Love food and views? Feast your eyes on this. A hand-picked collection of remote retreats serving up gourmet cuisine and killer mountain views: a perfect pair in our opinion.
Lilianfels (Blue Mountains, Australia)
Cast high on the slopes of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains, Lilianfels occupies a glorious position for fine dining. Popular with weekenders escaping urban Sydney, this grand country house offers elegant high teas and degustation dinners that have earned Darley’s Restaurant “chef’s hat” status (the Oz equivalent of a Michelin star). The cuisine combines modern Australian with French influence, and the menu might include pork striploin with gingerbread puree or rabbit roulade with potato tortellini and braised peanut. Dine around crackling fires or on the gorgeous terrace that overlooks blooming gardens out to the famous mountains beyond.
Alpaga (French Alps)
Feast on hearty mountain food with a gourmet twist at Alpaga’s Michelin-starred restaurant, La Table de l’Alpaga. Everything apart from the bread is homemade, and the chef always uses seasonal produce. Perhaps pigeon with red cabbage and barley or foie gras with smoked trout and quince. There’s also an excellent vegan menu that makes the most of home-grown produce. In warmer months, dine on the mountain-framed terrace, which offers views of towering Mont Blanc.
Casas do Coro (Portugal)
Set in the tiny, hilltop village of Marialva, Casas do Coro is perfectly positioned for taking in the bucolic surroundings of this ancient settlement. Visit on a balmy summer evening and you’ll be able to dine in the ambient, lantern-lit garden: a gorgeous setting for a romantic meal at sunset. Dinner is a daily changing 4-course menu showcasing gourmet home cooking. You might be treated to veal with Port and cinnamon or Partridge pie with candied parsley and spinach, each paired with a delicious house wine from the Douro.
The Omnia (Switzerland)
Cool and contemporary is the theme at The Omnia, and its restaurant doesn’t fail to follow suit. It’s elevated high above Zermatt, with the lofty peak of the Matterhorn looming behind. Dining takes place in a stylish room with black leather sofas and slick interiors. There are various seasonal menus, as well as tasting menus ranging from 4 to 7 courses. Sample dishes include scallops with cucumber, grapefruit and tarragon or Viennese escalope with mountain cranberries. Breakfasts here are also fabulous – try the chocolate crêpes with an infusion tea from the tea menu.
Hameau Albert 1er (French Alps)
An active day on Chamonix’s famous slopes is sure to leave you ravenous. Head to Hameau Albert 1er for a slice of gourmet heaven at Restaurant Albert 1er. There are various menus, including a 9-course tasting menu, and an a la carte menu featuring the likes of lobster with grapefruit or Chartreuse soufflé with homemade Chartreuse ice cream. There’s also a wine cellar holding 19,000 bottles; not surprisingly, the wine-tasting lunches here are a real hit.
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