In-house hotel expert Yasmin Fahr shares her choice of charming inns to full on luxury hotels that meet the needs of food-loving travellers. This is the hotel hotlist for foodies …
In France, many restaurants started providing small rooms for guests to stay in after dining with them. This us part of the tradition that we celebrate with this column.
Babylonstoren, South Africa For luxury travellers who love a rustic feel
Pronounced as it’s spelled (Babylon-Store-en), this luxury hotel is housed on a fruit and wine farm, that has over 300 varieties of plants, which conveniently provide ingredients for the two restaurants Babel and the Greenhouse onsite. The garden is the heart of the property with a maze-like, stunning design if observed from a bird’s-eye view. Public can book in tours, which are very worthwhile. Rooms are designed with different themes and styles that range from minimalist and chic, to quirky and colourful, with en-suite bathrooms and cast iron stoves, all of which keep guests’ comfort at the forefront.
It is one of the most stylish hotel in the Winelands, with its contemporary detailing against the historic Cape Dutch backdrop. The eight-acre kitchen garden and restaurant are destinations in their own right, but waking up here is the ultimate privilege.
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Ballymaloe House, Ireland For those who want to learn
Owners Myrtle and Ivan Allen first opened their home, an historic property, to the public as a restaurant and then later as a hotel. Rooms have a quaint, country cottage decor style to them, which adds to the charm of the overall experience. Nearby the hotel is the cookery school that offers tours and classes, plus hosts lots of events over the year. All of the food is grown onsite or procured from local producers, which means you’ll wake up to enjoy dishes like homemade yoghurt and jam from their own fruits. Then dine on East Cork roast beef with red wine sauce, salsa verde and garden green onions for dinner.
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Waterside Inn, Bray, England For English history buffs
While Bray is probably most known as the location of the Fat Duck, the Waterside Inn is the original star of the village, where a three-Michelin star restaurant sits down the street from Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant offering impeccable French cuisine. The maitre’d Diego will welcome you like you are family and his home is a gorgeous property along the Thames. It is a truly romantic way to spend the weekend or to enjoy the English countryside. The inn that sits above the restaurant is more on the simple side and stays true to the idea of rooms for weary, food-loving travellers.
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BlackBerry Farm For nature lovers
Located on 4200 acres in the Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry Farm is a mecca for food and nature lovers. Whether you want to hike off your griddle cakes and side of Blackberry Farm smoked bacon breakfast on the trails, or simply relax on a lawn chair to enjoy the views, there is something for everyone here. Literally. From kayaking to skeet-shooting to relaxing at the spa, there are all types of activities. Plus, there are three restaurants on site as well as a butcher, cheesemonger, sommelier, forager and baker so that any need or craving you have, will most certainly be met. Rooms are tastefully decorated with beautiful views of the property through large glass windows and come in a range of sizes, whether you’re traveling in pairs or in a larger group. The prices may appear steep, but keep in mind that they include your meals so that you can fully explore and enjoy all that the property has to offer.
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Meadowood, Napa Valley For wine lovers
Located in the picturesque Napa Valley, the hotel offers luxe country accommodations complete with wood-burning fireplaces and up-to-date amenities, plus activities like golf, tennis and hiking. While this is all worth visiting on its own, given the proximity to so many wineries, the property is really known for its five-star, fine dining restaurant with the same name. Serving elevated California cuisine, the restaurant prepares thoughtful and modern dishes, drawing from its experimentation of growing different ingredients in the 2 ½ acre garden onsite. Reservations can be difficult to come by, so make sure to book ahead.
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Find more travel recommendations from Yasmin, you can keep up to date on LokaPack.
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