Relais & Châteaux hotels are a collection of gourmet restaurants, boutique hotels, resorts, and villas. Among the 500+ luxury hotels within the collection are literally hundreds of hidden gems, making it more or less impossible to pick just 10 of the very best Relais & Chateaux hotels in the world. Relais & Chateaux hotels are all fantastic in their own individual way. The best choice for an individual really depends on what you are looking for; a gourmet break, a week skiing, or a few days on the beach…
In this review, I have picked my favorite Relais & Chateaux hotels. They are definitely some of the best and will definitely wow you in many different ways.
1. La Vella Farga Hotel
La Vella Farga is a tranquil escape in the midst of nature. Located in the foothills of the magnificent Catalan Pyrenees in Spain, just an hour and a half from Barcelona, La Vella Farga is a large, renovated farmhouse and estate originally built in the 11th century.
This meticulously reconstructed Catalan country house has been given a new lease of life in its latest incarnation as a unique and exclusive guest house. The original stone architecture and wooden floors of the house are enhanced by contemporary design. Delicately restored furniture is complemented with a carefully curated selection of antiques, which gives each of the 14 rooms its own personality.
The view from its vast terrace, which houses the superb infinity pool pictured above, presents a striking contrast between the gentle greens of the surrounding nature and the cool blue of the sky. The warm service and the restaurant’s innovative cuisine of local, natural ingredients are additional highlights of this luxurious escape.
Whether you are looking for a gastronomic getaway, a health and wellness retreat, whether you want to do some mountain walking or to take in the alpine air, Even if you simply want to read a book by the pool, this hotel ticks all the boxes, and its spectacular natural setting in more than 300 hectares of meadows, pine forests, and century-old olive groves will keep you coming back.
2. Post Lech
There is only one hotel in Lech where you can swim outside in a warm pool surrounded by snow, and that’s the gorgeous Gasthof Post ski & spa hotel in Austria. This hotel is favored by the Dutch Royal Family, who call it their home every single year, and Pippa Middleton (Princess Kate’s sister) was a resident just days before we last stayed here.
The location of Post Lech is excellent, right on the main street, just a few buildings up from the main Strolz department store (the Harrods of ski shops), steps from the ski lifts, and the classy hotel restaurant looks out over the main street so that you can keep an eye on the activity.
The Gasthof Post has a stylish, traditional feel throughout. The modern rooms to the back of the building are my favorites and embrace a warm red or green color scheme along with real log fires and L’Occitane toiletries in the bathrooms. Our room was 72, and IMHO this is one of the best rooms in the place, although the Kaiser suite also looks good, if more pricy.
The hotel spa here is fantastic and is ultra-modern and stylish. This multi-million euro, glass-sided extension offers up warm pine-clad resting rooms and a slopeside relaxation area looking out onto the pool and the slopes beyond. Of course, there is also a gym for those who decide not to ski, looking out over snowy pine trees along with a kids pool with a water slide, numerous jets, and a waterfall. The outdoor infinity pool… that’s the highlight of the hotel for me. There’s nothing quite like swimming in a warm pool with snowflakes falling on your hair.
3. Auberge Saint-Antoine
Auberge Saint-Antoine is a boutique a museum hotel in the heart of Old Quebec City, a window into Quebec’s past and, we think, the most exciting and special hotel in the city. This lovely and unique hotel offers authentic hospitality, boutique accommodations, farm-to-fork dining, out-of-the-ordinary event space and more, while surrounded by the old-world yet modern charm of this historical Quebec hotel.
Steeped in rich history, this luxury hotel is a member of Relais & Châteaux, providing contemporary amenities in 95 rooms situated in Quebec City’s historic Old Port. Located in the heart of the first city to be founded in North America, standing on an archaeological site that formerly housed wharves, cannon emplacements, and warehouses, the Auberge Saint-Antoine bears witness to the history of this important commercial and military port. Many relics from the French and English colonial times were discovered when the Auberge was built. Now they can be found among the elegant designer interior of this irresistibly charming museum hotel.
This beautiful property is renowned for having incredibly comfortable beds and a superb breakfast, with croissants, said to be better than many in France. The entire property offers casual elegance, with a wealth of historical tributes. Original stone floors and soaring ceilings are lovingly preserved and complemented by contemporary furnishings.
If you can stretch your budget, the rooms to pick are those with a terrace. Beyond your room, the farmhouse-inspired restaurant, Chez Muffy, offers exquisite seasonal cuisine and a rustic, elegant setting for enjoying the view of the majestic Saint Lawrence River. For a leisurely drink, Bar Artefact provides the perfect setting. Spend your evenings snuggled up by one of several fireplaces and relax with a hot drink or cocktail.
4. Le Mas de Pierre
When the hustle and bustle of daily life leave you crying out for the peace and tranquillity of the French countryside; of browsing delightful French villages and sipping French wine, check into the stunning Le Mas de Pierre Five Star Hotel on the French Riviera and let your stresses drift away.
Le Mas de Pierre is part of the much-respected Relais & Châteaux hotel brand and lies tucked in the medieval village of Saint Paul de Vence. The village is one of the most beautiful in France and is a refuge for many artists, and the hotel lays on a complimentary shuttle, which is very useful when sampling the local wines. The convenient location means that you are close to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport and just 15 minutes from the waters of the French Riviera.
This former Provencal farmhouse is utterly luxurious in that chic, relaxed way that only the French seem able to master; elegant décor, antique furnishings, and a sea of pretty Provencal colors. Outside, the surrounding gardens are almost as stunning as the interior; 5 acres of fountains, fragrant flowers, hundred-year-old olive trees, citrus fruit, and an orchid greenhouse is set with meandering pathways so you can take your time strolling through and soaking it all up.
The 54 individually furnished rooms, suites, and apartments all enjoy balconies or terraces and charming private gardens. Particular highlights include the Bose Bluetooth stereo, the Nespresso machine, and the Italian shower or bathtub.
For dining, there’s a chic, gourmet restaurant on site that serves delectable Mediterranean flavors out on the terrace. There’s also a piano bar for when you want to relax with a glass of French wine as the sun sets on the terrace or snuggle by the fireplace in the warmth of the cozy lounge.
5. Spa-Hotel Jagdhof
The luxury Jagdhof hotel is a superbly convenient ski hotel, offering a complimentary shuttle to the snow-sure Stubai Glacier in Austria. The transfer to Spa-Hotel Jagdhof is less than 30 minutes from Innsbruck airport, making this an ideal spot for an extended weekend skiing. Fly in from Heathrow with direct flights on British Airways or arrive from Gatwick on Easyjet.
This family-run Relais & Chateaux property is absolutely gorgeous and is a perfect luxury chalet base for hitting the slopes. This beautiful hotel is sat on the edge of a picturesque Austrian village. It offers fantastic food, a bar with a wonderful atmosphere, an excellent spa, and a superb indoor-outdoor pool, which opens up to extensive lawns where you can sunbathe after a day on the glacier.
Spa-Hotel Jagdhof is a beautiful example of a traditional Austrian chalet with classic decor using plenty of pine, complemented by luxurious, warm carpets. The bar area s particularly cozy, offering lively après-ski, with small seating booths set around the bar, a fireplace, and live music each night. It is a fabulous place to enjoy refreshing Tyrolean beers.
The communal areas, which include the halls and restaurant, all have great character with real antlers and stuffed deer heads on the walls, lots of comfy corners with fireplaces along with fresh flowers and pretty table decorations. When we were visiting in late March, Easter was the theme, so Easter bunnies and wooden eggs were dotted about, and there was an Easter egg tree in the courtyard. Ultra-cute!
6. The Xara Palace
The Xara Palace by Relais & Chateaux is a 17th-century palazzo linked to the medieval city of Mdina. Its walls form part of the bastion walls that surround the former capital of Malta, with remarkable baroque architecture.
All rooms have been individually designed with romantic décor, original paintings, antique tapestries, and furnishings. They are reminiscent of the noble origins of the Xara Palace and boast spectacular 180-degree panoramic views of Malta. Enjoy attentive service and gastronomic delights at the award-winning de Mondion restaurant, or dine at Trattoria A.D. 1530, situated on the charming Piazza.
7. Quintessence Hotel
Quintessence Hotel is a tropical grand mansion that offers timeless luxury in the Caribbean, overlooking the white sand beaches of Long Bay. With nine lavish suites, a five-star restaurant, two bars, and a Wine Spectator award-winning cellar, this Relais & Chateaux is rather special.
Artisans created the hotel with museum-like quality. Haitian art and antiques fill every room mixing spacious comfort with beautiful lush tropical surroundings inside and out. Around-the-clock butler and concierge service cater to guests’ every need. Amenities include a wellness spa, infinity pool, fitness center, tennis court, yoga pavilion, luxury boutique, and state-of-the-art business suite.
8. Hotel Plaza E De Russie
Situated in the heart of Viareggio’s seaside Art Nouveau district, Hotel Plaza e de Russie is a sophisticated 5-star design hotel affiliated with Relais & Chateaux. For over a century, it served as a refuge for prominent figures from the worlds of culture and high society, from Rilke to Toscanini, in the glorious tradition of luxury hôtellerie.
The hotel has now been completely redesigned, from the charming lobby to the trendy Michelin-starred restaurant and on to the luxurious elegance of the hotel’s 44 rooms and suites. With impeccable service that anticipates your every need, you will experience the pleasure of living in an era that was steeped in both sophistication and welcoming ambiance.
9. Alvear Palace
The elegant Alvear Palace hotel is located in the tree-lined Recoleta neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. It offers high ceilings, beautiful views, and chandeliers, which have sparkled since its opening in 1932.
The Hotel has grand French-inspired public areas and 192 stylish guestrooms & suites decorated in Empire, and Louis XV style, offering Hermes de Paris toiletries and complimentary Wi-Fi. If you book a Deluxe Suites or higher, a team of butlers will assist you, making your stay even more unique and memorable.
Recently renewed top floors offer 15 spacious, contemporary suites with exclusive access to the Alvear Club Lounge. Open from 7:00 am – 7:00 pm, the Alvear executive club lounge offers a complimentary buffet breakfast, lunch, wines, soft drinks, and infusions. This is almost definitely the best executive club lounge in Buenos Aires.
The restaurants and bars are traditional meeting points in Buenos Aires, with a warm ambiance and exquisite international cuisine. There is also an indoor heated pool with a pool bar and a luxurious Spa & Fitness Center that features a vitality pool, sauna, steam bath, body and face treatments, as well as kinesis and high-tech fitness equipment. Finally, for your business needs, there’s a fully equipped business center.
10. Villa Florentine
Villa Florentine is a Relais & Châteaux Rhone Valley hotel set on an enchanting hill. The Villa Florentine offers all the spirit and charm of the Italian Renaissance right in the heart of Lyon. This is definitely one of the best luxury hotels in the Rhone Valley.
The lush green terraces of this 17th century former convent offer exceptional views of Lyon’s historical city, a Unesco World Heritage site. Period furniture and contemporary works meet in the rooms, havens of peace and softness. An exquisitely calm pool and Jacuzzi invite you to a voyage of the senses.
In the kitchen, the Chef deploys treasures of refinement and places the culinary focus on the product. At nightfall, the sparkling city lights join together with the stars.
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