Best honeymoons for foodies

Looking for the most idyllic foodie honeymoons? Read on for the best beach hotels, rural estates, charming b&bs and remote getaways to stay in across the world for the ultimate remote experience.

For more like this, check out our best romantic holiday destinations around the world and the UK's most luxurious hotels for a special occasion.

Hotel Lutetia, Paris – for classic romance

The perfect mini-moon destination, who can resist the romance of Paris? Oozing Parisian style, Hotel Lutetia is an impossibly handsome Art Nouveau meets Art Deco building on the corner of St Germain’s Boulevard Raspail and Rue de Sèvres. Luxurious in-room touches – monogrammed pillowcases, lavish fruit plates, chocolate sculptures – speak to its reputation as one of the city’s finest addresses.

Its food and wine credentials owe much to its connection with long-time previous owner champagne house Taittinger. The partnership lives on in its own Cuvée Lutetia, enjoyed in the frescoed Bar Josephine, or with an indulgent brunch of truffled scrambled eggs under the stained glass in salon Le Saint Germain. During Fashion Week Lutetia is home to the great, the good and the famous, its serene Akesha Spa being a major pull. Year round, Brasserie Lutetia provides unequalled people-watching opportunities on its perfectly placed outdoor terrace serving caviar, smoked oysters and lobster with black truffle.

From €1445. Check rates and availability at hotellutetia.com or booking.com

Boca de Agua, Bacalar, Mexico – for a luxury jungle retreat

This luxury jungle retreat is set back from the Yucatán Peninsula’s Lagoon of Seven Colours, close to Mexico’s Belize border. Twenty-two treehouse suites, each with turquoise tiled outdoor rain showers, king-size beds, private plunge pools and hammocks strung across shaded decks, are nestled within the forest of mango, banana and kapok trees (believed to be sacred in Mayan culture), from which toucans, woodpeckers and spider monkeys provide a tropical soundtrack.

The brutalist-style main building gives the air of an abandoned jungle kingdom, with steps leading to a secluded pool and a man-made cenote. Chef Sergio cooks local specialities over fire in the open kitchen. Lunch options include flame-grilled steak tacos, plump prawn aguachile and black fish, mango and achiote ceviche. Come evening try charcoaled empanadas with chimichurri or a selection of steak cuts with tomato and fresh berry salad. Mexican wines include floral orange from Valle de Parras, or drinks specialist Leandro can guide you through a mezcal tasting.

The breakfast menu is split into Mexican and Yucatán specialities. In the latter, you can find huevos rancheros alongside cochinita pibil and lechón tacos, both made with smoky suckling pig cooked underground for 24 hours. Pad down the walkway through the mangroves to the uniquely turquoise waters of Bacalar Lagoon. Take a dip, hop on a kayak to spot the stromatolite fossils and relax on the deck with a mezcal margarita, guacamole and toasted tortilla chips.

Doubles from £222, check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com

Middleton Lodge, North Yorkshire – for a UK minimoon

Book a stay at Middleton Lodge to unwind in luxury surroundings after the wedding. Tucked away in 200 acres of peaceful countryside, with Michelin-starred tasting menus and decadent spa, this Georgian estate is the perfect spot for a post-wedding debrief.

The collection of honey-hued farmhouse buildings and stables have been lovingly restored – from the charming Tack Room with wood-burning stove, huge free-standing bath and beamed ceilings, to contemporary suites with outdoor copper tubs and views of wildflower meadows.

The jewel in the crown of the estate is Forge, a restaurant that earned its first Michelin star in 2025. Dishes highlight foraged ingredients and estate-grown produce, with inventive flavour combinations – think dry-aged Nidderdale hogget and north coast cod with preserved lemon and English sparkling wine. Coach House offers a more relaxed approach for breakfast, all-day dining and cocktails.

Guest numbers at Forest Spa are cleverly limited so it can feel like you have it almost to yourself. Swim in the stunning 15-metre outdoor pool with views over the countryside or dip in the outdoor hot tub. Cute treatment huts named for herbs growing nearby offer a range of nature-inspired treatments such as massages and Voya seaweed wraps – the signature In Bloom massage is a favourite, blending deep relaxation techniques with aromatic oils to reflect the estate’s gardens through the seasons.

Doubles from £229, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com

Argos, Cappadocia, Turkey – for a unique cave stay

Make your honeymoon memorable with a stay at this luxury cave hotel in the hilltop village of Uçhisar, with extraordinary views over the dramatic volcanic moonscapes and ‘fairy chimney’ landforms of Cappadocia.

Most of the hotel’s 71 rooms are architectural hybrids, making use of caves hewn into the rocky hillside and finishing them in a contemporary style. Suites may take the form of single-storey warrens; others are duplex, with rooftop balconies spilling out onto the hillside. The most romantic options for honeymooners have their own jacuzzi, or even a swimming pool.

Argos’s cave spa offers one-of-a-kind subterranean escapism, and dining privately in the hotel’s ancient converted monastery, though an indulgent add-on to your stay, is a one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience. For oenophiles, there’s also the largest natural underground wine cellar in Europe (tours and tastings available) – with accompanying pickle room.

Hotel restaurant Nahita is the first farm-to-table restaurant in the region, where all ingredients are sourced within a strict 60km radius. The menu focuses on traditional local cuisine: think succulent lamb cooked in a tandoor for twelve hours, aubergine “testi” (dough-sealed clay cooking pots) kebabs, and pillowy, smoke-scented breads. Sister restaurant Seki retains Nahita’s commitment to local sourcing but, with its pan-Mediterranean offering, finds influences from further afield.

Served in Nahita, breakfast is a feast for both eyes and tastebuds, with breads, pastries, salads, dips, meats, cheeses and fruits presented on intricately patterned ceramics. The cooked-to-order menu offers classic Turkish fare like menemen, eggs scrambled with spices and tomatoes.

Check rates and availability at booking.com or argosincappadocia.com

Villa Paola, Tropea – for luxury in an Italian villa

Discover rustic luxury at Villa Paola, a pink-hued former 16th-century convent set among the cliffs of Calabria at the southern tip of Italy. From crisp white linen bedding to cool marble bathrooms, a secluded infinity pool and serene courtyards, it is the perfect location for some honeymoon R&R. Terraces look out to the coast and over the farmland below, where the restaurant grows a lot of its produce.

Choose between rooms with views of the rolling hills or sweeping panoramas of the towns below, with bird song to gently wake you and white wooden shutters to throw open in the morning. The Eremita suite is perfect for honeymooners with its own Turkish bath and veranda.

There’s a bistro-style menu on offer during the day with dishes such as sourdough pizzas, red onion salads and club sandwiches. Enjoy an aperitivo overlooking the sea after spending time on the beach or wandering around Tropea. De’ Minimi restaurant offers more refined tasting menus, meticulously designed with seasonality at the forefront and an emphasis on local produce and zero waste.

At breakfast, a three-tiered stand of daily-changing treats arrives to the table for enjoying with your morning cappuccino. There’s also a continental buffet of fruit, pastries and cakes, with à la carte options including omelettes and local honey, which is the star of the show here – make sure to load your yogurt with a generous drizzle.

Rooms from £285 per night, check availability at villapaolatropea.it or booking.com

UXUA casa hotel and spa, Trancoso – for luxurious boho beach vibes

Dotted around Trancoso, an idyllic, palm-fringed beach in the northeast of Brazil, sit 11 luxury suites, all part of the UXUA casa hotel and spa. Many of the buildings the suites are set in date back over 500 years, and have been sensitively restored using reclaimed materials and local influences.

Choose the mint green Gulab Mahal suite, with its exposed beams and two storeys, for light and space, or the Seu João for a cosy pad for two, with its lush gardens, rustic kitchen, outdoor shower and private pool. For more pampering, take time out at the hotel’s spa, indulging in hot stone massages, body scrubs, facials and reflexology (all done using products made with local ingredients such as coconut oil, cocoa and pink pepper seeds).

Or stroll the eight-minute route from the hotel to UXUA’s private beach, where you’ll find a bar serving super-fresh ceviche, fish tacos and fresh coconut juice. Guests can also sign up for lessons in how to make moqueca, the traditional Bahian fish stew, with chef Bernardo Silva. The celebrated dish is made with whatever white fish has been caught that day, plus fat prawns, garlic, coconut cream, chilli, sweet peppers, parsley and coriander.

Suites from £432 per night, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk

Le Barn, Bonnelles, France – for unique rural France

If you’re looking for a taste of honeymoon serenity without the burden of long travel, Le Barn, set in France’s Bonnelles countryside, should be high on your wishlist. Just 40 minutes from Paris Orly airport, the 500-acre estate offers an outdoors experience with comfort and luxury.

This hotel is all about switching off and enjoying nature. The 73 rooms, mostly spread across two converted barns, provide a cosy home for your stay, with balconies that look over the horses grazing in the fields or the lake (which you can swim in).

Digital detoxing and honeymoon unwinding is easy when there are warm Nordic baths, a steam room, sauna, electric bikes and forest walks all on offer. Wind down for the evening with a drink by the fire in the colder months, or under a canopy of wisteria in the garden in summer. The grounds are shared with Haras de la Cense, a prestigious horse riding training centre, and there are horses dotted around the vast space, as well as the option to go riding or try the Whisperer’s Experience.

Food is seasonally led, using as much as possible from the kitchen garden and locally sourced produce. The menu changes daily, according to what’s available, but dishes can include stuffed rotisserie chicken or roasted leg of lamb, with sides of roasted carrots, leeks and potatoes. Desserts are a treat not to be missed, including the likes of tarte aux figues and iles flottantes. Breakfast is a satisfyingly French affair: crusty bread, salty butter and homemade jams alongside eggs, bacon, pancakes and bowls of fruit fresh from the garden.

Doubles from £200 per night, check availability at lebarnhotel.com or booking.com

Potato Head, Bali – for an eco-chic retreat

If you're ticking Bali off your travel wishlist, Potato Head is the place to stay. Sustainability is at the forefront of this eco-chic retreat nestled into Seminyak’s palm-fringed coastline. Ceilings are made of recycled Sprite bottles, earthy tones warm up the expansive space and rattan furniture adds local character. Warm, friendly staff in chic shirts and shorts keep the vibe relaxed while ensuring the resort’s award-winning hospitality is consistently brilliant.

For the ultimate romantic experience, book the Oceanfront Studio to wake up to daylight pouring in and stunning sea views. To enjoy golden hour as the sun sets, a wood-panelled bath takes centre stage which can be drawn with floating petals and fresh dragon fruit and watermelon platters on the side. The room is complete with a custom-made maxi-bar, stocked with the likes of spiced rum and pink guava kombucha.

Seasonal produce grown on the organic regenerative farm, Sweet Potato Project, is used in the multiple restaurants. Try authentic Indonesian dishes at Kaum, fresh from the boat seafood cooked on open fire at Ijen (think grilled octopus, whole roasted barramundi and clams in seaweed butter) and contemporary plant-based versions of classics such as báhn mì and pandang curry at Tanaman.

Doubles from £157, check rates and availability at booking.com

Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman – for a private beachside escape

Its ultra-private beachside setting and a willingness to tailor-make the guest experience makes Six Senses Zighy Bay classic honeymoon territory. Laid out in the style of an Omani village (or, rather, a luxurious reimagining of that) the resort’s 87 villas are all variations on a theme, blending stone, wood and woven palm matting to soothing effect. All have a chic, tropical vibe, with dark wood furniture and bright citrus-coloured cushions, but if you want to wake up with a sea view, opt for one of the more expensive sunrise-facing Beachfront Pool villas.

On Friday evenings you can walk barefoot along the beach under a star-speckled sky for dinner at the Shua Shak, a breezy Bedouin-style restaurant with low tables and cushioned seating under a simple palm-leaf canopy. It’s the main course that everyone really comes for: mounds of flaky lamb that’s been marinated for 24 hours in olive oil, date syrup, bay leaves, onion, garlic, carrot, cinnamon, anise, cumin and rosemary, then wrapped in banana leaves and foil and cooked on coals in a pit under the sand for seven hours. It’s the perfect partner for the buttery pistachio, cashew and cardamom-laced saffron rice it’s served with – and one of the most romantic dining experiences in the Middle East.

Villas from £809 per night, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or britishairways.com

L’Albereta Relais & Châteaux, Lombardy – for a rural Italian vineyard

Nestled among the vineyards of Franciacorta, L’Albereta makes for a romantic escape with a slice of la dolce vita. The previously privately owned 19th century villa, adorned with a lovingly curated art and sculpture collection, is on the same estate as Bellavista winery.

Franciacorta wines feature alongside others from the region on the restaurants' extensive wine lists. Elegant restaurant Leonefelice Vista Lago boasts a stunning view of Lake Iseo, serving elevated regional dishes including seasonal specials such as fried duck egg with caviar, cacio e pepe with Sicilian red prawns and kiwi sorbet with green apple, regional wine and citrus fruit soup. Stanza 54, a cosy lounge, offers lunches and lighter fare, while La Filiale, the informal pizza restaurant from award-winning pizzaiolo Franco Pepe, serves handmade dough with innovative toppings.

Uniquely decorated rooms are large and bright with warm tones, marble bathrooms, elegant furnishings and artistic touches. For a relaxing honeymoon treat, upgrade to a room with a deep hydro-massage tub or choose a superior room complete with balcony overlooking the gardens. Make your stay even more memorable by booking a wine tasting and tour of the on-site winery or indulge in a treatment at the Chenot Espace wellness spa.

Superior rooms from £348 per night, check availability at albereta.it or booking.com

Wilderness reserves, Zambia and Zimbabwe – for a luxury safari

If a once-in-a-lifetime safari is your honeymoon dream, the remote Wilderness reserves in Zambia and Zimbabwe offer a rare kind of travel. Each reserve is built sensitively around its environment to allow wildlife to roam freely and the landscape to remain untouched.

The guiding here is world-class and truly tailored to each guest. Days begin and end with river cruises or game drives timed for when the animals are at their most active and the sunsets impossibly vivid. In the golden calm of the afternoon the tempo slows – you can enjoy a dip in the pool, a massage at the spa, or a lingering lunch accompanied by the sound of cicadas and distant bird calls.

As well as getting you up close and personal to the animals, the Wilderness reserves offer a touch of luxury throughout your stay. Wilderness Toka Leya’s open-sided river suites with swinging chairs and outdoor bathtubs allow you to soak up the hippos’ nightly chorus from the mighty Zambezi below. Wilderness Linkwasha’s pale woods and glass walls create a modern aesthetic overlooking the watering hole where giraffes stoop to drink as you sip your morning coffee. Wilderness Ruckomechi’s lantern-lit decks and elephants wandering through camp feel timelessly explorer-chic. Many suites also feature outdoor beds – perfectly safe yet open to the night sky – where you fall asleep beneath the Milky Way and wake to the sound of laughing hyenas greeting the dawn.

Dining is integral to the experience and meals celebrate the bold, earthy flavours of southern Africa – flame-grilled bream from the Zambezi, slow-cooked game stews, and vegetables grown in camp gardens. Mornings start with a light breakfast of fresh fruit, wood-fired breads and eggs cooked to order before your first adventure. Evenings are pure theatre – gin and tonics around the campfire as the sun sinks below the horizon, followed by candlelit dinners beneath a vast star-studded sky.

Check out Wilderness Destinations for destinations, rates and availability.

Fontelunga Hotel, Tuscany – for Italian sunsets

For a truly unwinding honeymoon amid Tuscany’s romantic rolling hills, make your way to this stylish hotel. Set within an olive estate, the elegant villa at the heart of Fontelunga is home to eight glamorously understated bedrooms, plus a junior suite in a separate cottage for couples seeking more seclusion and two private self-catering villas. Each room is named after an Italian material and colours are reflected in the styling, from plush silver furnishing in Diamante to peachy notes in Tormalina.

Spend your days lounging in the Jacuzzi, playing games of doubles on the tennis court or simply taking some time to stretch in the yoga gazebo. All of which will help you work up an appetite for the hotel’s cooking. Breakfast and lunches (homemade cakes and platters of pecorino cheese with local meats) are served on the terrace overlooking the Val di Chiana and – if you don’t want to venture out to the region’s acclaimed restaurants, trattorias and pizzerias – dinners can be ordered on request (you can also book a private chef to come and cook for you if you’re staying in one of the self-catering villas).

The big attraction for foodies, however, are the twice-weekly dinner parties thrown for all guests. Family-style sharing dishes start with fried vegetables and mixed crostini before moving onto a three-course dinner which uses local food of the season.

Doubles from £273, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com

La Mamounia, Marrakech – for a luxury riad

La Mamounia can rightly claim to have invented luxury tourism in Morocco. In its 101-year history, this storied hotel has welcomed the great and the glam. Set in 16 acres of fragrant gardens, guests enjoy a huge outdoor pool, tennis courts, spa and hammam and a quirky games room.

Dining is world class; feast on traditional Moroccan dishes at Le Marocain; choose between Asian and Italian restaurants overseen by culinary luminary Jean-Georges Vongerichten; the buffet breakfast served poolside is the stuff of legend; Bar Majorelle is the place to see and be seen in Marrakech, while the Le Churchill is an intimate, chic space designed in the style of a Pullman carriage.

Bedrooms and suites are richly ornate, with colourful but calming Moroccan interiors and marble clad bathrooms. Out in the gardens are three-bedroom private riads for exclusivity and the services of a private butler.

From £442 per night. Check rates and availability at mamounia.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk

Copal Tree Lodge, Belize – for an eco jungle escape

Copal Tree Lodge is a luxurious eco-resort set between the Rio Grande river and lush jungle, blending laid-back Belizean hospitality with serious luxury.

For the most unique stay, four Signature Canopy Suites are accessed by a tiny tram that takes you to the top of the jungle canopy. Choose rooms 13 or 16 for sunrise views, and 14 or 15 to watch the sunset from your king-sized bed, veranda hammock or outdoor balcony bathtub. Whichever you go for, the views are out of this world. You also get shared use of the infinity pool and a private bar with bartender Ducky to shake up whatever you fancy.

Most of the food you’ll eat at Copal Tree Lodge is grown on site – the estate even produces its own coffee, chocolate and rum, with tours of the distillery, chocolate making or coffee tastings on offer. The Garden Table Restaurant serves dishes from the kitchen garden, cooked in traditional Belizean styles such as Creole, Latin and Garifuna. Lunches combine fresh produce in sandwiches, salads and tacos with spicy pico de gallo, handmade tortillas and homemade queso fresco.

Belizean breakfasts are some of the best in the world, combining Central American favourites like huevos rancheros or burritos with a plethora of sweet, fresh tropical fruits and juices, and US-style breakfasts like pancake stacks (served with pineapple butter – a must-try) and thick coconut and cinnamon french toast.

Suites from £450, check rates and availability at booking.com

Royal Champagne Hotel and Spa, France – for Michelin-starred dining

Set in the hills above Champillon and Hautvillers, the Royal Champagne Hotel and Spa is the region’s first contemporary five-star hotel serving Michelin-star food across two restaurants.

If you’re looking for a romantic dinner Le Royal offers fine-dining without having to stay the night. The four-course discovery menu is a chance to try a selection of the chef’s favourite dishes, so expect crab and caviar served with mango and citrus fruit marmalade, sole and blue lobster served with Champagne sauce (a nod to the region) and an indulgent chocolate dessert. For a more relaxed dining experience, book a table at Le Bellevue which serves classic French dishes of beef steak with frites and cappuccino puff pastry filled with coffee crémeux.

The hotel spa is also not to be missed: overlooking the lush rolling hills, it is home to a yoga studio, eucalyptus-infused saunas along with two swimming pools, one indoor and one outdoor.

Doubles from £800 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com

One&Only Palmilla, Mexico – for tropical rejuvenation

Established as a luxury hideaway in the 1950s, this exquisitely-designed resort, with ocean-facing views and a classic-meets-minimalist Mexican feel, has more than maintained its reputation as a coveted place of rejuvenation and natural wonder. The rugged coastline of the Baja Peninsula allows for fishing, snorkelling, diving and whale watching.

Deep relaxation is encouraged on the beach, among the palm-fringed gardens, azure pools and a world-class spa and wellness centre, honouring Majan rituals. A range of top-end dining options, from the freshest sashimi and sushi to seasonal Baja-inspired cuisine, completes the wow factor.

From £1.3k. Check rates and availability at oneandonlyresorts.com, booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com

Jardin Des Douars, Essaouira – for a Moroccan oasis

Set in the hills above Essaouira, Jardin des Douars is an oasis of palms, plants and monkey puzzle trees. The French-owned hotel is a calm retreat of 25 rooms, spaced out between a main ksar building and various terracotta villas in Jardin des Douars’ tropical gardens.

There’s a laid-back, mellow feel at this tranquil hideaway, with an air of French chicness weaving through traditional Moroccan features – secret courtyards hide fountains decorated with classic zellige tiles and Berber rugs warm up earthy tiled floors. There are two pools and an atmospheric spa, where a traditional hammam is heated with bark from the property’s argan trees.

Behind heavy wooden doors are luxurious rooms that stick to a traditional Moroccan style. There are even mini hammam kits in each bathroom to use in the turquoise-tiled power showers for extra luxury.

Make sure you do a safari of the restaurant spaces during your stay at Jardin des Douars, as each provides a unique experience. Book a couple of plush armchairs in intimate La Table des Douars for a candlelit dinner, or sprawl out in the sunken, cushioned area of the hotel’s main restaurant Le Ksar, a palatial room boasting spectacular views of the gardens and the argan tree-filled valley below. The Moroccan Corner is your go-to restaurant for traditional tagines, stews and couscous.

Jardin des Douars provides a shuttle service into Essaouira medina and we highly recommend making the 15-minute trip into this lively town. Meander through narrow streets and barter for souvenirs in the souks before ducking in to one of Essaouira’s restaurants for tagines and hearty salads.

Doubles from £152, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com

The St Regis, Langkawi, Malaysia – for tropical luxury

Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands off the northwestern coast of Malaysia. It’s a dream destination with an old-school island vibe. Beaches are picture-perfect and, beyond them, is unspoilt nature; waterfalls, jungle and mangrove forests.

The St Regis resort sits on the southern tip of Puala Langkawi, the largest island in the archipelago. The beautifully rambling space is made up of 85 suites (including suites with private pools and gates onto a private 600-metre beach) and four private over-water villas. The design of the hotel is deliberately eclectic, mixing European and Middle Eastern influences with local art. Every room comes with the St Regis 24-hour butler service, which includes complimentary packing and unpacking, ironing-on-demand and hot and cold drinks whenever thirst strikes.

Served in the resort’s airy L’Orangerie restaurant, the epic buffet-style breakfast offering takes in every imaginable option – from familiar western choices and freshly pressed juices to sushi, a dim sum station, laksa and even an ice cream bar. There’s also an a la carte menu with specialities like local lobster omelette, croissant French toast or wagyu steak. No one is going to go hungry here. For dinner, the star attraction is the beautiful Kayaputi restaturant, standing in the sea on stilts. Enjoy a cocktail and watch the sunset on the terrace bar.

If idyllic beach-lounging isn’t enough the St Regis offers a bespoke Geo Forest Safari adventure – a thrilling afternoon trip that starts with a speedboat ride down the local Kilim river, before continuing on foot to reach bat-filled caves. It’s not for the faint-hearted but the connection to nature is an important part of island life and it’s a privilege to witness it first-hand.

Suites from £259 per night, check availability at marriott.com, booking.com or expedia.co.uk

Birkenhead House, South Africa – for whale watching

Birkenhead House, perched above the beach outside the coastal town of Hermanus (about a two-hour drive from Cape Town), isn’t all-inclusive as you know it. There are no wristbands, no all-you-can-eat buffets. Instead you’re free to pour yourself a drink from the bar, crack open a bottle of fizz when you feel like it and order from an à la carte menu. The hotel’s 11 rooms are beach house in style, luxurious but not in an over-the-top way. Many are sea-facing, (all have their own balconies) and room one has unparalleled ocean views, while room five has a ‘honeymoon plunge pool’.

The breakfast buffet has been given great thought with fresh fruits and berries and little jars of natural yoghurt topped with home-made fruit purée or granola. The cheeses, charcuterie, pickles and chutney are top notch and there are plenty of hot choices, too. Time your visit right and you can watch majestic southern right whales cavort in the Atlantic below while you tuck into breakfast, or a cocktail, on the hotel’s terrace.

At dinner time, Birkenhead House chef Ziyaad Ozayr Brown sources everything from within 10-15 km of the nearby Klein River, including a glorious array of local artisanal charcuterie and cheeses from Klein River Farmstead. Being Cape Malay, a lot of his dishes have Malaysian and Indian influences, marrying a love of spices with a penchant for the sweet and coconutty, on a daily changing menu.

Doubles from £539, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com

Salt, Mauritius – for culturally curious couples

Salt is something different from clichéd images of Mauritius: a forward-thinking hotel brand that aims to provide authentic experiences for “culturally curious” travellers. The idea is to introduce guests not just to places but to people. The design of the 59-room hotel, courtesy of French interiors guru Camille Walala, reflects the island’s vivid colours. Among its vast library of 300 carefully curated books, three-quarters are Mauritian.

Food is at the resort’s heart (the philosophy explained by catchphrases such as “Farming it, not flying it”) and everything from supper with a Mauritian family to fishing trips with a local fisherman are on the menu. With an eye on environmental impact there are no mini-bars in the rooms and no single-use plastics. Each guest is given an aluminium bottle to refill at the water stations, and to take home.

Doubles from £136 per night, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or tui.co.uk

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