LE RELAIS BERNARD LOISEAL
SAULIEU FRANCE
Why it’s got the Insta-factor…
Long before there was Jamie Oliver, Heston Blumenthal and Gordon Ramsay, there was Bernard Loiseau. He was a cuisine legend, whose talent and charisma were matched only by his obsessive perfectionism. (Which some believed led to his shocking suicide in 2003.) The dishes he created in this Burgundy hotel are still cited as some of the best in the world, and you can taste them here – his low-fat frogs’ legs with garlic and parsley is a bucket-list experience. Our advice: charge your phone before dinner – there are lots of #foodporn possibilities. Although be subtle, you’ll be sitting with serious gourmands. How do I blend in? Stylish foodies from across the globe come here, so best not to ask what “sous vide” means at dinner. The hotel feels more like a very posh house, such is the carefully constructed intimate vibe, so casual chic is best. That said, Loiseau has a brandnew mega-spa (and accompanying healthy cuisine for those who feel a gastric band beckons after one too many tasting menus), so you could float around in your dressing gown all day.
Any celebrity guests?
Only every living chef you have ever heard of – all of whom worship at the altar of Bernard Loiseau. There were rumours that French First Lady Brigitte Macron was about to visit when we were there.
Don’t go home without...
Several things. One: A chat with Madame Loiseau, the Legion d’Honneur-winning superwoman, and widow of Bernard, who runs the show. Down-toearth, funny, completely open and a true #girlboss in action. Two: nipping to the shop next door to stock up on Loiseau goodies. We can heartily recommend the black-cherry juice, the passionfruit caramels, all of the jams and their blackcurrant body scrub (best thing we’ve ever used, no exaggeration), which is, sadly, not edible.