By Lucy Richardson, Editor
Introducing our favourite European Michelin-starred restaurants, all of which have overnight accommodation, so you can roll to bed when you’re full to bursting. But be sure to book your table as soon as you get your room reservation, as these places are known to draw a crowd…
1 Vinkeles, The Dylan Amsterdam
Eat: The exquisite cuisine at The Dylan’s 2-Michelin-starred restaurant, Vinkeles, is a perfect match for its setting on the banks of a quaint canal in central Amsterdam. The food is traditional French with a contemporary twist, incorporating rich sauces and bold flavours – think roast Anjou pigeon with duck liver, sour cherry and cocoa, or caramel souffle with pumpkin and spices. There’s an excellent vegetarian menu too, with each course focusing on a different vegetable, like carrot with tarragon, herbal tea and caramelized cream.
Stay: The Dylan has 40 rooms, all with dramatic, ultra-chic décor, and most with views of the canal or the stately interior courtyard. From GBP 391 per room.
2 Andreu Genestra, Son Jaumell, Mallorca
Eat: Andreu Genestra is a Mallorcan-born chef who stays true to his roots. At his restaurant at Son Jaumell, among olive groves and vineyards on the island’s east coast, he applies his culinary expertise to traditional island cooking, creating unique Cuina de la Terra (earth cuisine). There are three tasting menus to choose from, one of which is veggie. Our plates of seared tuna with beetroot and cauliflower purée, hake with raisins, and apricot ice cream with shortbread biscuits were all divine. Much of the produce is grown in the vegetable garden, tended to by Andreu’s father, and it’s this focus on keeping things local that has granted the restaurant a Michelin Green Star in addition to its Michelin Star.
Stay: Son Jaumell‘s 24 rooms have calming neutral tones, with cool linens, billowing curtains, enormous beds piled with plump cushions, and exposed brick feature walls. From GBP 255 per room.
3 Cielo, La Sommita, Puglia
Eat: At La Sommita’s restaurant, Cielo, you get fantastic recipes and colourful presentation. Choose between à la carte dishes and a range of tasting menus, including vegetarian and vegan options. Our sea salad had some of the most succulent bites of sea bass and gilthead bream we’ve ever tasted, softened by half-molten cubes of ricotta and tomato, plus a crisp crunch of Adriatic seaweed. Flavours were resolutely local: our plates came with a colourful sprinkling of oxalis and vetch petals, picked that morning in the olive groves. The wine list has 15 pages of mostly Italian bottles.
Stay: Scattered about La Sommita palazzo are 15 rooms and suites, many carved out of old monks’ cells. Some have balconies overlooking the gardens. From GBP 190 per room.
4 Albert 1er, Chamonix, French Alps
Eat: Hameau Albert 1er is a remarkable hotel; built in 1903 to welcome the arrival of the railway, it has remained in the same family ever since. At its heart is exceptional food – Restaurant Albert 1er has one Michelin Star and a wine cellar holding 19,000 bottles, which might explain why its wine-tasting lunches are so popular. Menus range from light lunches to 9-course evening tasting menus. You might find snails in vegetable ravioli with smoked foie gras, or milk-fed veal sweetbreads with carrot and black garlic.
Stay: There are 32 rooms, 3 apartments and 2 chalets for two at Hameau Albert 1er. Each has cool mountain-chic décor. A free shuttle service runs to and from Chamonix’ slopes. From GBP 180 per room.
5 Boskinac, Pag, Croatia
Eat: In a delightful little spot on the island of Pag, Boškinac serves beautifully presented, exciting food, coupled with excellent, island-produced wine. On warm days you’ll dine on the covered stone terrace, at candle-lit wrought iron tables, overlooking the Boškinac vineyards. Mellow background music sets a romantic mood, and menus are heavy on seafood, lamb and sheep’s cheese. Expect delicacies such as carpaccio od brancin (wafer thin slices of raw sea bass), Jakovska kapica (scallops and shrimps in béchamel, gratineed with local sheep’s cheese) or grdobina (monkfish) served in a creamy tomato sauce. Passionate about wines? Pop down to the cellar for a tasting of Boškinac’s finest.
Stay: Hotel Boškinac‘s 11 rooms are stylishly comfy and chic. Expect natural materials, grainy wooden floors, neutral colours and plenty of space. From GBP 190 per room.
6 SALT, Hotel Rum, Budapest
Eat: SALT is a cool, buzzy joint that’s earned not just a Michelin Star but a Michelin Green Star too, owing to its exemplary eco credentials and thoughtful, considered cooking. You get 15-course tasting menus showcasing Hungarian herbs and wild plants, many of which are foraged by head chef Szilárd Tóth himself, then freshly pickled and fermented. Poultry is sourced from Szilárd’s own family, who run a meat manufacturing business, and warm, crusty breads are made on site each day, for mopping up those hearty Hungarian flavours. Tip: Arrive early and head up to the uber-cool SOLID skybar for pre-dinner drinks with outstanding city views.
Stay: Hotel Rum has 40 refreshingly uncluttered and stylish rooms, each with designer lighting and heavy-tone décor. From GBP 78 per room.
7 Vila Foz, Porto
Eat: Served in a stately dining room to match the regal surroundings of this palace by the sea, the food at Vila Foz is largely inspired by the ocean. Five-course tasting menus change with the tides, showcasing succulent seafood sourced from the Portuguese coast – think lobster or squid with radish and iodized broth, or sea bass with veal sweetbreads. Wine pairing champions Portugal’s growing viticulture scene. Aperitifs can be taken at the equally lavish hotel bar, where oysters are paired with champagne – naturally.
Stay: The 68 rooms at Vila Foz Hotel are spread across the original 19th-century manor house and a newer wing built a few years ago. The décor in each matches the style of the eras they were built in. Go for a sea-view room if you can – the sunsets are worth it. From GBP 225 per room.
8 Castello di Fighine, Tuscany
Eat: This fortified hilltop retreat is everything you imagine of a fine-dining restaurant in Tuscany. It nestles in the shadow of an ancient castle, in fragrant gardens of roses and wisteria, and is a destination restaurant for in-the-know foodies across Tuscany. Tasting menus (5 or 7 courses) and an a la carte menu feature food that champions traditional Tuscan cooking, like spaghetti with wild garlic and rabbit, or risotto with nettles and pistachio, followed by a meaty main of pigeon or lamb. Wine pairing favours local tipples, like Podernuovo or Ravazzi from nearby Palazzone.
Stay: The old hamlet surrounding Castello di Fighine has been artfully transformed into 7 beautifully styled houses for 2-8, each with self-catering facilities. From GBP 257 per house.
9 ABaC, Barcelona
Eat: Headed up by Jordi Cruz, Spain’s youngest chef to receive a Michelin star, the food in ABaC’s elegant restaurant speaks for itself – so much so that it’s been awarded 3 Michelin Stars – quite the accolade! The seafood and unusual meat dishes are a highlight: imagine gazpachuelo of chives with lobster and mussels, ceviche style; or veal marinated in koji and sake with black sesame bread. The accompanying wine list has over 1,000 choices. Before or after dinner, take cocktails in the uber-cool subterranean ABaC Lounge.
Stay: ABaC has 15 pristine bedrooms with black-out blinds, soundproofing and Treca de Paris mattresses; you will sleep amazingly well. From GBP 257 per room.
10 LD Restaurant, Lesic Dimitri Palace, Korcula
Eat: Spoiling food and exceptional wines are perfectly paired at Michelin-starred LD Restaurant, at the Lesic Dimitri Palace in Korcula’s medieval old town. Outdoor tables line the seafront promenade, making a delightful spot for dining on a sunny afternoon. Chef Marko Gajski’s food is largely inspired by the sea – think monkfish tempura with black truffle, garlic and egg yolk – and the recipes are rooted in classic Dalmatian cooking. There are 8- and 3-course tasting menus, and the LD Wine Bar offers tastings.
Sleep: Lesic Dimitri Palace has 5 residences (sleeping 2-9), and each has self-catering facilities. They’re all palatial (all but one are over 100sqm) and unlike most apartments, there’s a concierge service on tap. From GBP 333 per apartment.