Is there anything better than knowing you need only stumble a few steps to bed after savouring one of the best meals of your life? We think not and praise be, because the hotel trade has seriously upped its gastronomic game.
For a growing breed of hotels, food is no longer an afterthought but the main event. From boutique restaurants-with-rooms to sprawling rural estates offering exciting culinary experiences, day-trippers with a taste for the finer things in life might just find themselves spoiled for choice.
Taking in pop-up supper clubs and cooking courses, gourmet garden-to-plate dining and delicious locally sourced produce, click on through to see our favourites.
Thyme, Cotswolds
Decamp to one of the Cotswolds’ most luxurious foodie destinations for a dinner to remember. This boutique hotel holds monthly Saturday supper clubs in its magnificent medieval barn. Hosted by a rotating roster of talented chefs, each night has a different theme – but the focus is always on making the most of Thyme's kitchen gardens and carefully pairing wines and cocktails with every course. Make a weekend of it with a class at the renowned cookery school (you can learn how to make everything from preserves to Thai curries), or continue the feasting with a Sunday roast at The Swan – an award-winning, quintessentially British pub that’s a mere stone’s throw away.
Rooms from £260 per night. Thyme’s table events start at £75.
Photo: Courtesy of Thyme.
The Pig, Brockenhurst
Pioneer of the garden-to-plate ethos, The Pig describes itself simply as a restaurant with rooms. Paving the way for a new crop of country hotels, The Pig serves an hourly changing menu (yes, hourly). Devised by a chef, gardener and forager, dishes are based on the best-quality seasonal, locally produced and sustainable ingredients. This food is fresh in every sense of the word. Situated in the New Forest, the 31 rooms don’t let the side down: stunning views of the green countryside (and the odd pony!), eclectic furniture, marshmallow beds and, of course, well-stocked larders.
Rooms from £149 per night. Average three-course meal before wine costs £35.
Photo: Courtesy of The Pig.
The Gallivant, Rye
If seafood is more your thing, then this beachside getaway ticks all the boxes. The Gallivant’s food offering is a huge draw, with the hotel restaurant sourcing 95% of their fresh produce from within a tiny 10-mile radius. The eco-friendly vibe continues throughout, with the hotel serving only English wine (no air miles there). Situated on the doorstep of one of the UK’s best beaches, Camber Sands, the 20 rooms have a Scandi-meets-the-Hamptons feel. Blow away the cobwebs with a brisk walk on the beach or hole up in the lounge with the Sunday papers and a tipple from the Bloody Mary station.
Room with dinner from £165.
Photo: Courtesy of The Gallivant.
21212, Edinburgh
It’s not just rural properties that provide the perfect base for a foodie stay. For a city break, why not try 21212, Edinburgh’s only Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms? This listed Georgian townhouse is an elegant retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city, and the restaurant’s modern French cooking is unmissable. Chefs Paul Kitching and Katie O’Brien have serious credentials and a bunch of awards to prove it. Best of all, experiencing this gourmet grub needn’t break the bank: the two-course lunch menu starts at just £22.
Rooms from £110. Lunch from £22, dinner from £65.
Photo: Courtesy of 21212.
Llanerch Vineyard, Wales
Just 20 minutes from Cardiff lies Llanerch Vineyard, an ideal spot for a weekend of wining and dining. For seasoned connoisseurs and casual quaffers alike, the vineyard tours and wine tasting are a real treat. After a hard day’s work, kick back in the Cariad restaurant and enjoy classic British cooking while looking out on the stunning vineyard vista.
Rooms from £78. Average three-course meal before wine costs £35.
Photo: Courtesy of Llanerch Vineyard.
The Yorke Arms, Yorkshire
This cosy 18th-century inn situated in the picturesque Nidderdale valley is ideal for a rural foodie break. The renowned restaurant is run by Frances Atkins, one of only six female Michelin-starred chefs in the UK. The proof is in the pudding, with Atkins and her team creating an ever-changing menu inspired by the seasons and the best locally available produce. Explore the surrounding countryside on foot or continue your foodie experience with a trip to storied Harrogate for afternoon tea at the famous Bettys Tearoom.
Rooms from £172.50. Tasting menu from £50.
Photo: Courtesy of The Yorke Arms.
Eckington Manor, Cotswolds
If you’re a fan of cooking as well as eating, then Eckington Manor might be right up your street. Their award-winning cookery school offers one-, two- and three-day courses for budding chefs to tackle a host of disciplines (breadmaking and gourmet Italian dining caught our eye). Not a fan of slaving over a stove? Eckington Manor’s dining options are equally top-notch. The restaurant is headed up by MasterChef winner Mark Stinchcombe and throughout the winter will be showcasing a six-course tasting menu of some of the dishes made on the show.
MasterChef menu for two with double bedroom costs £299.
Photo: Courtesy of Eckington Manor.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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