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.
In honor of its French roots and expansion to America, select North American Relais & Châteaux hotels are celebrating Independence Day, Bastille Day and Canada Day during July with special packages and gourmet offerings. A round up of these packages is listed below. For additional information, reservations and restrictions about these and other Relais & Châteaux offers, please contact 1-800-735-2478.
Long touted as one of Napa’s best French inspired culinary destinations, Auberge du Soleil is offering the French-American Culinary Escape, from July 4–14. Guests will be enticed with the cuisine of Chef Robert Curry and the pairings of Opus One – the joint venture of Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton Rothschild. The package, from $1,237 per couple, includes one night stay in a Main House Hilltop View room; in-room wine amenity; breakfast for two; four–course dinner with paired wines featuring Opus One, Bollinger champagne greeting (taxes and gratuities included).
The celebration starts with your private French/American gourmet picnic to enjoy at Carmel Beach, or perhaps Big Sur, and continues with a fabulous dinner for two at award-winning Aubergine Restaurant. The Create the Fireworks Package includes one night’s deluxe accommodations for two; a $250 dinner credit at Aubergine restaurant; a gourmet picnic basket for two complete with a blanket and split of wine; two 60-minute in-room massages or golf for two at Quail Lodge; special holiday treats at turndown and a L’Auberge breakfast for two. Package starts at $1,159 per night and is available from July 1-29, Sunday through Thursday.
A festive barbeque will be held on the 4th of July; and from July 4–14, guests can enjoy free admission to Hildene, home of the Lincoln family. A French gourmet picnic basket, filled with French brie, baguette, grapes, pastries and a bottle of Chateaux Valcombe Rosé wine can be prepared for the visit. Room rates start at $215 per room per night, including breakfast; picnic basket is $55.
For Bastille Day, a French Culinary Package is available July 13-14 or July 14-15. It includes two nights lodging; a French tasting menu with wine pairing on the 14th; a garden tour with Chef Gill and a French-inspired present upon departure. Rates begin at $691 per package.
White Barn Inn (Kennebunk Beach, Maine)
Festivities begin on July 4th with a barbeque on the beach prior to the fireworks. From July 4-14, French-inspired pastries will be served with afternoon tea. On July 14th, diners can enjoy a selection of reserve French wines paired to accompany a four-course dinner as a tribute to Bastille Day and French winemakers. A French-inspired after dinner drink will follow. Total cost of dinner plus reserve pairing is $193 per person (excluding tax and gratuity).
The town of Milford has an interesting connection to France and guests can learn about it with the Discover Milford’s French History package from July 4-14. The package includes two nights stay; two glasses of wine and typical French pastries upon arrival; continental breakfast each morning; a three-course French themed dinner for two; and a trail walk to learn about the French influence in Milford. Superior room: weekday: $550.00; weekend $700.00; deluxe room: weekday: $650.00; weekend $800.00; premium room: weekday: $700.00; weekend $850.00. A three-course prix fixe Storm the Bastille Dinner will also be offered to celebrate Bastille Day on July 14.
On Saturday, July 10, the hotel will present the third installment of their “Historical Poison Dining Series.” The Bastille Day Wine Tasting Buffet will reflect on the role that poison has played in politics and power throughout history. Specialty dishes, wine and champagne will be featured that celebrate the flavors of the Mediterranean in honor of France’s independence. Cost is $75 per person.
From July 4-14, guests of Blantyre will enjoy a complimentary gourmet lunch on the terrace of “The Mount,” the historic home of Edith Wharton, just a stone’s throw from Blantyre.
The Heritage Celebration package, offered from July 1-14, includes a special Relais & Châteaux welcome of a deluxe plate inspired by the colors of the Canadian, United States and French flags and two complimentary passes to the magnificent Tofino Botanical Gardens.
Rates start at $380 per night for new reservations only, based on availability.
From July 1-14, guests of Wedgewood will receive complimentary express-entry admission tickets to see the Vancouver Art Gallery’s exhibit, “The Modern Woman: Drawings by Degas, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and other Masterpieces from the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.” Room rates start at $198 and are subject to availability. Gallery tickets will be available by request upon arrival.
For Bastille Day, celebrate the gastronomique culture of France and the French Canadians of Quebec. Chef Scott Johnson will feature unique twists on French classics, some handed down from his Quebecoise grandmother. In addition, non-pasteurized cheeses, made in the French style in New Brunswick at the La Bergerie aux 4 Vents, will be featured in a special July 14 dinner tasting for hotel guests. There is no additional charge for the Bastille Day dinner for guests of the hotel.
Blantyre - United States, Lenox
Restaurant and hotel in the country Blantyre is a beautiful country house built amidst 46 hectares of lawn and woodlands, ideally located halfway between Boston and New York City. The Main House, Carriage House and three cottages are reminiscent of a gentler time of elegance and romance. Built in 1902, this stately mock-Tudor house boasts sumptuous guestrooms, an exceptional wine cellar, renowned cuisine and a delicious hot chocolate menu. The spa is connected to the Carriage House, a few minutes walk from the Main House. This enchanting resort has activities galore, with tennis and croquet in the summer. When the seasons change, the property transforms into a romantic winter wonderland, with ice skating, snowshoeing, sleigh riding and a 34m high Christmas tree. ...Read more
Kingsbrae Arms - Canada, St Andrews
Hotel and restaurant on the seafront New Brunswick is one of the most beautiful parts of Canada and is famous for its constantly changing beaches, and coast inhabited by whales. On the heights of St Andrews, on the Bay of Fundy, which boasts the world’s highest tides, overlooking the little harbour, stands a private, romantic country house built in 1897. The house has been decorated in polished wood and marble and features period fireplaces and four-poster beds. Each evening, the classically trained French chef prepares fresh fish from the Bay of Fundy with organically grown produce from the kitchen garden. Next door, discover the famous 11 hectare Kingsbrae Garden, which is home to a dizzying array of horticultural treasures. ...Read more
Auberge du Soleil - United States, Rutherford
Hotel and restaurant in a vineyard Between the Cabernet-sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay vines of Napa Valley, the French restaurateur Claude Rouas and his partner Robert Harmon have created an elegant hotel hidden amongst a grove of olive trees that evokes a love of Provence and the South of France. Stay in one of a handful of spacious “maisons” perched on the hillside overlooking the sculpture garden which features over 100 works by renowned artists. Each “maison” has a private terrace, chenille fabrics, abstract paintings and fireplaces, which create an air of romance. The Mediterranean-inspired cuisine features the very best of the region. The spa, which also draws on the land, offers treatments based on grapes, olives, herbs, flowers, mud and minerals. The 15,000 bottles in the wine cellar will transport wine connoisseurs to heaven, as they watch the sun setting on the horizon. ...Read more
The White Barn Inn and Spa - United States, Kennebunk Beach
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel on the seafront When he was a young boy, Jonathan Cartwright wanted to be a cyclist and win the Tour de France. But at the age of fifteen he discovered cooking and became more interested in wearing a white apron than the yellow jersey. These days he is a respected and dedicated Grand Chef, who has turned the White Barn Inn into a great place to eat, as well as a peaceful, elegant place to stay and relax. The restaurant is housed in an authentic New England barn dating back to the early 1800s. In the words of this passionate perfectionist “cooking requires the same determination as cycling, the same effort and the same team spirit”. Above all, Jonathan values the quality of his products and he can recount the life story of the fresh Kennebunkport lobster, star of his menu. Savour this lobster as it is, or in a bisque or cognac sauce, alongside the other creations inspired by local produce. ...Read more
Wickaninnish Inn - Canada, Tofino
Hotel and restaurant on the seafront The Wickaninnish Inn is situated on a rocky outcrop between the Pacific Ocean, Chesterman Beach, and a forest of giant evergreens. Artists, including the celebrated wood carver Henry Nolla, designed elements of its two buildings, with the aim of blending art, nature and culture. You can even meet local artists at the onsite carving shed. The rooms have fireplaces and picture windows that offer expansive views of the open coastline. After a plant or marine-based spa treatment and a spot of sea-kayaking, you can set off to see whales, sea lions or bears in and around Clayoquot Sound. ...Read more
L’Auberge Carmel - United States, Carmel
Hotel and restaurant in town It was in front of the stunning scenery of Big Sur that Henry Miller said he learnt to pray. The little village of artists, Carmel-by-the-Sea, is the ideal base to marvel at these immense cliffs that seem to plunge down into the ocean. Halfway between San Francisco and the coast of Santa Barbara, inhabited by seals, whales and other marine mammals, Carmel – where Clint Eastwood was once mayor – will charm you with its many art galleries and pebble beaches. This romantic hotel was built in 1929 and is ideally located in the heart of the village, and a pleasant short walk away from the famous Carmel Beach. Interior designer Kathleen Fink has decorated the hotel with the most beautiful antiques and fabrics from Europe. Delicious cuisine, a wine cellar with over 4,500 bottles and the superb massages will give this address a special place in your heart. ...Read more
Wedgewood Hotel & Spa - Canada, Vancouver
Hotel and restaurant in town Located on fashionable Robson Square, the Wedgewood is a superb address displaying all the elegance of Old Europe, right in the heart of the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver. The guest rooms and suites provide every modern comfort, alongside antiques and original works of art, while the restaurant, dedicated to Bacchus, serves inventive, epicurean cuisine. The lounge is the epitome of understated luxury, featuring stylish furniture, rich fabrics and original fireplaces. Every member of staff, from the team at the wellness-center to the chef in the restaurant, strives for perfection. ...Read more
Hotel Fauchère - United States, Milford
Hotel and restaurant in a village Louis Fauchère was master chef at the Delmonico's, one of the most famous restaurants in New-York, when, in the 19th century, he founded his eponymous hotel in the charming town of Milford. He was a French-speaking Swiss-born man who imprinted it with a stamp of Europe and a spirit which its new owners have endeavoured to revive. Its elegant and welcoming décor is enhanced by a fine collection of paintings by artists of the Hudson River School, and the two restaurants maintain Hotel Fauchère’s reputation for providing gourmet cuisine. The Delmonico Room serves the nec plus ultra of fine dining, serves creative traditional cuisine, while the more casual and ultra-modern ambiance of Bar Louis attracts a lively lunch and dinner crowd. ...Read more
Windham Hill Inn - United States, West Townshend
Hotel and restaurant on a river Stroll amongst the pine and maple trees, watch the fireflies when night falls in the prairies of Vermont, admire the star-filled skies in the moonlight. Welcome to Windham Hill, a romantic place where the summer nights offer up a magical spectacle and autumn reveals all the glorious colours of nature. At the end of a country road, in the heart of 160 hectares of unspoilt nature, this elegant inn has exceptional views of the green mountains and a luxurious, meticulously tended flower garden. The elegant rooms and suites provide a haven of peace and the cuisine showcases seasonal produce from the garden that is sure to delight the most discerning of gourmets. ...Read more
Hôtel St Germain - United States, Dallas
Hotel and restaurant in town Built as a private residence for a prominent local family in 1900 and recently classified as a historical landmark, Hôtel St Germain has the sumptuous allure of a French hotel particulier, with exceptional old world service, thoroughly modern amenities and memorable fine dining. Graceful interiors evoke the haunting, exotic beauty of xixth century New Orleans. The grand dining room is adorned with a 200-year-old Aubusson tapestry. Truly a cosmopolitan retreat, Hotel St Germain is merely steps away from the bustle of the Dallas Centre for the Performing Arts, the Winspear Opera House and Meyerson Symphony Centre. A true European urban sanctuary, this is a unique destination where fine dining and the art of gracious living are celebrated and are a personal reflection of the proprietors’ French heritage. ...Read more
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel on the seafront
