Relais & Châteaux welcomes eight new members

We are pleased to welcome 8 new members to our Association. Sharing a taste for authenticity and local terroir, these new hosts contribute to a total of 31 properties having joined Relais & Châteaux this year.

They invite you to explore the culinary, cultural and environmental heritage of their region, which they play a part in preserving and enhancing for the next generation.

The Modern, New York, United States

Founded in 2005, The Modern is a distillation of Manhattan fine dining, lifestyle, and culture. Located at the Museum of Modern Art, the two-Michelin-starred restaurant features refined yet unexpectedly playful dishes that highlight exceptional ingredients and seasonality in three distinct culinary experiences: an ever-evolving tasting menu in the dining room overlooking MoMA’s Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden; an à la carte menu in the lively Bar Room; and an experiential tasting menu in the center of all the action at the Kitchen Table. Guests are invited to relish Chef Thomas Allan’s contemporary American cuisine, tinged with French flair and complemented by an award-winning wine program. This Franco-American fare illustrates Chef’s love of French culinary arts, a realm he came to master while in the kitchens of Eleven Madison Park and Per Se in New York City and other renowned institutions in Paris. The décor borrows freely from the Bauhaus style, fitting indeed for a restaurant adjoining MoMA. The inner spaces, designed by Bentel & Bentel, are separated by serpentine glass walls that cause the ambiance to change depending on whether natural light floods the rooms by day or more subdued, sophisticated lighting takes over the spaces come dinnertime. No matter which of the restaurant’s three dining experiences one chooses, the tasting menus delight even the most discerning palates: honeynut squash with razor clams, dry-aged duck with red endive and orchard quince, brûléed bread pudding, along with one of the best wine menus in New York City. The Modern offers a dazzling array of experiences in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. 

2-Michelin starred restaurant 2024
Seating for 72

_{© Johnny Miller © Yuxi Liu}

Botanique Hotel Experience, Campos do Jordão, Brazil 

The name clearly proclaims what the property has in store: The Botanique Hotel Experience is an ode to nature. It was designed expressly to give guests an immersive experience in the luxuriant botanical world of Campos de Jordão – a vast, protected reserve halfway between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. With its highest ground reaching nearly 6,500 feet, the region is a sanctuary for urbanites wanting to leave behind the hubbub of the big cities. Built to blend into the verdant surrounding forest, the Botanique Hotel Experience sits on a hillside in the midst of the Mantiqueira Mountains. Brazilian architects and artists are behind its design, a combination of enormous clay stones extracted from the nearby rivers, pink cedar wood, and chocolate slate. The thick wooden beams were salvaged from century-old farms in Minas Gerais, while modern-day steel and glass were used to create the floor-to-ceiling windows that dovetail with the esthetics of the 13 villas, each with private garden, and seven suites of this discreet retreat. Exploring local nature and culture are highlights of any stay: Enjoy birdwatching outings with specialized guides, horseback riding, or harvesting botanical herbs to later be used to create your own personal-care blends. The Mina restaurant with panoramic view of the Atlantic Forest, serve garden-to-table cuisine, and the large 9,000-square-foot spa has an indoor ozonated pool, which is also designed for color therapy, and a range of treatments inspired by traditional Indigenous-Brazilian relaxation rituals.  

7 suites and 13 villas

_{© Botanique Hotel & Spa}

CasaMolle, Vicuña, Chile

South of the stunning Atacama Desert, one of the most parched regions on the planet, lies the Elqui Valley, a land of different type of vegetation. This oasis is the setting for the 42-acre estate – graced with cactus gardens and embraced by Elqui River – that shelters the 24 rooms of the CasaMolle. The ochre-hued adobe walls, small thatched buildings, and common areas warmed by wood and wicker frame a large outdoor swimming pool. While rustic, the traditional décor gives discreet nods to contemporary comfort and the simple-but-chic style of the guest rooms boasts bright spots in classic and colorful local textiles and the occasional handcrafted object. Chef Sebastián Massida likes to showcase authentic cuisine that blends Chilean tradition with other gastronomic styles in the hotel’s restaurant, nimbly combining the flavors of native produce from his vegetable garden into a five-course surprise tasting menu. The all-inclusive approach means the CasaMolle Hotel can offer guests a great variety of experiences. By day, there are hiking, kayaking, and horseback riding to enjoy, or tours of the vineyards that produce the famed local beverage pisco and wine, as well as meditation sessions and spa treatments; by night, the hotel invites guests to try starwatching from its open-air amphitheater. Northern Chile is legendary for its pristine night skies, earning the designation as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary and making it a favorite place to contemplate the glittering firmament. Another precious natural treasure to enjoy at CasaMolle.

24 rooms

_{© CasaMolle}

Vetera Matera, Matera, Italy

In southern Italy, near the arch of the famed “boot,” sits the Basilicata region, home to Matera, a magnificent urban jewel that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a wonderland of white stone houses climbing and tumbling across a rocky mountaintop, woven together by a tangle of alleys and spectacular staircases. The city is famous for the Sassi, troglodyte dwellings dug into the mountain and first occupied during the Paleolithic era. And it is some of these very Sassi – admirably restored – that serve as the setting for the Vetera Matera. The 23 rooms boast broad windows looking out onto scenery that has been the backdrop for countless film productions worldwide, coupled with large terraces for taking in the panorama of the surroundings. The views from the heights make the most of the superb location in the city’s historic center. The vaulted interiors also harbor the gourmet restaurant, serving Lucanian cuisine, the specialties of the Basilicata region. There is a soothing spa, as well, with relaxation pools carved beguilingly into the rock itself. Vetera Matera’s contemporary décor, all of understated elegance, places the rough, natural stone center stage, preserving both the ambiance and ancient history of this extraordinary site.

23 guest rooms (including 8 junior suites)

_{© Vetera Matera}

Hotel Diepeschrather Mühle, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany 

Though it is a mere half-hour’s drive from Cologne, the Hotel Diepeschrather Mühle is a veritable sanctuary offering a delicious, relaxing gourmet getaway in the North Rhine-Westphalia countryside. Refresh body and soul on revitalizing strolls and hikes through the verdant landscape, or admire the half-timbered houses of Bergisch Gladbach. Chef Nelson Müller has chosen to relocate his Schote restaurant in Essen, bringing his entire kitchen staff with him, to settle here and open a distinguished inn that will showcase superb cuisine as a highlight to any stay. The Hotel Diepeschrather Mühle has been a long-cherished dream for this celebrated Michelin-starred chef, and he has given it his all. It will have 25 rooms, including five suites, a spa with a large outdoor swimming pool, and two restaurants. The gourmet restaurant is where the chef-owner can give free rein to his passion for creative, primarily plant-based cuisine, working with in-season ingredients, along with a restaurant based on the farm-to-table concept. The rooms and suites will feature contemporary interiors and lovely terraces looking out onto the forest or the poolside. Perfect for a serene break enlivened by superb cuisine – in both the restaurants and the cooking classes given by the chef himself.

25 guest rooms (including 5 suites)

_{© Ydo Sol}

Storfjord Hotel, Storfjorden, Norway

Norway’s fjords – those shimmering slivers of sea that penetrate a steep, forest-carpeted mountain landscape – are one of the country’s treasures, an environment of breathtaking beauty, soothing and yet wild. They promise an experience in pristine natural surroundings… Set on a hill overlooking the fjord of the same name, the Storfjord is a cluster of substantial, dark-timber buildings of traditional Norwegian architecture combines the appeal of a mountain lodge with the advantages of a high-end hotel. The log walls topped by a grass-covered roof shelter warmly welcoming interiors. Comfortable furniture, antiques, and objets d’art create a chic, rustic ambiance in the lounges, the library, and the 30 rooms and suites blessed with spectacular views of the fjord and the dense surrounding forest. The guest rooms have walls of light wood, windows dressed in pretty tartans, and thick carpets across the pine floors, for a snug, cozy atmosphere. Whatever the season, the Storfjord Hotel offers an authentically Norwegian stay, including a broad spectrum of outdoor activities: downhill skiing and alpine touring in wintertime, cruises and fishing trips on the fjord, kayaking adventures, bike rides, Nordic wildlife observation, and, of course, relaxing treatments at the spa with panoramic views of the landscape. Fine dining is ensured by Nils Flatmark, one of the most celebrated Scandinavian chefs. An enthusiastic expert in regional cuisine who respects every ingredient, the chef works with select neighboring producers to craft dishes born of the local land and waters. To ensure your discovery of Scandinavia’s gourmet cuisine is truly idyllic, he serves meals prepared over an open flame under a traditional lavvu tent. Unforgettable!

30 rooms (including 20 suites)

_{© Margaret M. de Lange © ingallsphoto}

Stockholm Stadshotell, Stockholm, Sweden

This Stockholm landmark building houses the first establishment in Sweden to be selected by Relais & Châteaux. The property, known as “Oscar I Minne,” was originally built in 1870 with the purpose of providing a home for widows in need. It was commissioned by Queen Josephine as a tribute to the memory of her late husband, King Oscar I. The Stockholm Stadshotell is centrally located in the capital’s trendy quarter of Södermalm, surrounded by designer fashion boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants, making it the ideal location for soaking up local culture. The team behind this brand-new property, intent on immersing guests in an ambiance that is both distinguished and intimate, enlisted architectural specialists in restoring historic buildings.

With decades of experience in renovation and art de vivre, the management team has imbued the project with a particular elegance, steeped in Scandinavian heritage. This can be seen in the interior décor of the 23 guest rooms and nine guest suites, with furnishings inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, bearing the hallmarks of Swedish design and harmonizing with soft hues brightened by colorful art and design. The hotel will regularly host cultural events overseen by an art director whose sole responsibility is working directly with the partners to ensure the creative atmosphere. The cuisine will draw inspiration from local resources and the distinct seasons of the Nordic climate, combined with ideas, techniques, and cultures from other parts of the culinary world.

On the ground floor and spilling out into the courtyard, a large, inviting living room, bistro, and classic bar will offer an informal atmosphere, while upstairs, a more elegant yet warm and welcoming fine dining experience awaits.
The hotel will also feature the essentials of a Swedish spa: sauna, ice bath, sensory showers – ensuring truly relaxing moments after a day of urban exploring.

32 guest rooms (including 9 suites)

_{© Henrik Lundell}

Villa Cortine Palace, Sirmione, Italy

This villa could easily have served as a movie set for Luchino Visconti or Paolo Sorrentino, the site of a classic Italian film like The Leopard or The Great Beauty. In immense private grounds surrounded by towering cypresses and palms, with ancient statues rising from mossy pools and cascades of blooming roses, Villa Cortine Palace is the quintessence of Italian romanticism characterizing these cinematographic works. It is an extraordinary property, just minutes from the petite, walled, medieval town of Sirmione, on the tip of this lovely peninsula. 

Lake Garda, the largest of the Italian lakes, encircles the property, resembling a sparkling sea that can be accessed from the hotel’s substantial pier. The elegant building still has all its 19th-century charm: high colonnades, coffered ceilings, wall frescoes, floors of marble or marquetry. In these historic surroundings, home to stately antique furniture and Murano crystal, the atmosphere is refined yet brightened with warm and joyful Italian spirit. The same is true of the abundant Mediterranean cuisine served within the gleaming marble and gilt of the Le Gardenie restaurant, on the terrace of the Al Molo and the Maria Callas, or on the balcony of the Belvedere, with a panoramic view. All 52 guest rooms and suites, whether in the property’s historic wing or its more recent extensions, have the elegant, timeless décor that is the mark of the finest patrician residences. And, naturally, the windows, balcony, or terrace of everyone looks towards the deep, shimmering blue of the lake.

52 rooms (including 8 suites) 

_{© Villa Cortine}