The Top Hotels to Stay in Around the World if You Worship Food

For farm-to-table dining and breathtaking views, luxury boutique hotel Rastrello, located in Umbria, is a must-visit. Named after the small rake used to pick olives by hand, “Rastrello” is the perfect namesake for the hotel, which produces premium extra virgin olive oils from its olive grove. Rastrello’s destination restaurant, Cucina & Giardino, offers farm-to-table dining for both locals and guests alike to enjoy. Prepared by celebrated regional chef Nicola Fanfano, the menu is closely linked to the region and thus dictated by the seasonality of each ingredient, including what is harvested daily from the hotel’s gardens. The open kitchen produces fresh, organic cuisine, with diners set on a panoramic garden terrace in the warmer months. Special meals are periodically crafted from recipes developed by elderly locals. Breathtaking views of the valley and Lake Trasimeno can be had year-round.

There’s nowhere better to savour the divine flavours of Tuscany than at Townhouse Caffe. This restaurant, in the chic Bandita Townhouse hotel in Pienza, has a menu curated by chef David Mangan that includes seasonal Italian classics prepared in an open kitchen, using fresh local ingredients. Among the offerings are slow-cooked duck breast with prosciutto, sage and balsamic glaze, and the chargrilled chianina beef with potato mille-feuilles, truffle mustard, asparagus and crispy pancetta. Get the full flavour of the Tuscan countryside by dining in the garden; good news, children under five get to eat for free.

Dubbed “the world’s first foodie hotel”, Ergon House isn’t just a hotel with a restaurant. In fact, this Athenian boutique has been set up entirely around food. It houses a deli selling produce from local farmers, a butcher’s, a fishmonger’s and a bakery, plus a restaurant and a rooftop terrace. In all of these food-themed corners, you can taste fine Mediterranean flavours with a Greek focus. Alternatively, cook alongside a distinguished chef in the communal kitchens on every floor or take a proper cooking class and learn how to make peinirli – a pizza-like dish – with chicken, gruyere and truffle like a pro.

For the complete gastronomic experience, head to Kristiania Lech Hotel in Austria, which caters to any foodie’s requests, no matter how varied they may be. Try gourmet dishes at the fine-dining restaurant, international flavours at Angelina’s or cheese and meat fondue at the Kaminzimmer (followed by chocolate fondue and homemade marshmallows), before sipping on your favourite drink at Othmar’s Cocktail Bar & Lounge. And if all this still isn’t enough, pick one of the two foodie experiences on offer: picnic in the snow – complete with blankets, pillows, champagne and candles – or ice fishing paired with Schnapps.

Everything about Ka’ana Resort in Belize is unassumingly pretty and chic; from the relaxed villas with a pool or the minimal suites surrounded by nature to the delicious food. Whether you choose the farmhouse-style La Ceiba Restaurant – with products supplied by the on-site organic garden – or the jungle-like Wallace for tapas and drinks, you’re in for a delightful culinary surprise. Go for the private dining option if you want to enjoy your meal al fresco or in the wine cellar. And if you’re looking to learn the secrets of Mayan cuisine, take a cooking class and find out how to make tamales or corn tortillas.

The Foxhill Manor motto is “whatever you fancy, wherever you fancy it”, which translates into a 24/7 bespoke foodie service. Speak to the chef and the kitchen team will rustle you up a tailored menu based on seasonal, local produce. You can then enjoy your food wherever you want – perhaps while watching a movie in the cinema room. Other gastronomic perks include complimentary drinks – that includes a selection of spirits and house champagne – plus a snack-filled pantry for you to work your way through.

If you’re visiting the French alpine village of Megève, there’s no better place to stay than this stunning chalet at the foot of Mont Blanc. Timber-clad rooms, a spa and a swimming pool are some of the main draws, but it’s Les Grands Crus de Fondues restaurant that will make your stay unforgettable. Here, you can design your own fondue, choosing from a variety of French and Swiss fromages, with the help of a cheese expert. There’s one more restaurant, Le M Restaurant, whose menu has been curated by acclaimed chef Édouard Loubet, so you’ll never run out of food options here.

Storfjord Hotel sits on a hill above the village of Ovre Glomset in Norway, overlooking the Storfjorden fjord and the Sunnmore Alps. Alongside splendid views marked by towering peaks and glistening lakes, the hotel offers plenty of opportunities for a sumptuous feast. Pop by the restaurant for fine Norwegian dishes made with local ingredients – there’s a great variety of exquisite Norwegian cheeses to try – and the locally brewed ale Storfjordbrygg. Or you can visit the local fjord farm and catch your own fish, to be served at the dinner table.

If you like dinner settings that look as if they’re straight out of Arabian Nights, then this hotel is perfect for you. Think picnics in palm groves, lunch next to a secret lake, or candlelit dinners atop a dune in the Sahara. Meals are curated from 450 gourmet recipes created by a team of distinguished chefs, with each dish telling a unique story. Kick back in Berber cushions and tuck into refreshing Moroccan salads and savoury chicken skewers.

Baros Maldives isn’t short of idyllic dining settings. Make the most of the dreamy landscape by having dinner on a secluded sandbank just off the turquoise lagoon. You’ll be brought here by boat and greeted with a glass of champagne, before diving into fresh seafood as the sun goes down. You can also try reef fish and prawns seasoned with Thai flavours on a deck floating in the middle of the lagoon, or enjoy breakfast in your waterfront villa.

Vegetarians will love the first plant-based restaurant in Sydney, found in the Ovolo Woolloomooloo hotel. Alibi was opened in March 2018 by chef Matthew Kenney, serving a wide range of delectable vegetarian and vegan dishes and desserts, such as kimchi dumplings with sesame and ginger, heirloom tomato and courgette lasagna with pistachio pesto and hibiscus strawberry cheesecake. Don’t miss the Enchanted Forest cocktail – the recipe, which involves an infusion of fresh portobello mushrooms and absinthe foam made from green apples, took the bar team eight months to complete. In-room dining is also possible at the hotel, combined with unparalleled skyline vistas.