45 new properties in the 2012 Guide
A longing for the Deep Blue Sea
Anne de Bretagne (France): the bracing air of the Jade coast at a contemporary villa and lookout post over the sea
Bellevue Syrene 1820 (Italy): the Gulf of Naples on the horizon and the Italian jet set in Sorrento
La Peschiera (Italy): a former Bourbon fishery and now the an ultimate resort for lounging seaside on the Adriatic coast
Ocean House (USA): the New England seashore at the foot of this magnificent Victorian mansion in Rhode Island
Wanakarn Beach Resort & Spa (Thailand): near Phuket, in one of the fifteen villas on the beach
Huka Lodge (New Zealand): on the banks of the Waikato River just upstream from the mighty Huka falls, far away from it all
Saffire (Australia): in the middle of Freycinet National Park in Tasmania, on the shores where migrating whales and dolphins come to play
Qualia, Great Barrier Reef (Australia): pavilions of wine maker and sailing enthusiast Bob Oatley on Hamilton Island overlooking the Coral Sea
A quest for fine cuisine
Fine cuisine is an obligatory component of the soul and the spirit of the Association, in both its stand-alone restaurants as well as all its hotels. The 2012 Guide includes 14 new Grands Chefs Relais & Châteaux, the elite of this international fellowship of talented chefs. They all, each in their own, individual way, contribute their contemporary signature to the realm fine cuisine.
Kashiwaya Restaurant (Japan): in the purest Japanese culinary tradition in Osaka.
Le Moût Restaurant (Taiwan): dishes which inventively combine French expertise and the flavours of Asia.
Del Posto Restaurant (USA): at the heart of New York City with classical Italian dishes revisited at in a contemporary palazzo of mahogany and marble
Marea Restaurant (USA): on Manhattan’s Central Park South, Italian dishes inspired by the sea
De Lindenhof (Nertherlands): a magical, almost fairy-tale break, reflected as much in the décor as in the dishes
Chalet de la Forêt Restaurant (Belgium): on the edge of forest on the outskirts of Brussels
Restaurant Guy Lassausaie (France): at the gateway to the Beaujolais region
Restaurant Andrew Fairlie (Great Britain): in Scotland in a theatrical setting
Maison Decoret (France): with inventiveness at the fore; in Vichy in a Napoleon III brick chalet
Ramon Freixa Madrid Restaurant (Spain): superb Mediterranean cuisine, in the Spanish capital
Villa Crespi (Italy): a spectacular Moorish villa on Lake Orta
Hotel Restaurant Spa Rosengarten (Austria): with influences from the Orient, in the heart of the Austrian Alps
Restaurant Europea (Canada): all-defying experimentation with the local terroir in Montreal
Combal.Zero restaurant (Italy): cuisine as an artistic expression at the Rivoli Museum of Modern Art, near Turin
A search for solace in nature: wide open spaces and tranquillity
La Bastide (France): in Gascony, at an 18th century charterhouse, with hundred-year-old plane trees in a mock Italian palazzo
Hôtel Au Cœur du Village (France): in the heart of Les Aravis ski resort in La Clusaz
Castillo de Arteaga (Spain): in Urdabai natural park in a castle built at the request of Napoleon III
Ballyfin Demesne (Ireland): the quintessential Irish Regency mansion set in a wonderful garden estate
Greywalls Hotel and Chez Roux (Great Britain): in Scotland next to the Muirfield golf course
Isle of Eriska Hotel, Spa and Island (Great Britain): a 120 hectares island exmplifying the essence of the Highlands
Het Roode Koper (Netherlands): Veluwe forest in the Netherlands, at the former residence of the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies
Schlosshotel Burg Schlitz (Germany): in the former hunting grounds of one of the finest estates in the 19th century architectural style
Hastings House Country House Hotel (Canada): Head for the gardens on Salt Spring island, just across from Vancouver
Twin Farms (USA): amidst the flowers and pristine wilderness of Vermont
The Ranch at Rock Creek (USA): quintessentially the American Wild West
Awasi (Chile); set among the legendary Atacama desert of geysers, volcanoes and salt flats
Jinmai Brilliant Resort & Spa (China): in the Yunnan, set amidst the largest ancient tea garden in the world
Bettei Senjuan (Japan): views of the cherry blossoms carpeting Mount Tanigawa
A thirst for city life
Saint James Paris (France): a stone’s throw from the Champs Elysée, ‘the most beautiful avenue in the world’, in the capital’s unique château-hotel.
Hotel Le Place d’Armes (Luxembourg): in the historic centre of the town, with an astute combination of different styles
Beau-Rivage Hotel (Switzerland): views of Lake Neuchâtel in every direction
Neri Hotel & Restaurant (Spain): Barcelona from the roof terrace of the medieval palace and 18th century stone-built mansion
The Yeatman (Portugal): in Porto, imbued with the essence of its wine and local culture
The Surrey Hotel & Spa (USA): an elegantly restored Beaux-Arts townhouse on Manhattan’s Upper East Side
Algodon Mansion (Argentina): a 1920s mansion with an impressive collection of contemporary art in Buenos Aires, at the heart of its chic district, La Recoleta
JE Mansion (China): in the heart of Beijing’s commercial and business district, in a paean to Chinese tradition
Villa Samadhi (Malaysia): a haven of peace at the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s urban jungle
Whatever you may be seeking, these 45 Relais & Châteaux will amply meet travel and culinary desires of all facets, and will not be at a loss to stimulate new ones... there are still a further 473 properties to discover or re-discover. Follow the Guide.
- 45 new properties in the 2012 Guide
