There’s nothing better than leaving the city behind and relaxing for a weekend getaway and indulging in top quality food & wine. You can go one better and have it all in one place and that’s where these gourmet getaways are a standout. Eat, stay and play without even leaving your luxury accommodation at these fine establishments, we’re you’ll be hard pressed to reach your Fitbit goals!
We’ve scoured the alluxia collection and gathered our Top 10 Gourmet Getaways:
The Lake House, Daylesford VIC
Under the guidance of Alla Wolf-Tasker, The Lake House is a destination restaurant not to be missed. With 2 Chefs Hats, this restaurant is bathed in awards. Stay and enjoy the culinary masterpiece or interact with like-minded foodies and learn from some of Australia’s best chefs with Lake House Cooking School.
Spicers Peak Lodge, Scenic Rim QLD
Spicers Retreats are all about relaxed luxury and blending premium food & wine with warm hospitality and a little indulgence. While they all offer award winning dining, our favourite is Spicers Peak Lodge as you’ll see from our review here. Bask in the glory of Head Chef Minh Le's incredible cuisine embracing the food philosophy of minimalist style with a strong emphasis on respect for produce, producer and environment. Amen to that!
Bells at Killcare, Central Coast NSW
There's a new era at Bells at Killcare with the departure of much loved chef Stefano Manfredi. You can read about the changes here. Now with Executive Chef Dean Jones at the helm, the dining experience and surrounds of Bells at Killcare makes for a tantalizing reason to head just 1 1/2 hours from Sydney for a gourmet weekend getaway. Beyond the restaurant the 500 square metre garden supplies the restaurant with more than 15% of the produce on its menu and the 50 free range hens supply the fresh eggs making breakfast on the sunny verandah a joy.
Royal Mail Hotel, Grampians VIC
Royal Mail Hotel is a unique destination set in extensive Australian gardens, with stunning views of the Southern Grampians Ranges. Executive Chef Robin Wickens will be relaunching the restaurant in Spring. The building of the new restaurant Wickens at the Royal Mail is underway with doors set to open this October. While the menus and wine program will remain aligned to Executive Chef, Robin Wickens' culinary philosophies and the property's seasonal garden offerings, Melbourne architect, Nick Byrne and his team have designed a restaurant that provides guests a completely different experience to their every day.
Georges Culinary Retreat, Mornington Peninsula VIC
Modelled on the famous live-in schools of France & Italy, George’s Boutique B&B and Culinary Retreat offers a unique experience in the Mornington Peninsula. With four luxurious suites and an irresistible calendar of residential cooking retreats all conducted in a purpose-built teaching kitchen, you’ve got the recipe for a great culinary adventure.
Appellation at The Louise is a must-visit when touring the Barossa Valley. Executive Chef Ryan Edwards and his team are passionate advocates for freshness, seasonality and regionalism, varying their menu nightly to take full advantage of the bountiful produce sourced from the kitchen garden and local suppliers. Match with the impressive wine selection including iconic Barossa wines and you’re in foodie heaven!
One of our favourite & more unique dining experiences is Thorn Park by the Vines. With just 3 impeccably styled rooms, let hosts Michael Speers and David Hay take you through a culinary journey, intertwined with stories from their life and travels. In an exquisite private location, with bush and vineyard views and incredibly warm hospitality, you won’t want to leave.
Jackalope Hotel, Mornington Peninsula VIC
Recently opened Jackalope Hotel in the picturesque Mornington Peninsula is causing quite a stir with their new offering Doot Doot Doot. With a chic setting of gold terrazzo tabletops and designer furnishings it's a feast of the senses. More casual fare is available at Rare Hare and the location at Willow Creek Vineyard is unbeatable.
Canberra is the capital of cool with impressive dining experiences, many within the plethora of boutique hotels scattered across the city. None more than Sean McConnell's Monster Kitchen & Bar, elevating everything your thought you knew about hotel restaurants. Otherwise, step out in the New Acton precinct with buzzy cafes, restaurants and Palace Cinema downstairs.
The New Inchcolm Hotel, Brisbane QLD
Brisbane's hidden gem, The New Inchcolm Hotel & Suites boasts an exceptional one hatted restaurant Thomson's Reserve, where Head Chef Anthony Hales delivers dishes with class and distinction. Entree of spanner crab, crème fraiche, sorrel, grapefruit, walnut is a standout.
Have you stayed at any of these gourmet getaways? Where's your favourite restaurant with rooms?
