Relais & Châteaux is an exclusive collection of 500 of the finest charming hotels and gourmet restaurants in 60 countries. From the vineyards in Napa valley to the beaches in Bali, from the olive trees in Provence to the lodges in South Africa, Relais & Châteaux offers all the stops on the finest route for discovering each special place and country.
In all our properties, each maître de maison draws upon his unique experience and passion to share the authentic culture and tastes of his region with every guest.
Magical places and memories of a lifetime: whether it be a romantic weekend or to celebrate the important moments of life such as birthdays, anniversaries, honeymoon or family reunions.
Established in France more than 50 years ago, Relais & Châteaux has become a renowned reference of excellence in the hotel and restaurant world. The Association's mission is to spread its unique art de vivre across the globe by selecting outstanding properties with a truly unique character.
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel on the seafront
Born from a love story in the early 1960s, Il Pellicano is one of the most romantic hideaways in the world. Cocooned by the beauty of nature, it lies tucked away between the blue sea and the lush Mediterranean vegetation on the Argentario coast of Tuscany. The French poet Charles Baudelaire’s words “There all is harmony and beauty, luxury, calm and delight” will gain new meaning at this secluded resort, with its heated salt-water pool overlooking the sea, private beach, panoramic terraces, tennis court, gym and wellness centre. The décor is elegant but understated and guests can choose between fine dining at the acclaimed Il Pellicano restaurant or a more casual meal at the Pelligrill. Attention to detail and impeccable service delivered with a warm smile are the hallmark of the hotel, and will make you feel like being at home, away from home.
This 19th-century palace, just a stone's throw from Boboli Gardens, offers the opportunity to embark on a journey into the heart of neoclassical Florence. Step inside and you will find a profusion of architectural treasures: the Mirrors Room, reputed to be the finest ballroom in Florence, the Moorish Room with its magnificent Oriental touches, and the Faïence Room which is home today to the Long bar. The two restaurants, housed in the bright winter garden and in the former cellars, serve stylish cuisine, a blend of tradition with contemporary influences, in a décor that pays homage to Isma’il Pasha, the Khedive of Egypt, historically a guest at the Villa. After a day spent exploring the town, the spa and pool, with their views over the magnificent grounds, offer a haven of peace and tranquility.
La Posta Vecchia, exclusive and immaculately preserved, a peaceful and unexpected hideaway, is located just outside Rome, at the end of a long tree-lined driveway – it is set amidst luxuriant green gardens and is alive with birdsong. The view that meets you is truly breath-taking: the ochre hues of the towers and, next to them, the splendours of Castello Odescalchi. The residence, which previously belonged to J.P. Getty, is packed with works of art, unique items from his private collection, such as Carrara marble bath tubs, Renaissance furniture and Gobelins tapestries. A dinner on the restaurant terrace overlooking the sea, a dip in the heated pool, a relaxing treatment in the Health & Beauty Centre. That just about sums up your day at La Posta Vecchia.
The former Ciofi Jacometti Palace in the heart of Florence, restored in a manner that faithfully respects its architecture and original frescoes, is home to the Relais Santa Croce. It is an ideal setting, both charming and intimate, just a stone’s throw from the city’s main attractions. The magnificent rooms and suites with views of the rooftops and Basilica combine period furniture with contemporary design, elegant details and a sumptuous finish. The attentive, impeccable service gives the impression of being welcomed into a private residence. The restaurant Guelfi e Ghibellini offers a seasonal menu that skilfully combines tradition and innovation.
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in a village
On the stunning headland where the gulf of Naples meets the gulf of Salerno, Grand Chef Alfonso Iaccarino creates dishes that reflect his love for this slice of Italy dotted with lemon groves, vineyards and olive trees. Using fresh produce from his own farm, La Peracciole, Iaccarino creates deceptively simple Mediterranean marvels, such as swordfish with chickpeas and thyme, goatfish with rosemary and cucumber, and pasta with cockles and courgettes. His wife and two sons give a family touch to the ambience and the combination of exceptional produce, warm hospitality and Iaccarino’s skill make this restaurant stand out.
In the heart of the Gran Paradiso National Park, a wide range of sports activities and excursions through breathtaking landscapes are an invitation to push open the wooden door of the Hotel Bellevue. Discover an authentic mountain property renowned for its cuisine inspired by the aromas of the kitchen garden. The completely new fitness centre encompasses caves, waterfalls and ancient chalets and offers different treatment baths made of local hay, milk, mountain honey and even wine. Traditional methods are revisited, between massages and cleansing immersions in the purifying valley water. The hotel interior is replete with antique furniture, objets d’art and paintings: a real museum of popular art.
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in the country
Press a button and, like magic, the ceiling of your room retracts allowing you to gaze at the stars from the comfort of your bed. This is just one of the many enchanting features which delight guests staying at this former manor tucked away in 100 year-old gardens in the heart of the Franciacorta vines. You can combine the delightful creations of Grand Chef Gualtiero Marchesi, the father of modern Italian cuisine, with relaxation at the Henri Chenot Spa.
Located at the centre of the Italian “boot”, the Borgo San Felice combines all of the pleasures of la dolce vita. The property is made up of an entire medieval hamlet including its old chapel, large pool, cellars and the Chianti vineyard surrounding it. Infinite pleasures can be discovered through the authentic Mediterranean cuisine and exceptional wine cellar, as well as in the wellness centre. A delightful bike excursion to explore the surrounding area will enhance the enjoyment of an unforgettable stay in this medieval hamlet. Amongst other things, the beauty of the picturesque villages of Chianti, just a few kilometres away, will guarantee an eternal attachment to this property and this region of Italy which is overflowing with light and magic.
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux in the country
Grand Chef Gaetano Trovato trained with the very best chefs in Europe and has returned to his native Tuscany to prepare cuisine using organic produce, imbuing the authentic flavours of the Crete Senesi with a contemporary spirit. “Territory and Quest” and “Contemporary Moments” are two seasonal menu suggestions. The menu features fresh pasta of the day, milk-fed veal and other products from animals raised in the hills of Siena, as well as langoustines, prawns and fish from the Tyrrhenian coast, followed by the “Grande Dessert”, which is a feast for the eyes and the palate. Expert sommelier Giovanni Trovato will guide you through a wine list featuring six hundred vintages from Tuscany and further afield.
In the heart of the Piedmont vineyards and the white truffle region, this former monastery was transformed into the Relais San Maurizio, a place dedicated to the wellness of body and soul. The spa, La Via del Sale, offers thalassotherapy in the heart of the vineyards, in the former salt cave. Treatments skillfully combine cutting-edge medical knowledge with water and salt-based products. The restaurant, Guido da Costigliole, has been the undisputed benchmark for fine dining in the region for more than fifty years.
Norcia, the town of St. Benedict, nestling in the National Park of Sibillini Mountains, is the Italian capital of the black truffle. This palazzo tells the story of this region from the 16th century onwards and has a 160 year-old tradition of hospitality. Umbrian artisans have created perfect harmony between colours and lights, tradition and design. The fragrances of the herb garden and the quality of the local products delight in the restaurant, Vespasia.
Amongst the vineyards and olive trees that surround the small Etruscan city of Cortona, this superb 17th century family residence of Silvia and Riccardo Baracchi is a delight. The rooms, located all around the estate, reflect the elegant simplicity of the most authentic Tuscany. In the former lemon tree greenhouse, with its terrace extension surrounded by fragrant rose bushes, enjoy a superb view of the countryside. A sophisticated restaurant serves sunny cuisine, closely associated with the region’s fragrances and flavours. The Thesan Etruscan Spa offers intimacy, relaxation and well-being, with luxurious and exclusive treatments and rituals. You will discover the cellar and great wines and will attend a cookery course that Silvia will organize. Their invitation to share the magic and culture of their region will make your stay unforgettable.
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux in town
Grand Chef Annie Féolde cooks innovative Italian cuisine, drawing heavily on local products. Great wines chosen by sommelier Giorgio Pinchiorri, her life companion for the past forty years, enhance her creative, fine cuisine. Enoteca is wonderfully situated in a Renaissance palazzo in Florence, which is also home to the hotel Relais Santa Croce. The menu features turbot in a potatoes and sage crust, with string beans and lard from Colonnata; risotto with melted onions, capers from Pantelleria and Taleggio cheese fondue; roasted duck with Belgian salad and mint, candied apricots; around strawberries: cardamom custard and sesame biscuit, cream ice-cream and marinated strawberries. There is an unmistakable touch of modernism at this delightful restaurant.
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in the mountains
San Cassiano enjoys a stunning location in the heart of the Dolomites and is one of the finest winter resorts and an immaculately preserved natural paradise. It is the ideal summer destination for families who want to take a break and enjoy sport, and is also the perfect spot for a romantic honeymoon. The wide range of treatments offered by the Beauty Spa reinvigorate both your body and your mind. Lovers of fine dining will delight in the superb dishes created by Grand Chef Norbert Niederkofler who adds a touch of joie de vivre, love of cooking and passion for local ingredients. Not to be missed: the Wine Bar & Grill restaurant and its contemporary buzz. It serves specialities from the grill and home-made pasta.
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in a village
Located on the magical island of Ischia, in the village of Casamicciola, the Terme Manzi Hotel & Spa is an architectural gem built in the 19th century. This elegant and sophisticated palace, with its beautiful furnishings and décor, is where the mind and body become one to embrace the warm thermal waters of the Gurgitello Spring, well-known since antiquity for their regenerating, healing and therapeutic properties. They best combine with the fabulous qualities of organic volcanic clay for a revitalizing synthesis, the mud therapy. At all three restaurants, Grand Chef Nino Di Costanzo chooses from the genuine ingredients that the Ischian sea and countryside have to offer, creating dishes that bring together the great Mediterranean tradition with new Italian culinary creativity, and will take you on a journey to discover the “emotional cuisine”.
The hotel, perched on a cliff over the sea in a breathtaking position in Capri, offers from everywhere one of the most beautiful views in the world. Once a summer house of a Russian Prince, it is now a boutique hotel with an exquisite décor much loved by King Farouk of Egypt who was booking his suite for the year. Here you can enjoy the stunning infinity pool overlooking the Bay of Naples, the flavors of the restaurant with one of the best views on the island, the piano on the terrace at sunset and the wonderful gardens. Feel welcome to the land of Aesthetes and start discovering the blue legend of Capri!
In this fine house overlooking Lake Maggiore, since 1850 the tradition of hospitality has been handed down from one generation to the next. Over the decades, the family inn has grown in size and the coaching inn, once popular with walkers and Sunday trippers, has now become a successful restaurant. Today it serves a colourful cuisine which boldly combines regional tradition with a modern twist. Pride of place is given to fish from the lake which is served with wines carefully selected from the restaurant’s well-stocked cellars. The hotel has been refurbished but has retained every inch of its gentle charm – rooms elegantly decorated in the style of the surrounding houses, a romantic view of the lake and a gloriously sunny location from which the place takes its name.
This former 17th century oil mill, at the foot of the green hills of Forte dei Marmi, close to the golden beaches of the Versilia, has become a sophisticated country inn. Its elegant suites are the perfect place if you want to stop and enjoy the nightlife and shopping at Forte dei Marmi, a Tuscan resort that was once the haunt of artists such as Botero, Mitoraj, Yasuda Kan, Javier Marin. A magnificent dining room is organised around a central pool and surrounded by works of art and a unique collection of furniture and pictures. The cuisine is subtly Mediterranean blending sun-drenched fragrances of the mountain with flavours of the sea. The treasures of the wine cellar and the collection of grappas are further reasons to visit the magical and fascinating world of Il Bottaccio.
Tiny traditional stone houses, tucked away in five hectares of forest, in the shade of juniper bushes and holm oaks, have been converted into sophisticated rooms where you can while away your time in peace and quiet. The architecture is a blend of rustic elegance, and draws its inspiration from local natural materials such as rough-hewn stone and timber. The air is fragrant with the scents of the garrigue, and there are delightful views to be enjoyed over the Gulf of Arzachena and the Archipelago of La Maddalena. The wellness centre, housed in natural granite grottos, offers a whole range of treatments specialising in Oriental techniques. One attraction is the superbly light and appetising, Italian regional cuisine served in the restaurant. Unless lunch on board a boat on a private excursion exercises an even greater attraction. The beaches and clear waters of the Costa Smeralda are only minutes away, as is the picturesque village of San Pantaleo.
