Rural Ireland may be most famous for its uninterrupted “Emerald Isle” greenery, but it’s even more of a pleasure to watch its leaves turn gold and amber. Among other forested spots, this spectrum of late autumn foliage is reflected most beautifully in Lough Corrib, the body of water at the foot of Ashford Castle, arguably Ireland’s best hotel and one of the most storied.  

This 800-year-old residence has a pleasing mix of outdoor living and cosy creature comforts that will suit your holiday mood as the season changes. This is a place where you can pull on a cashmere sweater for walks through the 350 acres of grounds, then dress up for dinner before a nightcap by the fireplace in the Prince of Wales Bar.  

While the hotel was recently named the fourth best in Europe (in the Conde Nast Traveller Reader’s Choice Awards, in the “Rest of Europe” category), it’s been a magnet for A-listers, leaders and trendsetters for more than a century: Oscar Wilde, King George V, John Lennon and Barbra Streisand have all stayed, whether in the building’s years as a private home or its subsequent life as a luxury hotel. Here’s how to enjoy this landmark hotel in the atmospheric holiday season months.  

Stay at Ashford Castle on: Ultimate Ireland and Castles and Kingdoms

Outdoor pursuits

Credit: @ashfordcastle on Instagram

As well as heart-pumping walks through the lakeside, woodland and hills around the castle, guests visiting in late autumn can take full advantage of the cooler days to get out and about. Ashford is home to the oldest established falconry school in Ireland, where you’ll get to grips with these beautiful, huge-clawed birds of prey. Try the Hawk Walk experience, where you’ll embark on an atmospheric forest stroll with your own avine companion, giving them room to explore before swooping back to your gloved hand.  

Clay shooting and archery are both quintessential countryside experiences to acquaint you with your surroundings, while a lakeside cruise or fishing trip will get you out on the smooth, rippling waters of Lough Corrib, where the bronzed treetops frame a tranquil view as you cast your rod from a hand-crafted 19ft traditional wooden clinker.  

Equestrian types can enjoy Ireland’s best hotel on horseback. Saddle up with instructors or guides for lessons and trail rides, trotting out to the spectacular paths around the Lough, neighbouring woodland and into the mountains of Connemara to see the rural beauty of the county the way Ashford’s 19th-century guests did. 

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Sublime seasonal cuisine

Credit: @ashfordcastle on Instagram

Ornate wood panelling, Waterford crystal chandeliers and period fireplaces characterise the dining and drinking haunts at Ashford Castle. But the chef’s vision for your meals is entirely modern: seasonal, local Irish produce is the priority in the George V dining room, where you can graze your way through tangy St Tola goat’s cheese from County Clare, lobster from Rossaveel, 60km away, and lamb loin from Kinvara, just the other side of Galway. The real highlight for many is the restaurant’s signature 28-day-aged Chateaubriand and braised cheek, which is carved for two from a vintage-style chef’s trolley in front of you.  

Autumnal fare in Ashford’s restaurants might include woodland girolle mushrooms, a spiced pumpkin soup or gourmet takes on root vegetables such as parsnip and carrot. Meanwhile, chilly October or November mornings cry out for a Full Irish breakfast before you set off to explore: think sausages from Andarl Farm, 40km north of where you sit, plus sizzling Irish bacon, black and white pudding, mushroom, tomato and eggs to order.  What better way to stay the day at Ireland’s best hotel?

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Warming spa sessions  

Credit: @ashfordcastle on Instagram

After a day out on the Lough, with the falconry team or simply driving through County Mayo’s autumn foliage, an hour or three at the hotel’s world-class spa beckons. There’s a reason why this pampering palace has been named Ireland’s Best Spa for eight consecutive years at the World Spa Awards: as well as lavish interiors featuring chandeliers, lashings of gold and a striking Tree of Life mural, it has palatial treatment rooms with big-windowed views of the countryside, plus a hammam and relaxation pool.   

Keen walkers and jet-lagged long haulers can ease tense muscles with an aromatic massage using Voya seaweed products, where therapists tap into a long Irish tradition of using the coastal flora for healing and soothing purposes. Meanwhile a nourishing Natura Bissé facial will plump out dry skin after encounters with wind and rain, and an Ashford hammam session employs Atlantic salt and seaweed soap for an invigorating, inimitably Irish take on the Arabic spa tradition.  

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Stay in Ireland’s best hotel and discover the magic of the Emerald Isle on Ultimate Ireland and Castles and Kingdoms

How much would you pay for a cup of award-winning coffee? US$100? That’s how much you can expect to pay for a cup of Panama’s Elida Geisha Natural 1029, thanks to the small scale of its production and the sought-after quality of the beans.

But what sets these beans apart from those that you’re more likely to find in your local corner coffee shop? Simple beans can yield an average cup or a gourmet coffee experience depending on how they’re grown, harvested, roasted, and served.

Both the genetics of the bean and the ecosystem in which it’s grown influence its taste: for instance, Arabica beans are considered premium and can only grow in specific conditions compared to Robusta beans which are more common, cheaper, and can be cultivated in more subtropical and equatorial climates.

The processing, roasting, and serving methods can either mitigate or enhance the bean’s unique characteristics.

Whether you’re searching for a truly gourmet coffee experience or if you’re interested in simply how different cultures brew a cup, put these three countries at the top of your wishlist. 

Learn more: How the once-humble coffee bean conquered the world

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Indonesia

In Indonesia, they drink their coffee black. 

If you’re someone who appreciates a little milk or cream, you may initially be unreceptive to this strong, bitter brew served as-is. But coffee from Indonesia, or “kopi” as it’s called locally, isn’t your average cup. Kopi Luwak is among the most expensive in the world and delivers an unrivaled coffee experience. 

Kopi Luwak is considered one of the best coffees in the world. These beans are sustainably sourced in Indonesia, and while sustainable sourcing is common in other parts of the world, Kopi Luwak employs very specific help when choosing which beans to use.

An Asian Palm Civet is a mongoose-adjacent species that has an extremely discerning taste for coffee beans: they’ll only eat beans that are ripe which allows the producers to identify which of these beans will yield a chocolatey taste that’s far from bitter.

Whole Kopi Luwak beans aren’t cheap. This producer and roaster based in Britain may charge US$120 (£94, €110) for a 1kg bag. With these prices, it’s obvious why you’ll want to skip the cream and sugar to drink this brew as black as possible.

If you prefer a cup of tea, then you’ll love the private high tea experience available on Luxury Gold’s 13-day Imperial Rajasthan tour. This journey through India includes a private visit to a colonial bungalow where you’ll learn about the British Raj.

Colombia

Colombian coffee is a heavyweight in the coffee industry. It’s the county’s main export and has been for centuries. While Colombia does have a region called the Coffee Zone that produces the lionshare of the country’s beans, the country’s landscape featuring different altitudes, temperatures, and precipitation means coffee producers can grow a variety of different flavors of beans throughout Colombia’s borders. 

This is a country that adores its coffee like no other; there’s even a full theme park dedicated to the history, culture, and production of Colombian coffee called Parque del Cafe. You can’t go wrong with a cup from places like Cafe Jesus Martin, a producer in Salento that is championed even by fellow coffee growers. If you’re searching for an award winning coffee renowned around the globe, fellow Armenian grower Cafe San Alberto will deliver. 

Like most Colombian coffees, Cafe San Alberto’s Arabica beans are well-balanced, light and flowery yet still a little acidic. Their pickers use a five-step process: first selected on the tree for ripeness and density then separated by weight, color, and size during the drying and threshing processes to ensure each cupping batch is roasted properly to deliver a serene mix of dark chocolate and caramel-like flavor. 

Cafe San Alberto was the first Colombian coffee producer to receive the iTQi Crystal Taste Award, having won the iTQi Superior Taste Award three years in a row, adding to their World Food Fair Gold Medal and Land of Diversity award for most exotic Colombian coffee.

Get your fill of South American coffee when you book Luxury Gold’s Treasures of the Incas tour. Begin your mornings in Peru with fresh cups of coffee on this 12-day adventure that includes a Machu Picchu visit. 

Thailand

Indonesia’s not the only Asian country that gets a helping hand from wildlife for their award winning coffee. Thailand’s Black Ivory Coffee labels itself “the world’s rarest coffee”, sold only to specific five-star hotels and Michelin star restaurants, with only a small portion available for international purchase by the public. 

What makes this coffee so unique? Its limited reserve is initially digested by elephants. Though the phrase “elephant dung coffee” doesn’t evoke images of the finest Thai Arabica beans, Black Ivory Coffee is exceptionally floral and less fruity than other blends. Some have equated its non-bitter taste to that of a cold brew coffee, though we suggest you try it hot. 

The goal of Black Ivory Coffee is to foster the ethical treatment and protection of elephants; a lack of exploitation means a lack of product availability. This scarcity drives up the price, and if you’re lucky enough to find it in stock, expect to pay USD$2,500 (£1,964, €2300) for a 1kg box.

From Vietnamese iced coffee and egg coffee to fresh brews in Laos and Cambodia, Luxury Gold’s 16-day Inspiring Indochina tour covers 11 cities in 3 countries, each with opportunities for you to experience cafe culture at your leisure.

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Where does your favorite bean or blend of award winning coffee originate from? Let us know what you’re drinking in the comments below.

While at its heart, Indian food is casual and comforting, a highly skilled chef can bring the inherently seasonality, heritage, and complexities of flavour to the forefront. Indian fine dining may not have the same strong representation as its European or Asian counterparts, but it’s no less entrepreneurial and exciting. 

The velvety richness of shahi paneer The roaring heat of a vindaloo. The comfort of butter chicken or a dal makhani. Some of India’s best chefs have brought their favorite childhood dishes to kitchens around the world and turned a home-cooked classic into a Michelin Star meal. Others have elected to remain near their roots, elevating both tradition and technique to create a luxury dining experience that you can only find in India.

Go directly to the source and uncover some of the best Indian food in Delhi on Luxury Gold’s Essence of India tour. Enjoy a luxury dining experience in Delhi as well as an intimate foodie walk through the street markets with a local chef.

5 Michelin Star Chefs From India

There are few luxury dining experiences that rival a meal at a Michelin restaurant. From the elevated to the elegantly refined, these five chefs from India have proudly earned Michelin stars for their interpretations of Indian cuisine. 

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Chef Atul Kochhar 

One of the most prominent Michelin starred chefs from India, Chef Atul Kocchar was the first Indian chef awarded a star. His first Michelin star came at London’s Tamarind, followed by a second star nearby at Benares. Today, Chef Kocchar owns a number of restaurants throughout the UK and one in India.

Chef Garima Arora 

Chef Garima Arora followed Chef Kochhar’s history-making Michelin star by becoming the first Indian woman to earn the same honor. Restaurant Gaa’s modern Indian fine dining restaurant flaunts traditional Indian cooking techniques with a contemporary appeal in hopes to reform the way classic Indian food is discussed. 

Chef Alfred Prasad 

As the youngest Indian chef to receive a Michelin star, Chef Alfred Prasad maintained the Michelin star at London’s Tamarind for years. He’s famed for revolutionizing British Indian cuisine and currently oversees Shiuli contemporary, healthy Indian menu in Twickenham.

Chef Vikas Khanna

Dreams of culinary greatness fueled Chef Vikas Khanna’s journey from his home in Punjab to the Big Apple. His restaurant, Junoon, in New York City has boasted a Michelin star for eight consecutive years, impressively receiving it within Junoon’s first year. Junoon continues to let timeless tradition and contemporary interpretation fuels its Indian cuisine.

Chef Manjunath Mural

Once the head of The Song of India, Chef Manjunath Mural was the first chef to bring a Michelin star to a Southeast Asia Indian restaurant. The Song of India closed its doors in Singapore, but not before Mural’s four year run with the star. Chef Mural now continues sharing his skills in Singapore with elevated Indian cuisine at ADDA and decidedly “unauthentic” Indian cuisine at Long Beach’s Cali Chilli in the United States.  

Diners have no doubt sampled some of the finest Indian food in the world outside of India’s borders, though no one has ever eaten at a Michelin starred restaurant in India itself. Michelin  has yet to dedicate its efforts to a proper Indian guide which is why the country lacks Michelin stars. 

But that does nothing to stop many of India’s award-winning chefs from showcasing the country’s depth of cuisine in their own backyards. 

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Where to Dine With the Most Awarded Chefs in India

They may not be Michelin star chefs in India, but these notable men and women have wowed the country’s dining scene through both bold innovation and a strong command of traditional Indian culinary techniques.

Thai Naam | Mumbai

Chef Ananda Solomon

Those craving Thai food might find the best in the world at Thai Naam in Mumbai. Though Chef Ananda Solomon hails from Pune, this pioneer brought authentic Thai cuisine to India after spending years in Thailand working in both food stalls and royal kitchens. His efforts and experience were championed at Mumbai’s Thai Pavilion where the chef eventually retired. Not one to sit on his hands, he’s cooked up a new venture in the form of Thai Naam.

Thai Naam is regularly stocked with spices and produce from Thailand, offering up stir-fry and Tom Yum soups so traditional that you’d forget you hadn’t boarded a flight to Thailand at Mumbai’s international airport only a few kilometres from your table. Tasting Thai in India may initially seem like a sin, but trust that Chef Solomon’s mastery of the cuisine offers a deeply satisfying experience akin to ordering the best Indian foods in Great Britain. 

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Indian Accent | New Delhi

Chef Manish Mehrotra

Regularly regarded as one of the best restaurants in Asia, Indian Accent success is driven by Chef Manish Mehrotra at the helm. He cooked under Chef Ananda Solomon at Thai Pavilion in Mumbai and aims to reinterpret nostalgic Indian plates at Indian Accent in New Delhi.

With a sister location in New York City, Indian Accent is acclaimed for its exciting take on Indian food. The menu is an adventurous affair as seasonal produce from the region is mixed with global ingredients to leave a diner lost in the reminiscence of tradition and the joy of modern exploration. The Chef’s tasting menu is a playful assortment of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian offerings like caramelized carrot khaman, duck ghughra, and summer corn chaat. 

Suvarna Mahal | Jaipur

Chef Raghu Deora

As the Executive Chef of Rambagh Palace, Chef Raghu Deora is charged with the unenviable task of mastering the most regal of India’s dishes. Crafting these rivaled dishes is all in a day’s work thanks to his unrivaled skill developed over a three-decade career that’s stretched from East China, Hong Kong, and Singapor to Jaipur.

Without question one should expect a luxury dining experience upon setting eyes on Rambagh Palace. This opulent estate houses Suvarna Mahal in the original palace dining room, allowing you to sample the flavors of Hyderabad, Awadh, Punjab, and Rajasthan beneath dazzling chandeliers and other Renaissance-style decor. 

The royal Indian menu is as refined as can be at Suvarna Mahal, presenting the absolute best of India on a plate. Rajasthani lamb curry and Awadhi Murgh Korma are among the main courses tempting you to ignore the eight other pages on the mouthwatering menu. Those who can make their way from the appetizers and mains down to the dessert section are rewarded with gulab jamun aur gulkand kulfi that leaves a final sweet taste on your lips to close an unforgettable meal.

Watch the sunrise at the Taj Mahal, explore Udaipur, the Venice of the East, and enjoy luxury dining experiences only found in India during Luxury Gold’s Imperial Rajasthan 13-day tour.