Meet the 24 new members of Relais & Châteaux
Relais & Châteaux has over 550 world-class hotels and restaurants, each with a distinct setting, atmosphere and flavour. The core mission of Relais & Châteaux is the art of living, so its main focus is inspiring and sparking curiosity among its guest. The acclaimed association has announced 24 new members, each one as extraordinary as the next.
We can’t show all 24, but here are some of the places that tickle our fancy:
SingleThread Farm, Healdsburg, California
Located between the Russian River and vines of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Chardonnay grapes, the SingleThread Farm restaurant and inn, is taking skill and craftsmanship to a whole new level. There are five suites for guests – all just as good as the gourmet offerings.
Farmers Katina Connaughton and brother Vince Rothermund manage all the installations scattered across this property. That means they are in charge of supplying the kitchens with fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs, honey, eggs and even olive oil.
The restaurant kitchen serves up an 11-course tasting menu. And design enthusiasts will love to know they are usually served in handmade tableware that is specially crafted by artisans who collaborate with the SingleThread Farm.
Owners and chefs: Tony Greenberg and Kyle Connaughton Maître de Maison: David Sisler
Magee Homestead, Saratoga, Wyoming
Near Medicine Bow National Forest in the middle of the high-desert plains of Wyoming sits Magee Homestead, a luxury ranch for adults only. The property includes nine cabins, a private lodge, a swimming pool overlooking the pond, and a spa and wellness centre. The ambience is enhanced with original artwork and stunning interiors. The restaurant has its own kitchen garden and serves modern plant-based fare that follows the self-sustaining practice of “zero mile.” The dining room opens to the outside creating an idyllic setting for watching the moonlit prairies all around. It’s a magical spot for a getaway right in the heart of the American West.
Owners: Bruce and Beth White Maître de Maison: Jeremy Belnap
Chef: Anthony Buchanio
Delfin Amazon Cruises, Iquitos (Peru)
Deep in the Peruvian Amazon, Delfin Amazon Cruises takes guests on a one-of-a-kind trip aboard a boat to explore one of the world’s largest protected forests inside the Pacaya Samiria National Preserve. The experience includes excursions into indigenous villages, night safaris, and swimming with pink dolphins. Maître de maison and great explorer Aldo Macchiavello has a knack for creating unforgettable journeys. Anyone who knows palaces will feel right at home because the fleet’s three boats offer all the amenities of a grand luxury hotel with sumptuous decor, cozy cabins and local cuisine that is out of this world. One vessel has four suites, the second has 14 suites and the third, 20 suites.
Owner and Maître de Maison: Aldo Macchiavello
Chila Restaurant, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Andrès Porcel’s Chila Restaurant is located in the hip Puerto Madero district and has ranked among the 50 top restaurants in Latin America for four years running. Newcomer chef Pedro Bargero works directly with producers and handpicks products from the Mercado Central to create his dishes. Heuses local organic products to concoct his three monthly tasting menus, one of which is vegetarian. All of his flavor pairings are original and elegant, like leeks, wild papaya, hake and Jerusalem artichokes. The menu draws inspiration from all over Argentina and includes meats and dairy productsfrom the property’s Campazu Farm, vegetables harvested in La Plata, black hake from Antarctica and shrimp from Comodoro.
Owner: Andrés Nestor Porcel
Maître de Maison: Julián Massigoge
Chef: Pedro Bargero
Lympstone Manor Hotel, Devon, UK
This tastefully restored Georgian manor house and heritage site has been turned into a luxury property following the vision of owner and chef Michael Caines. The Lympstone Manor Hotel overlooks Devon’s Exe Estuary and has 21 contemporary rooms and suites with stunning views of the area’s natural scenery. Each room bears the name and colours of a bird living in the estuary and the decor is adorned with paintings by local artist Rachel Toll. In the kitchen, Caines tantalizes gastronomes with novel dishes that tend to spotlight products from the ocean, tidelands and salt marshes. A cellar of over 600 wines and exquisite settings in each of the manor’s different dining rooms complement the refined fare. The dining room, named after Powderham Castle, is the ideal spot for an intimate dinner in a powder pink velvet banquette under a spellbinding luminous glass globe.
Owner and Chef: Michael Caines Maître de Maison: Scott Andrews
Locanda Don Serafino Hotel, Sicily, Italy
In the Baroque city of Ragusa Ibla on the island of Sicily, Locanda Don Serafino Hotel has set up shop in a small 19th-century former residential building carved into a rocky cliff. Its amazing architecture is showcased by the interior design in the 10 rooms. Decorated in neutral tones, some have vaulted ceilings and exposed stone walls typical of local construction. The property’s restaurant lies a few yards away in an old stone building that was once the stables for the nearby palace. Lovers of good wine will be in their element because the menu features a selection of 100 bottles from the world’s finest vineyards. Enough to give chef Vincenzo Candiano full license to dream up original and eye-opening pairings.
Owners and Maîtres de Maison: Pinuccio and Antonio La Rosa
Chef: Vincenzo Candiano
Akelaŕe, , San Sebastian, Spain
A Relais & Châteaux member since 1999, Akelaŕe has added a highly architectural boutique hotel to its Michelin three-star restaurant, just five minutes from the centre of Saint Sebastián. Every one of the 21 rooms and magnificent suite have a stunning view of the Cantabrian Sea, offering amazing sunsets. Akelaŕe also has a huge spa where guests can relax and be pampered.
Owner: Pedro Subijana Reza
Maître de Maison: Pedro Subijana Reza Chef: Pedro Subijana Reza
Hotel Restaurant Krone Regensberg, Regensberg, Switzerland
Wake up to a view of the Jura Mountains in the charming Hotel Restaurant Krone, tucked away in the medieval village of Regensberg. Once a destination for American politicians and presidents, Katja and Franck Gunthart completely rebuilt this property after it burned to the ground in 2011, restoring it to its original purpose of welcoming travellers from all over the world. Framed by unfinished wood floors and dry-stone walls, the spaces are entirely furnished with vintage collectibles, creating casual modern interiors. Maître de maison Thorsten Knocke adds his own special touches that are more than appreciated in the seven rooms and two suites. From the breathtaking panoramic view to the rooms that could not be cozier or more luxurious, this owner duo have created a winner.
Owners: The Schäfer family
Maître de Maison: Thorsten Knocke Chef: Harald Frixeder
Quadrille Hotel, Gdynia, Poland
Not far from Gdańsk, Quadrille is a unique property comprised of two standalone buildings connected by a tunnel. You would not be remiss to think you’ve entered a world created entirely by Lewis Carroll. From the name of the hotel and the rooms to the speakeasy bar and the restaurant – for guests it’s like walking inside the story of Alice in Wonderland. The only differences are that time seems to stand still and the staff are ever so gracious. Anyone who loves modern art and design will enjoy the works by famous artists scattered throughout rooms in this 18th century palace and all the related themes. The Quadrille Hotel has 30 rooms and two suites, all magnificently furnished. Having recently brought this place back to life, the Górski family thinks the secret to its enchanting ambience is in the details. In the kitchen, chef Marcin Popielarz serves up traditional dishes exclusively made with local ingredients. His goal is to conjure the unexpected by using brand new flavor combinations to bring back childhood memories for the span of a meal.
Owners: The Górski family Maîtresse de Maison: Anna Lewit
Chef: Marcin Popielarz
