We are pleased to welcome nine new hosts to our Association
The nine properties that most recently became part of the Relais & Châteaux family illustrate the Association’s extensive presence across the globe. While each of these new members unquestionably boasts its own distinctive personality, they all are united in sharing the Relais & Châteaux values and vision of hospitality. These properties are deeply dedicated to art de vivre, fine dining, and respecting cultural diversity. They represent Europe (Italy, Scotland and France), Asia and Pacific Ocean (India, Japan, French Polynesia), and South America (Argentina, Brazil).
Borgo Pignano Florence, Florence, Italy
The location is idyllic: The Montughi hill north of Florence is home to one of the most serene and tranquil spots of the Tuscan capital. Set within the walls of a former residential villa, the Relais & Châteaux Borgo Pignano Florence is on 12 acres of landscaped grounds lush with a rich variety of trees surrounding a stunning, thirty-meter swimming pool. The property, scheduled to open in 2026, has undergone a comprehensive restoration, transforming from a private villa to a high-end establishment. In the main building, the sculpted colonnades, vaulted ceilings, and impressive monumental stone staircase have been admirably preserved. The 32 guest rooms and suites feature coffered high ceilings and large picture windows framing views of the property’s garden of earthly delights and the vast heated swimming pool. These accommodations are located in the main villa and four buildings sheltered by luxuriant vegetation. For a fully private stay, families or groups of friends can reserve Villa la Sosta, with five bedrooms and a private garden with a lovely plunge pool. Though just minutes from Florence’s historic center, Borgo Pignano Florence will be an oasis of peace and serenity. It will have two restaurants, as well: Essenza, a gourmet restaurant with chef Stefano Cavallini at the helm, and a second summer-only dining venue, Cedrus, offering a relaxed, friendly atmosphere in manicured gardens.
Susana Balbo Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites, Mendoza, Argentina
The reputation of Argentinian wines is well deserved–due, in no small part, to the Mendoza region, where the desert climate at the foot of the Andes Mountains helps produce wines of exceptional quality. But it is also thanks to Susana Balbo, Argentina's first female winemaker. For more than 25 years, she has been crafting wines in her bodega in Agrelo, a renowned wine-growing region just 25 minutes from Chacras de Coria. It is in this small village just outside Mendoza that she established the Susana Balbo Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites, which she runs with her daughter, Ana. Behind the white walls of this beautiful historic house, seven suites are scattered across expansive gardens. Designed with neutral-toned materials such as stone and wood, each suite opens onto a private garden and guests are invited to relax, courtesy of a soaking tub, sensory shower, sauna and massage table. The hotel's walls are adorned with an extensive art collection, including photography of Argentinian landscapes and works by local artists. As well as massages and relaxation, guests at Susana Balbo Winemaker's House & Spa Suites can immerse themselves in the world of wine, with an introduction to wine production and guided tastings. Additionally, wine and food pairings are offered in the property’s intimate La Vida restaurant, where Chef Flavia Amad offers new and original interpretations of the region's traditional recipes.
© Susana Balbo Unique Stays
Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, Bellagio, Italy
At the tip of a peninsula that juts out into the blue waters of Lake Como, Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni occupies arguably the most beautiful location in the village of Bellagio. Its picturesque streets and fishing boats are just a stone's throw away, but this superb residence, sheltered by its vast tropical garden, is quite the haven of peace. Built in 1854, it exemplifies the refinement of the aristocratic villas that line the banks of the lake, known as the Lario. The hotel has been run for four generations by the Bucher family, who pride themselves on perpetuating the hospitality traditions associated with the era of Grand Tours in the 19th century. With decor that blends Empire, neoclassical and Liberty styles, and features such as high colonnades, ornate ceilings, gilding and precious marble, Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni offers a timeless vacation experience. This impression is felt equally in its guest rooms and suites, each one different, yet all evoking a sense of classical elegance. Stays in this prestigious locale also mean enjoying unforgettable moments at Mistral restaurant and on the Goletta terrace, where Chef Ettore Bocchia creates a menu packed full of Mediterranean flavors. For those seeking ultimate relaxation, the private beach and its new Beach Club, as well as the spa’s state-of-the-art facilities–arranged over 16,000 square feet, including a swimming pool–complete this tranquil escape.
© Courtesy of Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
The Sarvato, Jaipur, India
For nearly three centuries, the City Palace complex has stood at the heart of the ‘Pink City’: Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. The Palace, which continues to be the residence of the Royal Family of Jaipur, including Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh, includes several buildings and museum galleries open to visitors. The Sarvato restaurant occupies a prime location, with a vast terrace offering breathtaking views of Jaipur. The Sarvato is perched upon the Sarvatobhadra area of the palace, which was historically used as a private audience hall. The concept of this outdoor restaurant, only open from September to April, allows guests to appreciate the richness of local produce and the region’s traditional culinary techniques. In a magical setting worthy of the golden age of the maharajas, Chef Sonu Kumar Singh showcases a cuisine that pays tribute to tradition and the authenticity of ancestral cooking methods, reinterpreted in innovative new ways. He incorporates slow cooking over the open flame of a sigri grill, perpetuates the art of marinating and still rolls bread by hand. His six-course tasting menu is an exploration of the culinary landscape of Rajasthan. Through the ritual of sharing bread and appreciating emblematic flavors and spiced infusions, guests are invited on a culinary journey that combines dishes enjoyed by royal courts with the simple cuisine typical to more rustic communities. This gastronomic adventure can be accompanied by delicious cocktails whose names alone (such as Rajputana Reviver or Diwan-E-Khas) add to the evocative experience.
Le Tikehau, Tikehau, French Polynesia
Just a one-hour flight from Tahiti, the islands of the Tuamotu archipelago are scattered across the blue of the South Pacific. This chain of coral atolls is a paradise for diving, fishing and getting to know the Polynesian way of life, founded on harmony with nature. Here, nature feels like the origins of the world. It's that feeling of being far from everything, at the heart of pure beauty, is what guests truly appreciate when staying at Le Tikehau, the only hotel on the atoll of the same name. Nestled beside a pink sand beach that stretches along the lagoon are a handful of bungalows that appear to float above crystal-clear waters dotted with coral, plus several villas set directly on the edge of the lagoon. Located on a private islet, Motu Tianoa, just 15 minutes by boat from the village of the atoll, Le Tikehau offers quintessential Polynesian hospitality. Built from local materials, including thatched roofs, guest accommodation combines comfort, elegance and simplicity. Its overwater bungalows feature a section of glass floor, allowing guests to observe the lagoon’s marine life, while those tucked beneath the coconut trees enjoy direct access to the beach. Between diving among the coral reefs and relaxing on the sand, Polynesian specialty dishes can be enjoyed at the Poreho restaurant or experience the taurumi, an ancestral massage using tiare flowers, can be experienced in a traditional fare hut over the lagoon.
© Stéphane Mailion
Prestonfield House, Edinburgh, Scotland
The epitome of a Scottish Mansion House, Prestonfield House features a 17th-century Dutch gable façade that overlooks a beautiful 20-acre estate, where Highland cows roam freely among its ancient trees. Yet one of this property’s main attractions lies in its unique location, just a few minutes from the centre of Edinburgh, at the foot of Arthur's Seat, the famous rocky outcrop that dominates views of the Scottish capital. A true urban oasis, this hotel, built in the late 17th century by the same architect behind the nearby Palace of Holyroodhouse–King Charles III's official residence in Scotland–has passed through the hands of just three families over more than three centuries. For the past 20 years, it has been owned by James Thomson, who was fascinated by it even as a child. Respectful of the building's rich heritage, he has sought to preserve everything that gives such a historic residence its charm and authenticity. Throughout its shared spaces and guest accommodation are original design features such as ornate 17th Century Cordoba leather panels and Mortlake tapestries, antique silks and velvets, historic artwork, fireplaces and furniture, specially commissioned for the House throughout three centuries. An ideal destination for a first taste of the real Scotland, Prestonfield House invites guests to appreciate the splendour of its traditions and warmth of welcome offered to visitors for over 335 years. Highlights of a stay include an indulgent afternoon tea, an exceptional wine cellar, an outstanding collection of malt whiskies and farm-to-table cuisine created by chef John McMahon, served in the Rhubarb Restaurant.
© David Cheskin
L'Auberge de l’Ill – Hôtel des Berges & Spa, Illhaeusern, France
In Alsace, Illhaeusern is the name given to the houses that line the banks of the tranquil Ill river. Here, in the village of the same name, some 150 years ago, the Haeberlin family opened a country inn. Since the 1950s, the property has become one of France’s finest restaurants. At the helm of this iconic institution of Alsatian gastronomy, Marc Haeberlin represents the fourth generation of chefs at Relais & Châteaux L'Auberge de l’Ill – Hôtel des Berges & Spa. His cuisine showcases local produce in creative compositions, combining regional classics with modern culinary concepts, complemented by an exceptional wine list. With its welcoming ambience and terrace set in gardens framed by weeping willows, L'Auberge de l'Ill offers a particularly bucolic setting for a memorable lunch or dinner. Located outdoors, directly on the riverbank, the tables of Les Bords de l'Ill offer the pleasure of a relaxed meal beneath the shade of the willow trees. Guests can stay in one of 18 rooms or suites at the Hôtel des Berges & Spa, where they have a choice of two locations and two distinct styles: the main house or a contemporary wooden structure, designed by renowned architects Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku, which houses several bright suites overlooking the magnificent Spa des Saules and the outdoor pool.
Awasi Santa Catarina, Governador Celso Ramos, Brazil
In southern Brazil, the Emerald Coast takes its name from the lush vegetation that borders its Atlantic Ocean shoreline. Far away from crowded cities, a private peninsula provides a verdant backdrop for Awasi Santa Catarina, where exceptional natural beauty envelopes this sanctuary of a hotel. Nestled beneath trees on a rocky outcrop, with direct access to a cove of golden sand, its 25 villas–whose architecture blends perfectly with the surroundings–bring to mind the exploits of Robinson Crusoe. Inside, these cocoons are bathed in light that streams through large picture windows. Contemporary decor blends harmoniously with natural materials, with unfinished and polished woodwork, along with handcrafted textiles, contributing to a particularly tranquil ambience. On each villa’s terrace, or from its private pool, the gaze is drawn toward the sheer vastness of the sea–a panorama which can be enjoyed at any time of day or night, as well as from the gourmet restaurant. Chef Daniela Damasceno cooks with seasonal produce, including vegetables from her own kitchen garden, to showcase the rich flavors of Brazilian cuisine. Awasi Santa Catarina is the ideal place for guests to immerse in nature, following its hiking trails or enjoying water sports, before ending the day with a relaxing massage at the spa, where each treatment cabin overlooks the ocean.
Gōra Kadan Fuji, Subashiri, Japan
Alongside cherry trees blooming in springtime, the snow-capped Mount Fuji is one of the quintessential images of Japan, a cutting-edge culture that treasures its traditions. It is this Land of the Rising Sun that Gōra Kadan Fuji invites you to experience. The hotel is sheltered by a lush forest dotted with lakes, a few miles from the country’s highest mountain. Founded in 1948 by a branch of the imperial family, this ryokan has become a distinguished sanctuary where traditional Japanese omotenashi hospitality and ambiance dovetail elegant, modern amenities. The architecture, in a harmonious blend of natural elements – earth, water, fire, light, and wood –, merges Japanese tradition with superior comfort: Zen gardens, a pillar corridor, shoji screens of traditional Japanese paper. Gōra Kadan Fuji is in a serene setting with breathtaking views of Mount Fuji in all its seasonal splendor, the ideal location for enjoying every aspect of Japanese lifestyle. Savor classic dishes at the property’s four restaurants, serving authentic Japanese cuisine, including kaiseki and kappo dishes showcasing the connection to Mount Fuji's water and soil, as well as teppanyaki and sushi from acclaimed Tokyo restaurants. Later, relax your body in the warmth of an onsen, the Japanese natural hot-spring bath. Then soothe your soul amidst the serene natural beauty of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, a wonderland of shimmering lakes, luxuriant forests, and rugged volcanic landscapes.
