Luxury, flavour, escape! | Hospitality

I’ve always found that the quickest way to sate the soul is through the stomach; a gospel truth I discovered while scouring local street markets. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, the ultimate culinary passport could actually turn out to be your own hotel. In order to better your odds of discovering these perfect culinary adventures adjacent residence, here is a list of our favourites. Imagine hand-picking herbs at a sun-drenched Balinese farm before watching the chef transform them into art on a plate. Or learning Michelin worthy pasta secrets in the rolling hills outside Turin. Luxury foodie hotels are destinations in themselves: Think chef-led cooking classes in Girona, dining on freshly-plucked produce from on-site farms, or pairing rare wines at properties that double as vineyards. This is gourmet globetrotting 101.

MANDAPA, A RITZ CARLTON RESERVE, GIANYAR, INDONESIA

Just outside Ubud, 45 breezy minutes from Ngurah Rai Airport, the resort hums with the Ayung River’s soft whispers, as frangipani perfumes the air and rice fields shimmer gold in the sunset’s fiery finale. Here, luxury isn’t just served, it’s sculpted, and your personal Patih (think clairvoyant concierge) orchestrates everything from moonlit dinners in swaying paddies to spur of the moment jungle adventures. Yet, it’s the food that truly takes centre stage. Mornings begin at Sawah Terrace with tropical fruits bursting like fireworks on your tongue, a silky noodle soup that feels like a Balinese hug, and bold Javanese coffee. On Sundays, the Royal Brunch transforms indulgence into symphony, slow roasted suckling pig, earthy rendang, and the world on a plate with surprises like tender ramen. Come evening, Kubu, the bamboo haven perched beside the river, entices with Chef Eka Sunarya’s transformative tasting menu. Moringa risotto linger on your palate; beetroot tamarind sorbet zings with crisp brilliance. Chef Eka ( read Bali’s culinary oracle), champions hyper local ingredients sourced from within 100 kilometres. From farmers to fishermen, he builds community every bite, weaving sustainability into dishes that echo Bali’s microclimates. The Tabanan heritage pig? It’s not just food, it’s a velvet symphony. Dining here isn’t eating, it’s cultural immersion.

Where: Jl. Raya Kedewatan, Banjar, Kedewatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia

Contact: +62 3614792777

Must Do: A farm visit with the Executive chef followed by a local lunch

FINNLOUGH LUXURY HIDEAWAY, FERMANAGH, IRELAND

Nestled on a serene headland overlooking the emerald expanse of Lough Erne, Finn Lough feels like a well-kept secret waiting to be unveiled. Just a whisker away from the Donegal border, this family-run haven masterfully blends nature and luxury into a seamless retreat. Picture this: bubble domes with 360 degree views of the night sky, stately four poster beds, decadent en suite baths, and evenings under the stars that seem almost otherworldly. And then there’s the extraordinary food. Meals here are as memorable as the setting, farm-to-table feasts of seasonal, locally-sourced produce; whether it’s a five course tasting menu in the Forest Barn or a hearty Irish breakfast to fuel outdoor adventures. In the charming Forest Barn, Irish cuisine is reimagined, yet remains refreshingly true to its roots. The locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients are passionate protagonists of their own narrative, where each dish offered a delicate balance of tradition and ingenuity. My vegetarian tasting menu was a revelation, an artful parade of textures and flavours that reminded me why simple food, handled with care, is anything but ordinary. For others, dishes like succulent Donegal lamb and the impossibly fresh seafood carried a tribute to the land and water in each bite. Paired with a glass of Boatyard Distillery gin or a local craft cider, and you have a sensory escape that lingers long after the last sip. Finn Lough doesn’t just let you escape; it envelops you in a world where serenity, taste, and wonder collide.

Where: 33 Letter Road, Aghnablaney, BT93 2BB Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

Contact: www.finnlough.com

Must Do: A picnic lunch or breakfast in your villa.

MIDNIGHT HOTEL, CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA

If Canberra were a hotel, it would undoubtedly be ‘Midnight Hotel’. A shimmering testament to Australia’s creative genius, this Fender Katsalidis designed marvel turns Braddon, a suburb pulsing with green energy and hipster charm, into its playground. Picture this: sharp-edged concrete elegance softened by art that hums with soul. It’s a building that doesn’t merely stand, it breathes. Each of its 199 rooms owns a unique story courtesy of Thomas Bucich’s ‘Relic Series’; imagine reclaimed Aussie timber refined into gilded heirlooms, each piece daring you to look closer. Even the corridors feel intentional, showcasing Tom Adair’s artistic Easter eggs, offering serendipitous surprises for those who linger. The culinary scene, though, steals the show. ‘Braddon Merchant’ is every foodie’s dream, a European deli reincarnated in chic Aussie style. Seasonal, uncomplicated plates sit beside artisanal delights you can grab and go. And don’t miss ‘Midnight Bar,’ where the cocktails are nothing short of poetry—a nod to Canberra’s shifting culinary ambitions. Bonus? Its wine list isn’t just impressive; it’s award winning. Take a sunset stroll, or a Lekker X e-bike, around Braddon’s breweries and refined restos, but don’t stray too far. Midnight Hotel, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, is where Canberra’s essence sleeps—and celebrates.

Where: 1 Elouera Street, Braddon, Canberra -2612, Australia

Contact: https://midnight-autograph-collection.hotels-canberra.com/en/

Must Do: Ask for the fried eggs with Dukkah

ESPERIT ROCA, GIRONA , SPAIN

If Girona feels like the setting of a medieval fantasy, it’s probably because it is. Winding through the Barri Vell (Old Town) feels like flipping through history’s scrapbook, while the kaleidoscopic houses lining the Onyar River seem to be painted with an artist’s wild dream. But what’s on the plate, is what makes Castell de Sant Julia so special. Situated just outside the city, this 19th century fortress turned hideaway is the culinary masterpiece of the Roca brothers (of El Celler de Can Roca fame). It whispers history through its aged stones, but the real magic happens on the plate, where Michelin level brilliance meets history. With six savoury dishes and two desserts or, get this, two main courses followed by six desserts, the hotel’s Esperit Roca Restaurant transforms the palate into the protagonist of a sensory tale. Jordi Roca, the mad genius of pastry and whimsy, created these dishes, which feel like edible fairy tales. Jordi Roca, the pastry sorcerer of Netflix’s ‘Chef’s Table’ fame, leads the sweeter path, creating confections like cakes that dissolve into aromatic elixirs, pushing the boundaries of pastry. Highlights? Start with ‘Bosque lluvioso (Rainy Forest)’, a dessert inspired by Jordi’s daily walks through damp woods. Then there’s the cake, weightless, gravity defying, finished with an aromatic drizzle that ties every bite together. Savoury lovers find much to swoon over with dishes such as the ‘All the Prawn,’ a Palamós prawn odyssey topped with seaweed vinegar, crispy prawn legs, and velvety prawn distillate. Or the decadent poularde brioche with truffle and foie gras. The dream doesn’t have to end the morning after where Roca breakfasts simply seal the deal. This culinary escape is one that is well worth every mile travelled.

Where: Carrer Major, Entrada 1, 17481 Sant Juli de Ramis, Girona, Spain

Contact: https://hotelesperitroca.com/en/

Must Do: A tour of the Hotel’s Culinary Museum, Kitchen and cellar.

NH COLLECTION TORINO SANTO STEFANO, TURIN, ITALY

Tucked away in Turin’s Quadrilatero Romano, a district that feels like it was built for daydreams, ‘NH Santo Stefano’ is no ordinary spot. Sure, it’s technically a hotel. But staying here feels more like stepping into a living, breathing history book, one sprinkled with good food. Let’s start with the staircase. Just like a ribbon unwinding in mid air, it twists and turns, leading to breathtaking views. Picture the rugged Alps sparkling in the distance, Roman ruins down below, and Turin’s baroque skyline stretching out in effortless elegance. Honestly, you could sit there for hours, but not so fast, because food beckons. The breakfast buffet? It’s what mornings were made for. Bright, colourful fruits, soft pastries, and piping hot dishes that hug you like a warm Italian granny. Then there’s ‘La Pista Bistrot’. Oh, ‘La Pista’. This is where Piedmontese cuisine shakes things up with old school recipes getting a modern makeover. Think bold game meats that feel like they were just brought in by a hunter, delicate pasta with heart and heritage, and desserts that demand your full attention. The star of the show? Chef Evi Polliotto’s famous ‘Monviso cake’; made with local hazelnuts, it’s so good you’ll want to book your next trip to Turin just for another slice. At Santo Stefano, food doesn’t just feed you, it stays with you.

Where: Via Porta Palatina, 19, 10122 Torino, Italy

Contact: https://www.nh-collection.com/en/hotel/nh-collection-torino-santo-stefano

Must Do: Enjoy a Bicerin any time during the stay.