Aramburu, Buenos Aires, Argentina
After honing his skills with the greatest, Chef Gonzalo Aramburu opened his restaurant in 2019 in one of the most picturesque passages of Recoleta, a chic district of Buenos Aires with beautiful 19th- and early 20th-century architecture. The decor's sophisticated dark hues and subdued lighting serve to highlight the vibrancy of the restaurant. At its heart is a renowned 20-course tasting menu, served amid the dynamism of the open kitchen, showcasing locally-sourced and seasonal products paired with remarkable Argentine wines. To be a proud ambassador of his country's culinary excellence and its vineyards: this is the calling of Gonzalo Aramburu.
Huniik, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Self-taught chef Roberto Solís is a fervent advocate of the cuisine of his native region of Yucatán, which has its roots in the Mayan civilization. His mission: to promote Mexican gastronomy and offer diners a warm and generous experience. He opened Huniik in partnership with a renowned Cuban designer, Jorge Pardo, who conceived a decorative style inspired by traditional Mexican icons to complement the chef's cuisine. The restaurant operates a zero-waste policy – an important part of Chef Solís's philosophy. He highlights small producers of the peninsula, and serves only seasonal and emblematic products of the region, such as corn, picked daily. By consciously highlighting the riches of the land and the labors of the region's farmers, the property's approach is entirely in line with the commitments of Relais & Châteaux.
Mélisse, Los Angeles, California, USA
Having been raised in Santa Monica and Venice Beach by a caterer mother and a French grandmother who loved to cook, it was perhaps inevitable that Josiah Citrin's vocation would be in the culinary realm. Today, with Mélisse now a Michelin two-star restaurant, Chef Citrin continues his quest for excellence by offering guests an exclusive gastronomic immersion amid decor created by local artisans. With just five tables, fourteen guests can enjoy a unique, hosted dining experience: a nine-course tasting menu in which creativity is at the heart of the occasion, a reinvention of food and wine pairings, with products sourced from farmers in the Napa Valley, and a soundtrack drawn from his personal vinyl collection.
La Scène, Paris, France
A story of passion and family: this beautiful epicurean address, in the renowned Matignon district, has won two stars in the Michelin Guide just four months after opening. Its chef and owner, Stéphanie Le Quellec, is a woman of character, leading a team that offers a concise French menu based on local products that move her. It pays tribute to artisans, producers and the value of 'responsible' cooking: these are her foundations. In the heart of the chic eighth arrondissement of Paris, Stéphanie works like an innkeeper combining high gastronomy and excellence – combined with simplicity. From her open kitchen she conveys emotion as if on stage in a theater, part of a play in which she is the heroine.
Château de Maubreuil, Carquefou, France
Not far from Nantes, this five-star boutique hotel enjoys an unparalleled history that evokes tales of exploration and anecdotes from across the centuries. Once the home of the Marquis de Dion – a privateer shipowner, adventurer and pioneer of the French automotive industry and publisher of road maps (an activity that he transferred to Michelin) – this beautiful 17th-century residence is located in the heart of a fourteen-hectare wooded park with a permaculture vegetable garden. Rooms here are lent evocative names: Burmese Nights, Babylon Gardens, Carnival in Venice, and so on... La Table du Marquis, its gourmet restaurant, is brilliantly led by Chef Quentin Gallouedec, who channels his Breton roots. The journey continues with a moment of well-being in the intimate Cinq Mondes spa. This romantic, authentic stopover in Pays de la Loire promises a destination vibrant with emotions.
Morukuru Family de Hoop, De Hoop, South Africa
A three-hour drive from Cape Town lies this design lodge, with five suites and a villa, in a private reserve where sandy dunes are populated with flamingo, ostrich, zebra and antelope. It also faces the Indian Ocean where, from June to mid-October, whales can be seen on their annual migration. In its construction and operation, its owners endeavored to prioritize natural, recycled materials, and to reduce energy consumption to a minimum. In the restaurant, the native chefs favor local products and wines from the surrounding area. The team, driven by a passion for the art of hospitality, pay great attention to detail in creating the most memorable of experiences. Many activities, including safaris, raise awareness about the protection of the environment, fauna and flora.
Central Park Voorburg, Voorburg, The Netherlands
This four-star hotel, with just fourteen suites, enjoys a privileged location in a grand residence from the 18th century, typical of the architectural constructions of the region. Adjoining a deer park, just seven kilometers from The Hague, it is also something of a rural getaway, with the added bonus of a restaurant run by chefs Tim Bood and Hette Hettema. Overlooking the park, they offer a creative menu featuring fresh products including fish and shellfish from the nearby coast. The mission of the new owner is to gradually transform the boutique hotel to reflect contemporary expectations, and to meet environmental challenges while preserving quality.
Borgo Santandrea, Amalfi, Italy
Nestled in cliffs 90 meters above the sea, and overlooking an old fishing village, this five-star hotel's 29 rooms and 16 suites offer breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast. Having undergone a major renovation, its owners have integrated cutting-edge technologies while drastically reducing energy costs, limiting waste and eliminating plastics. Most of the furniture and decorative elements, such as the earthenware tiles, come from local artisans' workshops. There is a similar approach in the kitchen, with products sourced mostly from local producers. A private beach, pool, spa, bar and restaurants add to the charm of this little gem on the Mediterranean.
Hôtel & Restaurant Purs, Andernach, Germany
Located in the historic part of Andernach, on the left bank of the Rhine, Purs is a harmonious kind of place: harmony between the traditional architecture, the exceptional size of the new wing, and the contemporary interiors by renowned Belgian designer and antique collector Axel Vervoordt. Harmony, too, in the courtyard garden where wildflowers bloom; and harmony of the fine dining restaurant where chef Christian Eckhardt won two stars in the Michelin Guide soon after it opened... In his kitchen, Chef Eckhardt combines regional and seasonal products to offer creative but accessible cuisine.
