Bas Rupts et Chalet Fleuri - France, Gérardmer
Hotel and restaurant in the mountains
Five generations of hoteliers, with a sixth on the way, have managed this property. The interior design is mountain-inspired without being rustic, and luxurious but not over-done. The owners Michel Philippe, his daughter Sylvie and son-in-law Ghislain expertly planned this décor and created a beautiful, luxurious chalet. With the comfy chairs and coordinating light wood, they have succeeded in creating an exceptional ambiance located just at the bottom of the ski trails. It is a pleasure to take off your skis and enjoy this alpine retreat. ...Read more

Château de La Chèvre d’Or - France, Eze-Village
Hotel and restaurant in a village
This château, with its breath-taking vantage point over the Mediterranean, has plenty of relaxing activities in store: swimming in the pool, fragrant gardens, Indian massages and tennis. The charming rooms are all different. The great classics of French gastronomy as well as Mediterranean specialties can be savoured in one of the hotel’s four restaurants, where the pleasure derived from the fine cuisine is enhanced by the stunning views. After the meal, you can stroll through the cobblestone streets of the medieval cliff-side village overlooking the grandiose panorama of the sea. ...Read more

Château Cordeillan-Bages - France, Pauillac
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in a vineyard
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. ...Read more

Gary Danko - United States, San Francisco
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux in town
The cuisine of Gary Danko, the ambassador of contemporary American fine dining, draws on culinary traditions from around the world. Using seasonings from Asia and India, he adds a pinch of audacity to his French-style precision and technique. The results are sublime. The buckwheat blini with smoked salmon, Kendall Farms crème fraîche and Black Sea Osetra caviar is one of many highlights. Danko only uses what’s in season. In the spring, sea scallops are served with asparagus-pea purée, and in the winter, they are paired with butternut squash purée and caramelized apples. The atmosphere is intimate and welcoming, modern paintings stand out against taupe walls, in the heart of one of San Francisco’s trendiest districts. ...Read more

The French Laundry - United States, Yountville
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux in the country
Grand Chef Thomas Keller’s technique has become so famous that Pixar studios called upon his expertise when making the film “Ratatouille”. The revised ratatouille served at the end of the film is Keller’s invention. At the heart of Napa Valley, this chef, whose restaurant Per Se is among New York’s top culinary landmarks, has created one of the best restaurants in California. Working closely with fellow Grand Chef Timothy Hollingsworth, and the best producers in the region, Keller and his team concoct minimalist dishes. Products such as oysters and truffles are savoured in “sequenced meals” where in order to maximise surprises, no single ingredient is ever repeated in a meal. There is a new menu every day and the herbs and vegetables come straight from the kitchen garden. ...Read more

Hostellerie de Levernois - France, Levernois/Beaune
Hotel and restaurant in a vineyard
On the banks of the river Bouzaize sits a large white house with an elegant French-style garden and a majestic park with century-old trees. Susanne and Jean-Louis Bottigliero, the owners of this property, have turned it into a truly charming haven that skilfully blends tradition and modernity. In the ancient kitchen there is a double-hearth chimney that dates back to 1750. Le Bistrot du Bord de l’Eau produces simple, delicious dishes and the Gourmet Restaurant serves traditional dishes with a modern flair. ...Read more

L’Oasis - France, La Napoule
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux in a village
In the shade of the patio, surrounded by palm trees and other exotic flowers, this lush green oasis is the setting for the renowned cuisine of the Raimbault brothers. Depending on what catches their eye at the Forville market in Cannes, Grands Chefs Stéphane and Antoine put together a menu that is at once contemporary, Provencal and Asian, featuring “Lime-Infused Soufflé of Locally Caught Sea Urchins” and “Soleil Levant of Raw Fish”. But it is their brother François, the patissier in the family, who adds the finishing touches to this magical symphony with his renowned “Caravan of Desserts”. ...Read more

La Bastide Saint-Antoine - France, Grasse
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in the country
In the heart of a five hectare olive grove, an 18th century residence, La Bastide Saint-Antoine, awaits. The rooms are either Provencal or contemporary style and the gourmet restaurant has a wide, intimate and shady terrace overlooking the Cannes bay. Grand Chef Jacques Chibois creates light and elegant cuisine to awaken the senses, working alchemy with flavours under 1,000 year-old olive trees. On the programme: wandering in the grounds, discovery of the botanical garden, reading, petanque and relaxation in the jacuzzi by the swimming pool. Discover different themed stays: oenology, an initiation to perfume creation, or the École du Goût, a culinary and aromatic tasting school. Fall in love with Provence at this warm, welcoming address imbued with the personal passion of Jacques Chibois. ...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

Troisgros - France, Roanne
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in town
“Our profession entails the permanent quest for the finest products. The extraordinary nature of a dish comes down to so few things.” When Michel Troisgros removes his chef’s hat for a few seconds, to talk about cuisine, people listen attentively. This Grand Chef has established his own name with his very pure cuisine. He says he drew inspiration from both Italy and Japan: “I had the great fortune to travel at a very young age, when impressions are the most vivid, and I only had a somewhat vague idea about what my cuisine would turn out to be.” Marie-Pierre attends to the details of the minimalist décor of this beautiful mythical residence with a contemporary spirit. ...Read more