Eleven New Properties
Join Relais & Châteaux

Just as our hotels and restaurants each celebrate their own uniqueness and distinct local connections, we appreciate our guests also want to pursue one-of-a-kind, unforgettable experiences. We invite you to discover the regions, gastronomy and art de vivre of these new members’ establishments in Africa (Botswana), the United States (Louisiana), Europe (Spain, Romania and France), Middle East (Israel and Egypt) and Asia (China and India).

Sitatunga Private Island, Okavango, Botswana

Botswana’s Okavango River is famous for the Okavango Delta, which is one of the largest inland deltas in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. This mysterious network of interconnected waterways and wildlife-rich islands is renowned for its tremendous biodiversity and unique ecosystem. Here, on an isolated island, on the “river that never reaches the ocean” and amidst a natural biome unlike any other in the world, is where the Sitatunga Private Island can be found. It is an exclusive retreat encircled by narrow, crystal-clear waterways winding toward the vast Okavango swamps in the south.
Sitatunga Private Island is the perfect base for exploring the delta’s natural waterways to discover fascinating wildlife, including antelope, elephant, crocodile, hippo, and a dazzling variety of birds. With an expert guide, guests may board an aluminum, flat-bottomed boat or a traditional fisherman’s canoe known as a mokoro to set off on safaris, capturing each moment with a professional camera set, complete with a range of lenses and high-quality binoculars, furnished by the safari camp.
To build the two guest suites and two-bedroomed villa, Dereck and Beverly Joubert – the celebrated wildlife photographers and co-owners of Great Plains – used recycled wood wherever possible to protect the environment and honor local traditions. The canvas-constructed suites, each with a private verandah and pool, are raised off the ground and have been designed to hang in gigantic bamboo-and-wood-inspired “fishing baskets,” a nod to the local fishermen. The interior décor is a collection of natural woods, linens, and soft touches designed to evoke a sense of calm, luxury, and relaxation.
After a massage or cosmetic treatment in the privacy of your suite, enjoy dinner by starlight on the floating terrace or at the foot of a towering, ancient baobab tree. These are the perfect settings to savor thoughtfully prepared cuisine crafted to each guest’s tastes with responsibly sourced ingredients.

2 suites & 1 villa

Emeril’s, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Only a visionary could have decided it was wise to open a restaurant on Tchoupitoulas Street in the late 1980s. At that time, it was the industrial Warehouse District, a soulless neighborhood without the benefit of city streetlights. Yet it was here that chef Emeril Lagasse set out to conquer New Orleans and America. Three decades later, enthroned as a successful professional, an American celebrity chef and author of numerous works on Creole and Louisianan cuisine, Emeril decided to turn over the helm of Emeril’s to his son, Emeril John IV.
After spending his childhood in his father’s kitchen, the young man underwent the classic training of apprentice great chefs: a prestigious cooking school, then apprenticeships with famous names in international cuisine, like Daniel Boulud in New York. In the warmly welcoming decor of Emeril’s gourmet restaurant, as well as in the more relaxed Wine Bar, the young chef faithfully carries on his father’s labor of love through season-specific signature menus composed with ingredients sourced from a handful of carefully selected farmers from the region. Guests love being invited to tour the kitchens to see what will soon be served to them once they are seated. That friendly style has been a winning formula since E.J. Lagasse was presented with the New Talent of the Year Award 2024 by La Liste, the restaurant guide and ranking that designates the world’s best 1,000 restaurants.

Seating for 38

Finca La Donaira, Montecorto, Spain

Not far from the Route of the White Villages, the pride of southern Andalusia, Finca La Donaira is perched above the Serranía de Ronda, deep in farming country spanning more than 1,700 acres. The landscape in this corner of Spain includes meadows as far as the eye can see, thousands of ancient oak trees, and Roman and Arab ruins – all creating an atmosphere of contemplative serenity.
Finca La Donaira was designed as a holistic, environmentally friendly haven to be enjoyed in an all-inclusive experience. The property features a restored farmhouse and outbuildings, carefully renovated with natural materials while preserving the original beams and frames. The 9 rooms and suites of the farm, in duplex or with direct access to a medicinal garden and the Andalusian patio, still have their exposed stone or whitewashed walls. The polished floors are brightened with colorful, rustic rugs and the furniture is a mix of rural and contemporary. Those who love the outdoors will thrill to a stay in one of the two hillside yurts.
The estate’s organic farm and select local producers are the sources of the cuisine’s wholesome ingredients. Finca La Donaira offers a broad variety of experiences: personal well-being time at the spa, with a swimming pool, hammam, and treatment room for massages, along with yoga, meditation, and Pilates classes. Being the region’s largest equestrian center, the soothing presence of magnificent horses adds to the property’s appeal: 100 Lusitano horses are available to guests for hiking, riding, and training sessions in natural horsemanship.

9 rooms (including 5 suites)

Matca Hotel, Transylvania, Romania

While Transylvania certainly owes some of its renown to Bran Castle, inseparable from the legend of Dracula, this region of central Romania, with its plateaus and valleys, should best be known as the home of countless medieval towns and castles. Matca Hotel is embraced by an environment of forests and meadows, a breathtakingly beautiful landscape that seems to have escaped the reaches of civilization. 
There is something reassuring about the architecture of this sturdy, traditional farm concept that blends so comfortably with the surroundings: it presages a stay that is wholesome, in touch with the land, with long walks in the mountains and relaxed dinners crafted by a creative chef who reinterprets the recipes of Romanian cuisine with true inspiration. The 16 rooms, in outbuildings with pointed shingle roofs, have refined, carefully considered décor. White walls, light wood, warm fabrics, and breathtaking views of the rolling hills, the summits of the Piatra Craiului Mountains, and the Bucegi Natural Park. The same welcoming ambiance is found in the two independent villas, with the added luxury of a veranda and a private jacuzzi. 
The spa, an essential feature for any nature-centered retreat, has an indoor swimming pool with lovely panoramic views, a cold plunge-sauna-jacuzzi ensemble, a halotherapy room, yoga classes, and a broad range of massages and facial treatments from which to choose.

16 rooms & 2 villas   

Les Lumières, Versailles, France

This exquisite and aptly named boutique hotel will open in late July just opposite the palace built to glorify Louis XIV. Les Lumières has made its home in the two 17th-century pavilions that the Sun King presented to Edouard Colbert and Antoine de Gramont. When crossing the threshold of this elegant architectural ensemble, you will discover that an historic building can indeed dovetail perfectly with well-chosen contemporary décor. You will also experience the welcoming comfort of a private residence and a tranquil garden, just a stone’s throw from one of France’s most prestigious and historic sites. 
The 31 spacious rooms and suites bear the names of major figures from the Age of Enlightenment: scientists, philosophers, writers, and explorers ensure that 21st-century travelers have the rest they require. Amid precious woods and streamlined furniture, La Table des Lumières is where chef Erwan Le Thomas serves creations born of culinary excellence and a deep love of the region. In the spa, the gentle rippling of the marble water walls mingles with the fragrance of treatment oils, promising guests many moments of pure well-being in a soothing, refined setting: sauna, hammam, and two treatment rooms with massage tables equipped with immersive sound systems. 
And because you are staying within the Royal City, the concierge can offer a palette of uncommon and unforgettable experiences at the Château de Versailles: private tours of the château, meditation in the gardens, horseback or carriage rides, and even discovery of specialized artistic savoir-faire (gilding, embroidery, stained glass, leather).

Le Clos Vauban, Langres, France

After some three decades and an equal number of stars in the Michelin Guide for the property Le Clos des Sens in Annecy, Laurent Petit returns to his homeland of Haute-Marne to open Le Clos Vauban in Langres. The chef, joined on this new adventure by his wife Martine, wanted to at last place the Grand-Est region in the gastronomic spotlight. They continue their devotion to passing on their savoir-faire by working hand-in-hand with the chef, Valentin Loison, and the head sommelier – his partner –, Anaïs Bercegeay, the maîtres de maison, a collaboration that first began at Le Clos des Sens.
In the ancient city of Diderot, on the ramparts of Europe’s largest fortified enclosure, Laurent and Martine Petit decided to acquire a solid historic residence from the 19th century, formerly home to the officers’ mess hall. The property, surrounded by an herb and vegetable garden that provides produce for the culinary creations, is embraced by forests, lakes, and valleys as far as the eye can see. The perfect retreat for savoring both nature and culture.
For more than a year, chef Valentin Loison has been crisscrossing the valleys of the southern Haut-Marnais, forging bonds with those who are still close to the land and its treasures: truck farmers, those who fish the Saône River, wood gatherers, hunters, Langres cheese producers. It is the terroir’s essence, preserved and harvested by these souls, that is the inspiration for the poetic cuisine of the intimate Bulle d’Osier, unique in its delicate intensity and local sourcing. The Brasserie Mirabelle offers equally uncommon but more affordable fare. All enhanced by signature wines from Champagne to Burgundy, from Jura to Alsace, along with botanical extractions by Anaïs.
The immersion continues at Le Clos Vauban. This ensemble of just eight rooms and suites, all personalized in their Haussmannian home, is an ode to creative wickerwork, the canton being home to the country’s only wickerwork school. A very private and personal space that promises a meaningful and rejuvenating stay.

8 rooms (including 4 suites)

Château Sainte Sabine, Sainte-Sabine, France

Burgundy, a mere three-hour drive from Paris, is a land of generosity – warm hospitality, fine dining at every turn, and lush, abundant nature. At Château Sainte Sabine, this generosity is evident everywhere. The magnificent, 16th-century residence still possesses the elegance that its Renaissance architects so lavishly bestowed upon it. Outside the petite village bearing its name, it sits on 20 acres of wooded grounds, home to thirty free-roaming deer. 
Venerable furnishings unearthed at antique shops, toile de Jouy, and prints from eras past give the 23 rooms and suites the understated charm felt in the aristocratic homes of yesteryear. Each is a comfortable private haven, with soaring windows looking out past the grounds to Sainte-Sabine and its 16th-century church on one side, and Châteauneuf-en-Auxois, one of The Most Beautiful Villages in France, on the other. The former Salle des Gardes was recently turned into a superb suite with period woodwork, French ceilings, and, in the main bedroom, a stately neo-Gothic fireplace, a reproduction of the hearth built in the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy in Dijon.
At the Lassey Restaurant, chef Benjamin Linard prepares his own interpretations of Burgundian cuisine crafted with ingredients from the terroir. He sources from select family farms that are committed to protecting the environment and animal welfare. These moments of wholesome fine dining enhance the pleasure of a walk through the grounds or sunbathing by the swimming pool – all making your stay at the Château Sainte Sabine an experience of timeless tranquility.

23 rooms (including 2 suites)

The Drisco Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel

Located on a quiet street in the German-American Colony district of Tel Aviv, The Drisco Tel Aviv is a charming destination, proud of its heritage. Recently renovated, the property is one of the oldest hotels in Israel–century-old frescoes still adorn the walls of the lounge and bar, once frequented by some of the great writers of the 19th century. The elegant decor of the 40 guest rooms lends the property an intimate and peaceful atmosphere.
Relax with a treatment at the Daria Spa, enjoy the tranquillity of the hotel’s shady patio, or contemplate the sea from the rooftop–with a cocktail in hand. At George & John–voted for the third time as one of the 50 best restaurants by the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 best restaurants 2024–chef Tomer Tal’s creative cuisine draws inspiration from Tel Aviv’s renowned multiculturalism. Locally sourced, seasonal produce gives life to gourmet dishes, served in an elegant dining room or a private space facing the kitchen, with breakfast enjoyed on the adjoining patio. During stays, bicycles are at your disposal, allowing you to discover neighborhoods close to the hotel, such as Jaffa and Neve Tzedek, as well as the beaches south of the city, just a few minutes away.

40 rooms (including 4 suites)

La Maison Bleue, El Gouna, Egypt

La Maison Bleue stretches out grandly alongside a private lagoon, a stone’s throw from the blue waters of the Red Sea. Set in El Gouna, a lively Egyptian seaside resort, the property was originally designed as a guest house for a destination developer and investor wanting to host his family and friends. With time, however, it became a boutique hotel, an adults-only establishment unlike any other in the region. The architecture takes its inspiration from Italy and North Africa, with numerous nods to the Golden Age: towering colonnades topped by Corinthian capitals, floors of marble and precious parquet, coffered ceilings richly adorned with frescoes. The 13 immense suites – boasting balconies facing the sea or the mountains of the Western Desert – are brimming with refined, sophisticated décor: sumptuous silks, venerable furnishings, a remarkable collection of antiques and objets d’art. The restaurant is the domain of Vincent Guillou, a French chef who has been living in Egypt for two decades, whose dishes are crafted from market and garden ingredients to showcase the flavors of Europe and Egypt. With the dynamic seaside amenities of the Red Sea within easy reach, La Maison Bleue provides a serene sanctuary for relaxing on the lagoon’s soft, sandy beach, beside the swimming pool, or in the spa.

13 suites

Sitara Himalaya, Himalayas, India

Traveling to the Himalayas may take time and commitment, but the reward comes at the journey’s end. A stay at Sitara Himalaya offers profound and authentic Indian rejuvenation. This opulent hideaway, clinging to the slope at 8,200 feet above the Kullu Valley, invites you to experience a retreat devoted to reconnecting with nature and the cosmos. Here, across from Mount Meru – the very spot where Indian sages are said to have received the teachings of the Vedas which underpin Hindu religion and many Eastern philosophies –, everything invites you to live closer to the elements. Stargazing, hiking, yoga, meditations, and massages – there are many pathways to this higher way of being. 
Local and seasonal cuisine draws on ancient culinary traditions and techniques, including, perhaps, Kashmiri Thali or Himalayan trout for dinner. With ten rooms – each with vast windows revealing snow-capped peaks and glaciers –, the atmosphere is majestic and spiritual while exuding the warmth and appeal of a family home. A home with exceptional service, where staff strive to meet the needs of guests with individually tailored hospitality. The interior décor is a blend of delicate local craftsmanship and English influences: Tibetan rugs, handwoven brocade panels, and hand-painted murals can be found placed alongside comfortable sofas in floral chintz or tartans. It is a refined and soothing setting that resonates perfectly with the Vedic-inspired offerings (Yoga, Fire Ritual, Reiki, Marma) at the Paro Svasthi spa. This tranquil wellbeing space promotes deep relaxation at every level and includes a steam room, sauna, and a small plunge pool with panoramic views.

10 rooms

King’s Joy, Beijing, China

King’s Joy, an establishment in Beijing, is definitive proof that vegetarian cuisine and haute cuisine are not mutually exclusive. In fact, it was the first vegetarian restaurant in the world to be awarded three stars in the Michelin Guide and one Green Star for sustainability. This recognition has been amply earned by the creative, innovative talent of young chef Gary Yin, aided by his two sisters, Mia and Lilian. In the historic quarter at the north of China’s capital, a district that is home to some of the country’s most significant landmarks, such as the Forbidden Palace and the Lama Temple, the restaurant is in a group of traditional buildings around a central patio. This serene, refined, and elegant ambiance is home to what is now one of China’s temples of fine dining, a status achieved in the space of a few years. Meals are served in a dining room bathed in natural light from the large glass roof or in charming spaces separated by openwork panels in wood and looking out onto a bamboo forest designed by Professor Yung Ho Chang, former head of the Department of Architecture at MIT.
The classic menu, as well as the solar-term menu, which changes every two weeks, are opportunities to appreciate the chef’s inventiveness and dedication to working primarily with organically grown, in-season ingredients. It is an exceptional experience to explore this ethereal cuisine, as well as to enjoy a relaxing afternoon tea in the traditional Beijing courtyard. 

3 stars in the 2024 Michelin Guide and one Green Star
Seating for 80