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.
1 gastronomic lunch for 2 persons (drinks included)
or 1 gastronomic dinner for 2 persons (drinks included)
Restaurant Christopher Coutanceau
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux on the seafront (La Rochelle) Concurrence beach stretches out at the foot of this veritable beacon of gastronomy in the Charente. Nothing is left to chance here. Just imagine a truly exceptional moment, where time stands still, and where your pleasure comes first. The clocks have stopped on this Relais & Châteaux Route du Bonheur letting you share a memorable experience. Today Christopher, the son, is in sole command. He has been strongly influenced by his father's legendary culinary rigour on which he puts his own personal stamp. However, the “hallmark signature” of the restaurant has not changed: superb seafood, sourced that very morning at the harbour market, creativity and passion for fine dining. Dare to ask for the secret behind that Breton lobster stew in shellfish butter, or for tips on how to recreate in your own home a crispy line-caught sea bass in a shellfish foam. Added to that there is a cellar with more than one thousand different labels and 20,000 bottles.
Bras - Sébastien et Michel
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in the country (Laguiole) After he has been at the helm of the Suquet since 2009, Sébastien Bras has been carving out his own path on the plateau d’Aubrac, following in the footsteps of his father. And while that well-trodden path is there for all to enjoy, his precise and inventive cuisine is punctuated by the excitement of the moment. We are humbly presented with the plant world in all its many-splendoured glory, subtle pairings are playfully explored, in a cuisine that reflects every nuance of flavour of this living world. Here, on the plateau d’Aubrac, life moves apace with nature. If a menu is faithfully to reflect the local area day by day, then nature has to be at its very core.
Michel Trama
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in a village (Puymirol) Contemporary interior designer Jacques Garcia has worked wonders with the décor of this 13th century building, that was once home to the Counts of Toulouse. The mood is theatrical and luxurious. Sofas with feet that look like lion paws sit beside velvety wall hangings. There is a touch of the artist Jean Cocteau here too, with an avant-garde chandelier that appears out of a wall. Your itinerary should include visiting the region which is one of the most beautiful parts of France, and sampling the recipes dreamt up by the Grand Chef Michel Trama, notably his potato papillote and lobster lasagne, a few reasons the restaurant is not to be missed.
Château Cordeillan-Bages
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in a vineyard (Pauillac) This 17th century former Carthusian monastery is a prime location for relaxation and an awakening of the senses. In the restaurant, Grand Chef Jean-Luc Rocha works with style and subtlety. His contemporary and sophisticated cuisine – pain perdu with seaweed and thin cuttlefish strips, baby lamb in citrus dressing with fava beans and creamy peas – makes every meal a surprising experience. The menu, inspired by the great tradition of French cuisine, is enhanced by the best wines from Bordeaux and elsewhere. Located amongst the vineyards, this contemporary hotel offers the ideal combination for a comfortable, relaxed and revitalizing stay. In partnership with wine experts Château Lynch-Bages, Cordeillan-Bages proposes an epicurean itinerary through the universe of wine and cuisine.
Hostellerie de Plaisance
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in a village (Saint-Emilion) Wine enthusiasts will instantly recognise the name Saint-Émilion as one of the principal appellations of Bordeaux. The village itself is a gem, one of the most delightful spots in France. Savour some great wines at the Hostellerie de Plaisance, where hosts Chantal and Gérard Perse warmly welcome guests to their elegant but relaxed retreat with stunning views of the vineyards as well as the medieval village, a Unesco World Heritage site. The interiors are an excellent blend of sophistication and comfort. At the restaurant be spoiled by the cuisine of Grand Chef Philippe Etchebest, who draws inspiration from the fresh food markets, treasures of local farmers and rhythms of the seasons to develop his menus.
Lys offer valid in low season from 1 November to 31 March – except for mountain properties: from 1 May to 30 November
Le Saint-James
Restaurant and hotel and restaurant in a village (Bouliac) In the heart of Bouliac, a pretty little village on a hill overlooking Bordeaux and its river, Le Saint-James is located in the contemporary buildings designed in 1989 by the famous architect Jean Nouvel, surrounded by a park full of trees and a fragrant garden of citrus trees and ancient roses. Inspired by the old tobacco drying lofts, four pavilions, linked by an open gallery, create a pure space, with the lights of Bordeaux illuminating the landscape at night. Far away, you can see the Landes of Gascogne forest, the biggest marine pine ensemble in Europe. A few houses away, Le Café de l’Espérance proposes bistro cuisine that in summer is served under the gazebo. The property offers the possibility to attend cooking classes at the Côté Cours cooking school.
Relais de la Poste
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in a village (Magescq) This 19th century mansion combines all that is great about the southwest of France and the Landes, the country of wide open spaces. The scent of the sea pines drifts over those relaxing by the swimming pool or on the white sandy beaches, only a few kilometres away. Grand Chef Jean Coussau concocts gourmet recipes originating from the region with its wealth of exceptional products, like wild Adour salmon, hot duck foie gras with grapes or sand asparagus from the Landes.
Les Prés d’Eugénie - Michel Guérard
Hotel in the country and restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux (Eugénie-les-Bains) A small country palace, a romantic haven, a feast for the senses, for pampering your body and letting your mind wander. This family home is an invitation to happiness. Fairytale gardens, aristocratic abode and symphonic cuisine. A musical quartet, where herb and ancient rose gardens line the pathway to a stunning spa, La Ferme Thermale®. In the kitchen, Michel Guérard creates celestial marvels. Everywhere else, Christine casts her poetic touch.
Les Pyrénées
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in a village (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port) The ocean’s only rival here is the mountain. Between these two worlds lies Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, a village with eternal charm, its old buildings perched on the banks of the river Nive. Charles II of Navarre called it “the key to my kingdom”. It is here that Anne-Marie and Firmin Arrambide, the chef whom you will probably run into at the market, have turned a former stagecoach lodge with arched doorways made from sandstone dating back to 1729 into a place of total relaxation. Their son Philippe works in the kitchen and their daughter Sandrine is also part of the team who create an extraordinary culinary and sensory experience in a delightful family atmosphere.
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux on the seafront (La Rochelle)
