Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest’s Kollázs Brasserie & Bar. Credit: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest
Life is much too short for mediocre room service or a less-than-fantastic meal — especially when you’re on the road. Luckily, if you’re traveling to one of these seven high-end hotels, you won’t have to worry.
These chic stays, from Milan to Hong Kong, not only hit all the marks when it comes to stellar accommodations, but also offer mouthwatering morsels that are well worth the plane ride.
Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest
Hungry in Hungary? Perched in all its splendor along the Danube River in the heart of Budapest, this grand Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star manor will surely impress. Step inside for a proverbial feast for the eyes in the form of dramatic chandeliers, sky-reaching cupolas and much more.
And when it’s time to dine, Kollázs Brasserie & Bar (named after the Hungarian word for “collage”) delights with a creatively curated menu inspired by the breadth of Europe’s cuisine, with dishes ranging from classic French beef bourguignon to a locally inspired octopus and scallop selection that has potato paprikash (paprika-spiced stew) and sausage.
Dining at Bayview. Credit: Hotel President Wilson, A Luxury Collection Hotel
Hotel President Wilson, A Luxury Collection Hotel
Facing the spectacular Lake Geneva with Mont-Blanc in the background, this contemporary Four-Star hotel is at the center of it all, with floor-to-ceiling windows just to prove it. When it comes to gastronomy, the Geneva property’s signature restaurant Bayview serves high-end French cuisine to match the picture-perfect vistas.
Entrées from acclaimed chef Michel Roth are designed to highlight the region (see: sea bass from Noirmoutier and roasted Swiss beef fillet).
If you prefer something sweeter, you won’t want to miss the chocolate and praline mille-feuille or Guanaja chocolate soufflé tart.
The Beekman’s Temple Court. Credit: The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel
The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel
Who wouldn’t love a few days of dining and imbibing in New York City? Nestled in Lower Manhattan between the East and Hudson rivers, this boutique retreat is an epicurean escape all on its own.
Celebrated chef Tom Colicchio is behind the hotel’s Temple Court restaurant, where Big Apple classics like oysters Rockefeller and Waldorf salad are just a taste of what is on the menu.
Or you can step into Augustine from renowned local restaurateur Keith McNally (of Minetta Tavern and Balthazar fame) for brasserie-style plates, such as soufflé au fromage or steak frites.
Make the most of the Financial District property’s flavorful fare with its Eat and Drink Hotel Package, a promotion that serves up a complimentary room upgrade and a $50 daily food and beverage credit to use at any of the hotel’s mouthwatering venues.
Woodstock Inn’s Richardson’s Tavern. Credit: Woodstock Inn & Resort
Woodstock Inn & Resort
Get a taste of New England tranquility at this 142-room Vermont resort. You can curl up in front of a wood-burning fireplace, admire handcrafted wood furniture or take advantage of modern amenities like the Four-Star, LEED-certified spa.
Tickle your taste buds with a veritable smorgasbord of dining options. (Some venues are only open seasonally, so be sure to check in advance.) Open year-round is The Red Rooster, the hotel’s signature restaurant that promises upscale dining in a relaxed setting. Emphasizing local New England purveyors, the menu features regionally sourced ingredients like cold-water oysters and organic vegetables from Woodstock’s own Kelly Way Gardens.
If you’re craving a more casual experience, Richardson’s Tavern serves craft brews and comforting pub fare — we’re talking Northern fried chicken, fish and chips, and tomato-fennel seafood stew — beside a roaring fire.
Excelsior’s Terrazza Gallia. Credit: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc
Excelsior Hotel Gallia, A Luxury Collection Hotel
Italy boasts plenty of historic and architectural marvels, and this Milanese grand dame is no different. The iconic belle époque building overlooks the city’s Centrale train station, which is best viewed from the hotel’s rooftop restaurant and bar, Terrazza Gallia.
Modern décor provides the setting for innovative, contemporary plates (fig and foie gras risotto or snapper ravioli) while, downstairs at Gallia Lounge & Bar, you’ll find more traditional Italian dishes.
Behind it all, the Four-Star hotel consulted with highly regarded chefs Enrico and Roberto Cerea of Da Vittorio, a delicious institution just outside Milan, to ensure you relish in the most flavorful experience possible.
A Sea Urchin Dish from Amber. Credit: Ming Tang-Evans
The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
When it comes to elegant dining in Hong Kong, there are few places as distinguished as this chic Five-Star stay. The Central neighborhood hotel is home to Amber, a Five-Star restaurant offering a contemporary twist on classic French cuisine.
Here, chef Richard Ekkebus blends his Dutch roots and precise technique to create seafood-centric delights like Hokkaido sea urchin in lobster Jell-O or black abalone with a white bean compote topped with crispy pancetta.
To top it off, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental also has an outpost of beloved Manhattan speakeasy PDT (Please Don’t Tell), an intimate cocktail bar created in collaboration with the original.
Jin Xuan. Credit: The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong
The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong
People check into this Five-Star Pudong standout for its art deco style, its location adjacent to upscale Shanghai IFC mall and its superior spa. But they really should be coming for the food and drinks.
At the sumptuous Jin Xuan Chinese Restaurant, chef Daniel Wong turns out original modern Cantonese fare. Try the cereal lobster, where a crispy pastry bowl holds lobster topped with sweet milk powder “cereal.” The sweet-and-savory dish is an exquisite play on texture. Be sure to peruse the impressive tea menu, too.
Jin Xuan also serves up fantastic views, with walls of windows throughout the 53rd-floor space. But for the best vistas, zip up to the 58th floor for Flair, the highest rooftop restaurant and bar in China. Sip a Morning Rose (lychee, raspberry, rose and champagne) on the terrace and get an up-close look at the Oriental Pearl Tower architectural wonder.
