classes, brims with home-grown herbs, salad leaves and vegetables, while the trees surrounding the hotel are laden with oranges, lemons and figs. The hotel has its own organic vineyard: pair its wines with dinner in the fine-dining restaurant, 365, where seasonal eight-course tasting menus showcase local Mallorcan ingredients. More casual, bistro-style dining can be had in the bar (with its ancient olive press) during the winter or on the terrace in sunnier months. sonbrull.com Doubles from £530, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Casa Bonay, Barcelona Doubles from £197, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Check into hip Casa Bonay, a renovated mansion where traditional hydraulic floor tiles are mixed with Gaudí’s iconic paving stones, adding a hint of edginess to its ground floor lounges, coffee bars and restaurant. Stylish, pared-back bedrooms redefine luxury with hand-woven blankets from Els Teixidors, maxi-bars stocked with premium gin, vodka and single malt, and room service in the shape of a tiffin tin to be eaten in bed. Casa Bonay makes other foodie hotels seem dull by comparison. Think house restaurant Bodega Bonay serving Mediterranean sharing plates, the hotel bar Libertine for grown up cocktails mixed with aplomb by a team of savvy mixologists, and the tropical-themed Chiringuito on the buzzy roof terrace for tapas as you watch the sunset. casabonay.com Doubles from £197, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Hospes Palau de la Mar, Valencia Doubles from £192, check availability at hospes.com, booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Housed in two 19th-century mansions on the cusp of Valencia’s old town, this luxury boutique hotel retains original palatial features with a pristine contemporary layer atop. Wooden double doors open into a gleaming lobby of marble flooring, majestic columns and a sweeping double staircase, all doused in an alluring aroma of orange blossom to tempt guests further in. Suites are all pale wood, sumptuous creams and muted geometric throws with statement headboards to add character, and many have juliette balconies for soaking up the city bustle below. Hide away in the subterranean Bodyna Spa with treatments grounded in Mediterranean practices before thermal circuits in the hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam room. An olive and orange tree-lined central courtyard makes relaxing lounging territory for an iconic agua de valencia cocktail, while the bar is a prime spot for the well-respected martinis accompanied by extra olives. On-site restaurant Ampar has a 0km ethos with a local take on tapas such as coca d’oli, cod fritters and garlic pepper octopus, plus paella valenciana, artichoke fideuà and turbot with garlic and gamba roja. Enjoy your meal in a swirly art-adorned ruby red alcove inside or the parasol-shaded terrace, where a breakfast of freshly baked bread, jamón and cheese is also served, with an obligatory glass of freshly squeezed Valencian orange juice. Doubles from £192, check availability at hospes.com, booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Corner House, Seville Doubles from £86, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Doubles at the Corner House, in the buzzy Alameda de Hércules (one of Seville’s most iconic squares), are very affordable. There's also an in-house restaurant/bar, El Disparate, serving a selection of traditional and innovative dishes; if you're lucky grab one of the tables on its spacious terrace, overlooking the square. thecornerhousesevilla.com Doubles from £86, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Iturrienea Ostatua, Bilbao Doubles from £58, check availability at booking.com This simple yet charming bed and breakfast is located right in the centre of the Old Town, housed in a property built in 1906 for a countess. Originally designed to look like a typical Basque country house, inside the largely modern décor is modest (simple white bedlinen, colourful quilted headboards, practical en-suite shower rooms) but homely. The nine bedrooms nod to the building’s history, with stone floors and wooden-beamed ceilings, and some have small private balconies. Breakfast is served in a country-style kitchen and stretches to local cheeses, charcuterie, sticky pastries and toast. iturrieneaostatua.com Doubles from £58, check availability at booking.com Hospes Casas del Rey de Baeza, Seville Doubles from €135 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com The Hospes Casas del Rey de Baeza is a charming hotel housed in a beautiful 18th-century ‘corral de vecino’ (characteristic of the city, these are apartments built round a courtyard) in the barrio Santa Cruz. hospes.com Doubles from €135 per night, check availability at hospes.com, booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastián Doubles from £472, check availability at booking.com or marriott.com The glamorous belle époque Hotel Maria Cristina is a fitting base for the gourmet capital of Spain. The hotel, which nudges up to the Parte Vieja and overlooks the River Urumea, was exquisitely revamped in 2012, the year that marked its centenary. Renowned filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar has stayed here, along with a string of Hollywood luminaries from Bette Davis to Woody Allen. Its food credentials include its own concierge-designed DIY pintxos trail, a gourmet shop where you can stock up on gastronomic souvenirs from local wines to smoked olive oil and Basque cookbooks, while in the basement there’s the sleek, state-of-the-art cookery school. The cookery school is run by Mimo San Sebastián, set up in 2009 by British expat Jon Warren, whose passion for the region’s gastronomy led him to leave his lucrative job in the city in London. They offer pintxos tours, cookery classes, wine and sherry tastings, vineyard tours and trips to sagardotegiak (aka cider houses). These pepper the surrounding region especially near the town of Astigarraga. The houses dish up set menus featuring salt cod omelette, chorizo cooked in cider, and idiazabal with quince and walnuts along with as much cider – lightly sparkling, cloudy and refreshingly sour – as you can drink from the huge barrels. marriott.com Doubles from £472, check availability at booking.com or marriott.com. Hotel Sant Francesc, Palma Doubles from £430, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Food-focused short breaks at design hotel Sant Francesc, in the historic heart of Palma, include a paella masterclass with the hotel's head chef, Alfonso Lillo, and a tour and tasting at a gin distillery in the Santa Catalina neighbourhood (with tips on how to distil at home). With its historic setting – a restored 19th-century neoclassical mansion rich with original frescos and murals, cool verandas and wooden coffered ceilings – the hotel makes a perfect base for exploring Palma's gourmet markets and delis. Return from a hard day’s food shopping and spend time relaxing by the glamorous rooftop pool or splashing out on dinner in the restaurant, Quadrat. The restaurant, a vision of crumpled linen and painted wood in the property’s former stables, is the setting for Lillo's tasting menu peppered with Mediterranean-inspired dishes such as cream of grilled sweetcorn with tomato and avocado ceviche. hotelsantfrancesc.com Doubles from £430, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Hotel Ses Sucreres, Menorca Doubles from £131, check availability at booking.com Hotel Ses Sucreres, in the village of Ferreries, is a quirky bolthole that epitomises the laid back, low-key authenticity of the island a world away in style from high profile party isles Mallorca and Ibiza. The hotel is decked out with reclaimed furniture, geometric prints and modern photography. There are six bedrooms and relaxed breakfasts are served in a leafy courtyard garden – think homemade fig jam, soft sugary buns, local slithers of Mahon cheese and salty air-cured ham, sobrasada, the local sausage, smashed tomatoes and olive oil smeared on freshly baked bread. hotelsessucreres.com Doubles from £131, check availability at booking.com Finca Can Marti, Ibiza Check rates and availability at canmarti.com A pine-cradled rural idyll in a leafy valley in the north of Ibiza, Finca Can Marti is a 400-year-old, whitewashed farmhouse turned rustic-chic retreat. All muted cream and beige tones, with terracotta tiled floors, ancient beams and white walls, the finca is surrounded by 42 acres of organic orchards, vegetable plots, strawberry fields, olive groves and vineyards. The fruit and vegetables are sustainably grown on the farm and sold in the estate’s small organic shop, along with homemade jams, extra virgin olive oil and free-range eggs – which you can also enjoy at breakfast, along with a feast of fruits and freshly baked bread. Once a week the finca also offers dinner. Ten minutes’ walk away is the sleepy village of San Juan, with its smattering of local restaurants and a traditional market every Sunday. Or you can simply hole up on site lounging by the natural pool (the water is free from chemicals, circulated through a lava stone filter, oxygenated by a waterfall and cleared of impurities by aquatic plants). Then zone out, with an Ayurvedic and Thai massage under a pergola, trying not to peep at the dreamy view beyond. Check rates and availability at canmarti.com Can Tres, Formentera Check rates and availability at booking.com Hop on the ferry from Ibiza to Formentera, the barefoot baby of the Balearics, for endless sweeps of sand backed by dunes and pine trees, crystalline waters and a hippy-chic vibe. This is where jaded clubbers come to hide out – and eat (sustainable) sushi and ceviche washed down with caipirinhas by the beach. There's a slower pace of life on Ibiza's chilled-out little sister, with its peppering of traditional villages and a nightly market during the summer. Base yourself at Can Tres, a clutch of three architect-designed houses surrounded by citrus and olive trees, all hanging beds and heavenly hammocks, thatched terraces perfect for lazy breakfasts of fruit from the gardens, freshly baked bread and homemade jam, and vivid splashes of colour against a pure white canvas. It’s also just a pebble's throw from Migjorn beach with its smattering of funky beach bars and restaurants. cantresformentera.com Check rates and availability at booking.com More travel guides Best Morocco food trips Best French food trips Best Spanish food trips Best Portuguese food trips Best European vineyards to visit and stay Best foodie city breaks by train Best hotels in Paris Best Italian hotels Best country house hotels in the UK Best Scottish hotels
8 secret Mediterranean coastal escapes to visit before everyone else does
These are the Mediterranean secret spots for unspoilt beaches, clear blue seas and the perfect long-lunch restaurants
Hotspots such as Nice and Capri are popular for a reason – but there are plenty of other beachy Mediterranean getaways that can take you off the beaten track and away from the crowds. From Morocco to Albania, these are eight summer holiday-worthy places on our must-book list. For more travel inspiration, check out our picks of the 10 best Mediterranean islands for foodies and the best European city breaks. For a taste of the Mediterranean closer to home, book a table at one of London's best Mediterranean restaurants. 8 Mediterranean coastal escapes Cadaqués, Spain On the rugged Costa Brava in northeastern Catalonia, Cadaqués is a sun-drenched fishing town with an artistic edge, thanks to the great surrealist Salvador Dalí, who lived in the adjoining village of Port Lligat. His house is now a museum and one of the cultural highlights of a stay here. It’s easy to see where he got his inspiration from: whitewashed houses tumble down winding streets to a small harbour lined with grand cafés, seafood restaurants and views out to the Mediterranean. Our top food picks include Olibar, Talla and Batalla, which are all part of the same cool group of modern tapas restaurants. Compartir serves inventive plates inspired by the founders’ time at El Bulli, while Narita is a Japanese spot that makes the most of the daily catch. Away from the table, there are plenty of sheltered coves to explore and lots of great galleries and shops (we rate Pepa). To get to Cadaqués, you’ll need to traverse Cap de Creus natural park and wind down the twisty switchbacks that are the only way down to the bay. While you’re here, it’s well worth jumping on one of the 15-minute buses into the park itself. The views stretch to France, there are two beautiful, secluded beaches to swim at (Jugadora and Cala Culip), and you can spot some of the rock formations that inspired some of Dali’s most famous works. Read our guide to the best Spanish food trips for more ideas. Where to stay: Can Set overlooks the main bay. From the front bedrooms, you can look down at the beach below and across to the church that defines the Cadaqués skyline. The branded beach towels, provided in every room, are just what you’ll need for a day out here. Camogli, Italy On the Ligurian coast near Genoa, Camogli is a postcard-perfect alternative to Portofino. Known for its tall, pastel trompe l’oeil houses (where laundry often hangs from the windowsills), crescent-shaped pebble beach and easy-going harbour, it has all the charm of the Italian Riviera without the high-gloss finish. You’ll find lovely markets for fresh fruit and veg, old workshops dotted around, and a few small shops selling local linens and handmade ceramics. There’s plenty to do too: make sure you book onto a boat trip to nearby San Fruttuoso, a medieval abbey in a secluded cove. The nearby towns of Santa Margarita and Portofino make for lovely day trips. On the food front, La Camogliese is a little wooden beach hut offering fritto misto and trofie al pesto, a regional speciality. Above Camogli, in the hills of San Rocco, La Cucina Di Nonna Nina is a family run restaurant that serves very traditional Ligurian recipes. Historic Focacceria Revello is the spot to stop and buy focaccia di recco (with stracchino cheese), alongside pastries and other local delicacies for the ultimate beachside lunch. Where to stay: Cenobio Dei Dogi is the right side of retro. Built into the cliff edge overlooking the rocky sea beneath, it has amazing views of Camogli, its own small pebble beach and a great pool. Datça Peninsula, Turkey On Turkey’s southwest coast, the Datça Peninsula is a quieter and wilder alternative to Bodrum. 90 minutes from Dalaman airport, the peninsular is a meeting point for the Aegean and the Mediterranean. It’s home to almond groves, olive trees and a string of hidden coves with sapphire-like waters. Naturally, lots of the food and activities revolve around those groves. The Datça Vineyard & Winery olive farm makes for a fun day trip (and is a lovely place to stay), while almonds are scattered atop many of the region’s dishes. Many of these are best tried at Eski Meyhane in Datça itself – expect to sample the likes of stuffed courgette leaves, grilled octopus and sautéed spiced lamb. There’s a lovely, languorous rhythm to days here, which can be spent swimming, taking boat trips and having long lunches by the sea. Datça is also known for its hiking routes along the striking Carian Trail. There’s history here too: at the peninsula’s tip, the ancient ruins of Knidos add a cultural edge to any trip, while Eski Datça (Old Datça) is a charming village with narrow, bougainvillea-lined streets, stone houses and artisan shops. Where to stay: On its own private peninsula, D Maris Bay is one of Turkey’s most coveted hideaways. It’s surrounded by pine-covered mountains and overlooks five private beaches, which can be accessed by the hotel’s fleet of speedboats. New for 2026 are padel and pickleball courts, plus the hotel pool and its accessories have been branded by Dior for a third year. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/2/2026/04/GettyImages-1291202682-008948d.jpg" width="683" height="512" alt="Knidos or Cnidus was a Greek city of ancient Caria and part of the Dorian Hexapolis, in south-western Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. It was situated on the Datça peninsula, which forms the southern side of the Sinus Ceramicus, now known as Gulf of Gökova." title="Aerial view of Knidos Bay in Datca" /> Athens Riviera, Greece Stretching from chic coastal suburbs like Glyfada and Vouliagmeni right down to Cape Sounion, the Athens Riviera offers sandy beaches, stylish beach clubs and a smart dining scene. We rate Papaioannou, where the sea laps at the tables and the catch of the day is filleted tableside. We spent a very happy afternoon at Lake Vouliagmeni – a thermal, tidal lake set just back from the sea that’s become something of a low-key spa, thanks to the tiny fish that offer free pedicures if you dip your toes in for long enough. You could easily spend a full day here thanks to its sun loungers and café-restaurant set-up. Evenings call for sunset views at the Temple of Poseidon, which looks out to sea from Cape Sounion and was built around the same time as the Acropolis in Athens. You can also hop into the capital for day trips in just 30 minutes. The riviera is also home to Piraeus, which is where many ferries depart for islands such as Hydra, Milos and Spetses, making this the ideal starting point for any longer Greek escapes (see our picks for the best Greek island escapes). Where to stay: There are lots of lovely, high-end hotels here, but the grande dame is the Four Seasons Astir Palace (in its 1960s heyday, it hosted Brigitte Bardot, Frank Sinatra and Jackie Onassis). Discreetly tucked away at the tip of the pine-clad Vouliagmeni peninsula, this World’s 50 Best Hotel captures all the glamour of Greece. For something cool and contemporary, One&Only opened its striking Aesthesis property on the riviera two years ago, in the protected forest reserve of Glyfada. Ostia, Italy Just half an hour from Rome, Ostia is where Romans come to play against a backdrop of sandy beaches and retro lidos. It’s less polished than Italy’s smarter coastal hotspots, but that’s part of the appeal – and there’s a pleasing mix of eras and architecture. At the mouth of the River Tiber, many visitors come just for the sun and sea. You can choose to split your time between sunbathing at Lido di Ostia and watching for wildlife on the marina. Nearby Kursaal beach club is also well worth a look. It dates to the 1950s and remains locally famous because its pool was the backdrop to lots of acclaimed 1960s Italian films, such as I Vitelloni. Another highlight is exploring the remarkably preserved ruins of Ostia Antica, which is considered by many to be just as impressive as Pompeii (and without the crowds). Through mosaics, homes, baths and a theatre, it offers an immersive look at what life would have been like for Romans. After a morning exploring the archaeological park, head for lunch at Arianna al Borghetto, a trattoria serving Roman classics such as cacio e pepe and carbonara. Where to stay: La Posta Vecchia is part of the same independent group as Il Pelicano in Tuscany and Mezzatorre in Ischia. On the coast of Palo Laziale, under an hour away from Ostia, this is a gorgeous design-led hotel with sweeping views over the Tyrrhenian Sea and easy access to the Etruscan sites of Cerveteri and Tarquinia, as well as Rome airport. We've visited the best Italian hotels for more memorable getaways. Camargue, France In the Rhône delta in southern France, Camargue is an elemental counterpoint to the Côte d’Azur. It’s a Unesco-protected park of salt flats, wetlands and sweeping beaches, where thousands of flamingos gather and semi-wild white horses roam freely. This is the place to bookmark if you like an active trip away – popular activities include cycling through the lagoons, horseback riding along the shores of the Mediterranean, and soaking up the changing landscapes on a Jeep safari. At the centre of Camargue, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer offers a low-key base for long lunches and coastal walks along the 12km sea wall, which stretches out to Gacholle lighthouse. We like the look of Restaurant Chante Clair – a vintage-inspired bistro with a terrace that serves the likes of gougères, fish soup and moules-frites – and A Fleur de Sel, where owner Alexandra serves traditional French cooking with a touch of Provençal flair. Browse more of the best French food trips for more ideas. Where to stay: In a building dating from the 15th century, La Villa Mazarin sits within the fortified city of Aigues-Mortes, on the edge of Camargue. The 25 bedrooms are decorated differently – their charmingly old-school interiors feature oil paintings and antique furniture in keeping with the historic building. For something that’s both more rustic and more modern, Les Arnelles in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer offers a countryside escape – it even has its own stables. Taghazout, Morocco Just north of Agadir, Taghazout is a surf village with a bohemian edge. Once a low-key fishing spot, it’s now a laid-back favourite with creatives and in-the-know travellers who are drawn to its long sandy beaches, reliable waves and growing wellness scene. Killer Point, Banana Point, La Source and Anchor Point are the best surfing spots – and even if you don’t surf yourself, they’re great places to watch, swim and spend a morning with a book. Or there’s Paradise Valley – a series of lakes and waterfalls an hour away by car or bus. Taghazout is less polished than Marrakech, but all the more relaxed for it. As well as surfing, days revolve around yoga and slow lunches in rooftop cafés, while evenings make the most of sunsets overlooking the ocean. Our favourite places to eat include the hotel garden of World of Waves for a chilled breakfast, brunch or late-morning coffee, and Dar Joséphine for a French-leaning take on Moroccan cuisine. Check out our guide to the best Moroccan trips for foodies for more inspiration. Where to stay: There are a handful of big-name hotel groups here now, but we’d opt for Dfrost Almuga, a surfing and yoga-focused villa right on the water. Its optional ‘surf safaris’ run daily from 9am to 4pm, giving surfers of all levels a chance to get to know these wonderful waters. Vlorë, Albanian Riviera Unfurling along the Ionian Sea, the Albanian Riviera might be Europe’s most up-and-coming destination. With its turquoise waters, rugged mountains and clusters of mellow beach towns, it’s a fresh and beguiling alternative to the Mediterranean’s better-known hotspots. Days are best spent hopping between bays, from the lively shores of Dhërmi to the beaches around Ksamil, with scenic drives along Llogara Pass. For a base, Vlorë offers a compelling mix of beach and culture. Its coastline ranges from central stretches like Plazhi i Vjetër to quieter southern spots, where hotels often have their own private areas. Beyond the beach, the city’s layered history – shaped by Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman influences – is reflected in its architecture and landmarks. Food is another highlight. Drawing on Turkish, Greek and Italian traditions, the local cuisine is fresh, flavourful and distinctly Mediterranean, often featuring Vlonjak olives, which are among the oldest in Europe. Paradise Beach has been a Vlorë go-to for almost three decades, thanks to its seafood prepped Mediterranean and Italian style right by the sea. Taverna Ti Lilo is another must-book for its grilled fish and calamari in rustic surroundings. Where to stay: Hotel Vlora Priam has the Meliá seal of approval. On Vlorë Bay, it’s surrounded by the azure waters of the Adriatic, which are best admired from the rooftop pool and bar. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/2/2026/04/GettyImages-912923408-5be57ad.jpg" width="788" height="443" alt="Ksamil is one of the most popular beaches in Albania and much visited by both domestic and foreign tourists. It is located in the south of Albania, on the Albanian rivièra. It is located just next to the famous archaeological city of Butrint." title="Crystal clear waters of Ksamil, Albanian rivièra, Albania" /> More travel guides 8 lesser-known Italian islands worth visiting Best French food trips Best Spanish food trips Best Portuguese food trips Best European vineyards to visit and stay Best foodie city breaks by train Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best country house hotels in the UK Best Scottish hotels
Best restaurants in Nice: where a local eats and drinks in France's chic southern city
From picture-perfect pastries to special occasion dinners, this is where to go in Nice
Looking for the best gourmet spots in Nice? Insider Alexane says: “I grew up in Nice and still live here, so I know the city’s food scene inside out. Nice isn’t just about the views, it’s about the bites! Now working as a food and travel content creator, I spend most of my time discovering new spots, but these are the places I always come back to and the ones I recommend to friends without hesitation. These hidden gems are my favourites and, trust me, once you try them, you’ll be hooked, too.” For more travel inspiration, check out our guides to the best French food trips and the best hotels in Paris. A local’s best restaurants in Nice Grab breakfast at La 36eme Chambre La 36eme Chambre is one of my favourite brunch spots in Nice when I want something a little different. Tucked away near Libération, it’s a small coffee shop that blends French brunch dishes with Japanese and Korean influences – think fluffy pancakes, onigiri and more. I love coming here when I’m craving something comforting but unexpected. @la_36eme_chambre Enjoy a sunny lunch at Le Local Le Local is the kind of place you almost wish you lived next to. It’s relaxed, seasonal and always buzzing with regulars. The menu features Italian-Mediterranean fare and changes often depending on what’s fresh, with simple, generous plates done really well. The pasta is always incredible! I love coming here for a long lunch with a glass of wine on the terrace. @le_local_nice Have a date night at Le Bistrot de Jan If you want classic French bistro vibes with a twist, this is the spot. Just next door to its Michelin-starred big brother, Restaurant JAN, Le Bistrot de Jan feels like dinner at a chic friend’s house. The menu mixes beloved French favourites (tournedos Rossini, sole meunière) with playful nods to chef Jan Hendrik’s South African roots. janonline.com Get French wine at Au Coeur des Terroirs Forget basic wine nights! Au Coeur des Terroirs is one of my favourite places in Nice to actually learn about, taste and geek out over wine. The cute wine bar and shop doubles as a tasting room, where knowledgeable hosts guide you through French terroirs with flights, rare bottles and perfect food pairings. aucoeurdesterroirs.com Head to Pistache for delicious pastries If you think all pastries in France are the same, think again! Pistache proves that neighbourhood bakeries can still surprise you. Everything here is beautifully made, from classic croissants to its signature pistachio-laden delights (hence the name). I usually grab a flaky pastry, then wander toward the port and sit watching the pointus – the colourful, pointed wooden fishing boats that have been a staple of the Côte d’Azur for generations. nicepistache.com Locals’ best-kept secret for pan bagnat If you’re after a real taste of Nice while on the go, Chez Félix is the place. This local favourite is known for some of the city’s best pan bagnat – the classic 'sandwich niçois' of moist bread filled with fresh veg, tuna, eggs and lots of olive oil, all prepared to order. I like to swing by for a lunch that I can grab and take to the park in front to watch the world go by. It’s the closest thing to a local rite of passage in Nice. The cutest coffee shop in Nice Caffè Orso is a charming, Italian-inspired coffee shop and pasticceria that brings a touch of dolce vita to the Riviera. Serving coffee roasted using Italian beans alongside an ever-changing selection of handmade pastries, it’s the perfect spot to relax. Don’t miss the homemade focaccia and baci. caffeorso.com Enjoy fine dining at Le Patio Tucked inside La Pérouse hotel, Le Patio is a gorgeous spot with a terrace set beneath century-old lemon trees, and with sweeping views over the bay. It feels like your very own Riviera hideaway. The menu, crafted by chef Damien Andrews, focuses on refined Mediterranean cuisine with seasonal, sun-soaked flavours. It’s perfect for a special occasion. hotel-la-perouse.com/restaurant-bar-terrasse Italian flair at Apulia Italian food in Nice is not just pizza and gelato – this restaurant truly celebrates the flavours of Puglia, with dishes that are simple, sun-kissed and absolutely delicious. Think: fresh burrata with ripe tomatoes, orecchiette with greens and olive oil and delicious limoncello spritzes. apuliabistro.fr The best French classics at Le Napoléon This old-school brasserie serves hearty favourites like boeuf bourguignon, duck confit and perfectly seared fish, all paired with a great wine list and warm service. It’s the kind of place I bring friends to when they want to try proper French cooking. lenapoleon-nice.fr More travel guides Best restaurants in Folegandros Best restaurants in Athens Best restaurants in Tbilisi Best restaurants in Prague Best restaurants in Porto Best restaurants in Malaga Best restaurants in San Sebastian
10 best hotels for a sun-soaked Mediterranean getaway
Soak up the sunshine in these stunning hotels across Italy, France, Spain and more
Sun, warmth and long, languid days — the Mediterranean does it better than anywhere. The right hotel can turn a good holiday into a great one, whether that’s a countryside retreat surrounded by olive groves, a design-led boutique hotel in a historic town, or a laid-back bolthole with an outstanding swimming pool. We’ve picked 10 of the best hotels across the Med for a truly sun-soaked escape, from Greek island favourites to Italian classics and lesser-known gems. For more travel inspiration, check out our picks of the 10 best Mediterranean islands for foodies and best French food trips. For a taste of the Mediterranean closer to home, book a table at one of London's best Mediterranean restaurants. 10 best hotels for a sun-soaked Mediterranean getaway Lou Calen, Provence, France From £200 a night, check availability at booking.com or loucalen.com Relaxation is taken seriously at this rustic chic country estate, an eco-friendly, nature-led retreat steeped in history and Provençal elegance that makes the perfect sunny summer getaway. The grounds are lush with greenery: vines from which you’re encouraged to pluck grapes, heady lavender fields to amble through and gardens where produce for the kitchen is grown, all interspersed with pools and relaxation areas. Restaurants are dotted around the estate, with Lou Calen Bistrot as an elegant option for dinner. Sit on the terrace with a pear liqueur spritz as the sun sets behind the Cotignac hills, before tucking into the likes of pork ribs with hand-cut fries and housemade BBQ sauce. For a special occasion, book an evening at Jardin Secret Restaurant to try a tasting menu of elevated Provençal cuisine celebrating seasonal ingredients from Alain Ducasse alumni Benoît Witz. For casual brews and bites, La Tuf Festive Bar offers house-brewed beers using seasonal ingredients such as mimosa flowers, and regular pizza and taco nights. Finish the night in the O’Fadoli Pastis Bar, with over 80 anisette and pastis varieties to try. For a retreat in nature you can stay in the Mico Hamlet – a collection of converted châteaux, some with bedrooms carved into limestone caves. The Providence rooms exude French farmhouse chic with luxuriously large beds, free-standing baths, waterfall showers and locally made olive oil toiletries. The hotel has an ever-changing calendar of things to do to keep you busy in the sunshine, from sound baths to concerts, clay-modelling and watercolour painting. Next door, visit the Centre d’Art La Falaise to admire the art before popping down to the Mirabeau winery for a tasting experience – grapes are farmed regeneratively to produce refreshing wine. From £200 a night, check availability at booking.com or loucalen.com Vetera Matera, Basilicata, Italy From £220 per night, check availability at booking.com, expedia.co.uk or veteramatera.com Nestled among Matera’s ancient caves, this boutique retreat from Relais & Châteaux brings quiet five-star luxury to Italy’s oldest city. The 23-room hotel is built into the Sassi di Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, blending the ruggedness of the mountains with plush modern interiors. Rooms on the Noble Floors have a contemporary feel, with high ceilings, exposed brick and large windows that offer panoramic views of the Sassi. For a more immersive Matera experience, stay in the Hypogeum where the underground suites are carved directly into the ancient rock. Three of the master suites also have private pools. Expect dishes that pay homage to Basilicata produce at Artema Ristorante, where two tasting menus are on offer from chef Eduardo Estatico (à la carte is available for parties with three guests or fewer). Stand-outs include a soufflé paired with Vesuvian costoluto and yellow cherry tomatoes, and Murgia goat mozzarella, as well as rockfish soup with sweet and sour vegetable terrine, seaweed and Matera sourdough bread. Salads, sandwiches and charcuterie are served in the Lounge Bar for casual lunches and dinners. Breakfast consists of a buffet of breads, pastries, cereals, fruit, yogurt or Med vegetables and Italian cheeses for a savoury option, as well as fresh juices and coffee. The hotel spa is a highlight. The largest of its kind in the Sassi, the Elysium Spa is home to hydropools, a caldarium, sauna, hammam and cold plunge pool, as well as treatment rooms for massages and facials. Wine tastings can be also booked in the cellar, where an expert sommelier will guide you through labels from around the region and beyond. From £220 per night, check availability at booking.com, expedia.co.uk or veteramatera.com Argos in Cappadocia, Turkey From €375 per night, check availability at booking.com or argosincappadocia.com Luxury pays homage to the primeval past at this extraordinary cave hotel in the hilltop village of Uçhisar, the highest to demark the volcanic moonscapes and fairy chimney landforms of Cappadocia. The contemporary mingles seamlessly but strikingly with the ancient throughout Argos in Cappadocia’s spaces. Most of the hotel’s 71 rooms are architectural hybrids, making use of caves hewn into the rocky hillside (often millennia ago), interlaced with contemporary stone frontages. Rooms described as standard are anything but. Suites may take the form of single-storey warrens, with barrel-vaulted stone sitting areas concealing cave-hewn grotto bedrooms; others are duplex, with rooftop balconies spilling out onto the hillside. Some have their own pool or hot tub. Nahita is the first farm-to-table restaurant in the region, where all ingredients are sourced from within a 60km radius. The menu centres on the reclamation of the ancient, traditional and local: think succulent lamb cooked in a tandoor for 12 hours, aubergine testi (dough-sealed clay cooking pots) kebabs and pillowy, smoke-scented breads. An array of savoury sweet-sour salads, drenched in viscous, clingy dressings, is an unexpected highlight too. Pan-Mediterranean sister restaurant Seki also retains Nahita’s commitment to local sourcing. Served in Nahita, breakfast is a feast for the senses, with breads, pastries, salads, dips, meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts and cereals presented on patterned ceramics. The cooked to-order menu offers classic Turkish fare like menemen: eggs scrambled with spices and tomatoes. Argos’s cave spa offers guests a surreal sojourn into a world of subterranean escapism, while dining privately in the hotel’s ancient converted monastery, though an indulgent add-on, represents a truly one of a kind gastronomic experience. For oenophiles there’s also the largest natural underground wine cellar in Europe, with accompanying pickle room. From €375 per night, check availability at booking.com or argosincappadocia.com Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno, Catalonia, Spain Rooms from €350 per night, check availability at masdenbruno.com, mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com In the vine-laced hills of Catalonia’s Priorat region, Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno is a bold reimagining of the traditional Spanish manor house. Once a 12th-century estate, this Relais & Châteaux property now houses 24 suites that strike a harmonious balance between monastic calm and contemporary elegance. Think arched stone walls, custom-made furniture, cool marble interiors, local ceramics and an infinity pool in the silhouette of a wine bottle that is the perfect place to while away a sunny afternoon. At Vinum, the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant in the main building, chef Josep Queralt elevates local ingredients with quiet precision. The Sent Soví tasting menu is inspired by a medieval recipe book from 1324 and one of the earliest records of Catalan gastronomy. Standout dishes include candied leeks with Bellmunt del Priorat cottage cheese and confit egg yolk, and poultry broth enriched with roasted Reus hazelnuts. Poolside Tarraco is a more relaxed space serving the likes of watermelon and tomato gazpacho, citrus-cured sea bass ceviche and creamy rice layered with ibérico pork loin and Piquillo peppers. At Bruno’s Bar bespoke cocktails and robust Priorat reds are served beside sculptural fireplaces and a terrace that spills into the landscape. Book Bruno’s Suite for its vaulted ceilings, panoramic vineyard views, freestanding bath and olive oil based local amenities. The in-room bar (yes, a full bar, no mini here) is stocked with bold regional wines and snacks sourced from nearby artisans. Breakfast is a lavish yet unfussy affair: cooked-to-order eggs, flaky ensaïmadas, cheeses from Montsant farms and house-made compotes. The cellar-level spa is an atmospheric sanctuary offering grape seed treatments, while cycling enthusiasts can borrow the hotel’s electric bikes, making Priorat’s undulating hills a little more forgiving. Rooms from €350 per night, check availability at masdenbruno.com, mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Eliamos, Kefalonia, Greece From £650, check rates and availability at eliamos.com, booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Eliamos is an all-villa hotel that blends privacy with five-star hotel luxury and uninterrupted views of the Ionian Sea. Designed to feel like a home away from home, 12 secluded villas are set on the hillside, divided by lavender-lined paths to create a village atmosphere. Expect high ceilings and open beams, generous bathrooms with olive oil toiletries to use in waterfall showers and floor-to-ceiling bi-fold doors opening onto private terraces with saltwater pools that boast uninterrupted sea views. The on-site open-air restaurant Olais (named after the birds that visit the surrounding olive trees) forms the heart of Eliamos, with all meals enjoyed outdoors with views of the sea, Wake up early to watch the sunrise for breakfast here, where the à la carte menu includes a range of egg dishes and avocado on toast variations, along with Greek specialities such as bougatsa thessalonikis (vanilla cream and cinnamon filled pastries), fresh pita and pancakes with local honey and apricot jam. Enjoy impressive salads at lunch and Kefalonian specialities for dinner, from tomato fritters to Kreatopita (meat pie) with layers of crunchy pastry and tender ragu. Unwind with in-room spa treatments, walk down a secret path to the secluded beach cove or hop on an e-bike to explore the island. The open-air gym is great for an outdoor workout or guided Pilates class. For a hands-on experience, join a Mediterranean cookery class on the Olais restaurant patio. From £650, check rates and availability at eliamos.com, booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Villa Paola, Tropea, Italy Villa Paola offers rooms from £285 per night, check availability at villapaolatropea.it or booking.com Discover rustic luxury at Villa Paola, a pink-hued former 16th-century convent set among the cliffs and hills of Calabria at the southern tip of Italy. From crisp white linen bedding to cool marble bathrooms, a secluded infinity pool and serene courtyards, it is the perfect location for some R&R in the sunshine. Terraces look out to the Costa Degli Dei (coast of the gods) and over the farmland below, where the restaurant grows a lot of its produce. Meander down through the tiered gardens to the hotel’s own hives, and spot Tropea’s famous red onions. Superior rooms overlook the hills of Tropea and Parghelia, just off the main courtyard, with bird song to gently wake you and white wooden shutters to throw open in the morning. Deluxe rooms offer more sweeping panoramas of the towns, the executive room has a private terrace with views straight out to sea, and the Eremita suite has its own Turkish bath as well as a veranda. There’s a bistro-style menu on offer during the day with dishes such as sourdough pizzas, red onion salads and club sandwiches. Enjoy an aperitivo overlooking the sea after spending time on the beach or wandering around Tropea. De’ Minimi restaurant offers more refined tasting menus, meticulously designed with seasonality at the forefront and an emphasis on local produce and zero waste. There are various menus but think charcoal-grilled spaghettone with artichoke, fresh sea trout with beetroot and hay, and, to finish, a dessert of goat’s curd ice cream and local honey. At breakfast, a three-tiered stand of daily-changing treats arrives to the table for enjoying with your morning cappuccino. There’s also a continental buffet of fruit, pastries and cakes, with à la carte options including omelettes and local honey, which is the star of the show here – make sure to load your yogurt with a generous drizzle. Villa Paola offers rooms from £285 per night, check availability at villapaolatropea.it or booking.com Iniala Harbour House, Valletta, Malta Doubles from £463 per night, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Malta's capital city Valletta is one of our new favourite destinations, and still somehow feels like a hidden gem – plus, it's one of Europe's sunniest destinations, with over 300 days of sunshine a year. For five-star luxury, stay at Iniala Harbour House. Situated right on the harbour front, it's the perfect base for exploring the vibrant city. Made up of four discreet townhouses, there are a range of luxurious rooms and decadent suites to choose from. Rooms and suites within each of the houses vary by design, from bold splashes of colour and eclectic artwork to moody wooden panelling and custom tapestries. The best rooms come complete with private plunge pools and Maltese balconies to sit and watch the boats go by. Enjoy an atmospheric massage in the spa set in the hotel's historic stone vaults or cross the road for holiday fitness in the fully equipped gym. Book a reservation at Ion Harbour, Simon Rogan's two Michelin-starred restaurant on the rooftop, to enjoy a 12 course tasting menu. Run by Simon Rogan of L'Enclume in the Lake District, the restaurant aims to carry the principles of L'Enclume over to Malta. There is a strong focus on sustainability, working with small local producers and a specialist head of sustainability, forager Keith Abela, to make the most of lesser known local plants and herbs. Breakfast is also served on the rooftop with a short menu of classics to choose from – order an omelette to your liking and pair with a fresh green juice while soaking up the sun. Doubles from £463 per night, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Casa Cook, Rhodes, Greece Rooms from €209, check availability at casacook.com or booking.com Tucked into the mountain-fringed landscape near Kolymbia, Casa Cook Rhodes is an adults-only retreat that blends soulful design with a connection to nature and community. The hotel's architecture leans into simplicity – whitewashed structures, organic textures and calming pools merge beautifully with olive trees and rugged hillsides. Every room has a unique offering but the shared pool suites are particularly clever – semi-private thanks to verandas and greenery. Casa Cook takes the Greek concept of parea – a gathering of friends sharing ideas and moments – and infuses it into every aspect, from the communal tables at its Kitchen Club restaurant to the layout of its pools. Food is fresh and thoughtful, with a focus on seasonal ingredients. Breakfast is a standout: local honey, thick yogurt and freshly baked breads sit alongside international options. The Freddo, a blended iced coffee, is also not one to miss. For lunch, Olive restaurant offers a relaxed, poolside setting serving meze plates. Come evening the beach bar pulses with laid-back DJ sets, the ideal backdrop to sip on sweet local Rhodian melitio wine. Wellness is central here: morning yoga sessions, a tranquil spa and the ever-present backdrop of the mountains create an atmosphere of serene escape. For those seeking a bit more adventure, climb up to the Tsambika Monastery. Along the way you’ll brush shoulders with mountain goats pecking at olive trees until reaching a hilltop with panoramic views across the island’s landscape, where mountains roll into turquoise bays. Rooms from €209, check availability at casacook.com or booking.com Royal Hideaway Corales Villas, Tenerife Doubles from £297, check availability at booking.com or britishairways.com Framed by panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and bold volcanic peaks, this boutique luxury hotel in the south of Tenerife offers a holistic experience designed for those wanting to recharge and disconnect in the sunshine. It’s sleek and minimalist, a neutral colour palette taking inspiration from the rugged landscape of the island. Large windows and a pool framed with palm trees further the hotel’s spirit of reconnecting with nature. Junior suites have Nordic-inspired interiors, swim-up pools and sea views. For further privacy the two-bedroom deluxe suites or two- and three-bedroom villas are spacious yet secluded, all equipped with a kitchen, vast terrace, private pool and outdoor lounge areas. At the spa, book highly personalised treatments or spend time in the fully equipped gym, sauna and yoga patio. Restaurant Bonfire boasts 360-degree island views and light bites such as beetroot carpaccio with feta and grilled almonds, caviar and smoked seabass sandwiches, and steak tartare with grilled bone marrow. For elevated dining, Crater serves two set menus, each paying homage to a different island in the Canaries. Signature cocktails at Materia Elemental Bar are inspired by the four elements – earth, water, fire and air – enriched with subtle Canary Island influences. Alternatively, book paella from scratch cooked in your villa by a private chef. Expect a lavish breakfast buffet each morning with Canarian cheeses, cured meats, breads and pastries, plus a smoothie bar, hot crispy churros and eggs in any style. There’s even an option to have a floating tray breakfast in your private pool. Doubles from £297, check availability at booking.com or britishairways.com Les Sources de Caudalie, France Doubles from £272, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Twenty minutes’ drive from Bordeaux, Les Sources de Caudalie is the epitome of French country chic. There’s a stone manor house at its heart, a small lake, and a hard-working kitchen garden, plus a hamlet-like extension of suites. Great food and wine are the focus at this gastronomic getaway, but even the finest dining (the hotel’s main restaurant, La Grand’Vigne, holds two Michelin stars) is done without fuss. The newer, cabin-like suites (designed to reflect the oyster fishermen’s huts of Cap Ferret, in the nearby Arcachon Basin), with their whitewashed timber walls, retro-influenced furniture and spa-like bathrooms, are the ones to splash out on; in the evenings you’ll be serenaded by frogs as you return to your room along flower- and water-lined pathways. In the mornings, step onto your private terrace to soak up the sunshine and watch carthorses ploughing the vines just outside. The three restaurants at Les Sources have most tastes covered. Celebrate a special occasion with dinner in La Grand’Vigne and enjoy a meal where even the table salts stick in the memory (one of ours, blended with Bordeaux pimento, was the colour of roast peppers). The cheeseboard comes with fresh cottage cheese, from a local dairy, served with a dot of cherry jam. Doubles from £272, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk More travel guides 10 unique walking holidays for foodies 8 of the most breathtaking train journeys across the world Swap popular tourist spots for these lesser known destinations Best Morocco food trips Best Spanish food trips Best Portuguese food trips Best European vineyards to visit and stay Best foodie city breaks by train Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best country house hotels in the UK Best Scottish hotels
European hidden gems: must-visit hotels off the beaten track
From a vineyard to undiscovered beaches in Portugal and waterside Scandinavian boltholes, these are the best hidden gem hotels in Europe
Looking for a gourmet getaway that is off the beaten track? We're sharing some of our favourite hotels and havens in places you might not have visited yet across Europe. Head to the wildlife-rich wetlands outside Amsterdam to stay at a 17th-century inn, discover a tiny Tuscan island, stay at a luxurious Sicilian farmhouse or experience French countryside chic in a hidden cabin. Read on to discover all our best European hidden gems. For more travel inspiration, check out our picks of the best Italian hotels, best Spanish hotels and the best European city breaks for foodies. For UK travel inspiration, check out our picks of the best country house hotels in the UK and the best hotel baths worth travelling for. La Borde en Sologne Châteaux & Spa, Vernou-en-Sologne, France Doubles from €220, check availability at booking.com or laborde-sologne.fr Tucked into the sleepy Loire Valley village of Vernou-en-Sologne, La Borde en Sologne Châteaux & Spa is a quietly luxurious countryside retreat, drawing couples and slow-travel seekers with its elegant, unfussy charm and sense of seclusion. Rooms are individually styled, blending traditional features with contemporary comfort. Expect soft linens, muted tones and views across the surrounding woodland or gardens. Some rooms offer baths or private terraces, ideal for a more indulgent stay, while thoughtful touches like locally sourced toiletries and well stocked minibars add to the sense of place. The on-site restaurant, Mémoire, is a highlight, with a seasonal menu rooted in the Loire Valley. Think delicately prepared river fish, garden-led vegetable dishes and refined takes on classic French plates. The wine list leans local, showcasing the region’s crisp whites and lighter reds, while the bar offers a relaxed spot for an apéritif or nightcap. In summer the terraces come into their own, with drinks and light bites served outdoors overlooking the gardens. Breakfast is a generous spread of pastries, fresh breads, local cheeses and preserves, alongside cooked to order eggs and seasonal fruit. Doubles from €220, check availability at booking.com or laborde-sologne.fr De Durgerdam, Netherlands Doubles from £312, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com A 15-minute drive or boat ride from Amsterdam city centre, De Durgerdam is a collection of colourful clapboard houses strung along a dike in the rural wildlife-rich wetlands. At its centre a 17th-century inn has been meticulously restored into a stylish restaurant with rooms. Perch on a parasol-shaded bench out front for coffee and madeleines, while folk cycle past on a country escape, before sauntering down the jetty to swim off the pontoon. The destination restaurant, De Mark, is a collaboration between some of Amsterdam’s most applauded chefs. Dine waterside among the reeds or head inside for cosy, candlelit dinners with nods to the sea at every turn. The cocktail list twists classics with the likes of spiced honey sours while the nautical take on a caesar salad tosses North Sea crab with sea herbs and shavings of Dutch parmesan. A hot skillet of grilled tarragonbrined chicken is best paired with skin-on crispy chips to mop up the salted lemon jus, before a coupe of strawberries macerated in Dutch herbal liquor. Post-meal, retire to the reading room – a terracotta cocoon complete with antique honesty bar, alluring window seat and wood stove to keep things cosy in the colder months. The 14 rooms are sumptuously decorated in warm, earthy tones with velvet throws, frilly wall lamps and armchairs. There’s a commitment to sourcing everything from the Netherlands, from Zenology products to use in the walk-in showers to Dutch herbal teas, stroopwafels and fisherman’s jenever for sipping in the garden while watching the sun set over the wetlands. The three suites, built into the main building’s characterful eaves, even come with blue Kassl raincoats for walks to the neighbouring farm’s milk tap. Doubles from £312, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Le Barn, Bonnelles, France Doubles from £200 per night, check availability at lebarnhotel.com or booking.com If you’re looking for a taste of serenity without the burden of long travel, Le Barn, set in France’s Bonnelles countryside, should be high on your wishlist. Just 40 minutes from Paris Orly airport, the 500-acre estate offers an outdoors experience with comfort and luxury. The grounds are shared with Haras de la Cense, a prestigious horse riding training centre, and there are horses dotted around the vast space, as well as the option to go riding or try the Whisperer’s Experience. Guests are shown the basics of horse training and invited to try what they’ve learned with one of the many animals on site. This hotel is all about switching off and enjoying nature. Digital detoxing is easy when there are warm Nordic baths, a steam room, sauna, electric bikes, forest walks and weekly activities all included in the price. Wind down for the evening with a drink by the fire in the colder months, or under a canopy of wisteria in the garden in summer. Food is seasonally led, using as much as possible from the kitchen garden and locally sourced produce. The menu changes daily, according to what’s available, but dishes can include stuffed rotisserie chicken or roasted leg of lamb, with sides of roasted carrots, leeks and potatoes. Desserts are a treat not to be missed, including the likes of tarte aux figues and iles flottantes. Breakfast is a satisfyingly French affair: crusty bread, salty butter and homemade jams alongside eggs, bacon and pancakes. Fruit from the grounds is piled high in bowls, including huge grapes and Mirabelle plums. The 73 rooms are separate from the main farmhouse building, mostly spread across two converted barns, and provide a cosy home for your stay, with balconies that look over the horses grazing in the fields or the lake (which you can swim in). There is a big emphasis on freedom at Le Barn, meaning guests can choose how to tailor their stay and, with most activities included in the room price, it works out very reasonably. Doubles from £200 per night, check availability at lebarnhotel.com or booking.com La Guardia, Tuscany Doubles from £241, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Giglio, the second largest island in the Tuscan archipelago, is lush with clifftop vineyards, fig trees and pines. The serene and stylish seaside retreat, La Guardia, is perched atop a granite cave along from the pastel-hued harbour. Brushed concrete and original stone columns are softened with driftwood decorations and wispy wicker lanterns that gently flutter in the Mediterranean breeze. Chic neutral tones continue through to the rooms, all kitted out with luxury Sicilian Ortigia toiletries and many boasting balconies and sea views. Book the junior suite to embrace the elements with a bathroom built into the granite and a beachside terrace for watching the waves lap against the rocks. Mediterranean flavours and island cuisine are served in the on-site restaurant – sip on a Venetian Select spritz at aperitivo hour before a candlelit dinner of Sicilian anchovies, palamita fish with marinated courgettes, and tagliolini with lemon butter and bottarga. The 70-strong wine list showcases rare bottles from Italy’s islands – Giglio, Ischia, Salina and beyond. Breakfast includes the likes of prosciutto, omelettes with Tuscan cheese, homemade fig bread and freshly squeezed juices. There are sunset yoga sessions on the terrace, healing zen shiatsu and Ayurvedic treatments, and e-bikes to explore the island’s rugged trails, cliff-face vineyards and restaurants in medieval castles. Doubles from £241, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Hotel Bohinj, Slovenia Doubles from £186 per night, check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com This striking eco retreat stands majestically above Slovenia’s largest lake, its larch wood structure designed to imitate the mountainous backdrop. There’s a distinct alpine feel, complete with roaring fireplace, animal hides and traditional ski equipment in the lobby, while the expansive lake-view lawn is scattered with blanket-covered chairs for huddling around firepits well into the night. Floor-to-ceiling windows fill the all-day restaurant with light, or opt for a spot on the terrace with dramatic views in all directions. Contemporary twists on local fare take centre stage – buckwheat flour dumplings with sweet pumpkin purée, Bohinj trout with cauliflower, and upstream flander with pea purée – while pungent local mohant cheese is whipped into the must-order tangy cheesecake. Wines by the glass include Slovenia’s renowned sparkling istenič prestige, the Istrian peninsula’s malvazija and a fruity red from the Vipava Valley. Rooms are simple larch-lined cocoons with pops of alpine chic to add character – craggy peak-shaped lights carved into headboards, the hotel’s mountain hiker motif embossed into cushions and fur throws on bucket seats from which you can gaze out over the lake. Each night includes two hours in the spa, complete with saunas, salt room and outdoor whirlpool to soak up mountain views. Walnuts, dried fruits and regional herbal teas are strategically placed at the end of a ‘natural floor’ corridor, over which guests are encouraged to walk barefoot for grounding. The buffet breakfast is a selection of cold cuts, cheeses and yogurts from local cooperatives as well as seasonal fruits, homemade smoothies and eggs any-style on freshly baked toast. Doubles from £186 per night, check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Casa Modesta, Portugal Doubles from €220 per night, check availability at booking.com or welcomebeyond.com In the heart of a residential hamlet on the border of the Algarve’s Ria Formosa lagoon, Carlos Fernandes has lovingly converted his grandparents’ house into a striking example of cubist architecture, now home to a nine-room boutique hotel. Many original features remain – Santa Catarina flooring, curved brick ceilings and stone fireplaces – interspersed with tasteful Algarvian knick-knacks for pops of colour. Four rooms are housed in the striking whitewashed extension, complete with terraces that offer swoony sunsets over the wetlands. Blankets and bespoke toiletries are curated from local artisans, while shower tiles are from nearby town Olhão (worth a visit for the impressive fish market). Continental breakfast is served home-style, laid on lace tablecloths in the kitchen. Make your selection from the likes of carrot and saffron bundt cake, fruits hand-plucked from the property, and Portuguese cold cuts – order your preference of eggs and take to the poolside terrace to enjoy beneath the dappled shade of the trees. Come evening, chef Alexandre works with local producers to put on intimate dinners using ingredients picked from the on-site pomegranate trees, fruit orchard and vegetable patch. There’s even a dedicated tea section in the herb garden – lemongrass, lemon verbena and chocolate mint. For those who prefer something stronger, an honesty bar is stocked with Algarvian wines and Portuguese spirits. Enjoy beside the original 1964 oven, still used during winter to cook chorizo bread. Sunbathe among the garden’s cork furniture, read in the shade of the replica regional fisherman’s hut, or cycle along the Fuseta eco trail in the neighbouring wetlands, home to oyster farms, eclectic birds and two families of flamingos. casamodesta.pt Doubles from €220 per night, check availability at booking.com or welcomebeyond.com Wiesergut, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria Check rates and availability at wiesergut.com or booking.com Set at 1,000 metres above sea level, Wiesergut is a family-run boutique hideaway, surrounded by snow-dusted peaks and tucked into the quiet valley of Hinterglemm. The hotel sits directly at the foot of the Zwölferkogel lift station, offering effortless access to the slopes above, yet the village remains relatively quiet and peaceful. Style leans towards minimalist Alpine chic – warm timber, sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows, private gardens, in-room fireplaces and steaming outdoor hot tubs – yet the atmosphere remains warm and easy-going. Families, couples and solo travellers are all made to feel at home. The heated outdoor pool with hot tub jets and mountain views is the focal point of the hotel, with outdoor fire pits lit in the evenings for a magical end to the day. Wiesergut began as an Alpine hut offering home-produced snacks and refuge to travellers, and farm-to-fork eating still sits at the heart of life here. The menu includes herbs and vegetables from the hotel’s garden, matured cheeses from neighbouring farms, and breads baked in-house. Every evening you’ll find a changing tasting menu centred around seasonal ingredients and comforting Austrian classics such as beef goulash with pickles, soured cream and chives, or veal schnitzel with lingonberries. There are 24 rooms including the Manor, Garden and Hideaway suites, plus a separate mountain villa including a loft that sleeps up to six. Garden suites offer bright, spacious rooms with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private sun terrace with hot tub. The open living area with wood-burning stove and locally crafted furnishings is the perfect place to watch the sunset behind the mountains. The bathroom sits on a separate level with modern wood-and-marble finishes, plus there’s a freestanding bath in the bedroom for ultimate opulence. Breakfasts are an event in themselves. Guests can choose from an abundance of cheeses, freshly baked breads, fruits and freshly squeezed juices served from an à la carte trolley, or enjoy freshly laid eggs cooked to order. Check rates and availability at wiesergut.com or booking.com Le Doyenne, Île-de-France, France Doubles from €265 per night, check availability at ledoyennerestaurant.com The allure of Le Doyenné is its remoteness. A small working farm and restaurant with a handful of charming bedrooms just 40 minutes south of Paris, this magical countryside escape is best enjoyed as a bolt-on to a Parisian weekend away. The expansive dining room is very much at the heart of the estate, surrounded by gardens which supply the kitchen. The 11 bedrooms are a considered mixture of traditional French farmhouse details (think terracotta tiles and antique furniture) and modern luxury finishes (plush beds and roll-top baths). Room 108 is the biggest – with two floors it easily sleeps a family of four. High ceilings and huge windows create an elegant penthouse feel with verdant green views. It’s the perfect place to sit for an evening aperitif. Despite the prestige of the restaurant, the atmosphere is incredibly laid back. A daily set menu showcases the best local produce, and dishes are refined but not fussy – emphasis is put on flavour. The crudités du jardin is a highlight, each raw vegetable or flower accented with a clever sauce or seasoning. The rotating main course may be local duck cooked over coal or chicken with new-season asparagus and girolles. Breakfast is a tempting array of viennoiserie, yogurt, granola and cold meats. The hot menu might feature Turkish eggs or anchovy tartines with salad. Anything else? Peek in the Le Doyenné shop, filled with homemade breads, books and pottery. Doubles from €265 per night, check availability at ledoyennerestaurant.com San Canzian, Croatia Doubles from £303, check availability at booking.com, expedia.co.uk or mrandmrssmith.com Tucked away in northern Istria’s foliage-rich hills is this medieval hamlet turned intimate boutique hotel, San Canzian. The 28 rooms are decorated in soft, muted tones pepped up with 15th-century vintage furniture and vibrant beeswax canvases. Elegant on-site restaurant Luciano is strategically placed so guests can enjoy an aperitif from the 600-strong wine cellar as the sky turns pink over the olive trees, Adriatic Sea and Dolomites in the distance. Executive chef Pavo Klaric works homegrown and local ingredients into contemporary spins on traditional Istrian dishes – polenta-crusted cod on pine nut cream, rabbit slow cooked in red wine, and agnolotti pasta filled with young Istrian curd. After a breakfast of cured ham, crumbly cheese and fruits plucked from the abundant estate, take laps of the pool or pad down to the serene spa complete with Finnish sauna and candlelit hot tub. Doubles from £303, check availability at booking.com, expedia.co.uk or mrandmrssmith.com Nordelaia, Piedmont Rooms from £261 per night including breakfast. Check availability at booking.nordelaia.com, booking.com or mrandmrsssmith.com Nordelaia is all about equilibrium: between tradition and modernity; simplicity and indulgence; the boundlessness of nature and the cosy, uplifting comfort of home. It lies within a hilly swathe of rural Piedmont – a region which itself represents a kind of geographical middle ground, suspended between the mighty Alps and the coastal province of Liguria in north-west Italy. Occupying an 800-year-old converted farmhouse, the interiors of Nordelaia’s 12 rooms are at once contemporary and classic. Two attic suites – all warm wood beams and pleasing oblique angles – evoke a sense of treetop seclusion, while freestanding baths in the bedroom areas add a dose of opulence. On the first floor, the four rooms are themed around the striking seasonal colour palettes by which Nordelaia, from its woody hillside perch, is engulfed: greens in the spring, yellows for summer, fiery reds in the autumn, and pearly whites in the winter. Two outdoor pools – one heated, one not, but both with views for miles – entice in all seasons, while a visit to the spa, with its warm stone floors, barrel-vaulted brick ceiling and stone arches, is sure to restore a sense of internal equilibrium. Beyond the walls, Nordelaia is set within five hectares of arable land and boasts a working vineyard. Its offerings feature prominently on the wine list at the hotel’s destination restaurant, Lorto. Here chef Charles Pearce pays stunning homage both to the earthy, woodland character of Piedmont and to the maritime bounty of neighbouring Liguria. The two coalesce inventively in his take on perbureira – a thick, bean-based sauce traditionally served with pasta that Charles instead pairs with barbecue-kissed prawns and a coral emulsion. There’s a potato risotto with mussels that hits all the right notes, and a lip-smacking tangle of barbecued oyster mushrooms, served with a deeply savoury anchovy-based ferment called garum. A bistro menu that leans towards traditional flavours with modern touches offers guests a more relaxed but no less excellent dining experience. Rooms from £261 per night including breakfast. Check availability at booking.nordelaia.com, booking.com or mrandmrsssmith.com Brosundet, Ålesund, Norway Doubles from £133, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com The motto for this waterside boutique hotel is “curated luxury, the Norwegian way”. Set amid Norway’s striking fjords, Brosundet is housed in a set of converted warehouses perched on a cobblestone walkway beside Ålesund’s main waterway. Design geeks will love the unique features and original round windows of the loft suites as well as the one-room suite in the working lighthouse and the dramatic lobby fireplace that spans four floors. Each of the 131 rooms is unique but all are simply styled in soft, muted tones with contemporary bathrooms kitted out with Norwegian argan oil skincare brand Sprekenhus. Ground-floor brasserie Apotekergata No 5 focusses on flavours from the Sunnmøre region and spills out onto a renovated barge outside for alfresco dining on the water as sailboats slide past. Arkivet Bar gets its name from a local fish oil business and these days serves old-school classic cocktails with contemporary Nordic twists. Start the day with a curated breakfast buffet of Norwegian cheese, smoked fish, homemade pastries and Jacu coffee roasted in the same town. Pick up fresh sandwiches and cardamom knots from the on-site corner shop, and head out on an adventure into the fjords for kayaking, fishing and sea wildlife safaris. Reward your activities with a reservation at the hotel’s sophisticated bistro Sjøbua round the corner. Try local delicacies such as lobster bisque, grilled Sterling halibut with Norwegian cabbage and Røros sirloin aged at the bottom of the sea for 21 days. On Saturdays there are Norwegian tea dances accompanied by live piano. Doubles from £133, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno, Catalonia, Spain Rooms from €350 per night, check availability at masdenbruno.com, mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com In the vine-laced hills of Catalonia’s Priorat region, Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno is a bold reimagining of the traditional Spanish manor house. Once a 12th-century estate, this Relais & Châteaux property now houses 24 suites that strike a harmonious balance between monastic calm and contemporary elegance. Think arched stone walls, custom-made furniture, cool marble interiors, local ceramics and an infinity pool in the silhouette of a wine bottle. It’s rural Catalonia recast through a minimalist, high-design lens, with deliberate softness. At Vinum, the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant in the main building, chef Josep Queralt elevates local ingredients with quiet precision. The Sent Soví tasting menu is inspired by a medieval recipe book from 1324 and one of the earliest records of Catalan gastronomy. Standout dishes include candied leeks with Bellmunt del Priorat cottage cheese and confit egg yolk, and poultry broth enriched with roasted Reus hazelnuts. Poolside Tarraco is a more relaxed space serving the likes of watermelon and tomato gazpacho, citrus-cured sea bass ceviche and creamy rice layered with ibérico pork loin and Piquillo peppers. At Bruno’s Bar bespoke cocktails and robust Priorat reds are served beside sculptural fireplaces and a terrace that spills into the landscape. Book Bruno’s Suite for its vaulted ceilings, panoramic vineyard views, freestanding bath and olive oil based local amenities. The in-room bar (yes, a full bar, no mini here) is stocked with bold regional wines and snacks sourced from nearby artisans. Breakfast is a lavish yet unfussy affair: cooked-to-order eggs, flaky ensaïmadas, cheeses from Montsant farms and house-made compotes. The cellar-level spa is an atmospheric sanctuary offering grape seed treatments, while cycling enthusiasts can borrow the hotel’s electric bikes, making Priorat’s undulating hills a little more forgiving. Visit nearby Clos Figueras for organic wines and lunch in its garden restaurant, and browse Agrobotiga Falset for local oils and vermouth. Rooms from €350 per night, check availability at masdenbruno.com, mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Susafa, Sicily Doubles from £273, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk It’s a family affair at Susafa, a sprawling estate that has been owned by members of the Saeli-Rizzuto family for five generations - brothers Manfredi and Tommaso are now at the helm. The fortified, 19th-century farmhouse at its heart sits at the foot the Madonie mountains, near Polizzi Generosa, and is the focal point for overnight guests. Around the farmhouse are 18 simple but chic guest rooms. Between terracotta floors and exposed beams are restful ricotta-coloured walls and the odd pop of olive green or tomato red from a headboard or throw. A restaurant is housed in the old granary and flavours here take their inspiration from the traditional Sicilian table. Vegetables, herbs, fruit and organic olive oil all come straight from the farm and the menu is elegantly rustic (think tomato salads, caponata and creamy risottos). Join a cookery lesson if you can drag yourself away from the pool. Doubles from £273, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Lådfabriken b&b, Orust, Sweden Doubles from £133, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk An hour north from Gothenburg lies West Sweden’s Bohuslän coast, a series of islands and peninsulas home to fishing villages strung between rugged rocks. On the very western peninsula of Orust island sunshine bounces around quirky, colourful fish crate factory turned b&b, Lådfabriken. New for summer 2024 is the EKO Tiny House nestled in the cherry, almond and walnut trees of the waterside garden. Split over two levels, it’s a serene, secluded spot to gaze across the Skagerrak Sea at sunset. Owners Johan and Marcel serve family-style dinners such as cod fillets in buttery leek sauce and ‘East meets West’ coconut and lemongrass fish soup using catch of the day via Larsson’s fish shop in nearby Mollösund. When in season there is lobster soup on the menu and evenings dedicated to oyster shucking. Breakfast is a similarly homely affair, seeing the table laden with priest cheese, Swedish emmental, Leksands crackers and an array of homemade preserves – rosehip marmalade, cowberry, lingonberry and more. During the day, take a kayak out on the crystal-clear water, go wild swimming in the archipelago, kick back with a book on a deck chair in the rocky garden, or clamber over rocks following blue dots to the picture postcard Swedish hamlet of Edshultshall. Here, among red and white clapboard houses, families gather around barbecues on little jetties outside their boathouses. Guests all receive a pick-up stick on check in and are encouraged to join the owners in their #5minutesbeachcleanup initiative to sustain local ecosystems. Doubles from £133, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Les Sources de Caudalie, France Doubles from £272, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Twenty minutes’ drive from Bordeaux, Les Sources de Caudalie is the epitome of French country chic. There’s a stone manor house at its heart, a small lake, and a hard-working kitchen garden, plus a hamlet-like extension of suites. Great food and wine are the focus at this gastronomic getaway, but even the finest dining (the hotel’s main restaurant, La Grand’Vigne, holds two Michelin stars) is done without fuss. The newer, cabin-like suites (designed to reflect the oyster fishermen’s huts of Cap Ferret, in the nearby Arcachon Basin), with their whitewashed timber walls, retro-influenced furniture and spa-like bathrooms, are the ones to splash out on; in the evenings you’ll be serenaded by frogs as you return to your room along flower- and water-lined pathways. In the mornings, step onto your private terrace and watch carthorses ploughing the vines just outside. The three restaurants at Les Sources have most tastes covered. Celebrate a special occasion with dinner in La Grand’Vigne and enjoy a meal where even the table salts stick in the memory (one of ours, blended with Bordeaux pimento, was the colour of roast peppers). The cheeseboard comes with fresh cottage cheese, from a local dairy, served with a dot of cherry jam. Doubles from £272, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Castilla Termal Brihuega, Spain From £226 per room, check availability at booking.com Surrounded by lavender fields, this little town in the region of La Alcarria is home to a new boutique hotel in a restored cloth factory. Perfect for food lovers seeking to make new discoveries, it showcases regional specialities, while its thermal waters provide an opportunity to fully relax and rejuvenate. Breakfast is a delight: all the Spanish goodies like jamón ibérico, pan con tomate and tortilla, plus local ingredients like manchego, honeycomb and tarta de uvas – a grape sponge cake which teams well with the more contemporary touch in the cold drip coffee offered. At dinner, rustic plates like kid goat and the region’s famous rum baba style cake are served in the large glass-domed restaurant. Nearby food experiences include truffle hunting at family-owned TrufaZero, which supplies many restaurants in the region. Guests can dig for the black gold sniffed out by their dog, Nino. Brihuega’s thermal spa promotes a sense of wellness and relaxation with an outdoor pool, massage jets and a bespoke lavender treatment – a two-hour ritual which includes a lavender scrub, wrap and massage. Exposed brick, wooden beams and floors, a neutral colour palette and dried floral displays add to the calming effect. castillatermal.com From £226 per room, check availability at booking.com Sublime Comporta, Portugal Doubles from £561, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com For a weekend of local wines, fresh seafood and earthy rice dishes head an hour south of Lisbon to the wild sand-fringed coastline, pine forests and stylish beach retreats of Comporta. The area has long been protected by its status as a nature reserve (at its northern end is the Sado estuary, home to bottlenose dolphins, flamingos and storks). The 17-acre estate of Sublime Comporta, its rooms, suites and cabana villas peppered among umbrella pines, cork trees, frangipane flowers and olives, is a blueprint for low-impact hotel design – stylish and subtle rather than dominating the surrounding landscape. Inside all is minimal and white, with the odd pop of polished concrete or warm wood. Though not directly on the beach (the closest is a five-minute drive away), the vibe is that of a grown-up, romantic beach retreat. There’s also a dedicated spa, using organic Amala products for its range of soothing treatments, and a yoga pavilion. Doubles from £561, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Tilia Estate, Slovenia Huts from £184, check availability at booking.com Slovenia is a compact, under-the-radar destination whose diversity of landscapes has stacks to offer visitors who love the outdoor life. Tilia Estate runs a range of cellar tours and tastings of its wonderful wines, some conducted in English – contact them for details. The nearby Theodosius Forest Village – with its seven luxurious wood cabins, some with hot tubs or saunas, set in idyllic woodlands next to its own vineyards – makes a perfect base to explore this beautiful region, where options include hiking, cycling, kayaking, climbing and paragliding. Huts from £184, check availability at booking.com Extend your Slovenia trip with a few days in the capital exploring Ljubljana's best restaurants and in the lush, green Julian Alps. Levendis Estate, Ithaca Check rates and availability at levendisestate.com Aussie-Greek couple Marilyn and Spero Raftopulos – plus their (grown-up) children, Kate and Niko – run this collection of four cottages plus swimming pool on Spero’s family homestead. It overlooks a bay in the north of the island and has been going for more than 30 years. Bathrooms come generously stocked with Levendis’ own natural skincare products, while cottage kitchens are pre-stocked with delicious Greek wine, olives and pistachios for that first holiday sundowner. Plus peach juice, bread, homemade jams, local thyme honey, freshly laid eggs and own-recipe muesli for the first morning’s breakfast. Click here for more places to eat and drink in Ithaca. Check rates and availability at levendisestate.com Harö Natur, Sweden Check rates and availability at 59north18east.com Take the ferry from Stokcholm to this restaurant and hotel, where your bed for the night is a unique choice between a floating greenhouse, boujie boathouse or glass-fronted treehouse. In the summer months, two Italians take residence on the pizza ovens, or opt for the tasting menu sitting; a succession of contemporary Swedish dishes that might include roe with dill oil and horseradish cream, smoked char with celeriac and cucumber celery jus and woodfire oven lobster with jalapaño cream. Take a dip in the clear waters and warm up in the hot tub and dinky sauna, perched on its own pier, while sunset casts a pink and orange glow over the archipelago. Check rates and availability at 59north18east.com Hotel Les Sources de Cheverny, France Doubles from £266, check availability at booking.com or sources-hotels.com/valdeloire/ A sense of tranquility extends across this estate hidden in the countryside, especially to the unique rooms. Designed as charming standalone cabins (as well as a main country house), they are still luxurious, spacious and rich in thoughtful details. Staying in them feels like a private hideaway, an indulgence that makes the whole experience feel like a genuine escape. The spa deepens this feeling of retreat. Snuggled among the trees, it offers a relaxation pool where the water is warm and still, a hammam that envelopes you in soothing heat, and an outdoor hot tub with views of the surrounding woodland. Sun loungers are scattered around for afternoons in the sun. The food at Le Favori is a masterclass in precision and flavour pairing. Tucked away in the peaceful grounds, the dining experience that perfectly balances refinement with comfort. The setting is idyllic: a light-filled dining room overlooking serene gardens and calm woodland, where every element seems designed to help you unwind. Each dish shows a deep respect for the ingredients of the Loire Valley, elevated through technique. From delicately poached river fish to garden herbs treated like jewels, the menu pairs textures and flavours expertly. The service mirrors the food, it’s polished without ever feeling pretentious. Staff make you feel at ease and well looked after, offering insight without intrusion and creating an atmosphere that is inviting. Les Sources de Cheverny becomes more than a place to stay. It’s a destination worth seeking out and one that you’ll wish to go back to. Doubles from £266, check availability at booking.com or sources-hotels.com/valdeloire/ Andrássy Rezidencia Wine & Spa, Tarcal Doubles from £155, check availability at booking.com In Hungary’s historic Tokaj-Hegyalja wine growing region (tours of local vineyards can be arranged), this five-star hotel and spa (treatments are tailored around vinotherapy) has won a following among modern-day wine buffs looking for less mainstream tastings. While its restaurant offers modern interpretations of Hungarian classics, it’s the accompanying wine pairing choices that most guests are more concerned about – the list runs to 80 different Tokaj wines from 25 different growers. More travel guides 8 lesser-known Italian islands worth visiting Best Morocco food trips Best French food trips Best Spanish food trips Best Portuguese food trips Best European vineyards to visit and stay Best foodie city breaks by train Best hotels in Paris Best Italian hotels Best Scottish hotels Black Friday hotel deals
This Mediterranean coastal roadtrip is the way to truly unwind
Follow a slow-paced journey along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast and learn how to truly unwind
Dalmatians love a slow pace of life – so much so that other Croatians often mock their southern counterparts. But when your landscape includes the shimmering Adriatic Sea on one side and the Dinaric Alps towering over Venetian-style villages on the other, why would you want to race through it? And that’s without mentioning the irresistible food and wine to be enjoyed. Dalmatians have a word for this laid-back attitude – pomalo, roughly meaning, ‘hey, why the rush, take it easy’. It’s a mindset I readily slip into every time I come here. Less than an hour’s drive from busy Dubrovnik along the meandering coast road leads to the Pelješac peninsula – specifically the village of Mali Ston. Game of Thrones fans will recognise the hulking medieval Walls of Ston that loom over the village, which helped depict the show’s fictional capital city, King’s Landing. But shellfish lovers will look to the bay, with its oyster and mussel beds that bring sweet saltiness to Dalmatian plates. For more than 40 years, the Šare family has been farming European flat oysters for its Bota Šare restaurants in Mali Ston, Dubrovnik, Split and Zagreb. The bay’s salty waters combine with the mineral-rich freshwater from the Neretva river to give these oysters a delicate sweetness that mingles with their natural brininess. Many years after I first tasted these I’m still not sure I’ve had a better oyster. The Šare family also run boat tours to one of the floating shacks where you can see the oysters being harvested before tasting them – it’s as fresh as you can get. They’ll also cook their own just pulled from the water mussels buzara-style in olive oil, garlic and white wine. For a truly VIP experience, contact them directly for a visit to their private islet, Banja, where a rustic restaurant under the pines is the setting for serious feasting on oysters, mussels and pršut (prosciutto), alongside Dalmatian white wine. While white wine might be the usual companion to oysters – and several grape varieties grow here – Pelješac produces some kings of Croatian red wine. From Ston down to the port town of Orebić, vineyards of red plavac mali grapes sprawl along the peninsula and cling perilously to stony slopes, particularly in the south. Fruity, full-bodied and robust, plavac mali is the happy result of the strong Dalmatian sunshine being tempered by those dry Adriatic winds. The southern coastal villages of Dingač and Postup are among the few in Croatia to have their own appellation, and these are among the most prized reds. The village of Potomje is winery central, with more than a half dozen small-scale winemakers. If you have time for only one, Matuško will give you an excellent introduction. Taste its plavac mali, postup and dingač, along with the aromatic white Dalmatian rukatac and – one of my favourites – dry, lightly citrussy pošip, which originated in the neighbouring island of Korčula and is now produced in small quantities in Pelješac. From Pelješac, it’s easy to reach Korčula town via the 20-minute ferry that shuttles from Orebić. As the boat takes me across the narrow channel I feel a familiar anticipation that I get whenever I see Korčula town’s medieval walls curving around its thumb-shaped peninsula. Almost like Dubrovnik in miniature, the old town’s stone houses and cobbled lanes fan out from the centre like a fishbone – best for letting the hot Dalmatian air circulate. Down one of the narrowest of alleyways is Fundamentum, a minuscule, fair-weather restaurant – or, rather, a cluster of wooden tables squeezed wherever they can fit – where homemade pasta dishes include heavenly gnocchi with truffles. You’ll smell the truffles from around the corner. Delightful as Korčula town is, I have another wine route to revisit. It’s been nearly 10 years since I stumbled across the fishing village of Lumbarda, a 10-minute drive south of Korčula town. Here, amid several sandy beaches (a rarity in Croatia), a few family-run wineries produce crisp white grk wine which, after I first tasted it, became my top white. This grape has been around for about 2,300 years and, until very recently, was cultivated only in Lumbarda. Among Lumbarda’s grk-producing wineries, Bire is probably the most popular, so book ahead. For me, though, Zure winery became a favourite after I tasted its grk and pošip. Brothers Ivan and Marko Batistić run it with their father Bartul, and I met up with them at the winery in time to celebrate yet another Decanter Award win. Find yourself in Lumbarda on a summery Friday and you’re in for a treat. Kicking off around the summer solstice in June, Fishermen’s Evenings run every Friday until early September – a lively beachfront festival during which fishermen fry their catches, winemakers sell bottles and craftspeople showcase creations while music fills the air. It’s truly one of the great pleasures of a sultry Dalmatian night. To reach Dalmatia’s largest island Bra č from Korčula takes a bit of planning, as you need to ferry-hop from Korčula to Orebić to Trpanj, then Ploče on the mainland. But here you can slow your journey even further with a detour to the Neretva valley – this lushly fertile place where the Neretva spills into the Adriatic is Dalmatia’s orchard, with its fruit trees supplying mandarins (its particular speciality) and other citrus fruits, plus cherries and melons to restaurants, markets and riverside stalls. Another speciality is brudet, a stew made from frogs’ legs and eels, which might not be to everyone’s taste. But what should appeal are the boat trips organised by Hotel Villa Neretva to its second restaurant, Konoba Neretvanska Kuća, which is on the water and reachable only by boat. It might sound touristy but it really is an enjoyable experience being serenaded by folk musicians as you drift along the river to a lunch of one of Croatia’s most mouthwatering dishes. Throughout Croatia, especially in rural areas, you can find lamb, veal, pork or octopus cooked in a cast-iron, bell-shaped pot called a peka, which is then smothered in embers while everything – veg, potatoes, garlic – cooks together slowly for hours. Here by the river I devour the most succulent veal shank I’d had since, well, the last time I had a peka. It’s rare I refuse a peka but you do need to book it at least several hours in advance, if not the day before. Onwards to the ferry port at Makarska to Brač – the v-shaped Zlatni Rat is Croatia’s most photographed beach. Despite its fame it’s certainly worth a visit but best seen in the mellow morning. Pitch up in the neighbouring village of Bol at lunchtime and you might wonder why it’s so relatively relaxed (answer: everyone’s at the beach or on a boat). Come evening the place comes alive, especially during the weekly summertime seafood festival on Wednesdays – a larger affair than Lumbarda’s Friday fish fest. Brač’s heavily indented coastline harbours so many charming villages and ports – Pučišća, Sutivan, Milna – that it’s easy to forget the hinterland of olive groves, vineyards, scrub-covered hills and tiny villages. In the small village of Donji Humac, I enter a carnivore’s paradise, also known as Konoba Kopačina. This cheerful family-run restaurant takes farm-to-fork and nose-to-tail seriously, and local Bra č lamb is the star on the grill and under the peka’s bell. As parts of Croatia become slicker and glossier, count on Konoba Kopa čina to remind you of the simpler pleasures of life.
Why I love Valencia, Spain's sunny citrus-filled city
This sunny Spanish city is frequently nominated as the best place in the world to live in for its work/life balance, not to mention its incredible food scene
Learn all about what makes the cuisine of this Spanish city so special from local chef Eduardo Idrobo. From iconic paella to citrus and local signature drinks, there is plenty for foodies to enjoy. Want to learn more about regional cuisine? Check out our guides to the cuisines of Trentino in Italy, Istria in Croatia, the Algarve in Portugal or Cork in Ireland. Valencia cuisine: 10 things I love Gamba roja This Mediterranean red prawn is deeply embedded in our cuisine and considered one of the most exceptional seafoods around the world. Its red colour is a result of the depth at which the prawns live in the sea, which contributes to the intensity of flavour and natural sweetness. The texture is very delicate, almost like butter. Rice Rice is the most important ingredient in our culture, we use it as a transmitter of flavours. There are three different varieties. The first is bomba, a short-grain rice cultivated in Albufera Natural Park, which is great at absorbing broth. The second is albufera and the third is senia. These are both considered good but don’t hold up as well when cooked over fire. Bomba allows you to play more with it. Paella valenciana Paella valenciana is our most iconic dish. It traditionally contains chicken, rabbit, garrofón beans (a type of butter bean), artichokes and runner beans, though ingredients vary depending on where you are in the region. You’ll find snails and pork near the mountains, and seafood on the coast. Paella is not just a dish but a ritual that we usually cook on Sunday, similar to a Sunday roast, over a fire pit and enjoy with friends. Fire itself is embedded within the paella tradition – it’s considered an important ingredient that adds smokiness. Las Fallas This is a major festival held annually in March where locals build huge satirical sculptures that are set alight at the end of the celebrations. At the fairs you’ll find people selling a dessert called buñuelos de calabaza, which is fried pumpkin dough sprinkled with sugar, often paired with hot chocolate. Citrus Valencia once was the principal exporter of oranges across Europe due to its warm climate and soil, which is perfect for citrus, particularly sweet oranges. Oranges play a key role in daily life – we tend to start the day with an orange juice paired with pan tomate, and also use them in desserts such as cake or flan. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/2/2026/04/GettyImages-1371962172-f980180.jpg" width="724" height="483" alt="Valencia Mediterranean city with orange trees ornamenting and decorating its streets. Signal city centre in the local language, Valencian." title="Valencia Mediterranean city with orange trees ornamenting and decorating its streets. Signal city centre in the local language, Valencian." /> Agua de Valencia Everyone from Valencia drinks this cocktail made from a base of cava, Cointreau, water and orange juice. We have it as an aperitif and drink it in social settings with friends. It was created to use up the products you had available, resulting in many personal variations. Horchata This is a nutty, soft drink made by soaking dried tiger nuts in water, then blending with water and sugar before pressing out the liquid and serving cold. It’s milky and refreshing, popular with kids, and we usually drink it in the morning paired with sugar-glazed brioche fartons. The importance of lunch Valencians truly respect lunchtime. At around 2pm everyone stops what they’re doing for a one- to two-hour break back at home. The shops are closed, the world stops. This is why most dishes are to share, including paella valenciana, fideuà (a short noodle dish cooked in a paella pan), vegetarian rice with artichoke, garlic and leeks, and coca bread (similar to pinsa and focaccia). Mountain produce Another beautiful part of the Valencian community is that as you move to closer to the mountains there is even more variety of amazing produce. You’ll find snails, rabbits, mushrooms and garrofón beans, which have a very smoky flavour when you cook them over fire. Marcona almonds These almonds are indigenous to Spain and they have been eaten in the Valencia region for centuries. They are usually served as a snack with a beer in bars, as well as being incorporated into savoury and sweet dishes. More cuisine guides Fez cuisine: 10 things we love Puglian cuisine: 10 things we love Andalusian cuisine: 10 things we love Jamaican cuisine: 10 things we love Georgian cuisine: 10 things we love Colombian cuisine: 10 things we love The Algarve's cuisine: 10 things we love Thai cuisine: 10 things we love South Korean cuisine: 10 things we love Nashville cuisine: 10 things we love Norwegian cuisine: 10 things we love Tuscan cuisine: 10 things we love Cork cuisine: 10 things we love Northern Ireland cuisine: 10 things we love Finland cuisine: 10 things we love
Best restaurants in Newcastle: where to eat and drink
Looking for the best places to eat in Newcastle? Read our guide to the best local foodie areas from Jesmond to Ouseburn, Tynemouth to Monument
Looking for the best Newcastle restaurants?. We've visited the best foodie spots from cosy pubs to brunch staples and creative cocktail bars. Check out our ideas for eating and drinking in Newcastle, from Jesmond to Quayside and beyond… For more exciting restaurants and weekend ideas for food lovers, check out our best UK city breaks. Also discover the best restaurants in Bath, best restaurants in Manchester, best restaurants in York or the best restaurants in Edinburgh. Best places to eat and drink in Newcastle Miso – for cocktails and Japanese small plates Set across two levels, this izakaya-inspired spot is perfect for a chilled evening out. Grab a snack and cocktail in the cosy downstairs bar, or head up to the dining room to watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen. Start with a quirky drink like 'the family secret' – a lively mix of mezcal, coconut water, fino and citrus – then work your way through the small plates menu and daily-changing specials. Don’t miss the (highly addictive) crack cabbage or meltingly tender pork belly glazed with amazu sweet-and-sour sauce. miso.restaurant Sandhill Arms – for a historic pub The group of houses that hug the Sandhill area of the Quayside are centuries old, and this pub has kept all of the tradition of the old building it's in, with huge solid beams, stone walls and a wood-burning stove in the cosy library-like back room. Owned by the team behind Wylam Brewery, there are Wylam classics on tap, like Hickey the Rake and Jakehead, as well as a selection of constantly changing guest brews. Hungry guests can also order superior pies sourced from local legend Pink Lane Bakery – all served mix-and-match style, with a menu of different mashes, pea sides and sauce styles for the ultimate DIY comfort plate. sandhillarms.co.uk Kiln – for brunch Ouseburn favourite Kiln has had a recent makeover, with a larger dining space and updated menu (but still very focused on Middle-Eastern flavours). It’s a warm and welcoming all-day space – grab a coffee and pastry from the on-site bakery, pop in for brunch or linger over vibrant sharing plates and a carafe of wine in the evening. Star dishes include the just-baked puffy za'atar flatbreads, tender flame-grilled joojeh chicken skewers with herby green labneh, and vibrant beetroot borani. A new central bar space and flickering fires give the room a glow, creating a cosy date spot. The pottery the restaurant was named after is making a comeback in a new space this year, too, creating hand-thrown ceramic crockery for the restaurant and offering one-off classes and courses. kiln.cafe Saltwater Fish Company – for fresh seafood This fishmonger-meets-fish bar is a seafood lover’s dream. Located in a corner of Newcastle’s famous Fenwick’s food hall (which is worth an hour of your time alone for its incredible array of cheeses, chocolate, foodie gifts and local specialities), Saltwater is a destination in its own right. Bag one of the counter seats and watch the chefs work their magic on the day's freshest catch, with dishes like steamed Hong Kong-style seabass, sharing towers of hot and cold seafood and a daily-changing oyster menu. Do book ahead, as there are only 20 seats, which fill up quickly. saltwaterfish.co.uk The Staiths Café – for coffee with a view Cross the Tyne River over the Swing Bridge to Gateshead, and it’s a 20-minute walk to this local hidden gem. Set opposite the dramatic remains of the Dunston Staiths (a huge wooden dock for coal ships), this two-storey coffee shop is a favourite stop off for walkers, runners and cyclists, as well as a community hub. Head upstairs for brilliant views over the Tyne and superior brews, as well as gorgeous brunches and pastries. Check the website for the weekly events, ranging from yoga evenings to paint-and-sip, live music and supper club pop-ups. thestaithscafe.co.uk Wren – for inventive cocktails Tucked next to Anna Hedworth’s original Cook House restaurant (a must-visit when in Newcastle) Wren is a chic cocktail bar with a menu as inventive as the food served next door. Steps lead down to a light-filled, sunken space, where playful, seasonally changing cocktails are the star of the show. Carefully selected and house-made ingredients are used to create signature serves, like a martini made with olive oil-washed vodka, fino and sake. Alternatively, choose a glass from the curated, grower-led wine list. As you’d expect, there’s also a small menu of bold-flavoured snacks (like kimchi pickled eggs or smoked beet and anchovy gildas) to complement the drinking experience. Perfect for a fun but grown-up night out. wrenouseburn.com Hotel Gotham – for a gourmet stay Taking over the historic listed Fire Station building on Newcastle’s Pilgrim Street, Hotel Gotham is a stunning five-star hotel bang in the middle of the action, within easy access to the vibrant town centre and the buzzy quayside. The hotel is built around a central courtyard so the entrance feels secluded and the whole place has a glamorous hideaway feel. There’s lots of nods to the fire station heritage with engine red pops of colour, fire bucket lampshades and displays of vintage memorabilia. Rooms are big and bold with a monochrome palette, jewel-toned furnishings and huge marble bathrooms stocked with luxe Argentum toiletries, while suites are worth the upgrade for extras like roll-top baths and access to the private Brass members club. There’s also a bookable martini trolley service where the resident mixologist will come to your room and whip you up a bespoke drink depending on your taste. Siren is the hotel’s flagship restaurant and has a clubby NYC feel. The menu celebrates regional meat and fish with dishes like hand-dived scallops with pork belly and mead or Northumbrian lamb served two ways with a fermented black garlic glaze. Don’t miss the Broon ale and sticky date pudding – a deliciously local riff on the retro classic served with plenty of rich butterscotch sauce. Fire bar (which has its own entrance on Pilgrim Street, adorned with an exact replica of the original fire station sign) is a buzzy destination in its own right with full length street facing windows ideal for people watching. There’s a varied cocktail list mixing classics with fun twists and inventive bar food like frickles with nori salad cream. Breakfast offers a good choice of cooked to order dishes, from a classic full English to waffles with smoked bacon and caramelised banana or local smoked mackerel with red pepper compote – hearty enough to set you up for a full day exploring the city. hotelgotham.co.uk More places to eat and drink in Newcastle Long Friday – for eclectic sharing dishes “Simple, relaxed neighbourhood drinks and dining” is how Long Friday defines itself. It's a modest intro for a restaurant that regularly excels in that brief. The second venue from Cook House creator Anna Hedworth, this modish spot in suburban Jesmond serves an eclectic menu of sharing dishes, in which flavour-packed ingredients (cured mackerel, Old Spot pork, sardines) are treated with a variety of stylistic influences and neat techniques to create small plates that resonate – think barbecued ox heart and green pepper salsa, cacio e pepe polenta with brown butter mushrooms and sage, or mussels in chorizo with fermented tomato sauce. Great cocktails, too. longfriday.co.uk Flint Pizza – for pizza The inner suburb of Heaton is having a foodie moment, as restaurants such as Nest, Rebel and Cantina rack-up plaudits. Flint is a mainstay of that scene. A simple space of exposed brick with an Italian-made Stefano Ferrara pizza oven prominent in its open kitchen, Flint specialises in Neapolitan-style pizzas, natural wine and a small selection of nifty small plates such as fermented red peppers and lardo or whipped ricotta with tomatoes, tropea onions and crispy chilli. Its 48-hour fermented pizza bases are intelligently and creatively dressed with, for example, fennel sausage, crème fraiche, cime di rapa, Aleppo pepper and parmesan, or oyster mushrooms, spring greens, Isle of Mull cheddar, fermented chilli and parmesan. flintpizza.co.uk Solstice – for intimate Michelin-starred dining Most people know chef Kenny Atkinson for his flagship House of Tides, which has held a Michelin star for a decade. Meanwhile, a short walk away, Kenny’s second venue Solstice – also a Michelin-starred restaurant – has emerged as his super high-end, cutting-edge outlet. Seating 14 people, Solstice is a luxurious cocoon where the chefs cook in an open-plan kitchen, serving guests a succession of surprise dishes over 10 to 15 courses. Working on that small scale, the kitchen can utilise fleetingly seasonal, highly limited supplies of exceptional ingredients in its complex, ornate dishes. A recent dish of, for example, creel-caught Scottish langoustine involved plancha-cooking the seafood, plating it on an Amalfi lemon, Sichuan pepper, allspice and Thai basil marmalade, then serving it with two sauces at table: a langoustine Thai curry sauce and a shio koji foam. Solstice is a magical treat for serious foodies. solsticencl.com The Broad Chare – for a foodie pub Chef and restaurateur Terry Laybourne is a Newcastle legend who, over four decades – at restaurants from smart brasserie 21, to the wine bar and dining room St Vincent – has pushed the North East forward. His Broad Chare pub, located just off the Quayside by the River Tyne in central Newcastle, is easy to love and difficult to leave. A warm nook of wood, leather and chalkboards, you can snack on top-notch scotch eggs, Lindisfarne oysters and toasties in the bar (excellent beer choice, too), or linger in the upper-level dining area. Typical dishes might include haggis on toast with a fried hen’s egg and HP, sharing steaks and suet pies, or local wild halibut, celeriac purée, mussels and leeks. thebroadchare.co.uk Arlo – for brunch A relaxed all-day restaurant in West Jesmond, Arlo focuses on seasonal, home-cooked food. Brunch is what they do best, so arrive early (or be prepared to queue) and grab a window seat to watch the world go by. Take your pick between toasted waffles with bacon and maple syrup, slices of seared steak with sourdough and poached eggs or focaccia filled with pesto, tomato, mushroom, bacon and sausages for a hearty way to start the day. Don’t leave before picking up a takeaway slice of citrus drizzle cake from the generously filled counter. arlojesmond.com Fat Hippo – for indulgent burgers If you’re looking for hearty comfort food in Newcastle, make a beeline for a branch of Fat Hippo and its indulgent burgers, either the branch in Jesmond, or the one in the city centre. You can easily spend the whole evening in the cosy Jesmond restaurant, where wooden tables are squished together, with an open fireplace on one wall, and an old church pew against another. It feels like you’re hunkering down in a friend’s living room, and if you live locally you’re almost sure to bump into someone you know. The place comes to life in the evenings, so it’s good to book ahead. The beef burgers are freshly ground and pressed daily, served in a toasted brioche bun. Chicken burgers are just as hearty. If you’ve got room to spare, we recommend you order a side of dirty fries – that’s a bowl of hand-cut chips with crispy bacon pieces and creamy Fat Hippo sauce. fathippo.co.uk Scream for Pizza – for unique pizzas Scream for Pizza is the brainchild of friends Victoria Featherby and Alex Walker, who met back in 2010 while working in the entertainment department of a cruise ship company. They found common ground in a shared love of pizza and in 2014, between contracts, they decided to head to Naples to do a seven-week course in pizza making at Enzo Coccia’s celebrated La Notizia restaurant. They returned to Newcastle-upon-Tyne and served their creations from a J7 Peugeot, a former French army ambulance turned pizza truck affectionately known as Goldie. In May 2019, they finally opened their first pizzeria in the Sandyford district, although Goldie still makes regular appearances around the city. Past Scream for Pizza bestsellers include the crab thermidor and a deconstructed fried tiramisu pizza. screamforpizza.com SIX – for rooftop views For one of the best views of the city, head to the Baltic art gallery’s sleek and stylish top floor restaurant. The best tables are those around the outside of the large room with uninterrupted panoramas through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Share seasonal small plates of Wye Valley asparagus with house lardo or tomato tartare with cured yolk before moving onto dishes such as wild garlic ricotta ravioli with fresh pea ragu, or cod poached in douglas fir with samphire. sixbaltic.com Peace and Loaf – for a tasting menu For a refined meal in Newcastle head to Peace and Loaf. Durham-born chef Dave Coulson trained under Michel Roux Jr. and is the antithesis of the food he serves – strong, tattooed hands plate up delicate dishes of clementine, saffron, sheep’s milk and vanilla. If you’re looking to splash out on a special occasion go for the tasting menu and settle in for 13 courses. Each of the dishes will intrigue you, for different reasons. The food might be more on the side of fine dining, but the atmosphere and service is as friendly and relaxed as anywhere else in the city. peaceandloaf.co.uk House of Tides – for city centre fine dining For fine-dining in Newcastle city centre, House of Tides is a must. Set on the quayside in a Grade I townhouse, this Michelin star restaurant focuses on seasonal and sustainable food. Located in a handsome 16th century quayside townhouse, Tides has, over recent years, subtly morphed into a more relaxed affair. For all its rigour and polish, it now offers a bar menu downstairs, an a la carte option in the main restaurant, and is serving Sunday lunch, too. Produce available from the North East is used as much as possible, and the wine list includes English sparkling from West Sussex. Sourdough bread with cultured butter is followed by king crab, radish, oyster and dill before a meatier plate of veal sweetbreads served with beef fat crumb, apricot and black garlic. houseoftides.co.uk Riley’s Fish Shack – for fresh seafood The North East coast might not be the most sought-after beach spot for sun-seekers, with its bracing temperatures and strong sea breezes, but that’s what makes Riley’s Fish Shack, in Tynemouth, such a find. Adam and Lucy Riley set up the shack in their hometown as a way to celebrate the local seafood that’s caught in the area, and if you want some of the best fish in the North East then it’s a must-visit. Queues can stretch for a couple of hours in peak times and, as with seafood, when the fish is gone, it’s gone. Fortunately, it’s worth the wait. Choose between mackerel wraps (cooked in a wood-fired oven for a smoky flavour), chargrilled squid served with crispy hot-plate garlic potatoes and pan-fried salted hake with caper butter. The menu changes depending on the fish supplied by local fishermen, but you can always rely on something fresh, seasonal and hearty to warm you up. If you can’t find a seat inside, wrap up warm, breathe in the sea air and enjoy a pint of ale from local Almasty Brewing Co. with your food on the sandy beach. rileysfishshack.com Dabbawal – for Indian food Serving Mumbai street food in a casual environment, Dabbawal is the place to go for Indian dishes. Visit the cosy city centre restaurant or bright and buzzy Jesmond site for masala dosa wraps, sweet potato chaat and okra fries. Try the malabar king prawn curry in a fragrant ginger, turmeric and coconut sauce with a slightly sweet pashwari naan on the side. For a small taste of everything, choose the thali menu which comes with poppadoms, grilled meats, curries, daal, rice and raita. Wash it down with a jug of smooth mango lassi and a warming cup of masala chai. dabbawal.com Harvest Canteen – for coffee One of the best places in Newcastle for a cup of coffee, Harvest Canteen in leafy Jesmond serves Ouseburn Coffee Company brews (OCC roasts beans just two miles down the road). White walls, communal wooden benches, baskets of oranges ready for juicing and shelves lined with crockery give it a laid-back vibe even during the Saturday morning bustle. ouseburncoffee.co.uk Grainger Market – for an independent market Newcastle’s Grainger Market opened in 1835 and is split into two sections – a butchers’ and a vegetable market. Nowadays, the still-traditional market is a hive of activity, with butchers, fishmongers, fruit and veg sellers and bakers. It’s easy to get confused, with the market’s 14 entrances and exits but once you’ve learnt your way around it’s a great place to stock up on fresh produce, at bargain prices. Geordie accents bellow around the building (“a pound of pears for a £1”) but don’t miss out on the street food stalls that are dotted around, too. ourgraingermarket.co.uk Charlotte’s Butchery – for meat For the best meat in Newcastle, head to Gosforth. After growing up in the city, Charlotte got a part time job in a butchers in York before training in butcher’s shops in Newcastle and Knightsbridge. Together with her brother, Jamie, and a Yorkshireman named Richard they run Charlotte’s butchery in her home town, selling chops, roasts, steaks, shanks, bangers and burgers. charlottesbutchery.com Wylam Brewery – for beer Exhibition Park is a vast green space in Newcastle with bandstands, lakes, cafes and an art deco Palace of Art. The latter, built in 1929 is now home to Wylam microbrewery. Opened in 2000, it stocks 24 core keg beers, four core cask beers and four heritage cask beers that are only available in the North East. The latter includes a red kite heritage red ale, a gold tankard with a hint of grapefruit and a spicy angel amber ale. The tap room is a cosy space for an ale or two, and there’s a bottle fridge if you fancy something chilled. Book a tour of the brewery on a Saturday to learn about the company’s history and the brewing process, before having a tipple or two. If you can’t make it to the brewery, they supply a lot of places across Newcastle including Tyneside café and cinema bar, so stop off for a pre-film pint. wylambrewery.co.uk Carruthers & Kent – for wine Located in the Gosforth district, Carruthers & Kent is wine bar, shop and deli all rolled into one, with a tasting room where owners Claire Carruthers and Mo O’Toole host events with visiting winemakers. Carruthers & Kent serves 16 wines by the glass and any bottle off the shelves can be enjoyed for just a £5 corkage fee. There are also wine flights, a range of additional fine wines, boards of cheese and charcuterie, and homemade pies and parfaits. carruthersandkent.com More UK restaurant guides Best restaurants in Dublin Best restaurants in Deal Best restaurants in Birmingham Best restaurants in St Albans Best restaurants in Bristol Best restaurants in Edinburgh Best restaurants in York Best restaurants in Whitstable Best restaurants in Oxford Best restaurants in Cambridge Best restaurants in Margate Best restaurants in Manchester Best restaurants in the Lake District Words | Janine Ratcliffe, Ellie Edwards, Laura Rowe, Mark Taylor and Tony Naylor
10 of the best Mediterranean islands for foodies
For an island escape with a focus on food, look no further than these ten Mediterranean hotspots
For an island escape with a focus on food, look no further than these ten Mediterranean hotspots. Spend your days beach hopping, then graze your way around seaside tavernas, beach bars and farm-to-fork fincas to feast on grilled seafood, regional pasta and minerally volcanic wines. Take your pick of islands off Croatia, Greece, Italy, Spain or France for the ultimate summer foodie getaway. For more travel inspiration, check out our guide to the best Greek islands or our favourite Italian hotels to live the dolce vita. For a taste of the Mediterranean closer to home, book a table at one of London's best Mediterranean restaurants. Best Mediterranean islands for foodies Formentera, Spain Loved for its powdery white beaches, crystal-clear waters and largely untouched landscapes, Formentera is the smallest of the Balearic Islands – and arguably the most serene. Long favoured by those in search of a slower pace of life, the island draws travellers from across the world with its laid-back atmosphere and quietly bohemian spirit. Despite its growing reputation, much of the island remains undeveloped and there are strict limits on car use. Instead, visitors are encouraged to explore by bike or on foot, following sandy paths that wind through pine forests, salt flats and coastal dunes. Nature is central to the island’s appeal. Just offshore lies the vast seagrass meadow of Posidonia oceanica, a Unesco World Heritage-listed ecosystem that plays a vital role in keeping the surrounding waters so clear. Perhaps that’s why there’s so much great seafood to be found on the island. Chilled yet chic could be a motto for the whole of Formentera, but it especially applies to its restaurants. Beso Beach is a laidback yet lively restaurant that serves some of the best paella on the island. Juan y Andrea on Platja Illetes has been open since the 70s and is another place for piled-high seafood platters. For a fun sunset dinner, head to Restaurante Dunas de Formentera for croaker ceviche, local squid with garlic and parsley and Iberian pork ravioli. Where to stay: Only accessible by boat, boutique hotel Teranka is right on the beach, flanked by pines. Its 35 rooms, from self-catering suites to doubles with private terraces, are bright spaces accented with local art and furniture. Check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com. Then there’s Dunas de Formentera, an eco-luxury hotel among the dunes of Migjorn beach. Each of its 45 rooms has sea views and direct access to the beach. Check rates and availability at booking.com or hilton.com. Porquerolles, France Just off the Côte d’Azur, Porquerolles is the largest of the Îles d’Hyères – and one of the French Riviera’s prettiest escapes. There’s another good reason to visit: the island has roughly 320 sunny days a year. Largely protected as part of Port-Cros National Park, Porquerolles feels at one with nature: cars are scarce, pine forests line the sandy beaches and vineyards stretch inland. Visitors typically explore by bike, cycling between coves like Plage de Notre‑Dame and Plage d’Argent, before lingering over lunch in one of the harbour villages. If you’re after true French finery, book a table at Michelin-starred L’Olivier, which is open from April to October. For more casual dining, lunchtime-only sister restaurant La Pinède serves French classics on a terrace that overlooks pine forests. There are lots of lovely bistros too. Le Pélagos can be found on a pretty square in Armes, serving plancha-cooked squid with parsley and aioli verde beneath banana trees. Right on the water, L'Escale is another casual restaurant that’s popular for its seafood, tapas and cocktails. There’s one other important spot to know: Coco Frio, the place to head to for a scoop of cooling ice-cream. Where to stay: Le Mas du Langoustier has been a hotspot on this island since 1934. Only open in the summer months, the hotel’s easy to spot thanks to its earthy pink walls and pastel blue shutters. There’s a swimming pool, two tennis courts and access to the Black Beach. The hotel also has its own marine base for watersports. Check rates and availability at langoustier.com. Sifnos, Greece It felt like everyone on Instagram was in Sifnos last summer. And with good reason – it’s probably the most food-focused island in Greece. Part of the Cyclades, Sifnos is low-key yet atmospheric: it’s dotted with whitewashed villages and more than 300 blue-domed churches, and there’s a network of walking paths that link some of its best beaches with these hillside towns (our pick is clifftop Kastro). Locals are proud of the island’s link to celebrated 20th-century chef Nikolaos Tselementes, who was born here. Tavernas still serve his traditional dishes like slow-cooked chickpea stew and mastelo lamb. For modern twists on those dishes, try Cantina and Pelicanos, where chef-owner Giorgos Samoilis celebrates hyper-seasonal, local, produce-led cooking. Cantina works with whatever the sea yields that day, including often-overlooked species like lionfish. Pelicanos is a Cycladic brasserie on the sandy shores of Faros beach. Expect dishes such as the Greek double cheese melt, sandwiched between 48-hour fermented sourdough from nearby Betty’s Bakery or red shrimp oshizushi – sushi rice topped with torched Kilados red shrimp, spices and wild fennel. Where to stay: Nós is a collection of rooms and villas in Sifnos’s rugged hills, next to Faros beach and close to the popular Chrisopigi Monastery. Designed in a chic yet restrained style, each of the spacious interiors open up into secluded courtyards, terraces and balconies. There’s also an open-air gym and spa. Check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com. Spetses, Greece Just two hours from Athens by boat, Spetses is one of the most elegant islands in the Saronic Gulf. Long a favourite weekend escape for Athenians, it’s known for its grand sea captains’ mansions, tree-fringed coves and excellent seafood. Cars are largely prohibited, so visitors explore by bicycle, scooter or horse-drawn carriage. It’s a place to truly relax: days revolve around swimming in clear bays like Zogeria and Agia Paraskevi before heading for a long lunch and ice-cream while wandering along the waterfront. Once on a major spice route, it’s no surprise that food is a focus here. Patralis is one of the slickest spots on Spetses. On the marina, it’s a true waterside restaurant that serves lobster orzo, mussel spaghetti and pasta with tuna. We also rate Liotrivi by the harbour, an atmospheric restaurant in a building that housed an olive press for 200 years (make sure to order its eye-catchingly presented prawn and scallop risotto), and Tarsanas, a taverna right on the water that serves one of the best lobster pastas on the island. Where to stay: In the Old Harbour, the historic Port Authority building has been transformed into the Orloff Resort, which also has an excellent restaurant. Check rates and availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk. We’d also book into polished Poseidonion Grand Hotel, a Belle Epoque mansion that’s been hosting guests amid white-washed walls and sea views for over 100 years. Check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com. Menorca, Spain The little sister to chic party island Mallorca, Menorca has plenty going for it – not least an impressive art scene. Back in 2021, modern art gallery Hauser + Wirth opened up in a former Navy HQ on Illa del Rei, a beautiful island off Mahón harbour. Today, it’s one of the biggest draws to Menorca – and its outdoor restaurant Cantina is one of the prettiest places for lunch. You might have tried Menorcan cooking at Soho’s Mountain, chef-owner Tomos Parry’s love letter to the island’s food. One of his hero dishes is kaldereta, a lobster stew that’s cooked and typically served in a clay pot. On Menorca itself, the best places to try it include Smoix, part of the lovely Hotel Rural Sant Ignasi, and Binifadet in Es Castell. For something completely different, book into Godai for a Japanese-Menorcan experience. Another of our favourites is Nonna Bazaar, a true farm-to-table restaurant in Ciutadella that has a sister site, Nonna Beach, on Son Saura. Menorca is also famous for its wines. Torralbenc is a beautifully restored collection of traditional whitewashed farm buildings that became the island’s first boutique hotel. With just 27 rooms, the property offers a peaceful, design-led escape, alongside some of the best food on the island courtesy of Michelin-starred chef Gorka Txapartegi. The estate is also home to a burgeoning vineyard and winery. After more than a decade of cultivation, Torralbenc produced its first vintage in 2016, and guests can now enjoy a portfolio of nine estate wines. Where to stay: As well as Torralbenc, we love Menorca Experimental. Part of the same group as the Henrietta in Covent Garden, the Menorca outpost offers the same laidback charm, this time in a 19th-century finca with a sea-view infinity pool. Check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com. Ischia, Italy Part of the region of Campania, Ischia is a short ferry ride away from Naples. Known as the ‘green island’ it’s a place of natural beauty and hot springs. If you like hiking this is the one for you: Mount Epomeo is the island’s highest point and offers incredible views, and there’s another beautiful walk up to Madonna di Zaro, a site of pilgrimage. For something gentler, Sant’Angelo is an utterly charming pedestrian-only village. A former fishing port, its distinctive colourful houses line the seafront and make for postcard-perfect photos. For the best experience of those famous hot springs, head to Le Fumarole beach, which has volcanic steam vents. Elsewhere, Maronti beach is one of the largest stretches of sand on the island. Given its proximity to Naples, Ischia’s food takes on a Neapolitan flair. For an authentic trattoria experience, book into Peppina di Renato – which dates to 1979 – for potato and gorgonzola pizza, panzanella salad and pomodoro piccante rigatoni. And you can’t come here without trying the local dish, a rabbit stew called coniglio all’Ischitana. Some of the best is served at Trattoria Il Focolare. Where to stay: Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa is part of the same group as Il Pellicano in Tuscany and La Posta Vecchia near Rome. As at Il Pellicano, the famed hotel that’s ruled Italian hospitality since the 1970s, you can expect relaxed yet impeccable service, bold design and a gorgeous spa. Corsica, France Corsica is known as the ‘island of beauty’ for its beaches, crystal-clear waters, dramatic mountain scenery and pretty villages. On the Med’s fourth largest island life moves at a slower pace, especially outside of the main holiday months of July and August. There are plenty of hiking, biking and canyoning routes along the island’s famed GR 20 trail – make sure to stop off at Santa Giulia beach, which is lovely and less busy than some of the better-known swimming spots. Porto-Vecchio is loved for its walled citadel, pretty narrow lanes, smart shops and unmissable restaurants. Many of these have made it into the Michelin guide: U Santa Marina overlooks the gulf of Santa Giulia and is a romantic spot that serves barbecued langoustines and local green asparagus; Casadelmar is the place to book for high-end seafood (the chef’s signature dish is confit john dory with olive oil, red lentils, burrata and tomato water emulsion); while La Table de Mina is the place to be on a Tuesday when the team serves a tasting menu of island specials. Elsewhere, Le Tire Bouchon in Calvi is a lovely bistro and wine bar, while I Scalini on the hillside village of Sant’Antonino is just the place for a sunset drink and relaxed bowl of traditional veal stew. Where to stay: A Mandria di Murtoli offers a selection of villas in converted stables that now make the most of Corsican design, each with private gardens, pools and panoramic views of the Ortolo Valley. Crete, Greece Crete is the largest island in Greece. You can explore the best beaches and tavernas around the island or commit to pure relaxation in one destination. Whichever you choose most flights land in Heraklion and it’s worth spending a handful of days here to see archaeological sites such as the Palace of Knossos and the ancient Phaistos. You won’t find any Michelin-starred restaurants on Crete but the island is famous for its traditional tavernas that celebrate local produce – many will shout about their organic gardens and family recipes. Chania has a buzzing food scene: just a short walk from the city centre, Periplous is a lovely seafood restaurant on the Halepa waterfront – try to get a table outside to enjoy a sunset dinner. Maiami, just a short walk away, is a top choice for brunch and Mediterranean staples throughout the day. The owner is a ceramicist who sells her pieces in the shop next door. Also in Chiana is Ginger, one of the most modern places to eat on the island. Formerly a traditional spot, last summer the team upped sticks to an industrial building three minutes down the road where it’s embraced late-night dining and cocktails. Finally, make the most of Crete’s legendary ingredients by booking a wine and olive oil tour at one of the many vineyards to the north-west of the island. Fabulous Crete offers a day tour at an olive oil factory and two family-run wineries. Where to stay: Luxury hotel Acro Suites is carved into the rocky cliffside of Mononaftis Bay to the north of the island. Couples can stay in villas with private infinity pools or two-storey suites with beautiful sea views. Elsewhere, Domes of Elounda to the east of the island has its own private beach and overlooks the beautiful Mirabello Bay. Malta The Maltese capital of Valletta is steeped in history – its famed cathedral is home to two Caravaggio paintings. Food is also a large part of its appeal. To get to know the scene speedily, head to Merchant Street Market, an open market will stalls serving traditional Maltese cuisine such as pastizzi, curried pea or cheese filled pastries. For fun first night dinners, Legligin is a cellar bar serving local wine and tapas, or Tal-Kaptan is a nautically decorated spot along Valletta’s wharf that focuses on pizza and pasta. You could also make a beeline for bar-lined Strait Street, where locals spill out onto the streets in the evenings. For fine dining, Michelin-starred Noni serves modern Maltese and Mediterranean dishes alongside an excellent wine list, while Xara Palace’s Michelin-starred De Mondion restaurant is all about elegant French and Maltese food. On its pretty piazza, the hotel’s more casual restaurant, Trattoria AD 1530, serves pizza, mussels and calamari. For the ultimate special occasion spot, Simon Rogan’s Ion Harbour is Malta’s only two Michelin starred restaurant. From the fourth floor of the Iniala Harbour House hotel, guests can take in spectacular views of Valletta’s grand harbour while enjoying an unforgettable dining experience courtesy of the man behind L’Enclume. Malta is made up of three islands (Malta, Gozo and Comino). A day trip via boat to Gozo is a must. Lined with beautiful beaches it’s quieter than the main island and is home to the two temples of Ġgantija, which feature huge bronze age structures. Our favourite restaurant here? Scottadito, an osteria that makes exemplary rabbit ragu, a Maltese speciality. Where to stay: In atmospheric Mdina, the Relais & Châteaux Xara Palace is one of the most historic hotels in Malta. The 17th-century palazzo forms part of the bastion walls that surround the city. The hotel makes the most of its history via bedrooms decorated with original paintings and tapestries. Ponza, Italy Ponza is the ultimate Roman getaway. A couple of hours from the capital by train and ferry, it’s the perfect island to tack onto a long weekend in the Eternal City. There are three ways to get around small but mighty Ponza: scooter, e-bike and boat. Water taxis will get you to all the major beaches, but we loved hiring a bike and zipping up and down the hills to get to the best, smaller beaches such as Cala Gaetano and La Caletta. It’s also the ultimate way to work up an appetite – La Marina at Cala Feola beach is one of the best on the island. Book in advance and you might snag one of the tables on the rocks. It’s just the place to enjoy bottarga pasta while the waves lap at the restaurant. In the main town, some of the best dining spots are Restaurant EEA, Oresteria and Lanterna da Silverio. That said, one of our favourite meals was on board a five-hour boat tour, which took us around the island and over to neighbouring Palmarola. There are no hotels here, but O’Francese is the island’s one (cash-only) restaurant, right on the sand. We saved our stomachs for the captain-made tuna and tomato pasta back on the boat, which we ate while bobbing about in the sea. Where to stay: Villa Laetitia is a gorgeous boutique hotel owned by one of the Fendi sisters. Overlooking the main port (every bedroom has a sea view), this is a sumptuous boutique option, complete with tiled floors, striking beds and lovely design details, such as branded crockery and pretty linen curtains. More travel guides Best Morocco food trips Best French food trips Best Spanish food trips Best Portuguese food trips Best European vineyards to visit and stay Best foodie city breaks by train Best hotels in Paris Best Italian hotels Best country house hotels in the UK Best Scottish hotels
10 of the prettiest Provence villages worth travelling for this summer
Wander cobbled streets, explore local markets and dine on fresh Provençal cuisine in these pretty villages
For more French travel inspiration, check out our guide to the best French food trips and the best hotels in Paris. 10 of the prettiest Provence villages to visit St Paul de Vence Situated 25 minutes by car from Nice, the cobbled medieval streets of Saint-Paul-de-Vence have been attracting legions of artists, writers and gastronomy lovers for centuries. This picture-perfect village is surrounded by 16th century ramparts, with incredible views overlooking the French Riviera from all angles. La Colombe d’Or is its most iconic culinary establishment – a historic hotel filled with paintings by Picasso and Matisse, who’s chic terrace serves up a menu of Provençal classics executed with panache. Think fresh Niçois hors d’oeuvres, perfectly grilled fish with aioli, and local roasted chicken with gratin dauphinois. Le Tilleul is a more relaxed, well-loved bistro just inside the village gates, serving up an all-day menu of artisanal pastas, seasonal salads and a tea-room menu of delicious crepes and patisserie. Finally, Le Fromager de St Paul is a charming, picturesque spot with an aperitif terrace where you can pick up local artisan cheeses, mountain honeys, saucisson and organic wines to take away. Èze The stunning village of Èze (20 minutes along the coast on the train from Nice) is one of the most unique in Provence as it’s split across two levels – with medieval Èze-Village high up in the hills and Èze-sur-Mer situated along the sea. Its steep stone pathways are excellent for walking, with lots of bijou bistros to discover along the way. Its most famous culinary institution is the two-Michelin starred La Chèvre d’Or – established in 1953 and today headed up by Chef Tom Meyer. The tasting menu features high French gastronomy at its most intricately refined, showcasing ingredients like fermented cherries, veal sweetbreads, fresh pike eggs and Andaliman pepper. Deli' – near the Jardin Exotique – is a brilliant spot for a casual lunch, serving up generously filled baguettes and fresh pizza served alongside tastings of local olive oils. Away from the bustle of tourists is La Campagne, which has a welcoming rustic terrace and specialises in Corsican and Mediterranean dishes that are wood-fire grilled and made with fresh seasonal produce. Sainte Agnes The accolade of being the ‘highest coastal village in Europe’ gives Sainte Agnes a unique edge when it comes to culinary offerings – blending rustic mountainous flavours with influences from the Mediterranean. Located 800m high, its labyrinth of stone streets and balcony views across the lime-stone cliffs of the Med are dramatically beautiful to behold. A 20-minute drive up the winding roads from Menton, traditional dishes from the area include rich mountain-game stews made with rabbit or wild boar and herbs, Swiss chard pies, and sweet tarts filled with local blueberries or figs. Le Righi, near the Maginot Fort, has the best panoramic views in the area, with a menu of dishes like roasted suckling pig, pasta with beef stew, baked trout and zingy lemon tarts. Another great option is the family run Le Saint Yves, whose generously plated menu includes local country pates, homemade courgette pies and a lavender scented crème brûlée. Les Baux de Provence Nestled in the heart of the Alpilles, 1 hour from Marseille, the stunning rural village of Les Baux de Provence is rooted to the world of gastronomy. This is primarily thanks to its prestigious AOP protected olive oil which is cold pressed for 24 hours and has an intense, grassy peppery flavour, along with other specialities like artichokes à la barigoule and local honeys. Le Petit Rocher is a relaxed bistro in the old village that’s carved into the rocks, whose kitchen follows the rhythm of the seasons. Their menu includes Charolais beef, lamb from the Alpilles, organic ice creams and local wines from Vallée des Baux. The romantically cosy Une Table Au Soleil serves up a menu of ingredients sourced within 50km of the village – cooked up into dishes like rack of lamb, stuffed squid and fresh apple tart. Or for something more fancy, the bucolic L'Oustau de Baumanière is a three-Michelin star restaurant serving up an avant garde 10 course menu using hyper local ingredients in a historic Provençal farmhouse setting. Lourmarin One of the prettiest of the Luberon region’s villages, Lourmarin is often cited as being one of the most beautiful in France and is famous for its mix of rustic Provençal traditions with sophisticated contemporary flair. Just under 1 hour from Marseille, locals from across the region travel for its renowned Friday morning market in Boulevard du Rayol and Place Henri Barthélemy, which has seasonal produce in abundance. Browse sun-ripened melons, Cavaillon strawberries, goat cheeses and salty tapenades. Le Champ des Lunes is Lourmarin's must-visit restaurant known for its creative cuisine that uses produce from their restaurant garden. Think pigeon with rosemary, coffee-encrusted fish with Jerusalem artichokes, and candied carrot millefeuille’s for dessert. The more relaxed Le Comptoir serves up a daily changing menu that’s based on the freshest produce of the days harvest, including platters of Corsican charcuterie, Provençal classics like duck confit, and salads filled with wild aromatic herbs and cheeses. Don’t miss La Maison du Gibassier bakery, famous for its firm shortbread made with French olive oil. Gordes The hilltop village of Gordes – situated 1hr 20mins from Marseille – is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful villages in the world. With its high altitude and limestone soil, the village is renowned for its winter truffles, Banon goat cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves and local honeys, all proudly for sale at Gordes Tuesday market, set amidst the village’s renaissance castle. For an authentic taste of the region, try La Trinquette which serves up a modern take on traditional dishes – like their crab and red snapper ravioli, tender lamb chops, stuffed aubergines and well-soaked rum baba. Alternatively, the daily fixed menus at the family-run Restaurant L'Outsider includes inventive dishes like smoked salmon and leek "crème brûlée", slow cooked lamb with rosemary and a triple chocolate fondant. Don’t leave without picking up olive breads, speciality cuculine loaves, orange-blossom scented brioche or strawberry tarts from Le Fournil de Mamie Jeanne – the best artisanal bakery in the village. Ramatuelle Just 15 mins from St Tropez, the village of Ramatuelle mixes rustic Provençal tranquillity with full-on sandy coastal luxury. One of the culinary highlights of the village is Chez Camille, famous for its signature wood-fired bouillabaisse cooked to a family recipe that dates back to 1953. Other menu highlights include their lobster linguine, Provençal calamari and pavlova aux fruits rouges. For a more refined taste of the regions terroir, La Voile serves up the option of a ‘Tout Légumes’ tasting menu featuring dishes like beef heart tomatoes with burrata, saltwater cooked beetroot with cherry chutney and even garden inspired desserts that feature celery. For something more relaxed, but equally refined, head to Saveurs Sincères – a family run establishment that offers the choice of either cozy interior rooms or a stone terrace patio. Their rotating chalk board menu includes dishes like traditional pork meatballs with sage, stuffed squid with prawns and mussels and peanut-praline ganache pie. Gassin One of the most noticeable landmarks in the medieval village of Gassin, 10 minutes from St Tropez, is Place deï Barri – a beautiful scenic square filled with shaded restaurant terraces and stone architecture. The popular Le Pescadou has a surf-and-turf menu with dishes like filleted Mediterranean seabass with sauce vierge, and hand cut steak tartar with summer truffles. After taking a stroll around its narrow-cobbled streets, (including L'Androuno, one of the narrowest streets in the world), check out Gassin market which specialises in sun-ripened tomatoes, artisanal jams and house-made anchovy purées. Alternatively, head to the family-run La Verdoyante who’s shaded terrace with panoramic views is one of the loveliest spots in the village. They serve of a menu of southern gastronomy, with dishes like lamb quasi with herb panisse, vol au vents with mushroom and asparagus, and a molten moelleux au chocolat served with banana ice-cream. Le Casstellet The fortified medieval village of Le Casstellet – 45 minutes from Marseille – balances pastoral Provençal traditions with ultra-luxurious gastronomy, perched above the Bandol AOC vineyards that surround it with timeless views on all sides. Its Saturday morning market is famous for it’s Cadière d'Azur goat cheese and Beausset saffron which come directly from producers, along with anchoïade dips and fougasse breads. The village has many terraced cafés and restaurants which celebrate the finest produce and wines of the region, such as La Farigoule which is known for its wood-fired cooking. The menu includes dishes like rabbit terrines, whole grilled fresh mullet, and a trio of crème brûlée. For something ultra-refined, head to the 3-starred La Table du Castellet headed up by chef Fabien Ferré, where the multi-course tasting menu includes dishes like: squid and marjoram, velvet crab soup, lamb with anchovy, and a cheese-trolley which has an extra-special selection of matured regional cheese from across France. Tourettes sur Loup Also known as ‘The City of Violets’, Tourettes sur Loup – situated 40 minutes from Nice – is an artistic village perched on a rocky spur, filled with quaint vaulted passages, some excellent food and lots of galleries that sell the local speciality violet ice-cream. The refined menu at Le Bistrot Gourmand Clovis offers something a little different – focussing in on one seasonal ingredient, with menu options built around that speciality – be it St Jaque scallops, Bresse poultry or Provençal green asparagus. The charming Le Petit Tourrettan has a ‘home-cooked’ feel and menu of soulful dishes like stuffed petit farcis, octopus with chorizo and classic tarte tatin. And don’t leave without making a visit to Confiserie Florian, where you can sample and buy speciality violet scented chocolates and even violet jams. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/2/2026/04/GettyImages-2177834494-29dfd94.jpg" width="724" height="483" alt="Stone steps leading from a narrow cobblestone alley of picturesque medieval homes in the old town of Tourrettes sur Loup, in the Cote d'Azur region." title="Stone steps leading from a narrow cobblestone alley of picturesque medieval homes in the old town of Tourrettes sur Loup, in the Cote d'Azur region." /> More like this Best European mountain escapes 10 unique walking holidays for food lovers Best health and wellness retreats for foodies 8 US cities to visit that offer spectacular value for money Best European city breaks Best foodie city breaks to visit by train Best English vineyard breaks
Channel holiday vibes with our pick of the best cocktails, from Italian spritzes to Spanish sangria
Check out our round-up of the best travel-inspired drinks, including lots of Mediterranean creations, from punchy three-ingredient negronis to fruity sangria and bittersweet spritzes. Need more summer drinks inspiration? Explore our feel-good summer drinks recipes, summer drinks ideas to cool you down and 40 summer cocktails. Garibaldi spritz – Italy This recipe combines two iconic Italian drinks: the spritz and the garibaldi. Zesty and refreshing, Campari, fresh orange juice and prosecco come together for a surprisingly crushable brunch cocktail. Next-level tinto de verano Tinto de verano, a simple mixture of red wine and lemonade, is a fizzy, refreshing cocktail that’s popular in southern Spain during warm weather. Sweet vermouth adds a herbal, bittersweet edge in this recipe. No need to spend a lot on the wine – something young and fruity works best. Limoncello lemon drop – Italy Limoncello is the perfect addition to this sweet retro cocktail. Don’t skip the sugared rim – it provides necessary sweetness that rounds out the tart, boozy elements of the drink. Rum punch – Jamaica A big jug of fruity rum punch screams summer holiday and this tropical recipe using coconut, lime and pineapple is perfect for barbecues and garden parties. Whip up a batch and explore our guide to Jamaican cuisine. Venetian spritz – Venice Venice might be the birthplace of the spritz but rather than Aperol many Venetians favour the more bitter Select Aperitivo as their base – garnished with a green olive. Enjoy this grown-up aperitif while reading about Venetian food. Mojito – Cuba This Cuban creation has to be one of the most refreshing rum cocktails out there – a zesty mix of rum, lime and mint lengthened with soda water. We've also got a clever – and equally delicious – virgin mojito. Drink while listening to our podcast on 10 things you need to know about Cuban food and cooking. Spicy margarita – Mexico A classic marg – zesty and zingy – is a thing of beauty but adding chilli salt and a dash of hot sauce gives a delicious spicy kick to this Mexican cocktail that works really well with the tequila. Our top tip? Add extra smoky depth by swapping the tequila for mezcal. The Mexican state of Oaxaca is one of the country's biggest mezcal producers and is full of other foodie highlights that make it a must visit. Explore our guide to Oaxaca cuisine here. Sangria – Spain This classic Spanish tipple is a simple yet delicious combination of red wine, brandy, lemonade and plenty of fruit. Drink it while perusing our best Spanish hotels for food lovers. Pisco sour – Peru and Chile Both Peru and Chile claim this zingy brandy sour as their national drink, though recipes differ between the countries. In Chile, egg whites are left out of the mixture, plus Chilean pisco – which follows different production methods – is used. Whip up a pisco sour (or two) while you explore our favourite Peruvian recipes. Negroni – Italy This classic Italian aperitivo is winningly simple to make, made with one part gin, one part vermouth rosso, and one part Campari, then garnished with orange peel. It also has lots of variations: try swapping the gin for prosecco to make an equally holiday-worthy – and less boozy – negroni sbagliato. Mix yourself one, then check out our best Italian hotels for food lovers. Sazerac – New Orleans This boozy whisky cocktail is a New Orleans staple, using rye whisky, Peychaud bitters and absinthe. The Big Easy is the home of several classic cocktails, including the vieux carré and grasshopper. Inspired to visit? Explore the vibrant culinary scene of this lively city in our New Orleans guide. Piña colada – Puerto Rico Creamy, fruity and delightfully retro, the piña colada is the national drink of Puerto Rico, where it was invented in the mid-20th century. White rum and pineapple juice are the key ingredients in this kitsch tropical number, and one sip will transport you to a sandy beach. Drink one while you read our foodie guide to Puerto Rico. Daiquiri – Cuba One of the all-time great rum cocktails, this Cuban creation first came to fame in the 1920s, when Americans flocked to the island during Prohibition (including one of the daiquiri’s biggest fans, Ernest Hemingway). Its simplicity is its strength: a carefully balanced blend of just lime juice, sugar and white rum. Fresh, bright and zesty, it’s the perfect summer cocktail. Manhattan – New York The manhattan is a classic cocktail that doesn’t pull any punches. Spicy rye whisky (use bourbon for a more mellow result), fruity sweet vermouth and bitters come together in a dark, rich, intense drink. Sip it while you plan your next city break across the pond. Caipirinha – Brazil Caipirinha is the national drink of Brazil and is made with the country’s sugarcane spirit, cachaça. The only other ingredients you need are lime and caster sugar – stir the three together for this zesty tipple. Best drunk while diving into our São Paulo culinary highlights. Michelada – Mexico This low-ABV cocktail features light Mexican beer spiked with umami ingredients like hot sauce and worcestershire sauce for a super-refreshing, spicy drink that's perfect for sunny days – sip on one while you decide what to make from our top 50 Mexican recipes. Espresso martini – London This coffee vodka drink was created in 1983 by bartender Dick Bradsell at the Soho Brasserie (supposedly at the request of a tired model, who was looking for a pick-me-up). Adding a shot of hot espresso to a cocktail shaker full of ice may seem odd, but it’s essential for that all-important creamy layer at the top of the drink – so don’t let the coffee cool down! Enjoy one while you plan your next trip to the Big Smoke with our best restaurants in Soho guide. Sake martini – Japan Sake (also known as Japanese rice wine) is an alcoholic drink made by fermenting rice. Here we’ve mixed it with gin for a Japanese-inspired take on the martini – drink while exploring our Kyoto foodie guide Rebujito – Andalucia The rebujito, popular in Andalucia, is just the ticket for warm weather: a highball cocktail where dry fino sherry is mixed with lemonade for a tall, thirst-quenching drink. Lower-ABV cocktails are perfect for warm weather drinking when pacing is important. When it comes to the lemonade, don’t pick a cloudy variety – 7 Up or Sprite is best, and we also like it made with Fanta Lemon. Enjoy a rebujito while you plan your next Spanish feast with our guide to Andalusian cuisine.
Best London hotels for a stay in the heart of the city's action
Lounge in a freestanding bath tub, take your pick from a pillow menu and tuck into Moroccan eggs with labneh at London’s best hotels
Looking for the best hotels in London? Want to know where to stay in central London? Our guide to London’s best boutique hotels… For more hotel inspiration, discover the best UK spa hotels for food lovers, the most romantic hotels in the UK and the best UK country house hotels. Check out some of our London food guides, including the best restaurants in Fitzrovia, best restaurants in Battersea and best restaurants in Chelsea. Four Seasons Hotel Tower Bridge – for an impressive location Doubles from £562, check availability at fourseasons.com or booking.com On the banks of the Thames, Four Seasons Tower Bridge is as rich and colourful as its historic location. The sweeping beaux-arts building at 10 Trinity Square opened in 1922 as home to the Port of London Authority, and the dramatic architectural legacy of this former centre of trade is felt the moment you step into its marble lobby. At its heart is the Rotunda Bar, topped with a striking glass dome that echoes St Paul's Cathedral. Despite the rich heritage, the interior is thoroughly modern – elegant contemporary furnishings, marble bathrooms and warm wall panelling. Rooms are spacious, cocooned and built for comfort and convenience: we loved that the stereo system extended into the bathroom too. There's a steak restaurant, Cooper's Cut, but we dined at Mei Ume, the contemporary Chinese and Japanese restaurant. The big, bold menu balances crowd-pleasers – whole peking duck, spring rolls, egg fried rice – with more ambitious dishes like slow-cooked Australian abalone, hot stone wagyu beef and roasted black cod, plus an extensive sushi menu spanning futomaki, uramaki, temaki, nigiri and sashimi. A playful dessert of Mei Miao, a yuzu chocolate cat filled with banana sponge and miso mousse, feels perfectly at home in the ornate, high-ceilinged dining room. Breakfast is served in-room or at Rotunda – porridge with treacle and salted butter, a York ham and Neal's Yard Dairy cheddar omelette, bubble and squeak with black pudding, and fluffy pancakes with clotted cream among the standout choices. There is also a gym, spa and serene pool in the basement for guests who want an oasis of calm in the heart of the city. Doubles from £562, check availability at fourseasons.com or booking.com The Hari, Belgravia – for a stylish hotel in the heart of the action Doubles from £387, check availability at booking.com Tucked on smart a Belgravia terrace, this low-key and stylish hotel is bang in the heart of the London action. Its mid-century aesthetic – glossy marble, chic lighting, vintage-leaning furniture – is designer-sharp but warm feeling, and the team strikes a similar balance: relaxed, friendly and focussed. The food action centres on Il Pampero, a handsome Italian dining room with leather booths and mood lighting. The kitchen deals in big-flavour comfort: zingy tartare di tonno, creamy burrata with bitter radicchio and hazelnuts, and pici cacio e pepe spun theatrically through a whole wheel of cheese. There’s a tidy list of Italian wines, classic cocktails at the bar and a small roof terrace for a pre-dinner spritz. Rooms stay faithful to the hotel’s retro-modern polish. Our eighth-floor space framed a wide sweep of London, while the bathroom – clad in all-round marble – held a deep bath built into a bay-style window. Modern artwork, a well-chosen minibar, a slate board of macaroons and truffles on arrival, and sustainable toiletries from Jo Loves added to the thoughtful touches. Breakfast returns to Il Pampero, where a help-yourself counter heaving with smoothies, pastries and fruit sits beside a menu of cooked dishes. Speciality eggs, healthy plates and a reliable full English mean most bases are covered. It’s relaxed, plentiful and exactly what you want before a day exploring the capital. Doubles from £387, check availability at booking.com Templeton Garden, Kensington – for a leafy retreat From £272, check availability at booking.com or miirohotels.com Hidden off the blossom lined streets of South Kensington, Templeton Garden is a welcomed leafy retreat in west London, with its on-site sister bar Sprout being a well-kept secret of Earl’s Court. It’s hard to believe that this hotel boasts 156 rooms when it is as peaceful as it is, with the garden suites backing directly onto a sun-kissed private garden. The rooms feature grand high ceilings and Victorian sash windows allowing plenty of natural light to pour in. The hotel is peppered with warming terracotta tones and bouclé-backed armchairs to slip into and enjoy the inviting cocktail menu from Sprout. With its consciously developed menu the team is mindful about using seasonal ingredients and avoiding waste. Try the raspberry margarita made using Scottish raspberries fermented and preserved in a hand-crafted scotch bonnet hot sauce. After a couple of aperitifs guests can make their way to restaurant Pippin’s, recognised in the 2025 Michelin Guide for its comforting takes on classic dishes, celebrating the very best of British produce. The barbecued heritage carrots with smoked ricotta and a chilli and garlic crisp are well worth going back for. From £272, check availability at booking.com or miirohotels.com Fulham Pier Hotel – for riverside views in a unique setting Rooms from £300, check availability at fulhampierhotel.co.uk and booking.com Craven Cottage, home of Fulham FC, is not an obvious place to put a boutique hotel. Which is partly what makes it work. The 13 super stylish rooms are soundproofed against any matchday noise, finished in natural materials and look out through floor-to-ceiling windows on to Thames wetlands so pristine you'd never guess you were in SW6 – just expect the odd rowing boat passing quietly below. The service is peerless – genuinely warm and quietly attentive. Inside, the interiors are truly maximalist: huge slabs of terrazzo in the bathrooms, techie Japanese toilets and Diptyque throughout – it's one of only a small handful of London hotels that stocks the iconic French brand. Get a balcony room if you can: sitting above that stretch of river with a morning coffee, it feels like a corner of London that belongs entirely to you. Breakfast at Lighthouse Social is easy-going and features plenty more of the amazing river views. The menu has granola and viennoiserie for the light-touch crowd, garlic spinach florentine, miso mushrooms on toast or American pancakes if you're after something heftier. Dinner pulls in a different direction. Brasserie Constance – headed by Michelin-starred Adam Byatt – is fabulously retro-chic with fun flourishes like smoked salmon carved tableside and theatrical baked alaska, also served from a trolley. The menu includes steak with green peppercorn sauce, Dorset crab and chips, coronation chicken pâté en croûte and a trifle of the day. It's confident, classic bistro comfort food served with the right dose of pomp. The hotel is part of the larger Fulham Pier development – including food stalls, event spaces and a spa arriving later this year – all open to guests. If you're looking for somewhere tucked away, intimate and away the main tourist drag, this west London bolthole will have you living like a very stylish local. Rooms from £300, check availability at fulhampierhotel.co.uk and booking.com The Laslett, Notting Hill – for period luxury with modern design From £350 per night, check availability at booking.com Set across a row of Victorian townhouses off Notting Hill Gate, The Laslett is a boutique hotel with heart. It’s polished but unfussy, with clean period detail offset by sharp modern design. Food is served from the informal Henderson Bar & Kitchen. Named after Russ Henderson, one of the founders of the Notting Hill Carnival, it runs a short all-day menu: padrón peppers, gazpacho and prawn croquetas as small plates; chicken milanese, lobster roll or stone bass with fregola for larger options. Ingredients are sourced from London suppliers like HG Walter and Natoora. Desserts include basque cheesecake or warmed chocolate brownie, while the bar serves local beers and classic cocktails. A small terrace for observing the west London street bustle comes into its own in summer. The vibrant rooms make use of airy floor-to-ceiling windows and bold interior design. Penguin Classics, vintage record players with hand-picked vinyl, and antiques from local dealers lend eccentric local character. Breakfast includes full english alongside pancakes, smoothie bowls, granola and the hotel’s signature bagel. Rooms start from £350 a night. Rooms start from £350 per night. Check availability at living-rooms.co.uk or booking.com Beaverbrook Townhouse, Sloane Square – for colourful luxury From £580 per night, check availability at booking.com Sloane Square’s Beaverbrook Townhouse is the city output of the original Surrey hotel, and is just as opulent. Behind the neat, period facade is a riot of art deco splendour and heritage nods. Hotel rooms are all named after London theatres and take interior design to giddy heights, with plushness, pastels, geometrics, florals, terrazzo and more, all thrown together harmoniously – an eccentric British aesthetic that feels very old school London. Unique touches include an epic bathroom with a waterfall shower decked in iridescent emerald tiles, a retractable and rotating TV, and velvety soft furnishings. The hotel’s restaurant is a true hidden gem – The Fuji Grill offers a highly polished Japanese dining experience centred around ‘Tapasu’, a take on tapas-style design that blends classic technique with a communal, small plates spirit. There’s a flawless sushi selection, including signature temaki alongside dishes cooked on a bincho charcoal grill, like sake kombu hispi cabbage, caramel ponzu long aubergine and yuzu miso black cod. The drinks menu, served from the cosily lit Sir Frank’s Bar, is vast and includes inventive cocktails and non-alcoholic versions, plus speciality sake and plenty of Japanese whisky. Service is attentive, friendly and relaxed. Breakfast is also served in the Fuji Grill restaurant, meaning it’s an ambient affair. Dishes include granola with Beaverbrook estate honey, homemade yogurt and peach compote, truffled eggs, full English and spinach scramble. Where to eat and drink nearby Sloane Square is at the heart of central-west London action and is close to Belgravia, Chelsea and Kensington. You’ll find plenty of pubs with great food, including Ganymede, The Pig’s Ear and The Orange, plus special occasion restaurants like Cornus. Rooms start from £580 per night inclusive of breakfast and taxes for two guests in a Deluxe Room. Check availability at Beaverbook Townhouse or booking.com The Hoxton, Southwark – for a buzzy bar and Mediterranean vibe From £189, check availability at booking.com The Hoxton Southwark is a buzzy, 192-bedroom hotel that’s home to a low-key neighbourhood dining spot and a separate rooftop restaurant. Choose from five bedroom sizes with the smallest, Shoebox, offering a king-size bed and wall-to-wall windows, and the most spacious, Biggy, offering a super king-bed, a lounge area and a large bathroom. No matter what the size, you can expect mid-century furniture with vintage touches – pale-green panelled walls, red velvet headboards, dial-up telephones, cream Roberts radios and brass light switches to name a few. Those who want to wallow over a long soak will be disappointed (there are no baths) but spacious rainfall showers feel luxurious, with teal tiles and marble. Albie – the downstairs restaurant, bar and lounge – serves Italian and French-influenced plates, with on-trend terrazzo tables, wicker chairs and flickering tealights matching the Mediterranean design vibe. Take a seat at the marble bar, or sink into a velvet armchair, for a pre-dinner drink. The extensive cocktail menu features Hox classics, imaginatively named tipples with a twist, plus an impressive selection of no-alcohol brews, wines and spirits<. When it comes to food, the squidgy focaccia is a must-order, with a choice of French or Italian olive oil (we go for the former, and it’s got rich, grassy notes and a lusciously thick texture). Over half the menu is veggie; think goats cheese-stuffed courgette flower and burrata with slices of juicy white peach. Mains are on the lighter, so it’s worth opting for one of the heartier plates, such as creamy crab linguine, if you’re very hungry. Desserts steal the show; crème brûlée spiked with fragrant lavender and a tower of crisp, cocoa-dusted mille-feuille sandwiched with praline cream and hazelnuts – think posh Kinder Bueno. For more decadent dining, ride the lift up to Seabird, the hotel’s striking rooftop restaurant, to try something from London’s longest oyster list, or other fresh seafood dishes, against a backdrop of panoramic city views. In the morning, wake up to a light breakfast bag filled with fruit, a granola bar and a zesty juice shot (ginger, lemon, turmeric and apple on our visit), or head downstairs if you want something more substantial. Greenwich-based Paul Rhodes Bakery makes the hotel’s must-try pastries, from flaky pain au chocolat to almond swirls filled with lemony-marzipan, or order wedges of fluffy cinnamon-spiced brioche French toast. Where to eat and drink nearby The thoughtful in-room map and area guide gives guests a top 10 list of things to do south of the river. Among them a trip to the Bermondsey Beer Mile for craft breweries, Borough Market for top-notch food traders and The Blackfriar if you’re in search of a local boozer. Check out our guide to eating in London Bridge for more suggestions. From £189, check availability at booking.com Treehouse London – for a sustainable hotel with skyline views Doubles from £457, check availability at booking.com Treehouse London is a fun – and sustainable – central London hotel with skyline views and child-friendly touches. Treehouse Hotels was founded on the playfulness and sense of adventure that inspire children to want to build treehouses, so it's little surprise that bedrooms here come with handmade, child-friendly details (think sloth teddy bears on the beds and coloured anoraks hanging in wardrobes). Depending on your budget (and need for space) there will almost certainly be a bedroom that suits, from the Lookout Twin, with views of The Shard, to the Skyline King, which overlooks the London Eye. Each room comes with rain showers, digital newspapers and bedside USB outlets. Not to mention cosy window nooks where you can rest and read. Decor is pared-back, with grey walls, white linen and exposed lightbulbs for reading lights, while the hotel's sleek bathrooms bring a touch of nature to proceedings with pot plants and tree stems. There are three restaurants to choose between: Madera serving Mexican cuisine, Pizzeria Mozza (a UK outpost of the famous LA restaurant from Nancy Silverton) and The Nest for rooftop drinks. Madera (from the Los Angeles-based restaurant group) offers a modern, farm-to-table approach, with dishes (many of which are veggie or vegan) ranging from tequila tofu marinated in pesto to wild mushroom enchiladas and a street-food taco box with five house-made corn tortillas (beef or wild mushroom) served with salsa, lime, coriander and onion. Cocktails make the most of locally produced spirits (Chase gin) as well as more unusual flavours (activated charcoal agave and matcha agave) to create an intriguing drinks list. Return to Madera in the morning for a Mexican-inspired breakfast feast. Start with carne asda and eggs or go for something sweet with decadent Mexican fiesta waffles topped with ice cream, dulce de leche and chocolate. Where to eat and drink nearby Join the queue at Sabor for camarones fritos (tiny shrimp, deep-fried and served with a crispy, paprika-dusted fried egg), or tuck into top-notch carbonara, peppery cacio e pepe and homemade cannoli at Al Dente. Find more places to eat and drink near Oxford Street here. Doubles from £457, check availability at booking.com The Buxton, Shoreditch – for a Brick Lane boozer Doubles from £100, check availability at booking.com The Buxton is a former Brick Lane boozer turned polished pub-with-rooms, reimagined by the team behind Commercial Street’s The Culpeper. Bedrooms are on the small side, which is one reason for their affordable pricing. Clever design and attention to detail, however, ensures they don’t feel cramped. High ceilings and original features add space and character while whitewashed walls and smart navy accents lend a fresh and contemporary feel. The heart of the action occurs in the slickly refurbished Victorian pub, on the ground floor (there are bedrooms and a roof terrace above) which is now a reimagined bistro and wine bar. Tall, graceful arched windows introduce plenty of light, while a sweeping rosso levanto marble counter acts as a stylish focal point. Food has an emphasis on prime produce (including from The Culpeper Family Group’s own urban farm in Deptford) and seasonality, and will change weekly to use the best of what's available. Simple dishes combine British produce with French and Mediterranean influences, to build a carefully curated selection of small plates to share. Our spring visit included creamy shredded duck on toast, asparagus in a decadent brown butter sauce, and Denver steak with sticky, umami-rich glazed hen of the wood mushrooms. Don't miss the cheese croquettes to start: crisp on the inside and melting within. Head downstairs for breakfast after a night in the bar and you’ll find the space transformed, and surprisingly serene. Order the granola with house preserve or fill up with a hearty full English. Where to eat and drink nearby On bohemian Brick Lane, you’ll find no shortage of places to eat and drink; try the street’s many curry houses, 24-hour bagel shops (salt beef is a must) plus nearby restaurants such as Lahpet, Smokestak and Sichuan Folk. Good local bars include The Cocktail Trading Co. and Apples & Pears. Doubles from £100, check availability at booking.com The Pilgrm, Paddington – for a chic central stopover From £119 per night, check availability at booking.com A quirky, design-led, 73-bedroom hotel that’s brought a fine Victorian building in London’s Paddington back to life. Rooms are small so book the largest you can afford, and if you’re a light sleeper, ask for one away from the road. There are tiny (but very comfortable) bunk rooms, if you’re on a budget, or on a one-parent, one-child getaway. Decor is pared back and stylish, with slate-coloured walls contrasting with white sash windows and Egyptian linen-clad beds, and floors of reclaimed 200-year-old parquet giving a warm homely feel. Breakfast is the thing here, kicking off at 7am and continuing until 3pm in the vintage-chic first-floor lounge. There’s full-cooked Pilgrm (with house-baked beans) or a vegan version of smashed avocado, butternut squash hummus and a knock-out beetroot falafel. But the top seller is smashed avocado on toast with crumbled feta, which comes with the unexpected addition of a tomato and olive salsa. Where to eat and drink nearby Being in the heart of London, you’ve plenty of dinner choices nearby – from the cheap-and-cheerful Paramount Lebanese Kitchen, next door, to the Cleveland Arms around the corner, and Basque-styled Lurra and Donostia a short walk away. Read our guide to Paddington restaurants here From £119 per night, check availability at booking.com The Zetter Hotel, Clerkenwell – for panoramic city views From £256 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Victorian warehouse turned hip boutique hotel in Clerkenwell, The Zetter has 59 retro-styled rooms. Rooms have a sleek mid-century vibe, and an attention to detail that elevates the guest experience, from plush UK-made REN toiletries in the bathroom to a well-stocked honesty tray of food and drink, and a mini library of Penguin paperbacks. We suggest choosing one of the hotel’s seven rooftop bedrooms, each of which comes with a private terrace and panoramic views of the city. We stayed in one of the spacious and light-filled rooftop deluxe studios, which have funky geometric interiors, sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows and a freestanding rolltop bath on the terrace. Those into their drinks will also love the locally sourced minibar, which on our visit had bottles of East London Liquor Company rum, gin and vodka, Redchurch beer and JARR kombucha – all made in east London. Make yourself at home in the Lounge for cocktails and small plates – a cosy foodie bolthole to spend an evening. Where to eat and drink nearby It’s a 10-minute walk to Moro in Exmouth Market, for North African and Spanish-influenced tapas. From £256 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Four Seasons Park Lane, London – for a central London spa experience Doubles from £977, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Four Seasons Park Lane is a short walk from Hyde Park, the theatre district and a wealth of London attractions, but is situated on a serene street away from the hustle of the city. The hotel feels luxurious from the moment you’re ushered into the dramatic lobby, but the atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious. You’ll find sleek rooms with plush beds, decadent marbled bathrooms and plenty of added little luxuries from room sprays to a pillow menu, they take sleep very seriously here. Dining at the hotel’s Pavyllon restaurant is an all-round immersive experience, request a counter seat and the theatre you’ll spectate will rival any of the West End shows. Headed up by multi Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, it took him less than a year to win a star for Pavyllon. Them menu focuses on French classics using the finest British ingredients, each dish is presented like a work of art but the balance of flavours is where the real power in his dishes is held. You can expect plates like monkfish tail seared with black pepper oil, succulent Lake District lamb cutlets and flambéed cherries with almond ice cream. Breakfast is served a la carte and includes British and French classics, the Parisian omelette with ham, Comté cheese sauce and parsley is perfection, you’ll find plenty of freshly squeezed juices, pastries and exceptionally good coffee on the menu too. Situated at the very top of the hotel (you’ll find dramatic city views from the changing rooms and gym), the sleek spa is home to a salt-wall sauna, eucalyptus steam room and huge vitality pool which is difficult to tear yourself away from. The treatment menu offers everything from personalised facials to immersive sound bath healing. Where to eat and drink nearby You're spoilt for choice with this location being a short walk from Oxford Street, Soho or Victoria in any direction. Visit Sketch for a memorable afternoon tea or enjoy quietly luxurious special occasion dining at Cornus in Eccleston Place. Doubles from £977, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk The Coach, Clerkenwell – for a Sunday roast and sleepover Doubles from £120, check rates and availability at booking.com Chef-restaurateur Henry Harris has transformed this popular independent pub in Clerkenwell into a well-executed French restaurant-with-rooms. Hidden down a quiet street in the heart of Clerkenwell, The Coach has been refurbished with the addition of four small, boutique-style rooms. The lively pub is child-friendly and serves a variety of beers, lagers and wines from local breweries as well as a selection of cocktails. For our aperitif we opted for a strong, citrussy negroni followed by a full-bodied, fruity red Château Laussac Cuvée La Dame. Visit on a Sunday for the classic Sunday roast – succulent 48-day aged Hereford sirloin of beef with punchy horseradish came with crispy duck-fat potatoes, sweet baby carrots and plenty of crunchy greens. Finish with a super-light blood orange posset with delicate lemon shortbreads and a verrine made with sought-after Gariguette strawberries, silky smooth crème pâtissière and chantilly cream. Upstairs, plenty of light floods into the compact rooms through double sash windows, framed by funky grey and yellow blinds. Modern art features on whitewashed walls and boutique hotel luxuries add a welcoming touch (Roberts radio, chrome light shades and Bramley hand soap). The bathrooms evoke the design of an old-school coach, while little white tiles add a retro twenties stamp. The bright, art-filled breakfast room overlooks a small terrace alive with greenery. Choose from a small menu – try bowls full to the brim with crunchy coconut and pecan granola or indulge in the full Coach breakfast of thick-cut bacon, crispy fried eggs, buttery mogettes (beans) and sourdough from Bread Ahead bakery. Where to eat and drink nearby Exmouth Market is on your doorstep, where you’ll find an array of independent shops, bars and restaurants, including Pizza Pilgrims, Morito and Berber & Q. Doubles from £120, check rates and availability at booking.com Bingham Riverhouse - for riverside views and chic interiors Perched along the Thames, this boutique bolthole is a dream for food lovers seeking a tranquil retreat with a touch of history. Housed in a chic Georgian townhouse with a fascinating literary past, the hotel is home to a sun-dappled terrace overlooking the stunning gardens and River Thames – as well as luxurious drawing room with a roaring fire place, perfect for afternoon tea or an expertly mixed cocktail. Breakfast is served in a cozy library lined with rows of vintage Penguin paperbacks, and includes a generous buffet as well as a menu with all of the classics. Beyond the hotel’s indulgent offerings, its location provides easy access to some of London’s most scenic attractions. A short stroll brings you to the vast greenery of Richmond Park, where wild deer roam freely, while the riverside towpath is ideal for leisurely walks or a sunset jog. After a day exploring local markets and gastropubs, unwind in one of the 14 beautifully designed rooms, each named after a poem by Michael Field. Expect mid-century elegance with thoughtful touches like Hebridean wool throws and artisan crystals. Opt for a river-facing room to enjoy stunning Thames views, along with a statement Catchpole & Rye copper bathtub—perfect for a post-dinner soak. Where to eat and drink nearby You are just a short walk along the river away from Petersham Nurseries cafe and restaurant. Rooms from £190 per night, check availability at binghamriverhouse.com or <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100565798-11795693?sid=olivemagazine-226739&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fhotel%2Fgb%2Fthe-bingham.en-us.html%3Faid%3D811995%26label%3Daffnetcj-11795693_pub-5306979_site-100565798_pname-Immediate%2520Media_clkid-olivemagazine-147252_cjevent-28ed6645bb9211ee812000d80a18b8f8%26sid%3D1445e016f12e209a9562b523f90d2e21%26dist%3D0%26keep_landing%3D1%26sb_price_type%3Dtotal%26type%3Dtotal%26utm_campaign%3Dgb%26utm_medium%3Dbannerindex%26utm_source%3Daffnetcj%26utm_term%3Dindex-11795693%26" target="_blank" rel="noopener sponsored">booking.com The Beaumont Hotel, Mayfair – for old school opulence Doubles from £648, check availability at thebeaumont.com or booking.com Old school opulence and faultless hospitality are the name of the game at The Beaumont. The polished walnut panelling, shiny marble floors and gilded edges set the scene as you walk into the Art Deco-style lobby. Suites are just as plush, with luxurious touches and 5-star attention to detail: Beaumont-stamped chocolate, sweets and snack jars all waited in our room, while sustainable toiletries were by heritage London perfumer D.R Harris. Rooms and suites are stylish, ultra-comfy and peaceful, cocooned from the busy Central London streets below. There’s even a room designed by artist Antony Gormley. The hotel’s Colony Grill is an elevated take on an NYC steakhouse, serving classics done with serious panache. Everything on the menu is that little bit extra: the tame-sounding shrimp cocktail arrives as grand whole prawns fanning from a stemmed bowl; the steak is salt-aged in-house and served with whipped bearnaise; you can build-your-own sundae using a fun tick sheet (we added a chestnut and rosemary ice cream to ours). Breakfast is served in The Colony Grill and is just as chic as dinner. We ate smoked salmon, scrambled egg and brioche with house-pressed pomegranate juice, but the made-to-order menu is huge and includes signature hashes, cold breakfasts, pancakes, French toast and eggs served every which way you can imagine. The Viennoiserie table included almond croissants, cinnamon rolls and pain au chocolat, all made in the Beaumont bakery. Service is impeccable. The peaceful basement spa at the Beaumont has a really fun USP – its range of hammam treatments. We experienced the Signature Hammam which involved an invigorating exfoliation using black olive savon noir scrub and an enriching rose & geranium clay. You can follow up with a massage treatment, or enjoy the facilities which include two steam rooms and one of London’s only cold water plunge pools. Where to eat and drink nearby If you can bring yourself to leave the Beaumont cocoon, the hustle and bustle of Mayfair and Oxford Street await. Tamarind Terrace offers all-weather Indian dining (don't miss the lamb chops with pistachio crust), or try Akira Back for playful riffs on Japanese cuisine. Doubles from £648, check availability at thebeaumont.com or booking.com The Boundary, Shoreditch – for a foodie weekend in Shoreditch Doubles from £173 per night, check availability at booking.com A trendy hotel, Boundary has 17 individually-designed bedrooms, a rooftop bar and an all-day bar and brasserie. Each bedroom is truly unique, taking inspiration from a particular designer or design movement. Take your pick from Mies van der Rohe, Charles & Ray Eames, Andrée Putman or Eileen Gray. Most share a restful, simple colour palette and a restrained but very carefully curated collection of furniture. The Sir David Tang Suite is an exception with its Chinese silk wallpaper and tassled green silk lampshades. Regardless of which room you stay in, a mid-afternoon delivery of freshly baked brownie is guaranteed. Dodge busy Shoreditch streets at the sky-high rooftop bar, where the view of London is uninterrupted and the cocktails are excellent. Try the Serendipity – a concoction of Monkey Shoulder whisky, Drambuie, mango purée, lime and chilli – and share plates of garlic tiger prawns and grilled lobster. Breakfast has a grown-up vibe but an on-trend menu, stretching to cold-pressed juices and ‘healthy’ cooked breakfasts. Baked goods are where it’s at, though, with a choice of cinnamon – or pistachio and white chocolate – swirls, croissants and Danish pastries. Where to eat and drink nearby BRAT, just a minutes’ walk away, is a Spanish-inspired spot that serves grilled sharing platters. Click here for more places to eat in Shoreditch. Doubles from £173 per night, check availability at booking.com Pan Pacific London, London – for an oasis of calm Doubles from £395 including spa access, check availability at panpacificlondon.com or booking.com Pan Pacific might be moments away from the bustling streets of Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market, but inside it’s an oasis of calm. The hotel’s ethos is to bring a slice of the Singapore experience to London, and you’ll find that influence in everything from the Kopi Tiam afternoon tea to the vibrant hotel bar Ginger Lily, where the attentive staff will mix you up a signature Singaporean classic or a contemporary creation, depending on your own unique tastes. Breakfast is served in Straits Kitchen and you'll find an opulent buffet with a choice of Asian and English classics, from freshly made omelette to beautifully fragrant Won Ton noodle soups. All rooms feature king size beds, expansive marble bathrooms and luxury bathroom products, but the views across the city are what make this hotel standout, you can admire the glittering lights and striking contrast of old and new architecture from the comfort of your very own bed, it might be hard to leave. A night at Pan Pacific includes full use of the wellbeing floor. Start your morning with a luxurious swim in the balmy and impressively large infinity pool, floor to ceiling windows offer you far-reaching views over Bishopsgate Plaza as you practice your front crawl. There are plenty of sun loungers to recline on in the light-flooded relaxation area and a mindfulness studio where you’ll find yoga classes, meditation, pilates and gong therapy. The bougie experience continues in the changing rooms with Diptyque products and a smart sauna and steam room for the ultimate heat experience. There are a range of treatments on offer from a rhythmical bamboo massage to a lymphatic drainage massage. Where to eat and drink nearby Walk to Spitalfields Market for your choice of street food, or book a table at Kolamba East for modern Sri Lankan sharing dishes – the prawn string hopper biryani is worth a visit alone. Doubles from £395 including spa access, check availability at panpacificlondon.com or booking.com Kettner’s Townhouse, Soho – for the Champagne lifestyle Check rates and availability at sohohouse.com or mrandmrssmith.com Playing on its 1920s heyday, this Georgian building (brought up-to-date by the Soho House Group) is home to an all-day French brasserie, Champagne bar and 33 glamorous hotel rooms. Rooms vary dramatically in size. Compact Tiny rooms are fitted with Tudor-style beds and slick en-suites, while Cosy rooms are a bit larger with pretty green velvet scalloped headboards. If you want to wallow in a freestanding bath tub and super king-size bed, book one of the Medium or Big rooms (they have double sinks and walk-in rainforest showers, too). All rooms, no matter what size, cater to every whim, making for a luxurious stay. An almost overwhelming array of Cowshed bath and shower products await in the rainforest showers (cleansing toner and lip balm, as well as the usual staples). The all-day menu served in the brasserie sticks to classic French comfort food (steak tartare, roast chicken and Toulouse sausage). Try perfectly pink fillet of Lake District beef with fluffy chips and a creamy pepper sauce; or head to the Champagne bar for its take on a French 75, The Romilly, made from exotic Star of Bombay gin, mango cordial and sparkling Ruinart. The Kettner’s Fizz – refreshing clementine and grapefruit juice laced with Grand Marnier and Runiart rosé – is also a good shout. For breakfast, opt for a glass of fizz and a decadent lobster royale with hollandaise and Exmoor caviar in the Champagne bar, or keep it classic in the brasserie: blueberry muffins, or citrusy pink grapefruit served with thick sheep’s milk yogurt and a sprinkling of bee pollen and micro mint. Soho House has zingy breakfast drinks sorted, with its own pre-bottled house press juices. Where to eat and drink nearby Head to Yasmin on Warwick Street for rooftop dining with Middle Eastern flavour. Inspired by a stint in Istanbul, the menu majors on superior dips, flatbreads and zingy salads and grills. Read more about where to eat in Soho here. Check rates and availability at sohohouse.com or mrandmrssmith.com The Hoxton, High Holborn – for a hip hangout Doubles from £179 per night, check availability at booking.com The Hoxton is a cool, open-house hotel with 174 bedrooms, designed by local illustrators. Choose between four sizes, starting with Shoebox (the clue’s in the name), then Snug, Cosy and, the largest of the four, Roomy. Compact shoebox rooms still have queen-size beds and walk-in showers, while roomy ones are home to king-size beds and squidgy leather armchairs. With the exception of Shoebox, all are dog-friendly. If you fancy wine or beer in your room, head to the front desk where you can buy bottles at supermarket prices. A light breakfast bag can be delivered to your door, but for something more substantial head to Rondo for ’nduja scrambled eggs, or a Full English, served with Tamworth sausage & bacon, Fenton eggs, black pudding & beans. There are cold-pressed green juices to wake you up, or a selection of 100% vegan coffees, including matcha and raw cacao lattes. Where to eat and drink nearby A pie at the Holborn Dining Room is a must, whether it be filled with chicken, girolle and tarragon, or mutton curry. Try the contemporary afternoon tea at Rosewood’s Mirror Room, too. Doubles from £179 per night, check availability at booking.com Ham Yard Hotel, Soho – for a hidden design gem From £606 per night, check availability at booking.com An urban village, Ham Yard Hotel is home to 91 individually designed bedrooms and suites, 24 apartments, 13 independent stores and a restaurant. Kit Kemp designed the quintessentially British interiors, so that means colourful, patterned textiles and original artwork. Superior rooms have queen-size beds and a separate sitting area with writing desk, while the two-bedroom terrace suite on the hotel’s top floor has a kitchen. All bedrooms have views of the leafy terrace or city skyline. With its super central Soho location, there’s no shortage of restaurant, bars and cafés to explore in the area. But the hotel itself has its own restaurant and serves a selection of afternoon teas, including a ‘healthy’ reduced sugar option. A roof garden is home to raised herb and vegetable beds, so expect to see purple sage and orange marigold featuring on the menu. Two bee hives also live on the roof, the honey from which is used in cocktails. At breakfast, Antipodean-style eats and smoothies feature alongside lighter bites, including coconut chia seed pots with mango. Porridge is prepared with your choice of milk, water or cream, and is topped with berries, banana, mango, sugar, seeds or maple syrup. Where to eat and drink nearby Pop across the road to KILN for regional Thai dishes. Try aged lamb skewers, delicately fragrant with cumin and Szechuan pepper; or clay-pot baked glass noodles with Tamworth pork belly and brown crabmeat. Here are more places to eat and drink in Soho. From £606 per night, check availability at booking.com The Culpeper, Spitalfields – for campfires on the roof Doubles from £160 per night, check availability at booking.com The Culpeper is an east London pub with five bedrooms, a restaurant and rooftop garden. The ground floor pub takes classics up a notch: deep-fried black pudding balls, crispy ox tongue with tarragon mayo, and chicken liver on toast. The wine list is completely natural, local beers feature strongly, and all the cocktails are based on herbs that grow on the roof. The rooftop has a changing residency each summer, but in the past Piculpeper has set up camp with fire pits serving grilled broccoli, ash-roast potatoes and slow-roast camembert. On the first floor, a restaurant offers three starters, three mains and three desserts that change weekly. It also makes use of what’s grown in and around The Culpeper, including nettles, sprouting kale, baby gem lettuce and swiss chard on its menu. On the second floor, five bedrooms are in keeping with the rest of the pub, so expect plastered walls, bare brickwork, original fireplaces and simple-yet-colourful textiles. Where to eat and drink nearby Som Saa is less than a minute away, so head there for sticky Burmese-style curry, whole deep-fried sea bass and palm sugar ice cream. Doubles from £160 per night, check availability at booking.com The Orange, Belgravia – for a cosy pub with rooms Rooms start at £260 a night, check availability at booking.com or cubitthouse.co.uk If you want to stay in the beating heart of London, you won’t get much more central than buzzy Belgravia, and this refurbished pub is a chic base. The 19th century local is part of the Cubitts House group, who have given this glorious period building a whole new charm. The uber-stylish interiors have flashes of orange throughout, and the contemporary Italian-inspired menu is curated by Ben Tish. The Orange has just four rooms, giving it an extra-personal feel. They are decked in natural materials and finished with botanical flourishes. Downstairs in the bar, guests can soak up the buzz and order dinner off The Orange’s seasonal, à la carte menu. You’ll find a list of delicious-sounding pizzas with inventive toppings, like red prawns, rose harissa & crispy garlic. There’s a strong list of hearty, seasonal salads, which included braised kale and fried aubergine. Starters included panisse with bottarga. There are large plates too, including rib-eye with roasted onions & comte and roast chicken with grapes and rosemary. Guests enjoy breakfast as part of their stay, and while we loved the house granola with new season rhubarb, where The Orange really plays an ace is with their breakfast wood-fired flatbreads. Choose from toppings like fennel sausage & roasted tomatoes, stracciatella, mushroom & truffle cheese sauce. We already rated The Orange, but we have extra respect for anywhere that serves pizza before 10am. Where to eat and drink nearby For more dinner options, try Wildflowers. A stylish restaurant and wine bar, Mediterranean-inspired dishes are cooked over coal in an open kitchen, cocktails are imaginative twists on classics (try a melon negroni or almost-dirty martini) and its understated design encourages you to relax and linger over your food. Rooms start at £260 a night, check availability at booking.com or cubitthouse.co.uk Vintry and Mercer, City of London – for luxury in the City From £284 per night, check availability at booking.com One of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Vintry and Mercer is a 92-bedroom luxury hotel with a roof terrace restaurant, speakeasy-style bar and an all-day kitchen serving Asian plates. Rooms comes with elaborate velvet headboards and dramatically tiled bathrooms. The 'standard' room is anything but, with a queen-size bed, walk-in shower and heated floor, while the deluxe comes with a king-size bed, turndown service and wet room. Every bedroom nods to its city location, be it through needle-and-thread wallpaper that references the mercers who used to import fine silks just a stone’s throw from where the hotel now stands, or antique-style maps that depict old trade routes. Foodies stay here both for the delightful roof terrace restaurant, which focuses on farm-to-plate food cooked over charcoal; and DND (Do Not Disturb), a fun bar that pairs barrel-aged cocktails with sliders. There’s also Vintry Izakaya, which serves tapas-style dishes including tempura shiitake and tomato miso steamed buns. Along with the usual spirits, there’s also a selection of sakes and Asian-influences cocktails. Try the Takhiriti, made with Don Q rum, lemongrass syrup, kaffir lime and Thai basil. Where to eat and drink nearby Wander up to Brigadiers for an Indian feast of BBQ butter chicken wings, sikandari kid goat shoulder and on-tap cocktails. Read our full review here. From £284 per night, check availability at booking.com Green Rooms, Wood Green – for great-value rooms From £82 per night, check availability at booking.com A no-frills affordable hotel, Green Rooms has stylishly simple bedrooms. There are 22 bedrooms (everything from three-quarter to king-size beds, some with shared bathrooms, others en-suite), two en-suite studio apartments and two dormitories (one sleeps 12, one sleeps 16 people) make for an eclectic mix of accommodation. It’s a back-to-basics vibe, but with added style. Mattresses are good quality, furnishings are sparse but pretty (a few rooms have chairs and textiles by fashion brand Folk, but most have simple white bed linen and vintage wooden furniture), and frills extend only to a few coat hangers, a travel kettle, a small range of London Tea Company teas and Climpson and Sons coffee. Where to eat and drink nearby In Turkish-influenced Wood Green, you don’t have to go more than 30 paces to find grilled halloumi and spinach omelettes. Try Antepliler for pides, spiced lentil koftes and pistachio kanafeh. From £82 per night, check availability at booking.com Kaya Great Northern Hotel, King’s Cross – for swanky fine dining From £215 per night, check availability at booking.com A luxury, boutique hotel just 25 metres from King’s Cross station, comfort and class is the focus at Kaya Great Northern Hotel, with each bedroom sporting sash windows and high ceilings. Couchette is the cosiest, with queen-size beds tucked into leather-clad banquettes, while the Edwardian bedrooms on the top floor have walnut wood panelling and vintage-style bathrooms. Victorian is the largest, with views of King’s Cross and a roll top bath. On the first floor, RAILS Restaurant and Little Bar offers a smart take on British and French classics. Where to eat and drink nearby There’s no shortage of options in Coal Drops Yard, including wine bars and funky sandwich joints. Try smoky rotisserie chicken and mezcal negronis at alfresco Mexican restaurant, Plaza Pastor. See our picks of the best restaurants in Kings Cross here. From £215 per night, check availability at booking.com The London Edition, West End – for striking interiors From £420 per night, check availability at booking.com A slick hotel in the heart of Fitzrovia with 173 bedrooms and a sophisticated restaurant, Berners Tavern. The in-house restaurant is under the direction of Michelin-starred chef, Jason Atherton. A striking dining room (ornate ceilings, plush leather booths and antique artwork in lavish gold frames) sets a grand tone, while the trendy-yet-accessible food is the kind you could eat every day: pork pie and aged beef tartare, BBQ pork chops, and mac ‘n’ cheese. Try a roast at the weekend, including beef wellington and Dingley Dell pork belly. There are two bars to choose from: The Lobby comes kitted out with a snooker table and tufted sofas, while The Punch Room is an intimate space inspired by 19th-century private clubs. The signature gin-infused EDITION house punch is a must. Stylish and simple rooms are inspired by luxury yachts with oak floors, walnut wooden panels and tufted armchairs. There are four bedroom sizes (guest, superior, deluxe and loft) as well as two suites, the loft and the penthouse. All bedrooms come with the same features (king-size beds, rainforest showers, iPod docking stations and custom made Le Labo bathroom products). Suites come with a large living area, while the penthouse has a dining area, pantry, walk-in wardrobe and three outdoor terraces with city views. At breakfast, hearty classics are the order of the day, be it a slow-cooked smoked ham hock croque monsieur with aged cheddar, or oak smoked Scottish salmon with scrambled eggs. If you’re after something lighter, dairy-free mango smoothies and ginger, turmeric and orange shots are also on offer. Where to eat and drink nearby Book a table at Rovi, Ottolenghi’s restaurant with vegetables, fermentation and fire at its heart. Read all the best restaurants in Fitzrovia here. From £420 per night, check availability at booking.com The Athenaeum, Mayfair – for a luxurious Mayfair stay From £366 per night, check availability at booking.com The Athenaeum is a luxury yet family-friendly Mayfair hotel with bedrooms, suites, apartments and townhouses. Spacious bedrooms include Hypnos mattresses, London-inspired artwork and your choice of pillow. Marble bathrooms come with heated towel rails and non-steam mirrors. Serviced apartments are ideal for those with children, with separate front doors leading onto a double bedroom (with extra bunk or sofa beds for little ones), living area and fully fitted kitchenette. If you want to stay in the main hotel, interconnecting bedrooms are also available. Choose between a continental buffet for breakfast (yogurt, fruit, charcuterie, cheese and baked goods) or opt for a full English, omelettes or smoked salmon. There’s a separate menu for children, including waffles with fruit compote or boiled eggs with toast soldiers. Where to eat and drink nearby Mayfair has plenty of excellent dining choices to offer: from contemporary steak and sushi at Nijū to pub classics at The Guinea Grill or elegant Italian at Angela Hartnett's Murano. For more dining in the area, check out our favourite places to eat in Mayfair here. From £366 per night, check availability at booking.com The Bull and The Hide, Bishopsgate – for cosy pub vibes From £155 per night, check availability at booking.com A pub with 10 boutique bedrooms in the heart of the city. Rooms are neat and simply decorated. Each is named after the pub’s colourful past, from the Oxford (the 17th Earl of Oxford lived on the site in the 16th century) to the Devonshire suite, which echoes the name of a grand house that stood on the site in 1625. If you want a room with a view, book the Hush Heath suite for its own private balcony. All come equipped with Miller Harris toiletries, goose down pillows and a 24-hour pantry, where you can help yourself to tea, coffee, cookies and sweets. The Bull pub downstairs (part of the Hush Heath Estate) serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, bar snacks and dinner. Classics include scotch eggs with curried mayo, half-pint shrimps and whitebait with tartare sauce. Flatbreads are also a focus, so try the pulled pork, BBQ sauce and jalapeño one. The sparkling wines come from the Hush Heath Estate in Kent, and the crisp sparkling apple is recommended. The Bull breakfast is a simple affair. Choose a full English, American pancakes with bacon, avocado on toast or granola. Where to eat and drink nearby If you're not eating in the pub, head to Duck & Waffle for views over the city or Spitalfields Market for plenty of street food options, from freshly pulled noodles to the gooiest cheese toasties. From £155 per night, check availability at booking.com Claridge’s, Mayfair – for classic elegance From £930 per night, check availability at booking.com The iconic Claridge's is a glamorous art deco Mayfair hotel with restaurants, bars and a reading room. Bedrooms and suites are either traditional or art deco, but both come with Bose speakers, fresh flowers and mini bars stocked with British produce. En-suite marble bathrooms include Cowshed products (made exclusively for Claridge’s), and the Claridge’s King room comes with floor-to-ceiling mirrors and views of the peaceful inner court. The Mayfair Suite has a separate sitting room with original fireplace, and the Brook Penthouse, a two-bedroom apartment with living room, dining area, private bar and a terrace with views of the Houses of Parliament, is luxury at its finest. For foodies, the Foyer and Reading Room serve an all-day dining menu, from roast rack of Kent lamb to its signature lobster wellington. Afternoon tea has been a ritual here for almost 150 years, and this luxurious redoubt for the rich and royal (no flip-flops, no intrusive photography) has turned it into an art form. Eat English cucumber and dill cream sandwiches, fluffy raisin scones with Cornish clotted cream, and caramelised hazelnut Paris-Brest. Breakfast is a lavish affair. There’s English, European, Japanese, vegan and Middle Eastern options, to name a few. Try pork gyoza, prawn dim sum, chicken congee, Chinese pickles and century duck egg for a Chinese feast, or keep it healthy with chia seed pudding and carrot juice. The Claridge’s bakery makes daily Danish pastries, croissants, muffins and brioche, and pancakes are served with berries and Valrhona chocolate. Where to eat and drink nearby Wander down Regent Street for a Spanish feast at Sabor. Eat crisp, golden prawn croquettes and mussels ‘a la Bilbaina’. Read more about Sabor here From £930 per night, check availability at booking.com The Ritz, Piccadilly – for old-school luxury Doubles from £900 per night, check availability at booking.com The Ritz offers old-school luxury in the heart of Piccadilly, with a restaurant to match. Opulent yet traditional, there’s a twee feel to the bedrooms with plenty of floral patterns and pastel furnishings. Living areas come with antique furniture, and en-suite bathrooms are adorned with marble. Deluxe suites come with up to five bedrooms and spacious sitting rooms, but, if it’s views you’re after, book the Green Park Suite, which looks out over its namesake. Afternoon tea is the main draw, taken in the elegant Palm Court. Indulge in Scottish smoked salmon on springy sourdough bread, warm scones and delicate blackcurrant macarons. Choose from an 18-strong tea menu that has been curated and exclusively blended by The Ritz’s tea sommelier, Giandomenico Scanu. The Michelin-starred restaurant cooks seasonal British produce. Try Dover sole with new season leeks, cauliflower and caviar, or native lobster with heritage carrot and lemon verbena. Don’t leave without trying the crêpes suzette, prepared, cooked and served at your table with real flair. For breakfast, whether you fancy sirloin steak with fried eggs or an omelette with caviar, The Ritz has you covered. A continental breakfast keeps things light with fruit, homemade yogurt, cheese, ham and cereal, while three punchy juices are sure to wake you up. Our favourite is the Ruby Ritz: carrot, beetroot, fennel, ginger and lime. Where to eat and drink nearby World-famous for its seafood and shellfish, Bentley’s is the place to go for oysters. Click here for more places to eat in Mayfair. Doubles from £900 per night, check availability at booking.com Shangri-La At The Shard, London Bridge – for striking views Doubles from £553, check availability at booking.com Shangri-La At The Shard is a central London hotel with 202 bedrooms, striking views and an infinity sky pool. The hotel includes a restaurant, afternoon tea lounge and two bars. On level 35, TING serves a modern British menu with Asian influences, making the most of produce from neighbouring Borough Market. The five-course tasting menu offers the likes of duck liver ballotine with forced rhubarb and green tea, and Eton mess with cardamom. Climb 12 levels higher for GONG bar (the highest hotel bar in Europe) and its quirky cocktails. The cognac and sherry-based Over the Rainbow comes in a decorative hot air balloon, while the Scan Me whisky sour is delivered in a sleek black glass. Every bedroom and suite comes with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame London’s skyline; the iconic City View room, for example, looks out over Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. A pillow menu is available, along with binoculars (to get a closer look at the landmarks), feather duvets, L'Occitane bath products and a Chinese tea set. The suites offer a separate living and working space, with views spanning across Surrey and Sussex, and the Shangri-La suite is the grandest of them all – dressing room, kitchenette, cocktail-making services, an iPad and local area guide included. At breakfast, choose between an English, Middle Eastern or Asian breakfast, the latter of which comes with congee, dim sum and wok fried noodles. Or try something from the wellness menu: bircher muesli and green smoothies packed with kiwi, spinach, ginger, mint and apple juice. Where to eat and drink nearby Pop to the market for plates of pici cacio e pepe and beef shin ragu at Padella. Click here for our London Bridge restaurant guide. Doubles from £553, check availability at booking.com Sea Containers London, Southbank – for a room above the best bar in the world Check rates and availability at booking.com Sea Containers is a modern hotel on the river with bedrooms designed by Tom Dixon and a cocktail bar from master mixologist, Mr Lyan. Choose between bedrooms, suites and apartments. Tones of grey and pops of pink are the signature colours, with chrome furnishings lending a sleek feel. Queen-size beds come as standard in the boutique rooms, and marble bathrooms are stocked with natural Malin + Goetz products. Wall-to-wall windows in the Riverview Deluxe room offer views of the city, while the Riverview Suite includes a separate living area and extra bathroom. The world’s number one bar, Dandelyan used to have its home at Sea Containers, but Mr Lyan closed that down and re-opened it as Lyaness. The sweeping green marble bar occupies the ground floor of the hotel, with soft-grey sofas and electric-blue banquettes. Try the tiki-inspired Double Painkiller, with bright tropical notes and a subtle smokiness. An all-day restaurant serves plates designed to share, from whole seabass with lemon to shaved mushrooms with manchego and brown butter. If you’re there over the weekend, try the eggy sammy from the brunch menu for breakfast – a brioche bun stacked with fried egg, crispy bacon, jack cheese and avocado – or go for a spicy chorizo flatbread with olives and wild rocket. In the week, expect a full English, fruit and yogurt, or avocado on toast. Where to eat and drink nearby Skylon is an 11-minute walk away on the first floor of the Royal Festival Hall. It’s all about seasonal modern British food and great views of the Thames. Check rates and availability at booking.com The Standard, King's Cross Doubles from £199, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com There’s nothing standard about The Standard. Minutes from St Pancras International, London’s rail-based gateway to Europe, the cool kids behind America’s Standard Hotel group opened their first UK outpost, converting a 1970s concrete block into a hip eating and drinking destination, with more than 200 groovy retro-kitsch bedrooms on site. It may be the priciest room (with the exception of the suites), but book a King’s Terrace room and you’ll be rewarded with a large terrace complete with an outdoor bath that overlooks the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel and its terracotta-coloured clock tower. There are no ‘standard’ rooms at The Standard – the most basic options still boast bathrobes, bespoke Davines toiletries and Bang & Olufsen speakers. The building’s geometric shape adds character to outer-ring rooms (internal Cosy Cores don’t have windows, but they do have shower rooms strung with ferns), with squishy sofas in retro colours tucked beneath aquarium-like curved windows. Wallace Sewell, TFL’s fabric designers, have created the bedspreads and carpets, with the nostalgic red, purple and blue palette reminding guests how in-the-thick-of-it they are. Retro-chic design continues in the bathrooms, where pale pink and black tiles cover monsoon shower walls, and mint green taps add a pop of colour. Foodies are well catered for with a selection of options. On the ground floor, Isla’s vibrant space, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open onto a plant-filled terrace, is home to light British plates with a generous plant-based section. There's also Sweeties cocktail bar, Decimo for Mexican-Spanish cuisine with dramatic skyline views, or the Double Standard Bar serving American-inspired brunch or burgers and hot dogs in the evening. Make the most of humongous beds and order breakfast delivered to your room. Avocado on toast pepped-up with chimichurri, perhaps, or a batch of brown butter madeleines with Square Mile coffee. Where to eat and drink nearby The Standard is a one-minute walk (if that) from St Pancras International, so it’s well-placed if you want to kick off a trip to Amsterdam, Paris or the south of France in style. Doubles from £199, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com More hotel guides Best country house hotels in the UK Best health and wellness retreats Best UK boutique hotels Best hotels in the Cotswolds Best Cornwall hotels Best hotels in the Lake District Best London hotel bars to visit Best romantic hotels in the UK European hidden gems: hotels off the beaten track Best Paris hotels Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best restaurants with rooms in the UK Best Amsterdam hotels
Think you're not a cruise person? These 8 luxury voyages will change your mind
From royalty-approved journeys around the UK to expeditions in the Komodo Islands, it's time to change your opinion of cruises
"Something for everyone" may be one of travel's most overused clichés, but it's genuinely true when it comes to cruising. Even if you firmly believe that you wouldn't enjoy a cruise, there's a brand or experience out there to convert the most sceptical of first-time cruisers, be it a voyage seeking the Northern Lights, a small-ship expedition or a food-themed cruise aboard a luxury liner. For more travel inspiration, check out our guide to the most breathtaking train journeys across the world and 10 unique walking holidays for food lovers. 8 luxury cruise journeys for foodies Hebridean Island Cruises, Scotland For a UK cruise If you dismissed cruises because you thought they sounded naff, consider if you will the late Queen Elizabeth II. After her beloved Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned, she sought the next best thing for sailing around the Scottish isles. Her solution was to charter – twice – the luxurious Hebridean Princess for peaceful, paparazzi-free family holidays. With its country-house atmosphere, attention to detail and fit-for-royalty service, the 48-passenger ship remains a fantastic choice for a close-to-home cruise. The experience includes top-class dining and first-rate guides, plus the chance to sample foodie treats ashore. On this week-long round-trip from Oban, the ship shuttles around the Inner Hebrides via an Isle of Raasay distillery, Colonsay's oyster and honey producers and The Old Forge: mainland Britain's most remote pub. Included in the price are several memorable meals ashore, particularly at the Isle of Skye's renowned Three Chimneys restaurant and a champagne reception at Mull's Duart Castle, hosted by the Laird himself. For added insight, this departure is accompanied by Coinneach MacLeod, the best-selling cookery book author, as guest speaker. A seven-night Flavours of the Hebrides cruise departing on 20 April 2027, from £4,879pp. hebridean.co.uk Oceania Cruises, Japan For hands-on foodie experiences Cruises only serve up bland cuisine and boring buffets, right? That actually couldn't be further from the truth. Even mainstream cruise lines these days strive for culinary excellence. For a truly epicurean experience, it has to be Oceania. This luxury line sets itself apart by serving what it claims is "the finest cuisine at sea"; and whereas many lines charge extra to dine in the specialty restaurants, Oceania's (of which pan-Asian Red Ginger is the standout) are included in the fare. Continuing the foodie theme is Oceania's Culinary Center, which was the first hands-on cookery classroom at sea. Going further still is the programme of small-group, chef-led shore excursions that take in local restaurants and markets. On a Hong Kong to Tokyo cruise aboard 670-passenger Oceania Nautica, one such tour of Kobe involves a masterclass in artisanal Japanese kitchen knives, discovering the art of sujihiki meat-slicers and general-purpose santoku blades. This cruise also stops in Taiwan and Korea before hopping around Kyushu, Shikoku and Honshu – the southernmost three of Japan's four main islands. The 14-night Timeless Tea Gardens cruise departing on 25 February 2027, from £3,096pp. oceaniacruises.com Crystal, Mediterranean For destination dining at sea If big-name restaurants are more your thing, upmarket Crystal delivers with its destination dining. Both of the ultra-luxury line's ships carry a brace of well-known restaurants alongside Osteria d'Ovidio, where three-time Michelin-starred chef Massimiliano Alajmo devises the menus. Guests can dine both here and at Umi Uma – the sole at-sea offering from chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, of Nobu fame – once per cruise without a cover charge. Crystal's second only-at-sea collaboration is with Beefbar, the steak-and-street-food phenomenon found in party hotspots from Meribel to Mykonos. Beyond exceptional dining, Crystal's two all-suite, mid-sized ships (606-passenger Symphony and 740-guest Serenity) take a "best of everything" approach that includes an industry-leading space-to-guest ratio and unrivalled service. Both ships tend to summer in European waters, where a highlight among the handful of particularly food-focused itineraries travels from Barcelona to Rome via Monaco, Malta, Tunisia and Sicily. Optional shore excursions include day-trips from Monte Carlo to sample local wines, cheeses and market produce; or learn about couscous in Tunis before joining a cookery demonstration (with lunch) at a Sicilian villa. This nine-night Mediterranean cruise departing on 3 June 2027, from £5,400pp. crystalcruises.com Havila Voyages, Norway For environmentally friendly cruising Eco-minded travellers with an eye on their carbon footprint will have no qualms about sailing with Havila – one of the world's most sustainable cruise lines. This year sees the brand beginning to phase out LNG (liquefied natural gas) in favour of biogas to fuel its four almost identical ships. The modern vessels – which all serve the same coastal voyage in rotation – also have hydro-charged batteries that can power them for periods of silent, emission-free sailing. Further upping the sustainability credentials is Havila's dual purpose as both a luxury cruise and a passenger service for coastal communities. The ships oscillate via 34 ports between southern Bergen and northern Kirkenes, with the round-trip taking 12 days. Whether you're seeking winter's Northern Lights or high summer's midnight sun, the year-round experience is packed with seasonal adventures, from dog-sledding to waterfall walks or foraging for king crabs. Better still, ingredients picked up shoreside bring hyper-local flavours to dishes served onboard, such as Aquavit-cured duck, Arctic Char with chanterelle mushrooms, or sea buckthorn crème brûlée. An 11-night Round Voyage departing on various dates in January 2027, from £1,471pp. havilavoyages.com Windstar Cruises, Caribbean For yachting Anyone who thinks that cruises are just about giant ships and crowded ports will be surprised at just how intimate a small-ship cruise can feel. Better still, when choosing one of Windstar's elegant sailing ships, you can enjoy the romance of voyaging under sail. Admittedly they're mostly for show (you'll likely be motoring most of the time), but Wind Surf's five masts and seven sails can reduce fuel consumption by harnessing the power of ocean breezes. Recently refurbished and with the addition of two new suites, 342-passenger Wind Surf is the brand's flagship sailing yacht and is small enough to access ports beyond reach of big ships. This alone makes it ideal for a Caribbean voyage. Large ships can flood key ports of call with thousands of passengers, so this cruise skips the obvious islands in favour of less-trodden spots. Dominica, St Bart's, Guadeloupe and barely inhabited Mayreau are the highlights, alongside jungle-clad Nevis and St Kitts. So what if the cabins are compact and lack balconies? It just makes this experience more like seafaring than traditional cruising. This seven-night Classic Caribbean cruise departing St Maarten on 26 December 2026, from £2,247pp. windstarcruises.com Aqua Expeditions, Komodo Islands For a luxury adventure Wanderlust may have you dreaming of Antarctica, the Galapagos or Australia's hard-to-reach Kimberley Coast, but what if you want to visit in more comfort than such regions allow? The answer is an expedition cruise. With their sense of adventure shared with a cohort of like-minded passengers, these small-ship explorations are the antithesis of traditional cruises. They can also be extremely luxurious. As a vintage British naval vessel transformed into a sumptuous yacht, Aqua Expeditions' 30-passenger Aqua Blu is exceptional. She's stationed in Indonesia year-round for Raja Ampat and the Spice Islands, but it's the Komodo Islands itineraries that are perhaps the most exciting. Operating from April-September (when weather conditions are best), these bucket-list voyages are packed with whale shark and Komodo dragon encounters. Daytimes are all about snorkelling, diving and water sports: activities fuelled by Australian chef Benjamin Cross's inventive menus whose standouts include grilled fish with Balinese sambal or 48-hour beef rendang. There's ample time to relax too, either on the sun deck or in your ivory, cream and brass-toned cabin. A seven-night Bali & Komodo National Park cruise departing on 12 September 2026, from £7,700pp. aquaexpeditions.com Emerald Cruises, Indochina For river cruising Although travelling overland through southeast Asia is a pleasure, a river cruise provides much more finesse. The big-hitter here is the Mekong, Asia's third-longest river, which flows through six different countries on its journey towards the sea. Most Mekong cruises journey between Cambodia and Vietnam, taking in the likes of Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Tonlé Sap Lake, via reminders of the region's painful past. Numerous lines ply this route, but Emerald stands out for its value for money. The fare covers memorable experiences including visits to stilt-house villages to taste fresh-from-the-orchard fruits, or riverside towns such as Sa Dec to explore local markets and street-food stalls. Regional flavours also find their way aboard 84-passenger Emerald Harmony, most dramatically in the "bug buffet" featuring deep-fried crickets, frogs and spiders. Augmenting all this authenticity are the comforts of the vessel itself, whose bright, airy cabins are decked out in silver-grey fabrics that resemble the silt-laden waters outside. November – the start of dry season – is an optimal time to travel. A seven-night Majestic Mekong cruise departing on 21 November 2026, from £5,645pp. emeraldcruises.co.uk MSC Cruises, UK For a large ship experience Luxury cruising is about more than butler service and great design. If you're more attuned to the luxury of choice, a mainstream megaship's abundant attractions may well appeal. But what if you could have both? Italian-influenced MSC cleverly bridges the gap with its Yacht Club: a "ship within a ship" concept that mimics more sophisticated cruise lines while providing access to far more facilities than smaller ships can accommodate. On 4,345-passenger MSC Preziosa, for example, Yacht Club guests can enjoy the casinos, spa, bowling alley, waterslide and aqua park, then retreat back to their 69-suite sanctuary with its exclusive sundeck. The enclave also has its own restaurant, or there are plenty more to choose from (not to mention a lively nightlife scene) down in the ship's central promenade. And if you're still not convinced about this kind of holiday? Book one of MSC's short "taster" cruises from Southampton, which span anything from two to five nights: perfect for a multigenerational mini-break. A five-night cruise to Hamburg and Le Havre (for Paris) departing on 19 October 2027, from £494pp in a standard cabin and from £1,634pp in Yacht Club. msccruises.co.uk More travel guides Best destinations to see spring in full bloom Best French food trips Best Spanish food trips Best European vineyards to visit and stay Best foodie city breaks by train Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best country house hotels in the UK Best Scottish hotels Best London hotels
Best UK vineyards for tours, tasting and overnight stays 2026
For walks with verdant views, picnics amongst the vines and bottles of local brut, check out our picks of the best UK vineyard stays
Looking for vineyard stays in the UK, or planning an English vineyard tour? There’s never been a better time to explore the UK's thriving wine scene. Thanks to warming temperatures, improved winemaking techniques and growing international recognition, English vineyards are flourishing – with English sparkling wines in particular now rivalling some of the best in the world. For visitors, that means far more than just a tasting when you visit. Today’s vineyard stays offer everything from guided tours and cellar-door experiences to supper clubs, wellness events and hands-on harvest days. Many English vineyards now also feature beautifully designed accommodation, from grand estates to cosy cabins, so you can wake up among the vines and make a full weekend of it. Read on for our pick of the best English and Welsh vineyard stays for a gourmet getaway. For more travel inspiration, check out the best UK spa hotels for food lovers and the best luxury hotels in the UK to book for a special occasion. 20 best vineyard hotels and stays in the UK Lympstone Manor, Devon Chef Michael Caines was fresh off a 21-year stint at Dartmoor’s Gidleigh Park when he bought a Georgian house near Exmouth. He turned this into Lympstone Manor, a luxe country house hotel and member of Relais & Châteaux. It sits in 28 acres of south-west facing parkland, which as well as giving stunning views of the Exe Estuary also, Michael reckoned, looked like a good place to plant a vineyard thanks to the mild micro-climate. May to September sees vineyard tours run every Tuesday and Friday – hotel guests can join with a glass of the classic cuvée while non-resident visitors partake as a lunch package: either a three-course meal at the hotel’s The Pool House or a more upscale four-course affair in the Michelin-starred fine-dining rooms (or upgrade to the showstopping eight-course signature tasting menu). Other events include an annual beaujolais nouveau supper and harvest festival with grape-picking. What to eat: The hotel’s elegant dining rooms are the stage for Michael’s culinary vision, which celebrates the produce of Devon and the South West, in dishes such as Lyme Bay seabass in chive and caviar butter sauce, and Devon blue cheese bavarois with homemade truffle honey. More casual dining can be found at The Pool House, from burgers and salads to a sharing beef wellington. What to drink: Lympstone’s classic cuvée is a delicious aperitif, while the Triassic pinot noir, full of spice and black cherry notes, is a rare and superb example of an English still red. The summery Isabeau rosé is winningly quaffable, as is the opulent, barrel-aged Edwards chardonnay. Where to stay: The hotel’s 21 rooms and suites are named after Exe Estuary birds – we stayed in the Kingfisher junior suite, which had gorgeous estuary vistas. Like the rest of the hotel, it’s a study in ethereal neutrals that let the grand Georgian proportions shine. We loved the free-standing bath as well as the hotel’s own fig and vanilla toiletries, a welcome tray of Lympstone Manor Estate’s zesty gin with lemon and tonic, and a resident’s pantry stocked with homemade cake and Jing tea. Breakfast features a continental buffet with treats like cinnamon-poached pears and apricots, buttery homemade pain au chocolat and chilled bottles of local kombucha. Hot dishes range from a full English to blueberry pancakes – our eggs royale came with homemade muffins and a velvety hollandaise. Doubles from £560, check rates and availability at booking.com or lympstonemanor.co.uk Tinwood Estate, Chichester Once home to a sprawling estate of iceberg lettuces, Tinwood is now known for some of the best award-winning sparkling wines that Sussex has to offer. Switching out lettuce for vines came in 2007 when owners Jody and Art Tukker took the helm of the family business and noticed the terroir of the farm was akin to parts of Champagne and Burgundy in France. Part of the charm of Tinwood is how visible Jody and Art still are in the day to day running of the estate. It’s not unusual for Jody to personally lead you through a vineyard and wine tasting tour (from £21) with family dogs, Bubbles and Fizz, zipping through the vines to say hello. What to drink: Perfectly situated just three miles from the sea, the flint and chalky grounds have led to careful cultivation of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, bottled up into a range of refreshingly crisp sparkling wines. Where to stay: If you are keen to make a weekend of it in the South Downs, Tinwood invites guests to stay on the estate in one of its eight lodges, all of which are unique in design and offer supreme comfort and panoramic views across the vineyard. Bikes are available for guests to use at their disposal to explore the grounds or further afield into the beautiful countryside. After a day of walking or wine tasting, relax in the wine barrel sauna or sink into a hot tub in your room. Breakfast hampers are delivered to your doorstep each morning so you can enjoy a tasty continental breakfast without having to leave the lodge. Check rates and availability at tinwoodestate.com Sponsored by The Wine Flyer Sip, savour and explore with wines from across the world This summer, olive has partnered with The Wine Flyer to bring you The Vine — an exclusive selection of exceptional quality bottles, which also gives you access to exclusive Avios rewards so you can continue to collect wonderful memories. Whether it’s sipping a wine from one of your favourite English vineyards or discovering a new bottle, The Vine is the ultimate gift for wine lovers this summer. Shop The Vine by The Wine Flyer and olive for £159.99 Stars & Vines, Herefordshire Perched high on a south-facing hillside overlooking the River Lugg, this vineyard is ideally located for producing small-batch white wines and rosé. It forms part of the Broadfield Court Estate, encompassing a busy working farm as well as holiday cabins situated at the top of the vineyard with sweeping, uninterrupted views of rolling green Herefordshire countryside. A stay here wouldn’t be complete without a guided wine-tasting (£95) with Alexandra James, who co-owns the estate with her husband Mark. Her effervescent delivery matches the sparkling wine they produce using the traditional riddling method (rotating the bottle in stages at a tipped angle), which results in a standout product. What to drink: Broadfield Sparkling gives the best English sparkling wines a run for their money – and classic champagne, too – with a crisp, round almost biscuity quality that would go down easy at any celebration. The dry Reichensteiner is light and pleasantly spiky on the palate, best enjoyed with chicken or fish, while the Madeleine Angevine and Broadfield Special Reserve (blending two grape varieties) are rounder and fruitier, both made for easy drinking. If you book a hosted tasting, you can take away the opened bottles, otherwise the whites are reasonably priced at £10 each while the rosé is a relatively new addition, with bright zippy notes, at £25. Where to stay: Stars & Vines is located in the vineyard, comprising two beautifully appointed cabins (including outdoor hot tub). See our cabins guide for the full review. Cabins from £225 per night, check rates and availability at Stars & Vines. Balfour Winery, Kent Known for its world-class sparkling wines, Kent’s Balfour Winery is home to lush English vineyards, acres of ancient apple orchards and oak woodlands – perfect for nature and wine lovers alike. Located on the Hush Heath Estate, take a self-guided stroll or book for a full estate tour and tasting experience from £50-£70, where an expert will show you around the vineyards, learning about the secrets and history of Balfour as you stroll. This is followed by a tutored tasting of six crisp sparkling and still Balfour wines. The winery’s contemporary building, The View, offers sweeping views across the Kentish countryside, perfect for unwinding with a glass post-tasting. After, visit the winery shop where you’ll find plenty of sparkling and still wines, luxury hampers and gifts. Open all year round, Balfour Winery hosts social events throughout the year, such as its dining club music sessions, jazz evenings and yoga classes followed by food and wine tasting. What to eat: You may want to add a sharing platter to your tour booking to enjoy alongside the wines – think local Kentish charcuterie, seafood and cheese served with olives, quince jam, flatbread and crackers. If you’re visiting during the winter months, opt for the warm winter platter of local cheeses, baked camembert, house-made chutney and warm bread. A short drive away and you’ll find Balfour-owned The Tickled Trout, serving its signature fish dishes and hearty pub classics which reflect the best of Kentish produce. What to drink: A visit to Balfour is not complete without a taste of its flagship Balfour Brut Rosé 2018 – we’d also make a beeline for the Springfield Chardonnay 2018. Where to stay: The Tickled Trout is part of a collection of Kentish pubs and hotels selling wines from Balfour and Jake’s Beers and Ciders. Boutique rooms are simple, cosy and inviting, with exposed beams, shabby chic décor, modern bathroom fittings and sink-into beds. They also come kitted out with a large flat screen TV, Dualit coffee pod machine and a selection of tea from Joe’s Tea. Doubles from £79, check rates and availability at booking.com Wraxall Vineyard, Somerset Tucked into the south-facing Mendip Hills is Wraxall, a 15-acre boutique vineyard with a 50-year history, elevated by contemporary architectural additions. Owners Lexa and David took on Wraxall in 2021 with a pragmatic commitment to their new role as custodians of the 5,000 vines, some of which are over 30 years old. What to eat: Venture up to The View@Wraxall wine bar and shop with floor-to-ceiling glass walls and huge terrace for taking in the expansive view. Wines are paired with seasonal dishes comprised of produce from Somerset and its bordering counties: Westcombe charcuterie, Mere trout, White Lake cheese and more. What to drink: The vineyard has five grape varieties planted to create their four keystone wines: Somerset Sparkling, Early Pinot Noir Rose, Bacchus and, their premium, Bacchus Reserve. Where to stay: Dating back to the 1870s, the old winery and hayloft have been tastefully converted into three rustically luxurious cottages with secluded terraces overlooking the vines. Historical meets luxurious modernity here with charred wood extensions melding into the countryside, and statement windows offering immense views. Each is furnished with carefully chosen pieces like steam-bent wooden lampshades and pre-loved antiques. Locality is celebrated everywhere, from toiletries by Bruton-based Commune in the bathrooms to the fresh pastries, berries, yogurt and more in the fridge as part of the optional breakfast hampers. Check rates and availability at wraxallvineyard.co.uk Nutbourne Vineyards, West Sussex Set in the West Sussex countryside, Nutbourne Vineyards has been in the Gladwin family since 1991. The family also owns a selection of restaurants in London where you'll find wines from the vineyard. Sustainability is at the core of the operation, from following biodiverse practices in the vineyard (hence wildflower meadows in amongst the vines) to efforts to reduce the carbon footprint in distribution and production. The vineyard trail is open all year round. Pick up an illustrated map and go on a self-guided tour around the different fields to discover the different grapes grown in each area and enjoy the views across the South Downs. The Cellar Door is open to pick up a bottle at the end of your visit. Guided tours and tastings are available on Saturdays from May to September. What to eat: Nutbourne offers a range of dining experiences at the vineyard throughout the year. You can prebook a picnic or generous charcuterie platter to enjoy with wine after touring the vineyard, or time your visit for a 'burger and bubbly' evening or Friday sundowners in the Nutty Bar throughout summer. Keep an eye out for special supper club events too. What to drink: The 'Nutty Blush' rosé made from Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir is a light pale pink hue, with floral notes and gentle berry acidity – ideal for summer sipping. Red wine fans will enjoy the Pinot Noir, with a portion of the wine aged in French oak to add depth. Bottles are all illustrated with Bridget Gladwin's paintings. Where to stay: Nearby Cattlestone Farm has a range of camping and glamping accommodation options to choose from. Pitch a tent in the open field or book a yurt and use the outdoor kitchen, complete with a pizza oven. You might even get to spot the goats, named Gin and Tonic. If you can, book the luxury Sunrise shepherd's hut. It's impressively spacious and cosy inside, with a comfy king-size bed. Wake up and open the double doors on to your wrap-around deck, with an outdoor roll-top bath and chairs to enjoy the views over peaceful rolling fields. The full-size en-suite shower room and fully equipped kitchen mean there’s everything you need for a quiet, relaxing break. Check rates and availability at cattlestone.uk Tillingham, East Sussex A few miles from the medieval port town of Rye in East Sussex, Tillingham is hidden away in 70 acres of hills, vineyards and woodlands, scattered with wandering pigs, cattle, sheep and chickens. It’s a serene, bucolic setting for the cutting-edge winery, hotel and dining destination. A renovated Victorian farmstead and neighbouring hop barn contain 11 bedrooms, a restaurant and bar, tasting room and shop, all replete with hip, upcycled furniture and fittings and dreamy views of the surrounding Sussex countryside. Tillingham offers daily tours and wine tastings (by appointment only), running to around 90 minutes, at £35pp. Start in the tasting room and move through the rest of the estate, from the modern winery, to the ancient oast house hosting Tillingham’s collection of qvevri (earthenware vessels buried in the ground and used to make orange wine) through to the idyllic rolling vineyards. Our tour guide took a deep-dive into Tillingham’s biodynamic, low-intervention approach to wine-making – wine nerds and aficionados will love the level of detail. You’re also given four generous pours of different wines. What to eat: Come for lunch, dinner or both. Set over two floors, downstairs is a casual wine bar with a small plates menu and an impressive wine and cocktail list (make a beeline for the silky fig leaf martini). Upstairs houses a more formal Michelin green-starred restaurant, where head chef Brendan Eades (formerly of Silo and the Conduit Club) has created the menu that showcases Tillingham’s homegrown produce – think veg from its walled garden, meat raised in its pastures and fish caught in nearby Rye. If you’re staying over, breakfast also takes place in the restaurant and features a set menu of sourdough with whey butter and homemade jam, granola and yogurt, local charcuterie and cheese. What to drink: Natural wine fans will love what’s on offer here. Try the delicate Col 21 with its grassy, citrussy tones, or P21 – highly gluggable, vibrant pink fizz with rhubarb and raspberry notes. Where to stay: The estate’s old hop barn has been converted into 11 bedrooms, all equipped with midcentury furnishings and earthy jewel colours, heavenly scented diffusers, modern art, Roberts Radios, Haeckels toiletries and welcome snacks of fudge and sherry in crystal glasses. We stayed in the expansive feature double room, which comes with a freestanding tub and huge window with sweeping views of the vines and countryside. Check rates and availability at tillingham.com Wiston Estate, West Sussex Set on a 6,000-acre estate in the South Downs, surrounded by rolling hills, Wiston Estate has been owned by the Goring family since 1743. When Pip, Harry Goring’s wife, saw the incredible space and chalk soil, she knew it would be perfect for a vineyard. They now have a fabulous restaurant on site, Chalk, and a secluded cottage available to rent if you want to make a weekend of it. The sparkling and still wines are award winning and, to get the best flavour, grapes are hand-picked, gently pressed and it’s organic at soil level – radishes and turnips are planted to nourish the soil naturally. Wine tours are £30, take place Wednesday to Sunday and include a generous tasting of four of the fabulous wines. What to eat: Chalk showcases local, seasonal produce, with much of it grown a stone’s throw away on the estate. Highlights include a starter of creamy stracciatella perfectly paired with fresh yellow courgette, basil oil and aubergine purée; and for main, melt-in-the-mouth plaice with a smoked butter sauce, crunchy apple and baby potatoes. To finish, order the warm almond tart topped with roasted white peaches served with a zingy lemon verbena ice cream. What to drink: Go sparkling with Wiston’s Brut NV, it’s fresh and lemony with notes of ripe orchard fruits, or, for a still wine, try the Blanc de Blanc NV, a lovely crisp, light, biscuity wine. Where to stay: On the estate, you’ll find a charming 20th-century cottage, The Pump House, formerly a water pumping station for the estate. It’s an idyllic setting, with sheep grazing right outside and views up to Chanctonbury Ring. Inside, it’s light and bright, with period features and luxurious interiors. It also has a secluded terrace – if the weather is nice, sit out and enjoy the bottle of Wiston Brut NV you’ll find chilling in the fridge on arrival. Sleeps four, from £195 per night, check availability at wistonestate.com Bolney Wine Estate, West Sussex Nestled in lushly green surrounds on the edge of the South Downs, the Bolney Estate is a long-time fixture on the English wine scene – founders Janet and Rodney Pratt first bought the land in 1972 for wine-making – raking in numerous plaudits over the past five decades. It makes both still and sparkling wines from five vineyards on the site, and there's also a sleek visitor centre complete with café and shop. Bolney offers a range of vineyard tours and tastings of varying length, starting from £20 for a Cellar Door Tasting. We tried the Sussex cheese and wine tasting, which included a tour of the winery and surrounding vineyard, and an accessible yet in-depth guided tasting of Bolney wines paired with delicious Sussex-made cheeses and charcuterie, all of which you can find in the shop (make a beeline for the superb Brighton Blue). See tour tickets at Virgin Experience Days (£134 for tour, tasting and lunch for 2). What to eat: The light and spacious Eighteen Acre Restaurant (if it’s sunny and warm, nab a table on the large balcony for gorgeous panoramic vineyard views) serves up classic mains and generous sharing boards that make the most of Sussex produce, much of it made just a few miles away – think tender local braised pork belly with Hispi cabbage and Bolney Lychgate red wine jus, or umami wild mushroom ragu with cured egg yolk. Charcuterie boards, sandwiches and cakes are served in the Bolney Café. What to drink: We loved the floral and elegant Bolney Bubbly as well as the passion fruit and elderflower-laced Lychgate Bacchus. English still red wines are something of a rarity but Bolney’s silky pinot noir, with delicate cherry notes, is an excellent example and well worth trying. Don’t just stop at wine, Bolney also makes its own gin and rosso vermouth. Where to stay: Nearby in the picture-postcard village of Cuckfield, Ockenden Manor is a beautifully preserved Elizabethan manor house with rooms ranging from grand oak-panelled suites to spacious rooms with four-poster beds and roll-top baths. There’s also a plush fine-dining restaurant and an award-winning modern spa just moments away from the main building. From £245 per night, check availability at booking.com Kingscote, West Sussex Kingscote has over 70 acres of vines and several different varieties of grape planted, all looked after organically sine 2019. Book a vineyard tour with seasonal lunch for £37, or with a cream tea for £31. The 90-minute tour is available Friday-Sundays and covers exploring the vineyard and the winery to understand the grape-to-glass process of production. Tours include tastings of white and sparkling wines. Look out for events such as bottomless brunches and summer barbecues. What to eat: There’s a tiny coffee shop serving Kingscote’s own coffee in the on-site wine and artisan food store. For a full meal, visit nearby Michelin-starred Gravetye Manor where a set three-course lunch is £80. What to drink: Try the Silvan Bacchus 2019: a creamy, lightly oaked white. Where to stay: You can now stay on the estate itself, with The Coach House 2-bedroom cottage hidden in the heart of the vineyard. It's surrounded by countryside for a rural retreat. From £108 per night including breakfast, check availability at booking.com or kingscoteestate.com Denbies, Surrey Established in 1986, Denbies wine estate in Surrey offers indoor and outdoor winery tours. The former explores the working winery along with a cellar tasting, while the latter takes you on a 50-minute toy train tour of the vineyard, showing off panoramic views of the North Downs. If you want to give a tour as a gift, check tour vouchers at Red Letter Days (£115 for tour, tasting and lunch for 2) What to eat: A gallery restaurant looks over the 265-acre vineyard. Order Sussex confit pork belly with savoy cabbage, pan-fried halibut with roasted romanesco, or, on a Sunday, the Surrey Farm roast beef with rosemary-roasted potatoes. What to drink: A glass of the award-winning Cubitt Blanc de Noirs 2014, full-bodied and replete with notes of baked pear and rose petal. Where to stay: The on-site Denbies Vineyard Hotel has 17 en-suite rooms with views across the estate and surrounding hills. From £184 per night, check availability at booking.com Rathfinny Estate, East Sussex It may be young, but B-corp certified Rathfinny Estate in the South Downs is still one of Britain’s most beautiful wineries. Vines are separated by rows of wild flowers, there are glimpses of the Sussex heritage coast throughout, and visitors can stay overnight in a stylishly converted 1860s barn. What to eat: Take your pick from small plates and fresh cakes at al fresco wine bar The Hut, or book ahead for a table at the Michelin-recommended Tasting Room Restaurant for a regularly changing lunch menu that is designed to pair with Rathfinny wines. This year, Rathfinny's 'Summer of Sparkling' programme includes Sunday lunches with live music in the couryard, vineyard picnics on offer and a wine tasting with fish and chips on the 24th and 25th June. What to drink: Rathfinny's range of vintage Sussex sparkling wines includes a Classic Cuvée 2018, Blanc de Noirs 2016, Blanc de Blancs 2017 and Rosé Brut 2018. Where to stay: The Flint Barns is the on-site restaurant with rooms. Rooms are simple but have luxurious bathroom fixtures, quality bedsteads and access to an elegant communal living room. You can also go self-catered at The Rathfinny Cottage, which sleeps four. From £100 per night, check availability at booking.com. Sandridge Barton, Devon Sharpham Wine has been established for more than 40 years and is a serious producer of more than a dozen wines. It opened a brand-new visitor centre in summer 2022 at its new home, Sandridge Barton. Visitors to the site can enjoy guided tours (from £24, including tasting three wines and finishing with cheese sampling) as well as self-guided tasting flights presented in cute baskets (£15pp). What to eat: From July 2025, new restaurant ROAM opens on site, promising seasonal menus and locally-sourced ingredients, including meat freom the Sandridge Barton estate and vegetables from their own kitchen garden. What to drink: Sharpham Pinot Noir, crammed with wild strawberry, cherry and cranberry flavours. Where to stay: The Boathouse is a tranquil holiday cottage within the Sandridge Barton estate, sleeping up to four people. With views over the River Dart, it makes a relaxing base to discover local wildlife and is within stumbling distance back from the vineyard. Check availability for cottages at sykescottages.co.uk Gusbourne, Kent Just over an hour's drive from London, this Kent vineyard produces acclaimed sparkling and still wines and offers an array of high-end tours and tastings. A sparkling tasting flight is includes tastings of four wines for £30, or still wines for £40. For those that want to delve deeper into the world of wine, the estate tour includes vineyard visits before an extended tasting followed by three-course seasonal lunch with paired wines in the modern tasting room. What to eat: Snack boards of nibbles or sharing platters of local Kentish charcuterie, cheeses and more are available on the pergola outside the tasting room. What to drink: The 2021 Gusbourne Brut Reserve is full of orchard fruit flavours. Where to stay: Just a 20-minute drive away, chic coastal bolthole The Gallivant in Camber Sands is a blissful seaside escape with a relaxed Hamptons beach-house vibe. The hotel also offers exclusive wine experiences in partnership with Gusbourne. Of these the most impressive is the Ultimate English Wine Experience, which includes transport, a private tour of the vineyards, tank and barrel samplings, and tutored tastings of rare library and limited-edition wines. From £270 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Old Walls Vineyard, South Devon Well positioned for the many attractions of the glorious South Devon coast, Old Walls Vineyard offers tours, tastings and, if you time your visit for September, there’s even a chance to pick the grapes for the next vintage. What to eat: The Vineyard Bistro serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. Expect hearty dishes like Devon sausages and mash, and shepherd's pie tartlet with butternut squash purée, come drizzled in jus made from the vineyard's own red wine. What to drink: The best-selling wines are the Palace Red or White Priory Dry, although the Bishop’s Blush rosé is the way to go on a balmy summer’s evening. Where to stay: Available for short stays or the whole week, there are six two-bedroom luxury lodges overlooking the vineyard, each with a veranda and private BBQ area. From £192 per night, check availability at booking.com Three Choirs, Gloucestershire A lovely wine tasting break in the UK. Three Choirs near Newent is one of the longest established English vineyards. Most visitors book ahead for a guided tour with tastings and lunch, or you can do self-guided wine tastings with a vineyard walk and your choice of five wines. What to eat: Take a seat at the brasserie among lots of local regulars to tuck into tapas-style dishes including lamb meatballs in spicy tomato sauce, patatas bravas and griddled halloumi with toasted pistachios, honey and yuzu oil. What to drink: Blanc de Noirs 2016, a rich English sparkling wine. Where to stay: The Vineyard View Rooms have pretty views over the vines, but the nicest accommodation is in the glass-walled, timber-framed Vineyard Lodges with verandas. From £205 per night, check availability at Three Choirs Vineyards Llanerch Vineyard, Wales A farmhouse hotel, restaurant, cookery school and vineyard in South Wales. Guided tours and tastings show guests how Llanerch’s Cariad wines are made, and how the local terroir affects the taste of each vintage. The Wine Tasting Experience includes sampling three wines for £25pp, with some of the tasting taking place outdoors during summer. Cocktail classes or a luxury Wine Escape including a three course dinner or overnight stay are also available. What to eat: Roots Restaurant on-site offers a taste of the Welsh countryside. Celebrating seasonal produce grown, caught or reared in the region, try dishes such as curry spiced mushroom fricassee, roasted Welsh lamb cannon and rib, and pan-roasted stone bass with shellfish bisque in the fine-dining restaurant overlooking the vineyards. What to drink: Try the sweet Cariad sparkling brut. Where to stay: Self-described as a vineyard hotel, Llanerch has a range of rooms to choose from. These vary in size, from superior doubles to suites. Doubles from £140, check rates and availability at booking.com Chapel Down, Kent One of the best-known English vineyards, Chapel Down expanded its site to a huge 325 acres of prime Kentish wine country. It’s open all year to visitors, and offers packages and gift experiences with tutored tastings (from £30pp). Look out for special events too, such as sunset yoga in the vines (with a wine tasting afterwards!), and orchestra or jazz concerts. What to eat: The Swan Restaurant offers a set daily menu of three courses for £48. Expect the likes of stone bass crudo with yogurt and pickled fennel, Romney Marsh lamb rump and Kentish rhubarb parfait. What to drink: Chapel Down's pinot noir rosé, full of red fruits. From £50 per person, check availability at Virgin Experience Days or Red Letter Days Oxney Estate, East Sussex An organic vineyard with holiday cottages in East Sussex. The estate produces organic sparkling and still wines using pinot noir, pinot meunier and seyval blanc and chardonnay grape varieties. Winery and tasting tours take place every Saturday at 11am and 3pm. Wander through the vines, learn about the estate’s approach to winemaking and end with a tasting. What to eat: Tuck into a post-tour picnic basket of local cheeses, charcuterie, bread and, of course, wine. What to drink: Try the toasty Oxney Classic. Where to stay: A farmhouse cottage sleeps 10, three barns sleep 14 between them, while cosy wooden shepherd’s huts complete with a double bed and fire-pit start from £100 per night. Check rates and availability at oxneyestate.com Ryedale Vineyards, North Yorkshire There’s no visitor centre, shop or café at one of England’s most northerly commercial vineyards, rather a tiny winery set in a listed cowshed. Here Stuart Smith conducts tastings, once his wife Elizabeth has guided guests around the entirely unmechanised site. Tours and tastings take place between April and October. What to eat: Tours end with sampling wine and cider alongside local cheeses, plus you can add an optional pre-tour cream tea to your booking. What to drink: One of Ryedale’s award-winners, such as a bottle of Yorkshire’s Lass, a delicate dry white. Where to stay: In one of two cosily outfitted rooms in Ryedale's farmhouse, from £130 a night. Check availability at ryedalevineyards.co.uk Photo credits: Paul Winch-Furness, Ian Forsyth, Helen Dixon More travel guides Best European mountain escapes 10 unique walking holidays for food lovers Best health and wellness retreats for foodies Best country house hotels in the UK Best health and wellness retreats Best hotels in London Best UK boutique hotels Best hotels in the Cotswolds Best Cornwall hotels Best hotels in the Lake District Best London hotel bars to visit Best romantic hotels in the UK European hidden gems: hotels off the beaten track Best Paris hotels Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best restaurants with rooms in the UK Best Amsterdam hotels
The best weekend food markets in London for spring refuelling
Fill your totes at one of London's charming weekend markets, from the UK's only all-organic farmers' market to modern street food havens
There's no better time than spring to visit London's clutch of treasured food markets, allured by the scent of fresh bread, the chatter of traders and a rainbow of farm-fresh produce. These markets are bastions of quality produce and community spirit, making them the perfect spot for a quick lunch or hunting down a prime foodie gift. Read on to discover olive's pick of the capital’s finest weekend food markets — from organic farmers' markets to sizzling street food offerings — perfect for a food-fuelled weekend activity. For spring travel inspiration, check out the unmissable destinations to see spring in full bloom and the UK hotels with beautiful gardens to book. We also have our top picks of where to go in April and the best European gourmet escapes to catch spring produce at its peak. Best weekend markets in London Growing Communities, Stoke Newington The UK's only all-organic farmers' market, Stoke Newington’s market is a leafy local gem and a true champion of sustainable food. It's committed to working with small-scale organic and biodynamic farmers and growers from the areas closest to London, with most located in Kent, Essex, Cambridgeshire and East Anglia. Every Saturday the churchyard is transformed into a buzzy patchwork of stalls showcasing a rainbow of seasonal, farm-fresh produce, from peppery Asian greens to vibrant squashes. You can also secure organic cheese, small-batch preserves and handmade chocolate. Grab a locally roasted coffee and settle on the church steps for a spot of people watching. growingcommunities.org Address: St Paul's Church, Stoke Newington, London N16 7UE Opening times: Saturday (10am-2.30pm) Nearest station: Rectory Road Brockley Market Hailed for its exceptional produce and all-round good vibe, Brockley's 'car park of dreams' is a south London institution. Fresh and glossy local produce shares space with interesting small-scale goodies, from wild garlic plants to fermented cashew dips. Lots of the foodie finds available are hyper-local, including raw Brockley Bee's honey and Brown of Brockley's locally roasted coffee and pastries. There's also a string of top-grade street food stalls, including olive favourite Chubby Dumpling. The perfect spot for a leisurely mooch and a chat with the producers. brockleymarket.com Address: Lewisham College Car Park, Lewisham Way, London SE4 1UT Opening times: Saturday (10am-2pm) Nearest station: St Johns Broadway Market, Hackney Broadway Market is somewhat of a foodie institution. More than 100 traders line the Victorian street on the weekend, their stalls teeming with artisan breads, farmhouse cheese and vibrant fruit and veg. For lunch, nothing is off the cards, with street food delights ranging from organic sourdough pizza to Japanese street food. Live musicians and street performers add to the festival atmosphere. The street's surrounding cafés and independent shops invite you to linger long after your tote bag is full. broadwaymarket.co.uk Address: Broadway Market, London E8 4PH Opening times: Every Saturday (9am-5pm) and Sunday (10am-4pm) Nearest stations: London Fields, Bethnal Green Primrose Hill Farmers' Market City dwellers come for their weekly fix of newly picked produce at this social enterprise market. Set up and run by independent traders for the benefit of the wider community it's a known spot for chats with traders who are passionate about their products. Set in the playground of a local school you can expect a core group of staple vendors, including fresh fruits and vegetables, artisanal breads, organic meats and dairy products, alongside a rotating variety of semi-regular traders selling speciality wares, from nut butters to low-intervention wine. primrosehillfoodmarket.co.uk Address: Elsworthy Rd, St Paul's CE, London NW3 3DS Opening times: Saturday 9.30-2.30pm Nearest station: Chalk Farm <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/2/2026/03/GettyImages-1175564419-20dd660.jpg" width="5432" height="3865" alt="A vendor works at the East Sussex's Brambletye Fruit Farm's food stall at The Spread farmers' market in Primrose Hill, north west London. (Photo by Isabel INFANTES / AFP) (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images)" title="BRITAIN-EU-BREXIT-POLITICS-AGRICULTURE" /> Barnes Farmers' Market Barnes on a Saturday is the place to go for a chilled mooch and fabulous produce. For over 20 years this friendly market has showcased a rotation of fine wares from passionate producers, from award-winning and free-range organic meats to luxury cheeses and fresh pasta. British produce remains at the forefront: fill your basket with free range-meats from Somerset, fresh fish from Dorset and fruit and veg from Kent. barnesfarmersmarket.co.uk Address: Essex House Surgery, Station Rd, London SW13 0LW Opening times: Saturday (8:30am-2pm) Nearest station: Barnes Bridge Victoria Park Market, Tower Hamlets Head east with an empty stomach to experience the best selection of food east London has to offer. Nestled on the pedestrianised Nightwalk, Victoria Park Market is a Sunday fixture for Londoners seeking quality produce in a leafy setting. Over 60 independent traders gather here, offering a mixture of street food (suckling pig, Guadeloupean street food) and quality produce (organic butchers, homemade cakes, freshly baked bread). Expect a relaxed community feel, with locals and visitors alike enjoying their spoils on the grass or on a stroll around the park. victoriaparkmarket.com Address: Bonner Gate and Gore Rd, London E2 9JW Opening times: Every Sunday (10am-4pm) Nearest stations: Hackney Wick, Cambridge Heath Netil Market, London Fields Start your weekend at this open-air market – an array of shipping containers and custom-built huts which circle a central market, selling everything from antiques and artisan chocolate to soy candles. Located near London Fields and Broadway Market, weave your way through the stalls and you're sure to find something which catches your eye, whether that's a bottle of natural wine or scoops of ube ice cream. It's very own Netil Radio provides an eclectic backdrop for traders. eatworkart.com/netil-market Address: 13-23 Westgate Street, London E8 3RL Opening times: Saturday (9am-10pm), Sunday (9am-6pm) Nearest station: London Fields Maltby Street Market, Bermondsey This weekend treasure trove is a smaller, less hectic alternative to Borough Market, located a mile away. Hidden beneath 19th-century railway arches, the flag-lined, compact strip is filled with 30+ traders selling everything from melting raclette and bavette steak to handmade dumplings. The atmosphere is electric — grab a bánh mì heo and find a spot to perch or head to cosy cavern Malt Maltby for UK craft beer, wine and cocktails. maltbystmarket.squarespace.com Address: Arch 46, Ropewalk, Maltby Street, London SE1 3PA Opening times: Saturday (10am-5pm), Sunday (11am-4pm) Nearest station: Bermondsey Station
32 best Italian hotels for food lovers to visit in 2026
From vineyard estates in Tuscany to converted palazzos in Puglia and boutiques in Milan's foodiest neighbourhood, here's our pick of Italian hotels that offer visitors a slice of la dolce vita
Looking for the best Italian hotel to visit? We've found the best Italian hotels for food lovers in Piedmont, Tuscany, Sicily, Puglia and everywhere in between. Whether you're on a budget or looking for luxury, need a city break or a sea views, check out our round-up of the best Italian hotels for something for everyone. For more hotel inspiration, check out our best European hidden gem hotels, or relax in one of the best hotel baths worth travelling for. Next, learn 10 things we love about Puglian cuisine and Tuscan food, plus discover the 8 lesser-known Italian islands worth visiting for a foodie trip. Best Italian hotels for foodies Vetera Matera, Basilicata From £220 per night, check availability at booking.com, expedia.co.uk or veteramatera.com Nestled among Matera’s ancient caves, this boutique retreat from Relais & Châteaux brings quiet five-star luxury to Italy’s oldest city. The 23-room hotel is built into the Sassi di Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, blending the ruggedness of the mountains with plush modern interiors. At Artema Ristorante, expect dishes that pay homage to Basilicata-grown produce, with two tasting menus on offer from chef Eduardo Estatico (à la carte is available for parties with three guests or fewer). Stand-outs include a soufflé made with farm-fresh eggs from the Matera hills, paired with Vesuvian costoluto and yellow cherry tomatoes, and Murgia goat mozzarella, as well as rockfish soup with sweet and sour vegetable terrine, seaweed and Matera sourdough bread. Salads, sandwiches and charcuterie are served in the Lounge Bar for casual lunches and dinners. Rooms on the Noble Floors have a more contemporary feel, with high ceilings, exposed brick and large windows that offer panoramic views of the Sassi. For a more immersive Matera experience, stay in the Hypogeum where the underground suites are carved directly into the ancient rock, emulating the landscape’s unique beauty. Three of the master suites also have private pools. The Elysium Spa (largest of its kind in the Sassi) is home to hydropools, a caldarium, sauna, hammam and cold plunge pool, as well as treatment rooms for massages and facials. Wine tastings can be also booked in the cellar, where an expert sommelier will guide you through labels from around the region and beyond. Breakfast is served in the Artema Ristorante, where a buffet of breads, pastries, cereals, fruit and yogurt, as well as fresh juices and coffee, awaits. Savoury options include bacon, eggs, Med vegetables and Italian cheeses including caciocavallo, fior di latte, stracciatella and ricotta. From £220 per night, check availability at booking.com, expedia.co.uk or veteramatera.com Credit: Relais & Chateaux Villa Paola, Tropea Villa Paola offers rooms from £285 per night, check availability at villapaolatropea.it or booking.com Discover rustic luxury at Villa Paola, a pink-hued former 16th-century convent set among the cliffs and hills of Calabria at the southern tip of Italy. From crisp white linen bedding to cool marble bathrooms, a secluded infinity pool and serene courtyards, it is the perfect location for some R&R. Terraces look out to the Costa Degli Dei (coast of the gods) and over the farmland below, where the restaurant grows a lot of its produce. Meander down through the tiered gardens to the hotel’s own hives, and spot Tropea’s famous red onions. Superior rooms overlook the hills of Tropea and Parghelia, just off the main courtyard, with bird song to gently wake you and white wooden shutters to throw open in the morning. Deluxe rooms offer more sweeping panoramas of the towns, the executive room has a private terrace with views straight out to sea, and the Eremita suite has its own Turkish bath as well as a veranda. There’s a bistro-style menu on offer during the day with dishes such as sourdough pizzas, red onion salads and club sandwiches. Enjoy an aperitivo overlooking the sea after spending time on the beach or wandering around Tropea. De’ Minimi restaurant offers more refined tasting menus, meticulously designed with seasonality at the forefront and an emphasis on local produce and zero waste. There are various menus but think charcoal-grilled spaghettone with artichoke, fresh sea trout with beetroot and hay, and, to finish, a dessert of goat’s curd ice cream and local honey. At breakfast, a three-tiered stand of daily-changing treats arrives to the table for enjoying with your morning cappuccino. There’s also a continental buffet of fruit, pastries and cakes, with à la carte options including omelettes and local honey, which is the star of the show here – make sure to load your yogurt with a generous drizzle. Villa Paola offers rooms from £285 per night, check availability at villapaolatropea.it or booking.com Palazzo Ripetta, Rome Doubles from £541, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Step off one of Rome’s oldest streets into the elegant oasis of this 17th-century convent turned five-star hotel, where attentive staff greet you in royal blue tails. Art deco design and an impressive contemporary art collection contrast with original artefacts such as an ancient stone sarcophagus transformed into a fountain in the converted cloisters. Here at chic parasol-shaded Piazzetta Ripetta guests sip Campari sodas and franciacorta in hushed peace away from the city’s busy historic quarter. Kick off dinner at wood-panelled San Baylon restaurant with a carbonara foam from exec chef Christian Spalvieri. Primi include umami-rich tarragon-buttered smoked spaghetti with anchovies and salted lemon zest, and creamy carnaroli risotto laced with 36-month-old parmigiano reggiano, fennel cubes and pine nuts. Finish with the ‘three citrus’ dessert – a ring of bergamot, lime and yuzu cream – the fruits’ juices used to make a delicate water to pour over. Adjoining bar, Baylon, is lined with amari and Italian aperitifs used to make twists on classics such as a smoky americano infused with lapsang tea. There’s a commitment to the finest Italian brands in the 78 sumptuous rooms (including a wellness suite complete with sauna and Turkish bath inside). Murano glass chandeliers cast an elegant glow, Ortigia products await in marble bathrooms, and Alessi kettles and Nespresso machines sit alongside home-baked Italian treats at turndown (along with a pillow menu to choose from). Breakfast is an Italian affair: serrano ham, mozzarella, ricotta towers, fresh fruit, breads and salads. Pair a cappuccino with freshly baked cakes, viennoiserie and classic Roman cream-filled maritozzi. Doubles from £541, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk La Guardia, Tuscany Doubles from £241, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Giglio, the second largest island in the Tuscan archipelago, is lush with clifftop vineyards, fig trees and pines. The serene and stylish seaside retreat, La Guardia, is perched atop a granite cave along from the pastel-hued harbour. Brushed concrete and original stone columns are softened with driftwood decorations and wispy wicker lanterns that gently flutter in the Mediterranean breeze. Chic neutral tones continue through to the rooms, all kitted out with luxury Sicilian Ortigia toiletries and many boasting balconies and sea views. Book the junior suite to embrace the elements with a bathroom built into the granite and a beachside terrace for watching the waves lap against the rocks. Mediterranean flavours and island cuisine are served in the on-site restaurant – sip on a Venetian Select spritz at aperitivo hour before a candlelit dinner of Sicilian anchovies, palamita fish with marinated courgettes, and tagliolini with lemon butter and bottarga. The 70-strong wine list showcases rare bottles from Italy’s islands – Giglio, Ischia, Salina and beyond. Breakfast includes the likes of prosciutto, omelettes with Tuscan cheese, homemade fig bread and freshly squeezed juices. There are sunset yoga sessions on the terrace, healing zen shiatsu and Ayurvedic treatments, and e-bikes to explore the island’s rugged trails, cliff-face vineyards and restaurants in medieval castles. Doubles from £241, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Forestis, Plose Check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com At 1,800m above sea level, surrounded by panoramic views of the Dolomites, this unique property embraces its original intention as a climate spa for Austrian monarchy. Split between the original 1912 larchwood building and three modern towers, everything is designed to bring the landscape in – floor-to-ceiling windows allow the sun to dance around pinewood suites, bathrooms are made from Dolomites stone and two-level penthouses sit at the tip of two of the towers. Wellbeing is at the hotel’s heart – there’s Plose spring water sweetened with pine syrup on arrival, plus the spa’s successive indoor-outdoor mineral pools and saunas, daily rituals and a wyda studio (a local Celtic version of yoga). Mountain activities include ski-in, ski-out facilities as well as forest bathing and foraging. In the main restaurant, individual booths are arranged in an amphitheatre-like structure, allowing for prime views while you enjoy Roland Lamprecht’s forest cuisine. This is also where breakfast is served – a buffet featuring pretzels, chocolate caprese, ricotta cake, pistachio cream, Eisack Valley honeycomb and wild berry jams. There’s also speck, mountain cheeses, foraged fruits, a salad bar and DIY juice room with bottled mountain apple juice ready to drink. An evening at new restaurant concept Yera is an experience like no other – follow a torch through the forest into an earthy mountain cave, hand in phones at the door and let Roland and his team guide you through an immersive spectacle of fire, ferments and ancient Celtic traditions. A nightcap at the bar might be a fresh fig old fashioned, apricot-enriched Plosestar martini or negronis infused with Plose cranberries for added fruitiness. forestis.it Check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Masseria La Carrube, Puglia Doubles from £311, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Reached via a winding road through thousand-year-old olive trees, Masseria Le Carrube sits between the Adriatic and the hills above Ostuni – a low, whitewashed building surrounded by lemon trees, bougainvillea and acres of working land. This is Puglia at its most ingredients-led. The restaurant, set in the masseria's former olive mill, is entirely vegetarian and deeply rooted in the region. Chef Massimo Santoro builds his ever-changing menus around what the estate produces: almonds, figs, wild strawberries, wheat, vegetables, herbs and olives. Carrube (carob) grows in the courtyard and appears as flour in fresh pasta and dusted atop tiramisu. The approach is thoughtful, seasonal and proudly waste-free, with anything not used one day repurposed the next. Dishes are both traditional and surprising. A fennel flan arrives with a sharp cheese sauce, fried vegetables are crisp and balanced, a pasta cooked in red wine and finished with turnip top cream and a taralli crumb feels inventive but grounded. A bowl of breads – cazzatedde, focaccia and taralli – is as generous as the cooking itself. Guests can dive deeper with pasta-making classes led by Massimo, wine tastings with sommelier Mario exploring Puglia’s native grapes, and olive oil tastings at a neighbouring estate. These experiences round out Le Carrube’s philosophy: connection to the land and reverence for tradition. The rooms are simple, with vaulted ceilings and stone floors, a mixture of farmhouse antiques and clean lines. Some have sea views, others open onto lemon-filled courtyards. Two pools overlook the olive groves. In late summer, the estate’s white and black figs ripen, and you can be sure they’ll take centre stage when they do. Meals here feel like an honest celebration of Puglia’s landscape – generous, inventive and unmistakably local. Doubles from £311, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com L’Albereta Relais & Châteaux, Lombardy Superior rooms from £348 per night, check availability at albereta.it or booking.com Nestled among the vineyards of Franciacorta, L’Albereta is a secluded escape near the town of Erbusco. Dating to the late 19th century, the villa was home to Giovanni Cavalleri and his wife Anna, a musician whose passion for the arts is reflected in the sculptures, whimsical art pieces and beautifully manicured grounds. Now owned by Vittorio Moretti, L’Albereta is on the same estate as Bellavista winery, which features on the extensive wine lists of its restaurants. The elegant Leonefelice Vista Lago, with a stunning view of Lake Iseo, serves elevated Italian dishes inspired by the area, such as Franciacorta beef with rocket and baked cherry tomatoes. Seasonal specials include fried duck egg with asparagus and caviar and cacio e pepe with Sicilian red prawns and lime. The desserts are equally elegant, such as kiwi sorbet with green apple, local wine and citrus fruit soup. Stanza 54, a cosy lounge, offers lunches and lighter fare, while La Filiale, the informal pizza restaurant from award-winning pizzaiolo Franco Pepe, serves handmade dough with innovative toppings. Rooms are individually decorated, large and bright, with warm tones, marble bathrooms and delicate furnishings. Expect luxe fabrics like damask and satin, artistic touches and, in some, deep hydro-massage tubs – choose a superior room for a balcony overlooking the gardens. A continental breakfast with local produce and breads is included. To make the most of your stay, book a tour of the on-site winery plus a tasting of its sparkling wines, or enjoy a treatment at the peaceful Chenot Espace wellness spa. Superior rooms from £348 per night, check availability at albereta.it or booking.com Villa La Massa, Tuscany Check availability at villalamassa.com or booking.com Just 15 minutes from Florence's bustling centre, this riverside 16th-century estate welcomes guests with the heady scent of jasmine, lemon trees and roses. Despite its grandeur, Villa La Massa is laid back, calm and homely. The property has 54 unique rooms across six buildings, from the main Villa Nobile mansion to a riverside suite and a beautifully converted farmhouse. For ultimate seclusion, Casa Colonica stands out with authentic Tuscan elements – exposed beams, wooden floors and green marble bathrooms. There are artisan touches throughout, from hand-knotted rugs crafted by an 80-year-old local tapestry master to traditional key charms instead of modern keycards. The hotel’s restaurants celebrate Tuscan heritage and homegrown produce, with the estate's own olive oil accompanying every meal. Il Verrocchio restaurant offers traditional Tuscan dishes with a contemporary twist such as “Florentine” t-bone steak, duck ravioli, and tagliolini with roasted tomatoes, while L’Oliveto Bistrot focuses on more casual dining featuring the likes of fresh salads, carpaccio, and pizzas. Don't miss the rosemary-studded focaccia or the pici pasta, a hand-rolled specialty. Breakfast unfolds as a celebration of regional delicacies such as focaccia, coconut and cinnamon paradise cake, freshly squeezed orange juice and tables positioned to capture the morning sun dancing across the river's surface. Unwind in the spa with sauna, steam room and tailored massage treatments or participate in hands-on pizza-making classes and cocktail workshops. Villa La Massa invites you to fully lean into rural Tuscan life, while boasting easy access to Florence’s Renaissance treasures and thriving hospitality scene. Check availability at villalamassa.com or booking.com Hotel Su Gologone, Sardinia Doubles from £285, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Winding into the Barbagia mountains you'll find the Hotel Su Gologone. Just a two-hour drive from the Costa Smeralda this is more bandit than paparazzi territory – probably one of the reasons Madonna hid out here, although she could have been swayed by the hotel’s gob-smacking beauty, hippy-chic vibe and gourmet credentials. Food is at the heart of Su Gologone, which started life as a restaurant in the 1960s. Today, it might be a chic, art-themed hotel – a pretty huddle of whitewashed buildings laced with vivid purple bougainvillea and bedded into the mountainside – but it’s still famous for its food. Giovanna’s vibrant artworks pepper the bedrooms’ walls while the corridors are hung with traditional embroidered skirts and shawls. Secret alcoves are dotted around the gardens, there’s an open-air cinema and pool, a small spa, rooftop lounging areas for stargazing and a fabulous bar– whitewashed, open-air, scattered with white cushions and teetering above the valley. Sip a frothy bellini here, as the sun sinks, soaking up the Ibiza vibe and jaw-dropping views. Doubles from £285, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Fink, South Tyrol Check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Nestled in the arcades of one of Brixen’s oldest monastery townhouses, this boutique hotel has been passed down through four generations. Husband-and-wife owners Petra and Florian Fink have a deep respect for the 1450s building, creating an intentionally minimalist feel to allow original features to shine in the nine suites – thick stone walls left bare, restored ceiling frescoes decorating cosy window seats and the terrazzo flooring flecked with South Tyrolean stone. A compact vaulted spa awaits behind an ancient wooden door, its central stone plunge pool ideal for cooling down after sessions in the sauna, steam room and Roman bath outhouse. Choose to dine in the chic vaulted restaurant or outside beneath the arcade’s graceful curves. Florian curates produce from 50 local farmers – most specialising in a single ingredient – for his fresh, simple, zero-waste monastery kitchen style. The main menu is vegetarian and includes clever alternatives, such as root veg tartare, tagliolini with red cabbage cream and black truffle, and organic grain ravioli filled with chanterelles and mountain cheese. Meat and fish options are succinct and include local game and freshwater fish, from lake trout fillet to venison stew with beetroot dumplings, and veal schnitzel with lingonberry sauce. Sweet plum dumplings come with black beer ice cream, while three South Tyrolean apple varieties are showcased in a tartlet with ricotta and caramel sauce. An elegant breakfast kicks off with a soothing herb broth followed by fresh juices and fruit salads, crudités to dunk into herb ricotta and compotes to spread over warm croissants and breads, plus made-to-order spelt pancakes and crisp buckwheat waffles. fink1896.it Check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Il Borro Estate, Tuscany Doubles from £455, check availability at booking.com Il Borro is a true working 800-hectare estate, where guests visiting in autumn can take part in the wine harvest and feast alongside the workers and owners (the glamorous Ferragamo family). The hotel itself is set in the remains of a medieval village in the centre of the estate in Valdarno valley, a wilder, more rustic corner of Tuscany. The unique terroir of the estate, with its varying rocky, sandy and clay soils, makes perfect growing conditions for Syrah to make Pian di Nova, San Giovese to make Polissena and Merlot to make the Il Borro signature blend. This unique climate and soil isn’t solely reserved for wine - 700 olive trees provide oil, fields of buckwheat are a playground for honeybees, plus more fields of organic tomato vines, courgettes, pumpkins, green beans and melons provide the hotel’s three-floored Osteria and Tuscan bistro (and chef Andrea Campani) with the ultimate kitchen garden. The buffet breakfast is also exceptional – so abundant that sweet and savoury options are housed in separate rooms. Stay in one of the hotel double rooms or, for more of a countryside experience, the hotel has several ‘farmhouses’ available as guest suites – albeit farmhouses that come with infinity pools, vine-covered terraces and dining rooms where you can whip up your own meals. Don't miss out on a few laps in the infinity pool too. Doubles from £455, check availability at booking.com Nordelaia, Piedmont Rooms from £261 per night including breakfast. Check availability at booking.nordelaia.com, booking.com or mrandmrsssmith.com Nordelaia is all about equilibrium: between tradition and modernity; simplicity and indulgence; the boundlessness of nature and the cosy, uplifting comfort of home. It lies within a hilly swathe of rural Piedmont – a region which itself represents a kind of geographical middle ground, suspended between the mighty Alps and the coastal province of Liguria in north-west Italy. Occupying an 800-year-old converted farmhouse, the interiors of Nordelaia’s 12 rooms are at once contemporary and classic. Two attic suites – all warm wood beams and pleasing oblique angles – evoke a sense of treetop seclusion, while freestanding baths in the bedroom areas add a dose of opulence. On the first floor, the four rooms are themed around the striking seasonal colour palettes by which Nordelaia, from its woody hillside perch, is engulfed: greens in the spring, yellows for summer, fiery reds in the autumn, and pearly whites in the winter. Two outdoor pools – one heated, one not, but both with views for miles – entice in all seasons, while a visit to the spa, with its warm stone floors, barrel-vaulted brick ceiling and stone arches, is sure to restore a sense of internal equilibrium. Beyond the walls, Nordelaia is set within five hectares of arable land and boasts a working vineyard. Its offerings feature prominently on the wine list at the hotel’s destination restaurant, Lorto. Here chef Charles Pearce pays stunning homage both to the earthy, woodland character of Piedmont and to the maritime bounty of neighbouring Liguria. The two coalesce inventively in his take on perbureira – a thick, bean-based sauce traditionally served with pasta that Charles instead pairs with barbecue-kissed prawns and a coral emulsion. There’s a potato risotto with mussels that hits all the right notes, and a lip-smacking tangle of barbecued oyster mushrooms, served with a deeply savoury anchovy-based ferment called garum. A bistro menu that leans towards traditional flavours with modern touches offers guests a more relaxed but no less excellent dining experience. Rooms from £261 per night including breakfast. Check availability at booking.nordelaia.com, booking.com or mrandmrsssmith.com Palazzo Margherita, Basilicata Doubles from £856, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com The ethos behind Palazzo Margherita is that it should be a home away from home (albeit a pretty palatial one, bearing in mind that this was originally home to a Hollywood film director), with friendly staff and an open attitude to eating: guests can eat anywhere, anytime, choosing a location within the property that suits their particular mood. Enjoy breakfast in the courtyard, coffees by the walled pool, pizza and pasta at communal tables at the eat-in kitchen and drinks in the cocktail bar. Should you venture away from the hotel, the tranquil local beach has a scattering of sunbeds and parasols reserved for Palazzo Margherita guests. Pick one and look out at the Ionian Sea while you feast on a picnic made up by the cooks at the hotel (they normally add in a delicious seafood spaghetti made with the catch of the day from a local fisherman). Doubles from £856, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Susafa, Sicily Doubles from £273, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk It’s a family affair at Susafa, a sprawling estate that has been owned by members of the Saeli-Rizzuto family for five generations - brothers Manfredi and Tommaso are now at the helm. The fortified, 19th-century farmhouse at its heart sits at the foot the Madonie mountains, near Polizzi Generosa, and is the focal point for overnight guests. Around the farmhouse are 18 simple but chic guest rooms. Between terracotta floors and exposed beams are restful ricotta-coloured walls and the odd pop of olive green or tomato red from a headboard or throw. A restaurant is housed in the old granary and flavours here take their inspiration from the traditional Sicilian table. Vegetables, herbs, fruit and organic olive oil all come straight from the farm and the menu is elegantly rustic (think tomato salads, caponata and creamy risottos). Join a cookery lesson if you can drag yourself away from the pool. Doubles from £273, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Castello di Casole, Tuscany Doubles from £667, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Roughly half way between Florence and Siena, and surrounded by 4,200 acres of quintessential rolling, forested hills and golden fields, Castello di Casole is a magnificent Italian country estate. At its centre is an imposing, ochre-coloured castle flanked by gardens of lavender, gravel-edged lawns, roses and olive trees. Castello di Casole is pitched at travellers in search of an unblemished version of la dolce vita, one with all the luxurious perks you could imagine. It has 41 rooms and suites within the castle and the hamlet that surrounds it, and another 28 villas and farmhouses (rentable by the week) scattered throughout the estate. Décor is tastefully restrained, with sage and burnt umber paintwork, beamed ceilings, antique furniture sourced from local markets, traditional cotto floors and Carrara marble bathrooms. As with any self-respecting Tuscan estate, this one comes with its own vineyard and olive groves but the real showstopper is the hotel’s infinity pool with its mesmerising views over the undulating landscape. As dusk falls, most guests gravitate to the terrace above the pool, aperitivo in hand, to watch the spectacular sight of the sun sinking behind the hills. As well as the Pazzia Restaurant, which serves traditional Italian dishes and homemade gelato as well as Alessandro’s expert pizzas, there is a more formal restaurant, Tosca, overseen by chef Daniele Sera. Despite the stiff linen and impeccable service here, it still feels relaxed. A standout of the four-course tasting menu was the delicate spinach and ricotta gnudi with tomato confit and light-as-air mozzarella foam. There are more gastronomic experiences available too – from truffle hunting and mushroom foraging to pasta making and wine or olive oil tasting. Doubles from £667, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Borgo Egnazia, Puglia Doubles from £469, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Borgo Egnazia, or ‘village Egnazia’, is quite literally that: an Apulian-inspired network of little streets and piazzas that lead to villas, restaurants, swimming pools, spas, gardens and golf courses. It’s a self-contained bubble of luxury, beautifully designed around the colours white and cream, that’s built entirely from tactile tuff stone. Despite its size, the entire complex exudes a zen-like atmosphere that we found very difficult to leave. You can choose from four types of hotel room, five apartments or six villas – all luxurious, and all within easy reach of a swimming pool. Food is a priority, with six restaurants on site that honour Puglian cuisine – timeless, simple, thrifty food. From grilled octopus at the sophisticated Due Camini, where vaulted white ceilings twinkle with illuminated glass bottles, to a relaxed buffet at La Fresca, rustic orecchiette or pizza at Mia Cucina and fresh seafood at beachside restaurant Pescheria da Vito, it’s easy to stay within the Borgo walls all week. Doubles from £469, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Il Borgo del Balsamico, Emilia Romagna Doubles from £148, check availability at booking.com Modena is synonymous with one of Italy’s most celebrated ingredients: intensely flavoured balsamic vinegar made from fermented grape must. The area around the city of Reggio Emilia is a hub for the vinegar’s production, and also happens to be where you will find Il Borgo del Balsamico. At this historic guest house, in Botteghe Albinea, sisters Cristina and Silvia Crotti produce DOP and IGP vinegars. It’s a lovely setting – an 18th century villa and farmhouse surrounded by wisteria-draped gardens, abundant with damask roses and fruit trees. You can visit the tasting rooms as a day tripper but we recommend booking to stay over in one of the property’s three, refined guestrooms (plus one apartment); think parquet floors, Venetian plasterwork and carefully chosen antiques. There’s a small pool in the gardens too. Doubles from £148, check availability at booking.com Locanda al Colle, Tuscany Doubles from £252, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com Calling Locanda al Colle a bed and breakfast is a bit of an understatement. This 12-room guesthouse has many of the perks of a five-star hotel with its antiques and art, saltwater pool and immaculate gardens. Adding to the exclusive feel is its tranquil location, on a pine and olive tree-dotted hill outside Camaiore (also easily reached from seaside resorts like Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi and the pretty town of Pietrasanta). The overall vibe is informal but impeccable, and the same could be said of the food, with everything freshly made each day, from the sourdough bread and granola at breakfast to the cakes for afternoon tea. Resident chef Gianluca also conducts cookery lessons in the kitchen and, twice a week (on Wednesdays and Saturdays) hosts sociable dinners serving homemade ravioli and more on the candlelit terrace (on Monday evenings simple suppers of Tuscan soup and bruschetta are also available). Doubles from £252, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com Planeta Wine Estate, Sicily Doubles from £225, check availability at booking.com Unsurprisingly it’s all about wine at the Planeta Wine Estate, just outside Menfi in south-western Sicily. As one of Sicily’s most well established and highly regarded wine producers, Planeta has five different territories dotted around the island but Menfi is where it all began, back in the 16th century. At nearby La Forestiera (part of the estate) there are 14 guestrooms set amid regimented vines, plus a restaurant whose menu is informed by its surroundings - the herbs of the countryside and seafood from the nearby coast. Sip a glass of Nero d’Avola on the pool terrace or visit one of Planeta’s wineries for an in-depth tasting. As well as the pool, in the warmer months guests have access to the Lido Fiori on the beach at Porto Palo di Menfi, 10 minutes’ drive away. Planeta also has vast olive groves at Capparriva producing DOP Val di Mazzara oils; guests can sign up for a tasting and learn about harvesting and pressing. Doubles from £225, check availability at booking.com La Locanda Delle Donne Monache, Basilicata Doubles from £98, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Slightly less well-trammelled by British visitors than other corners of the country, Basilicata is sandwiched between Campania (to the north) and Calabria (to the south). Its rumpled Tyrrhenian Sea coastline is short but sweet at just 30km long, with mountains rising abruptly from the sea. Maratea, its principal town, is a charming cluster of buildings dotted with twisting alleyways and over 40 churches. Also in town, La Locanda delle Donne Monache is a former 18th-century convent, now a smart hotel, with a pool and views over the countryside to the sea. The hotel’s Il Sacella restaurant embraces the flavours of the province – chillies and pork are popular regional staples – and the menu features local sausages from Maratea, homemade pasta with mussels, shrimp and cuttlefish and baked sea bream washed down by Basilicata’s signature wine, the red Aglianco del Vulture. Doubles from £98, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Domu Antiga, Sardinia Doubles from £182, check availability at booking.com A 19th-century farmhouse in the rural heartland of Sardinia, Domu Antiga is in the village of Gergei, surrounded by empty plains and olive groves roamed by more sheep than people. The sensitively restored building is now home to four airy guestrooms whose owners are passionate about local traditions. Guests can jump on a cute Piaggio Ape van and tour the Unesco World Heritage-listed archaeological site of Su Nuraxi at Barumini. Alternatively, join chef Maria Grazia’s bread and cheese-making classes or try your hand at making local pasta shapes, like the island’s unique malloreddus gnocchi. Maria also oversees the guesthouse’s lavish breakfasts, and cooks dinner on request (expect grilled vegetables, local ravioli and Sardinian cheeses). There’s also a pizzeria and a winery close by. Doubles from £182, check availability at booking.com San Luis, Avelengo Check rates and availability at sanluis-hotel.com San Luis is where to go to get away from it all, breathe deeply and just immerse yourself in the tranquility, interrupted only by birdsong and cow bells chiming out through the surrounding valleys. Bedrooms are spread across a scattering of chalets and treehouses around a small, glacier mint-clear lake. Many of the rooms have their own hot tubs and saunas and all of them have small kitchens and dining areas. The showstopper is the double-height spa area in the main clubhouse with its blazing fires, black linen loungers to sink into, huge windows gazing out over the treetops and an inside/outside swimming pool – swim out, race down the pontoon and jump into the hot tub (or, in summer, plunge into the chilly waters of the lake). For foodies, the buzzy, ground floor dining room looks out over the lake and purrs with efficiency. The menu comes in two guises; a traditional one, which draws on the region’s Austro/Italian gastro-heritage, and a more modern, Mediterranean-inspired alternative dreamt up by executive chef, Arturo Spicocchi (five courses, but you can pick and choose how much you want to eat and half portions are available). Lunchtime means soup, salad and cheese, and teatime heralds cakes as well as home-made ice cream. Check rates and availability at sanluis-hotel.com Don Totu Dimora Storica, Puglia Doubles from £295, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com A stylish boutique hotel in the heart of rustic Puglia, Don Totu Dimora Storica is an 18th century palazzo boasting some of the most secluded grounds and best value rooms in the region. In the rural town of San Cassiano large wooden doors along an unassuming backstreet open into a mini palazzo, gracefully decorated in muted tones. Squishy armchairs and books and board games are on hand to keep visitors occupied. Or, help yourself to snacks from the kitchen (homemade biscuits, juices, cakes and nuts) and pad out through a higgledy-piggledy courtyard to find stone staircases leading to secluded terraces. Scented white rose petals drift down from a pergola that leads to a pool and gardens, jazz trickles from speakers and tiny lizards dart from one cacti-filled pot to another. The six bedrooms at Don Totu each have an individual feel. The owners make the most of the building’s quirks (vaulted stone ceilings, quiet alcoves, narrow staircases leading to terracotta terraces…) and have gathered a collection of furniture from across the region to add contemporary touches. There’s no restaurant at the hotel but order before 10.30 and you can enjoy lunchtime sandwiches and salads made with the region’s fantastic produce. The hotel’s small team of staff provides complimentary snacks to break up your day, anywhere in the grounds, from afternoon tea to aperitivo. Doubles from £295, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Palazzo Seneca, Norcia Doubles from £217, check availability at booking.com The foodie town of Norcia is set in the densely tree-covered Sibillini Mountains in Umbria. Enter through one of seven gates in the town’s heart-shaped, ancient walls and you soon discover a network of paved streets rich with foodie delights – café and restaurant tables spilling onto pavements and traditional food shops, Norcinerias, packed with prosciutto, cheeses, spelt and truffles. Relais & Chateaux's Palazzo Seneca is an elegantly restored sixteenth-century building hidden in one of Norcia’s narrow streets. Original stone flooring, open fires and squishy chairs await in the reception rooms, while delicate wrought iron frames, twisted wooden columns and wooden bedheads have been crafted so no two of the 24 rooms are the same. Pad down to the hotel's candlelit barrel-vaulted spa in the basement, complete with jacuzzi, sauna and Turkish bath. For breakfast, a serve-yourself spread is laid out on enormous wooden surfaces, with an entire table dedicated to charcuterie and local cheese. The hotel’s Michelin-starred Vespia restaurant is where the modern and innovative approach really comes into play, with little stacks of 24hr-cooked suckling pig and crisp buttery potatoes with splashes of colourful root veg purée, Norcia sausage ravioli and Breton chicken two ways. Doubles from £217, check availability at booking.com Find out more about our trip around Norcia here Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, Lake Como Standing proud on the headland at Lake Como, this grande dame has hosted statesmen and Hollywood celebs for over 150 years. It retains its lustre with chandeliers, marble, gilded columns and stunning frescos across high, vaulted ceilings, all lovingly maintained by generations of the Bucher family who remain in residence. The Suite Arte leans towards a quirkier sensibility with an Andy Warhol print above the bed and a Prada pooch stood sentry by the bathroom. Most rooms, though, speak of old school glamour, extending to linen sheets and plush silk bedspreads. Tall Italianate windows beautifully frame panoramic views over the lake. Direct access to the water sets this hotel apart and the recent addition of the Bacci da Bellagio beach club (complete with imported sand) takes full advantage. It’s an idyllic spot to soak up the sun, just a stone’s throw – yet a world apart – from the hubbub on the cobbled streets of Bellagio. The outdoor pool is flanked by palm trees, leading to lush botanical gardens, and a small indoor pool forms part of a bijou spa. Watch the sun set on the terrace with a smoky, citrussy Serbelloni spritz. For dinner, chef Ettore Bocchia delivers molecular gastronomy at Michelin-starred Mistral using ingredients from around the world, including “ethical” foie gras courtesy of free-range Spanish geese. Nonetheless, it’s simple spaghetti with pomodorino that shines, finished tableside with theatrical flourish. The veal chop is standout at La Goletta (the more informal of two restaurants) and it also serves lake perch with risotto if you hanker for a taste of humbler traditions. Doubles start from €850, breakfast included, check availability at villaserbelloni.com Langhe Country House, Piedmont Doubles from £209 per night, check availability at booking.com An imposing 18th-century farmstead near Alba, in Piedmont, Langhe Country House is surrounded by vineyards and hazelnut orchards, and has been beautifully renovated by owners Alessandro and Nadia (a Slow Food member and trained sommelier). The only meal served here is breakfast but it seriously impresses: hazelnut cakes and tarts, biscuits (baci, brutti ma buoni), croissants, jams, seasonal fruit, cheeses from Alta Langa, sliced hams – all homemade or local. Cooking classes for Piedmontese recipes can be arranged, and guests can help themselves to a glass of wine from the poolside wine fridge before going out for dinner in the local village. Doubles from £209 per night, check availability at booking.com Castello Banfi Il Borgo, Tuscany Doubles from £762, check availability at booking.com Set on Montalcino’s largest wine estate, by a medieval castle, Castello Banfi Il Borgo is a glamorous Italian hotel shaped from a hamlet of former estate workers’ houses. Romantic, traditionally styled suites - with terracotta floors, antique furnishings and linen-canopied beds – and classical Tuscan cooking (courses are also available) make it popular with honeymooners but it’s the estate’s Brunello that draws in visiting gourmands; in the on-site enoteca/ wine bar local sheep’s cheese and prosciutto can be paired to the estate’s wines. Doubles from £762, check availability at booking.com Hotel Schgaguler, Dolomites Doubles from £318, check availability at booking.com Pale wood and light hues dominate at Hotel Schgaguler, a central Castelrotto hotel surrounded by the Italian Dolomiti Superski region and all its endless ski runs. The food here is lighter than the hearty mountain fare of the surrounding mountains, with an Alpine-meets-Med twist. But the approach to ingredients remains as hyper-local as possible, making the most of what’s on the hotel’s doorstep. Eat light-as-a-feather gnocchi sprinkled with Alpine herbs, and drink milk supplied direct from local farms. The wine list is cherry-picked from Tyrolean producers further down the valley near Bolzano, and there’s a selection of grappa from neighbouring distilleries. Doubles from £318, check availability at booking.com The Marriott, Venice Doubles from £509, check availability at booking.com, marriott.com or expedia.co.uk Venice has long been known for its iconic Italian landmarks and traditionally rich culture. And cooking is an intrinsic part of that culture. At the Marriott, Federico Belluco, one of Italy’s youngest Michelin starred chefs, demonstrates why, making the most of the island’s kitchen garden of herbs, edible flowers and vegetables in dishes such as silky tortellini or comforting seafood stew, all drizzled in Isola delle Rose olive oil, the only olive oil produced within the city's boundaries. The resort's luxurious bedrooms and suites are modern and minimalist. Particularly impressive are the Residenza suites, which come with private pools with views of Venice. Doubles from £509, check availability at booking.com, marriott.com or expedia.co.uk La Favia, Milan Doubles from €125 including breakfast, check availability at lafavia4rooms.com< The four-bedroom La Favia guesthouse, an urban hideaway tucked inside a refurbished 19th-century building, takes its inspiration from owners Fabio and Marco’s travels: no two rooms are the same. On sunny mornings, start the day with breakfast in the rooftop garden – eggs cooked to order, pastries, cakes, bread, homemade jams, fruit and juice squeezed from oranges grown in the owners’ own citrus grove. Doubles from €125 including breakfast, check availability at lafavia4rooms.com Masseria Montenapoleone, Puglia Doubles from £212, check availability at booking.com In time-honoured Pugliese farming tradition, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and, at Masseria Montenapoleone - a stylish farmhouse hotel - it is served in the atmospheric surroundings of the Old Stables. Freshly picked fruits from the farm, dried fig tarts straight from the oven, citrus carpaccio with cinnamon, local cheese and cured meats are just some of the treats on offer for the first meal of the day. The warm sandstone farmhouse, which dates from the 1600s, has 16 guestrooms and is surrounded by a plane of silvery olive and almond trees. Just outside Fasano, on the Salento coast, it is very much a working farm, dedicated to organic produce. Guests are encouraged to pick their own fruit and vegetables and to go behind the scenes to learn more about Puglian cuisine. Doubles from £212, check availability at booking.com Antica Fattoria La Parrina, Tuscany Doubles from £115, check availability at booking.com The Maremma is a corner of Tuscany where you can still find countryside roamed by traditional cowboys called “butteri” and Antica Fattoria La Parrina is the perfect stop for a window into rural life down on the Tuscan farm. As well as making well-regarded wines and grappa, the farm also produces cheese, honey, olive oil, fruit, vegetables, pasta, flour and meat – there’s an on-site shop that would put many a farmer’s market to shame. Overnight guests (it also doubles as an agriturismo) can also enjoy the farm’s bounty on the breakfast table, as well as at lunch and dinner; everything is made onsite. Guests can picnic in the grounds, enjoy wine tastings, join a Tuscan cookery lesson or even go boar hunting on the estate. The property’s 12 bedrooms, housed in the solid farmhouse at the centre of the estate, channel rustic charm rather than country chic and there’s a pool, gardens and the beach resorts of the Tyrrhenian Sea a short drive away. Doubles from £115, check availability at booking.com Hotel Emilia, Le Marche Doubles from £67, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk With rolling hills, ancient towns and beaches lapped by the limpid waters of the Adriatic, Le Marche’s under-the-radar charms are many. Hotel Emilia commands a haughty spot on the Cornero Riviera, a slice of dreamy coastline south of Ancona mostly given over to a national park. In addition to its 30 guests rooms, there’s a pool, an artsy vibe, a restaurant focusing on local dishes and fabulous sunsets. While you’re there, take the serpentine road down to Portonovo, however. At night the loungers are tidied away and tables are set up on the beach. Seafood is the order of the day, namely the acclaimed wild mussels found in the bay, some of the sweetest you’ll ever taste and harvested in the traditional way. Served in a number of guises; sautéed with lemon, served with spaghetti or with "paccheri" and fennel as is the case at Da Giachetti (ristorantedagiachetti.it). Il Laghetto (illaghetto.com) and Da Emilia (daemilia) are two more to try. Doubles from £67, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk More travel guides Best French food trips Best Spanish food trips Best Portuguese food trips Best European vineyards to visit and stay Best foodie city breaks by train Best hotels in Paris Best Italian hotels Best country house hotels in the UK Best Scottish hotels
Booking a holiday right now? These are the least disrupted routes
Find out where is safe to travel – and what to do if you've already booked
If you’re in the midst of planning a getaway, you may have noticed slight changes to flights, particularly around routes, stopovers and perhaps even cost. Escalating conflict across parts of the Middle East has led to significant airspace closures, forcing airlines to reroute journeys that once cut neatly through key corridors. Flights that previously stopped over in Dubai or Doha are now diverting entirely, often adding time and complexity to routes that felt effortless a year ago.* “As if enough airspace wasn’t already closed due to global conflict, we’ve now added huge swathes of the Middle East to that picture,” says travel expert Laura Cannon. “That means airlines have had to find different corridors, and that adds time and complexity to a lot of routes, not to mention fuel costs, which are rising as a direct result.” With over half of British adults predicted to be planning travel abroad in 2026, it’s a fair question to ask, what does this actually mean for your holiday? Reassuringly, for most travellers, not a huge amount. Flights are still operating, destinations remain accessible, and holidays are going ahead as planned. The difference is usually logistical rather than disruptive, a slightly longer journey, or a different stopover than you might have expected a year ago. Glance at Flight Radar and you’ll see it clearly, large gaps in the sky where planes are actively avoiding airspace over Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria and Lebanon, alongside other ongoing no-fly zones like Ukraine. Which routes are still running smoothly from the UK? Plenty of routes are still running efficiently, and if you’re booking now, these are among the most reliable options (at the time of publication): Europe remains the easiest option, frequent flights, short journey times and multiple airlines. Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece are all seeing strong demand, as travellers opt for ease and flexibility. Southeast Asia – Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – remain well served, typically routed through Asian hubs like Singapore or Bangkok, both excellent for transiting through. Japan and South Korea are operating steadily, often via European or polar flight paths like Finnair’s northern routes via Helsinki. Australia and New Zealand remain consistent, usually via Singapore or other Asia-Pacific hubs, with plenty of airline options. West Coast USA and Canada, like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver are largely unchanged, with strong direct connections from the UK. The Caribbean is still very accessible via direct routes, or straightforward connections through the United States. What these destinations share is a reliance on established flight paths and well-connected hubs away from affected regions, that make them more predictable. “While global events can influence certain flight routes, the vast majority of popular holiday destinations are still operating normally,” says Jaymin Borkhatria, Chief Commercial Officer at Away Holidays. “Many travellers are still booking long-haul holidays, especially to destinations perceived as safe, open and stable.” Where might you notice changes? Including fare prices Some journeys are simply taking longer. Stopovers may look different, Singapore instead of Dubai, Helsinki rather than a Middle Eastern hub. Behind the scenes, the system has less flexibility than it did. “If something fairly routine goes wrong, a technical fault, for example, it’s much harder to resolve,” says Cannon. “Finding replacement aircraft or rerouting passengers takes longer when everything is already stretched.” And while disruption is not widespread, it can be significant when it does happen. It’s not just longer flight paths that might see air fares rise; it’s fuel itself. Fuel is a significant part of what you pay for a flight, and right now, those costs are rising. Much of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and with regional disruption ongoing, energy markets have taken a hit. Longer rerouted flights burn more fuel, compounding the issue. Qantas and Air New Zealand have raised fares, KLM and Thai Airways have flagged increases ahead, while Reuters reports United Airlines has begun trimming less profitable routes altogether. Closer to home, the picture isn’t as bleak. British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair, lock in fuel prices months in advance (known as fuel hedging), which is why fares don’t spike overnight. But those protections don’t last indefinitely, and if costs remain high, increases are likely to filter through over time, even into 2027. Best options if you’re booking now Interestingly, people aren’t cancelling holidays in large numbers. One recent report found only 2% of Brits have scrapped trips entirely, while roughly 40% are adjusting plans, whether that’s booking later, switching destinations, or sticking closer to home. Long-haul sunshine is still very much on the agenda, particularly the Caribbean, Mauritius and the Seychelles. “What we’re seeing is not a drop in demand, but a shift in how people book,” says Borkhatria. “Travellers are prioritising reliability and flexibility so they can travel with confidence.” If you’re planning a trip in the coming months, direct flights are your safest bet. If you do need to connect, look to hubs outside the Middle East, like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. If you’ve already booked, here’s what to do If you’ve already got a trip lined up, there’s no need to panic. Most holidays are going ahead as planned, and changes are usually communicated ahead of time. “The disruption is mainly affecting people who are abroad right now, or who have existing bookings routed through the Middle East,” says Cannon. “Future travel should mostly be absolutely fine.” That said, flexibility is worth building in wherever you can, looking at refundable fares, comprehensive travel insurance and routes that straightforward. Cannon also advises checking the fine print. “Most standard insurance policies exclude war-related disruption, so it’s important to read the details carefully.” If booking through an agent, choosing one that is ABTA- and ATOL-protected can offer additional reassurance and support if plans change. While flight paths may be changing and costs may rise, it’s worth remembering the bigger picture. The ability to travel freely, to take time away, explore and switch off, is a privilege not everyone has, particularly in moments of global uncertainty. That doesn’t make the cost or complexity of a holiday any less real for those who save hard for it. But it does put things into perspective. The most important thing, wherever you’re heading this year, is to travel thoughtfully, stay informed, respect local advice and conditions, and above all, stay safe. *Information correct at time of publication
Food and drink festivals you should visit in 2026
Discover the best of new chefs, flavours and products at some of the UK's best food and drink festivals.
Looking to get out and about with your foodie friends? With summer just around the corner, we've searched for the best food and drink festivals happening this year, perfect for a trip with friends, family or solo. For more foodie summer adventures check out our guides to the best UK glamping spots for foodies and English vineyard stays. Taste of London Taste is five days of foodie celebrations in the centre of London. With eight sessions across the five days, you’ll be able to sample food from the most talked about restaurants in London and try dishes from the food stars of the future. Look out for fuel-flamed theatrics at the fire pit stage, sample some tipples at the tasting theatre and, after having your fill of food, dance the evening away with DJs and a singalong around the piano. 17-21 June, Regents Park Tickets from £24, london.tastefestivals.com Vineyards of Hampshire Fizz Fest The Fizz Fest returns at The Grange, The Winery at Burges Field, celebrating Hampshire’s premier vineyards. This is a chance to taste new vintages and talk to the producers at the heart of their production. You’ll also be able to enjoy street food, music and get involved with masterclasses, as well as exploring the vineyard on a tour. 28 June, Alresford, Hampshire Tickets £35pp, vineyardsofhampshire.co.uk/our-events Good Food Show Summer and Gardeners' World Live A staple of the food festival calendar, the Good Food Show returns to the NEC along with BBC Gardeners' World Live for the ultimate foodie day out. Pick up summer recipe inspiration, tips and tricks from your favourite TV chefs and shop our artisan delights from a host of stalls. Tickets to the Good Food Show include access to BBC Gardeners' World Live. Wander through the exquisite show gardens, get expert advice from BBC Gardeners' World TV presenters and find inspiration for outdoor living. 18-21 June, NEC, Birmingham Tickets from £30.50 (adults), goodfoodshow.com/summer Pub in the Park Enjoy the beginnings of summer weather at Pub in the Park in Marlow, a celebration of food, drink and music. This year's programme will see the likes of Si King, Raymond Blanc OBE and James Martin take to the stage for chef demos and a wave of new restaurants offering up their best dishes to patrons. Experience fire-led cooking with Temper, have an immersive dining experience with Six By Nico and enjoy the ultimate comforts with Tommy's Pie Shop. As expected the festival also has an exceptional line up of music acts over the weekend. Dance the day and night away to the likes of Craig David, McFly and Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. 14th-17th May, Higginson Park, Marlow Standard tickets from £47, VIP packages available www.pubintheparkuk.com/ Hampton Court Palace Food Festival Spend the bank holiday week at the annual Hampton Court Palace Food Festival, with celebrations for all the family in Henry VIII's beautiful gardens. There will be more delicious street food to graze on than ever before, plus amazing pop-up bars serving tasty tipples, refreshing craft beers and exquisite wines. With over 150 fantastic brands and producers, you'll be able to get your hands on everything from mouth-watering cheeses and sausages to brownies and churros. Plus, your ticket will give you access to the palace made famous by Henry VIII, his wives and children. 29-31 August, Hampton Court Palace, Surrey Tickets from £29.00, HRP members go free. hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/whats-on/hampton-court-palace-food-festival Ballymaloe Food Festival The Ballymaloe Festival of Food returns for its third year from 15-17th May. The jam-packed three days celebrate Irish food, seasonal cooking and the producers behind it. There's a busy line up of workshops (from cooking with seaweed to chocolate truffle making), cookery demos, expert masterclasses and impressive pop-up dining events hosted at Ballymaloe House. Drinks enthusiasts are well covered too, with events including a martini masterclass or cheese and wine pairing session. 15-17 May, Ballymaloe Different ticket options available through their website, www.ballymaloefestivaloffood.com/ Cardiff Food & Drink Festival This is by far one of the most popular events of the summer for the city of Cardiff. This free festival will have a host of stallholders at The Producers Fair and Farmers Market offering a spectacular spread of produce. Over at the Street Food Piazza expect everything from curries and kebabs to tapas and tacos. For the creatives there'll also be the Crafters Market where you can find an eclectic mix of handmade arts and crafts. 3-5 July, Cardiff Bay Free entry, visitcardiff.com/food-drink A Taste of Winchester Following a successful 2025 event, A Taste of Winchester returns for a fortnight of delicious local food and drink. Restaurants, cafes, pubs, retailers and producers will come together to show off the best of the local food scene with special menus, events and tastings. The two week event also coincides with other major local events including Winchester Garden Festival, Beer & Cider Festival and Hat Fair. 22 June-5 July, Winchester Free entry, atasteofwinchester.co.uk Rock Oyster Festival Cornwall’s Rock Oyster festival is more than food. With a full weekend of chart-topping music, talks from authors and a wellbeing programme including surf lessons, yoga and massages, this is not an event to be missed. Across the three-day festival top chefs like Raymond Blanc, Nathan Outlaw and Matt Tebbutt will be taking to the food stage with demos and talks. You can also see headline music performances from Groove Armada, Scissor Sisters and Kool & The Gang for a jam-packed culinary and music experience. 23-26 July, Dinham House, North Cornwall Adult day tickets from £65. Full weekend with camping options, rockoysterfestival.co.uk New Forest Food Festival This is a new one to add to the summer calendar. The New Forest has always been rich in local produce, renowned chefs and restaurants, artisan food and crafts so why not package it up into a festival? There will be food from local producers, cooking demos from local chefs and an artisan and craft market where you can purchase products from the best makers and bakers of the New Forest. This part of the world is also great for a camping holiday, so the festival has teamed up with In Nature Camping to provide a small, family-friendly pop-up campsite just a short stroll away from the main festival. 15-16 August, Hinton Admiral, Hampshire Pre-booked adult tickets £8, kids under 16 free, newforestfoodfestival.co.uk Harrogate Food & Drink Festival Enjoy a weekend of family-friendly celebration of local talent through food, music and entertainment. Like previous years there will be two stops of this festival, one in June at The Stray and one in August at Ripley Castle. Savour international street food, quench your thirst with independent drink suppliers, shop at the Fine Artisan Markets and have fun with live music, comedy and magicians. In partnership with Mind in Harrogate, the festival will also be raising money to support the community’s mental health. 27-28 June, The Stray and 22-23 August, Ripley Castle Adult tickets from £7.95, harrogatefoodfestival.com Abergavenny Food Festival With 180+ exhibitors and caterers spread across six venues, the Abergavenny Food Festival brings a full weekend of entertainment for its visitors. A Stroller Ticket will get you access to all six market venues. You can also purchase Night Market tickets if you fancy a different evening out, and on the Saturday evening you can buy tickets to the Party in the Castle for an evening of music, dancing and fireworks. Taking place at the end of September, this is a great one to finish a foodie summer. 19-20 September, Abergavenny Daytime stroller tickets from £16, abergavennyfoodfestival.com Meatopia This live-fire cooking festival is back for another year of carefully curated menus and dishes featuring a perfect balance of meat, seafood and global cuisines. The menu of the day will have up to 30 dishes all cooked over fire and smoke. Chefs appearing will include Ben Tish of the Grazing Goat, BBQ expert Melissa Thompson and Khadim Mbamba of Little Baobab. Enjoy a host of live bands and musicians throughout the weekend to keep the vibes going and with seven bars you'll be able to find the perfect tipple or two to keep cool. 12-14 June, SWG3, Glasgow and 3-6 September, Tobacco Dock, London All tickets must be purchased in advance, ticketing options available through their website, meatopia.co.uk York Food Festival Take a trip to the beautiful city of York for this free-to-enter food festival. Discover the best of York’s culinary scene and pick up some delectable local treats from the market. There will be opportunities to take part in free cookery workshops to help you up your cooking game. A series of fringe events will also be held by local restaurants, hotels and retailers and can range from special menus, tastings and workshops. While the festival is free, there are some ticketed activities and donations are welcomed with all money going back into the festival. 18-27 September, York Free entry, donations welcomed. yorkfoodfestival.com Dartmouth Food Festival Set against the backdrop of the stunning river Dart, Dartmouth Food Festival is a celebration of food, drink and local culinary talent. Take part in wine seminars, cooking demos and drinks masterclasses. The Chefs Demonstration Theatre will feature some of the country's best loved chefs and local South West talent including Matt Tebbutt, Ben Tonks and Jane Baxter. 23-25 October, Dartmouth Free entry, dartmouthfoodfestival.com More travel inspiration... 12 small towns across the UK every foodie should visit The UK's best pubs with rooms UK boutique hotels for food lovers 10 exciting UK city breaks for food lovers Best restaurants with rooms UK spa hotels for food lovers Best romantic UK hotels Best seaside staycations Best country hotels