5 Destinations for a Gourmand Getaway

Whether it’s exploring the vineyards, experiencing the intoxicating allure of the world’s most interesting food or indulging in Michelin starred fine dining, designing your holiday around culinary delights is becoming more and more popular with discerning travellers.

With so many hotels around the world now featuring Michelin starred restaurants, you can experience foodie heaven without having to venture too far from your luxury base.

Be it indulgent weekends, city breaks, gastro safaris or tropical island heavenly hideaways, there’s a world of choice in combining luxury travel and culinary passion.

Here’s five great locations consistently pushing the boundaries on quality and creativity.

San Sebastian

With more Michelin starred restaurants per square mile than anywhere else in the world you are spoilt for choice in San Seb. At only a short hop from the UK it’s perfect for a short weekend break and offers unrivalled local cuisine.

Boutique luxury comes in the form of elegant hotels, many with a cool contemporary twist, whilst savouring the finest food from the Basque country.

Explore the hidden gems of the old town on a bespoke pintxos walk with a local chef, take a stroll along one of the fine beaches or marvel at the art wonders of the Guggenheim in nearby Bilbao, there’s plenty to see and do.

South Africa

As a melting pot of different cultures, the Rainbow nation brings a wealth of diverse cuisines, world class wines and products as varied as the landscape. Food tours cover the whole range of experiences.

Cape Town has a renowned Malay and New Age cuisine focus, much of which centres on the waterfront, and is now considered a genuine contender on the world food stage.

The Western Cape at just an hour’s drive from Cape Town is home to some of the world’s finest winelands at Franschhoek and Stellenbosch and the wines here are seriously good.

Along the Garden Route, fans of seafood will revel in the choices on offer and the 1500 mile coastline provides a superb scenic backdrop for a great self - drive gourmand getaway.

Caribbean

The number of world class restaurants keeps increasing across the Caribbean and the region continues to send out a strong message that it has come of age as one of the worlds most diverse and rich food regions. Whilst authentic Caribbean vibe and fantastic local sourcing is strong across the top restaurants, the Caribbean is a fantastic gastronomic adventure with real international credentials.

Of course, the islands in themselves are reason enough to grab a getaway, but when you’ve got chic and laid - back dining that packs a gastronomic punch its just a matter of choosing which location.

Dubai

Dubai is truly international. It’s a culinary hotspot with restaurants now helmed by world renowned chefs and the top hotels feature what is becoming an acclaimed list of venues. The famous Friday Brunch is now part of the Dubai lifestyle and the variation of themes and styles is mouth-watering.

Dubai loves its food scene and is proud to show them off at its annual gastronomic Food Festival held every February. It’s a great jam-packed festival of food featuring everything from beachside food trucks and canteens to high end events and entertainment. It’s a great time to be in Dubai.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong offers an amazing array of dining experiences and is often a primary reason for choosing it as a luxury holiday destination. Considered one of the best dining destinations in Asia and with over 60 Michelin starred venues and world class chefs offering everything from Dim Sum to cross culture international concepts, there’s no shortage of options.

The majority of the top hotels feature a destination stand out restaurant which take quality to the next level and boast amazing views across Victoria Harbour for that truly quintessential Hong Kong experience.