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Concierge Tips, Cuisine

Five-Star Secrets: An Insider Guide to Room Service Etiquette

November 1, 2024 by Lucy Thackray No Comments

There’s something so indulgent about dialling down for room service – staying comfy in your suite, perhaps even in a fluffy bathrobe, reclining in style and waiting for that knock from your server. But what are the rules, and are there things to watch out for? We asked one anonymous industry mole from a five-star hotel for their ultimate room service etiquette tips: any dos and don’ts that will help you get the best out of that luxury tray service. Here’s our ultimate guide for approaching room service etiquette like an insider.

 

Photo of a bed with room service breakfast platters next to the bed

Don’t order when you’re already ravenous

“Twenty to thirty minutes is a typical wait for room service. But at peak times, in big hotels, catering teams reserve the right to take up to an hour to get your food to you. Call down with your order well before you want it to arrive, or you’ll just end up frustrated and hungry.”

 

Do wear whatever you like

“Is there room service etiquette when it comes to clothing? It’s not uncommon for guests to greet their tray delivery in a bathrobe, pyjamas or sweaty post-gym outfit – trust me, our servers have seen it all. Their job is just to get the tray to you and get that bill signed. The only real ‘don’t’ here would be answering the door undressed or in underwear; a bathrobe won’t make your server uncomfortable, but your underwear might!”

Read next: These Hotels Have the Best Room Service in the World

 

Breakfast is overrated

“The biggest error I see guests make is ordering eggs for breakfast up to their room. While it’s wonderful to have a lie-in while you wait for your food, eggs simply don’t travel – the scrambled eggs get hard and cold, poached yolks solidify and every style of egg is just so much better fresh from the breakfast buffet station. Coffee can get weaker and colder on the tray, too. As breakfast is far and away the most popular mealtime for room service orders, this is also the order most likely to take a long time. When I’m staying at a hotel, I go down to the restaurant for breakfast.”

The club sandwich is a room service classic for a reason

The club sandwich is a room service classic for a reason

 

There are some failsafe room service winners

“You can rarely go wrong with a club sandwich and fries on room service. Not only is it a classic that’s usually been on room service menus for years (and so been perfected), it’s something that travels well and can be jazzed up with condiments. Other failsafe stars of the room service menu include burgers and pasta dishes. Look out for what’s on the 24-hour, usually shorter room service menu – those are the perennial classics we’re confident we can get right any time of day – and what kind of cuisine is served in the main restaurants. If there’s a well-regarded Japanese restaurant onsite, the sushi platters should be just as good delivered to your room.”

You may also like: The World’s Best Hotels in 2024

 

Know your tips

“As with any kind of food and beverage tipping, room service etiquette for a tip will vary from place to place. In the US, 18%-20% of the room service bill is standard; in most hotels in major cities, a 12-15% service or ‘tray’ charge will be included on your bill. In the rare cases or farther-flung countries where this isn’t the case, rounding up to the nearest 10 or adding on $5 or so’s worth as a tip will be acceptable.”

 

Want something not on the menu? Just ask

“Most hotels will only bring you what’s on the menu, but if you have a hankering for something simple – a grilled cheese sandwich, say, or a simple tomato salad – that’s not on there, it’s worth asking. It’s not necessarily breaking room service etiquette to ask for a green juice on an uninspiring drinks menu, or for a side of potatoes you don’t see listed in print. Especially in more high end hotels, food and beverage managers will go out of their way to accommodate you.”

Don't fret about answering the door in your bathrobe

Don’t fret about answering the door in your bathrobe (Unsplash/Getty)

 

Your tray shouldn’t feel stale

“In a poor room service setting, the pitfalls will be obvious: your eggs will be cold, your coffee may have a layer of film across the top, or the contents of the plate may have slid sideways in transit. Hotels with a strong grasp of their room service offering will be able to deliver your food hot, fresh and unspoiled – so don’t be afraid to call down and ask for a replacement item or dish. Consider that you’re paying extra for the tray service: you want the food to be worth the wait.”

Bookmark for later: How to Spend 48 Hours in One of Norway’s Most Scenic Hotels

 

Be specific

“If you’re a foodie who knows what you like, it pays to be specific. Want that morning coffee to be a machine espresso with a little hot water, not a weaker pot of filter coffee? Say as much when you call in your order. Want ketchup and mayo with that side of fries? Ask specifically, just in case. Whether it’s dressing on the side of a salad or freshly-squeezed OJ, not carton, we’d rather know in advance and get it right first time than risk the dreaded complaint call afterwards.”

 

What to do when you’re finished

“The universal sign for ‘I’m done with my tray’ is to put it just outside of your hotel door, on the floor – that’s why you’re frequently tripping over people’s trays and champagne buckets in hotel corridors. However, if you don’t want to lug the tray outside, it’s just as acceptable in the world of room service etiquette to call down and say your tray is ready to collect. A member of the F&B team will be up reasonably promptly.”

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Cuisine

12 Best Restaurants In Spain

October 22, 2024 by Leanne Williams 1 Comment
Birdseye view of plate of food on brown plate at COME restaurant

With 15 fine dining establishments in the country awarded the distinction of three Michelin-stars, you don’t have to venture far to find the best restaurants in Spain. From the vibrant capital Madrid, where high-end dining mixes seamlessly with rustic bistros and hipster markets, to Barcelona where cutting-edge dishes, innovation and flavor pairings converge, and that’s just for starters. Here are some of the top venues to visit on your next trip to Spain, whether you are tempted by the pinnacle of seafood platters, Iberian traditional flavours or a vegetarian bounty.

To experience the best of Spanish dining, join us on a luxury Spain tour.

1. Quirat, Barcelona

A new Michelin star hero in 2024, Quirat is a contemporary Catalan restaurant in a light-filled, neutral-styled dining room. Here, chef Víctor Torres (who had already had a hit with Les Magnòlies in Arbúcies) sculpts delicate, arty bites such as creamed rice with sea anemones or tenderloin with a roasted red pepper reduction. Two multi-course tasting menus are named 18K and 24K, in reference to the jewelers’ measurement of carats. You’ll find this high-end dining establishment in the InterContinental Hotel, in the locals’ favourite Poble-Sec neighbourhood.

An ornate desert cake coated in white pebbled icing and a small pink tart on the top shows fine dining in Spain

Image credit: @quiratrestaurant on Instagram

We think you’ll also enjoy reading: A Journey of Flavor: The mastery of India’s Michelin Star chefs

2. Atrio, Madrid

When a restaurant has been awarded three Michelin stars, you know it is something special. Atrio’s food and wine menu “harmonizes avant-garde cuisine with the greatest respect for tradition and Extremaduran products.” It deserves its accolade as  one of the best restaurants in Spain and one of Madrid’s most famous eateries. Housed in a luxury hotel , if you are lucky enough to get a reservation at this ‘temple of gastronomy,’ turn it into a cozy weekend away with a stay in the well-appointed guest rooms. Atrio also has a spectacular wine cellar, featuring numerous historic vintages. Over 40,000 bottles from 20 different countries, including 5 vintages from the 1891.

Aerial shot of a delicate plate of food, a red heart with a red leaf on a white plate

Image credit: @atriotono on Instagram

You may also be interested to read: The Best Private Cooking Classes to Enjoy With Luxury Gold

3. Suto, Barcelona 

It’s not all about jamon and queso in Barcelona; some of the best fine dining in Spain, and in this city in particular, is to be found in its international restaurants. One of two new one-starred restaurants to join the guide in 2024 (along with Quirat), Suto is a bijou Japanese spot, where chef Yoshikazu Suto slices up an omakase menu to a small group in a setting that feels more like a Japanese home than a restaurant. The handful of seats up at the polished pine bar are most sought-after, where you can hear the chef’s stories and creative reasons behind each dish as they’re presented. Expect dishes such as a delicate mackerel escabeche with shimchi spices.

Interior of tables at Suto restaurant in barcelona

Image credit: @suto_barcelona on Instagram

We also think you’ll like: Discovering the soul of Spain with Alexandra Hoffer in Seville

4. Akelarre, San Sebastian

One of San Sebastian’s three 3-Michelin starred restaurants, Akelarre has thrived under. the helm of Pedro Subijana. This famous Northen Spain eatery is tucked into the hillside on San Sebastián’s Mount Igeldo, the dining room overlooking the Bay of Biscay, with a breathtaking view of the Ocean. Offering a choice of set menus, on which you can also swap out certain dishes to customize your dining experience, each dish a work of art, both in presentation and flavor.

No flash in the pan, Akelarre was established in 1970, and has held 3 Michelin stars since 2007, after 25 years with two Michelin stars. Since 2017 it also has rooms, a spa and a new bar and restaurant with large terraces, creating a flawless combination of high-end dining in Spain and luxury overnight accommodation.

The sun sets on an ocean view, seen from a brown, iron clad building with a large metal A in the foreground, a restaurant for fine dining in Spain

Image credit: @restaurantalekarre on Instagram

5. Disfrutar, Barcelona

A whimsical number in the Eixample neighbourhood of Barcelona, Disfrutar got the biggest cheer in the room when it was announced as a three-star winner at the 2024 Michelin Gala. Run by three chefs ‒ Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas ‒ all formerly of the legendary elBulli, it has long menus (25 courses on one option) and a “surprise and delight” ethos that diners love. Head here for some of the best fine dining in Spain: think beetroot meringues, molecular olives and vegetable sashimi.

Close top of ice and food in glass with foliage in background

Photo credit: @disfrutarbcn on Instagram

We think you’ll also like: Michelin star dining at 30,000 feet? This airline is making it possible

6. L’Antic Molí, Uldecona

A real hidden gem, L’Antic Moli is a favorite of the locals for special family occasions and communions. A purveyor of the slow food movement, Chef and restaurant architect Vincent Guimerà describes his style as ‘country kitchen’, but we call it Spanish gastronomy at its finest. His innovative dishes focus on organic products, home produced ingredients and strong links with the local “Terres de l”Ebre” area. This guarantees the finest produce, whilst reducing emissions and farmers costs. As well as its Michelin-star status, the restaurant has numerous accolades for sustainability and offers a 100% vegetarian menu for those who want just a plant based culinary experience. Enjoy for yourself on our Spain & Portugal in Style tour.

Chef Vinvent Guirma is shown putting finishing touched to two delicate plates of food in a kitchen

Image credit: @lanticmoli on Instagram

Read more: Meet Michelin-star chef Vicent Guimerà of Spain’s L’Antic Molí restaurant

7. Abantal, Seville

Contemporary Andalusian cuisine at its finest, Abantal’s passionately crafted ‘avant-garde’ plates are worth every cent. Head chef Julio Fernández treats traditional Spanish dishes and flavors to a more cutting-edge approach, without losing an ounce of authenticity. Large, well placed tables provide a relaxing ambiance, and an 12-course tasting menu leaves you feeling satisfied and impressed. Depending on the season, expect sophisticated dishes featuring Sea Bass, lobster, red tuna broth, spring chicken and Iberian ham sauce. For the ultimate unforgettable dining experience at one of the best restaurants in Spain, you can actually book a table in the kitchen.

Close up of delicate plate of small morsels of colorful food

Image credit: @abantalrestaurante on Instagram

Bookmark for later: Why Spain sets the gold standard for art museums

8. Mina, Bilbao

Championing seasonal produce from local suppliers, this one Michelin-star restaurant sets the standard for Spanish cuisine in Bilbao. Located in a discreet building, opposite the busy Ribera market, Mina owes its name to a former mine entrance that once existed beneath. From the bar you can watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen, with head chef Álvaro Garrido presiding over what has been described as ‘life’s favors.’ With only 25 covers per service, a reservation at Mina is quite the coup. The restaurant’s focus on seasonality the menu changes daily, seafood places a key role with a balance of flavors from the land and from far away.

Close up of dish of bright red shrimp arranged around a white, cone shaped base on a bright green plate, with people dining in the background

Image credit: @minarestaurant on Instagram

9. Cocina Hermanos Torres, Barcelona

This Barcelona hangout joined the ranks of three-Michelin-star venues in 2023, thanks to its theatrical cooking stations, standing unshielded in the middle of the dining room. This means diners can unobtrusively watch the maestros at work, frothing and saucing some of the most dazzling dishes in Barcelona. Chefs and brothers Sergio and Javier have dreamt up a high-ceilinged, glossy black-and-cream space with cloud-form light fixtures and shimmering gold wall panels. There are plenty of edible flowers, smoky dry ice dishes and unique ceramics to photograph: Iberian suckling pig with apricot and tamarind is a standout dish, alongside gazpacho bonbons and baby eels with pil pil sauce.

White plate and food with hands held out at Hermano storres restaurant

Image credit: @hermanostorres on Instagram 

10. Aleia, Barcelona

A 2023 addition to the guide, one-star Aleia is notable for its architectural pedigree as well as its food and wine ‒ it’s located in Lluís Domènech i Montaner’s Modernist building, Casa Fuster (now a hotel). With just one tasting menu at lunch and dinner, decision making is taken out of your hands (though you can choose how indulgent you want to be with a shorter or longer wine pairing). Chef Rafa de Bedoya champions European-Asian fusion, so expect mash-ups such as brioche with cuttlefish and hollandaise, or Iberian pork consommé.

Plate of food with truffle on brown dish at Aleia restaurant

Photo credit: @aleiarestaurant on Instagram

If you love fine dining, we think you will like: The Luxury Gold guide to the finest Michelin star restaurants in Edinburgh

 11. Estimar, Madrid

Serving up the essence of the sea and praised for its interior design, Estimar is a must visit for all seafood lovers when in the Spanish capital. Only the freshest of catches make it to the table in this sophisticated, intimate eatery. Spanish gastronomy is brilliantly showcased through crayfish carpaccio, sea urchin, pan fried razor clams and red prawn tartare with caviar, leaving you feeling you have the ‘sea in your mouth.’ Fresh produce is laid out in the kitchen while Head chef Rafa Zarfra and his team get to work.

Fresh seafood sits on a bed of ice on display in a high end restaurant

Image credit: @estimarzafra on Instagram

12. COME by Paco Méndez, Barcelona

Opened in 2022, this Barcelona Mexican is a prime example of great fine dining in Spain. Mexican chef Paco Méndez and his pastry-chef wife, Emma, have created a concept that’s both authentic and modern ‒ hot pink walls, woven rope lanterns, tiled cacti and decorative skulls mean this is no stuffy ice-white Michelin venue. The food is a modern, high-end spin on typical Mexican dishes and drinks: think wagyu tostadas, avocado with black garlic mole, and a horchata-inspired rice pudding. Méndez started out as an intern at the world-famous elBulli, and it’s thrilling to see how far he’s come.

Plate of food with flowers on blue marble plate at COME restaurant

Image credit: @comerestaurant on Instagram

To enjoy fine dining in Spain, along with magnificent hotels and exclusive experiences, take a look at Spain & Portugal In Style, from our collection of luxury small group journeys.

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Reading time: 8 min
Concierge Tips, Cuisine

Sky-High Cuisine: Ranking the Best Airlines for Food

October 4, 2024 by Laura Goodman No Comments
White bowl of salmon and vegetables on a white table cloth close up

Whoever you’re flying with, Business Class or Economy, chicken or fish, airplane food is somewhat of an acquired taste. Either way, those in flight meals are the punctuation marks of long-haul flights and there’s no denying that the little flourishes on your tray can make or break your experience. Here’s our rundown of the 8 best airlines for food, in reverse order.

 

8. Delta

Over the last few years, Delta has been upping the ante to become one of the best airlines for food. The focus is on local farmers and artisans, with a twist on Southern tradition. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q’s has designed some dishes for passengers flying out of Atlanta, USA: the short rib open-faced sandwich with sweet pickles and a side of cheddar and broccoli is not to be missed. Top it off with banana pudding for a true down-home affair. As far as luxury airplane food goes, the Biscoff and chocolate chip cookies are legendary – they come warm in a brown paper bag, making them the ultimate snack in the clouds for economy and first class passengers alike.

 

Image of plates of food on a white table cloth, with hands holding cutlery tucking in

Credit: Mashama Bailey for Delta

 

7. Hawaiian Airlines

Fly from Los Angeles to Honolulu and you’ll get brunch, lunch and a late-night snack. Look out for international offerings like the coconut and lemongrass braised chicken with eggplant and Israeli couscous or the warm yuzu pound cake (by Honolulu-born executive chef Michelle Karr-Ueoka). But the island offerings are a thrill, too: there’s a Kalua pork hash on the menu, plus beers from Maui Brewing Company and custom cocktails from On the Rocks, including the celebratory Tropical Landing (gin with violet, guava, coconut and citrus).

 

We think you’ll like: 10 Best Airlines For Business Class

 

6. Singapore Airlines

A consistent favorite among frequent flyers, Singapore Airlines has an admirable number of options for all passengers. Premium economy dishes include garlic-roasted prawns with smoked aioli and patatas bravas, beef Bourguignon and Chor Mee (minced pork noodles). The airline has an air sommelier program, in which cabin crew can apply to become wine experts, which means they can offer passengers guidance on wine pairings.

 

Tray and bowls of Chinese food on a white table cloth

Credit: Singapore Airlines

 

5. Korean Air

The bibimbap is one legendary in flight meal (and the same one is served in economy, business and first classes, just with different utensils); it’s a platter of beef, steamed rice, cucumber, mushrooms, beansprouts, spinach and pickled radish, ready to be tossed together with a tube of gochujang and a sachet of sesame oil (the pros ask for extra gochujang). On the side: pickled cucumber and seaweed soup. The snack service includes hot rice balls and cup ramen, brought to your seat with the hot water already added, and the seasoning sachet on the side.

 

Read next: Michelin-Star Dining at 30,000 Feet? This Airline is Making it Possible

 

4. All Nippon (ANA)

ANA works with various chefs to get their menus just right. Toru Okuda – a Michelin star master of kaiseki (multi-course meals) – takes care of Japanese food, while Ryuta Iizuka (who studied under Joel Robuchon) advises on French. Expect them to go all out if you’re in first or business class: Wagyu beef sirloin stew with a side of fragrant shiitake, maitake, and abalone mushrooms, sautéed in Échiré butter, for instance. But there are treats in store for the economy classes too: the likes of red rockfish teriyaki and oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl) will see passengers through, with proper miso and pickles.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by All Nippon Airways (@allnipponairways)

 

3. Emirates

Emirates is consistently at the top of the lists of best airlines for food, thanks to its ever-evolving menus, attention to detail and unlimited Dom Perignon for first class flyers. Every passenger gets a multi-course meal and there’s lots of choice and flexibility. Trays are jam-packed with dishes like paneer makhani, vegetable paella, sweetcorn salad and Russian salad plus alluring desserts like apple caramel mousse or chocolate truffle cake. The wines (all from Bordeaux) are excellent. In first class, there’s a movie snack menu which features boxes of popcorn and cheeseburger sliders.

 

Save for later: Airplane Etiquette: Your Ultimate Guide

 

2. Etihad

This UAE-based airline is driven by farm-to-table freshness, which means salad greens harvested hours before you eat them – a true revolution as far as airline meals are concerned. Business and first class food can be eaten whenever you’re hungry, and includes steak sandwiches and eggs prepared to order, plus elaborate brunches like shakshuka and ricotta pancakes. First class mains include a seafood assiette (scallop, salmon, lobster), chicken margooga, five spiced duck breast and paneer kofta. There is oh-so-much choice.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Etihad Airways (@etihad)

 

1. Turkish Airlines

Aficionados of Turkish Airlines’ long-haul flights always order the sour cherry juice, and some claim it helps them to sleep. If it works for you, you can press a button on your screen to let cabin crew know you’d like to be woken for dinner. Beyond the juice, it’s all about the Turkish appetizers, grilled fish, Adana kebabs and sesame pittas. First and business class passengers enjoy the ultimate inflight amenity: flying chefs, who work alongside cabin crew. On flights of over eight hours, those passengers can opt to enjoy chef-cooked meals by candlelight.

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