For the best Australian food make a reservation at Sydney’s iconic Opera House where Bennelong offers a unique fine dining experience described as ‘Australia on a plate.’ Here a culturally significant and seasonal menu showcases the magnificence of Australian produce and celebrates the country’s bounty of top-quality wines.

The award-winning restaurant is renowned for constantly pushing the boundaries of Australian food and cuisine, while still staying true to the terroir. A visit to Bennelong will serve to tantalize both the taste buds and the inquisitive mind.

Discover this on: Inspiring Australia

The endless possibilities of Australian cuisine

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To define Australian food is not a simple task. Stereotypical views of ‘shrimps on the barbie’ fall short of the mark, although the country’s barbeque talent is legendary. A multicultural country, modern Australian cuisine reflects the people with an eclectic offering. Prepare to taste Greek, Chinese, English, Japanese, Lebanese, Indian, Indigenous and French influences amongst others, both in technique and taste. Australian dishes are often presented as thoughtful yet unpretentious plates that let produce and flavors do the talking.

Peter Gilmore, Executive Chef at Bennelong, once described Australian cuisine as “Reflecting our unique land where you can grow just about any product. It’s a modern society drawing on multicultural influences. We’re able to interpret with freedom and an open mind.”

For travel inspiration: Australia destination guide

Hearts close to the terroir

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Executive Chef Peter Gilmore leads the team in the Bennelong kitchen. One of Australia’s most celebrated chefs, Peter describes his cuisine as ‘food inspired by nature’. A passionate gardener, he is hailed as one of the first chefs in Australia to embrace heirloom varieties of vegetables.

Together with Head Chef Rob Cockerill, Peter works closely to build invaluable relationships with producers as the centrepiece of the cuisine. These include Australian farmers, fishermen and growers many of whom cultivate produce exclusively for Bennelong and its sister restaurant Quay. Both are among Australia’s most awarded fine dining restaurants.

Related content: The ‘world’s best restaurant’ is closing its doors – 4 contenders to steal its crown

A love for all seasons

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The crux of modern Australian food is using the right produce at the right time.

“We will look at what produce is in its prime, and not just vegetables and fruits. We ask ourselves; What fish and seafood are swimming off the coast at the moment? What meat are at the peak of their seasons?,” says Head Chef Rob Cockerill.

“This is something that traditionally the Indigenous people, have been doing forever. Following the seasons and maintaining the environment, so that the next season will be just as plentiful as the last.”

While the change of the seasons in Australia might be subtle in comparison to Europe or the United States, throughout the years the chefs at Bennelong have gained a deeper understanding of the country’s seasons. This also includes how seasonal changes affect the produce that lives and grows locally.

Related content: 5 Michelin Star chefs celebrating local culture through food

A delectable menu

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Sophisticated, relaxed and rooted in the local terroir, the dishes at Bennelong celebrate the complex mix of cultures that form modern Australia and Australian food. The menu celebrates seasonal and local produce that promotes Australian flavors.

Depending on the season, try smoked mackerel with a preserved lemon puree, green wheat and a swordfish bone marrow consommé. Or savor mud crab congee with chawanmushi and palm heart. Maremma pasture-raised duck with hunter sausage, cherries and Kampot pepper, and a smoked eggplant salad with young pistachios, roasted pine nuts, labneh, and crisp falafel on top of baba ghanoush could also tempt your tastes.

Dishes served at this Australian luxury restaurant are built on complex flavors that that you on a journey. At the ground roots of the menu is a desire to showcase quality, predominantly Australian ingredients in pure yet creative form.

Related content: The perfect Australian grape by wine expert Nick Williams of Hungerford Hill

A site of historical significance

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Bennelong is set in arguably one of the most spectacular buildings in one of the world’s most beautiful city locations. The Sydney Opera House, the most famous piece of architecture on Sydney’s Circular Quay, holds an important place in history. And the Bennelong Restaurant is built on a site enriched with history of communal eating and telling stories.

The site is named after an Aboriginal man named Bennelong who had his hut on this historic spot around 200 years ago. Bennelong became a figurehead for relations between Aborigines and the colonists at Government House, which was once located at this point.

Related content: The ‘world’s best restaurant’ is closing its doors – 4 contenders to steal its crown

You can enjoy fine Australian food at Bennelong on our Inspiring Australia luxury guided tour. With each day bookended by exquisite cuisine and magnificent hotels, this is the ultimate way to discover the delights of Australia.

A stunning Quebec City hotel with a worldwide reputation, the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac has hosted the likes of Grace Kelly and Sir Winton Churchill. Winner of 2022 Global Hotel of the Year Award, from the prestigious World Luxury Awards, its fairy-tale silhouette presides majestically over the city. If you are thinking of visiting Canada, make it a journey of a lifetime with an iconic movie star stay at this magnificent chateau.

Discover this on: Indulgence in Eastern Canada

A Place in History

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Québec City’s most famous landmark, the impressive Château Frontenac sits perched atop Cape Diamond. Of great historical significance, Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City on the very rock that the hotel is located on. Built more than a century ago in the style of a Renaissance French château, the hotel offers 610 rooms and was designed to convey prestige in keeping with its Old Québec surroundings.

The work of American architect Bruce Price, the Château Frontenac opened in 1893. It was constructed at the request of William Cornelius van Horne, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway who hoped it would become “the most talked about hotel on the continent.”

Americans came to Quebec in their drives during Prohibition and kept coming long after the ban ended. In 1943, Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt met here to plan the Allied campaigns.

For travel inspiration: Canada destination guide

Grandiose interiors

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Through many renovations, as comes with a building of this size, the hotel has kept much of its original character. This can be seen in full glory in the public rooms and the gleaming paneled lobby. With its many areas and anti-chambers, some with vaulted ceilings, oil portraits, baronial chandeliers and gold statues, the lobby oozes old-world charm.

The rooms of this Quebec City hotel vary from classic to modern. Enjoy a decadent stay with soft greys, ivories and beige with dark accents, elegant furnishings and all the modern amenities you would expect from a five-star establishment.

Related content: Why New Orleans’ Ritz Carlton Hotel is a cut above the rest

A decadent Spa

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For the ultimate in relaxation, let time stand still at the sixth-floor Moment Spa. Offering a full range of treatments, stunning views over the St. Lawrence River and the city’s fortifications make this a truly unique experience. Large windows illuminate the indoor pool and hot tub, so you can also gaze out as you bathe.

If you are feeling more active there is also a fitness center and gym, bike hire, and in winter months, a direct shuttle to the Mont Sainte-Anne ski resort. In winter you can also enjoy the toboggan slide.

Related content: 6 of the best spas you can visit with Luxury Gold

Exceptional dining

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With a restaurant befitting one of the best hotels in Canada, Quebecoise chef Hugo Coudurier brings some 20 years of experience at world-class establishments, including Michelin-starred restaurants.

At the Champlain Restaurant he offers ambitious nouvelle cuisine québéquoise, using locally sourced products, paired with an impressive wine list. The exciting five-course set menu focuses on local produce and constantly changes to reflect seasonality. Expect to start with dishes such as oysters and Acadian sturgeon caviar. A specialty is Fredo’s Wagyu beef, fed with hemp, organic certified hay and corn and served with Jerusalem artichoke, beets and mushrooms from nearby St-Sauveur. For dessert savor Candied citrus fruits, mandarin sorbet Shiso and clementine sponge cake, depending on the season.

Sip cocktails like Churchill

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If you want to walk in the footsteps of Sir Winston Churchill, then take a seat at the elegant dark-wood 1608 Wine and Cheese Bar. Formerly the Bar Saint-Laurent, it serves a superb range of cocktails along with wines and fragrant local Québec cheeses.

It was at the Bar Saint-Laurent at this Quebec City Hotel that Churchill came to smoke his famous cigars, between two conferences in Quebec, during the Second World War (1943-1944). The hotel also hosted some of the greatest jazz musicians of the time.

Revamped décor combines with traces of ancient history, and the literary atmosphere of old French cafés has been preserved. Take time to enjoy the library with its floor-to-ceiling shelves full of books, encyclopedias and artefacts discovered in the ruins of the Citadel of Québec.

Related content: Top vacation spots for cheese lovers

The ultimate location

Perfectly located in the heart of Old Québec, you have the pleasure of enjoying the city’s magnificent walls just by the hotel. North America’s only walled city, Quebec is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dating back to the 17th Century, the ramparts circle Old Quebec’s upper town and include four gates, three Martello towers and several cannons.

The city sights, including the Citadel and boutique-filled Quartier Petit-Champlain, and the city’s museum, are within a mile’s walk. And, if you came to Quebec for the snow, you have your choice of three ski areas all situated within an hour of the hotel

Related content: 6 of the world’s most beautiful walled cities and towns

If you are inspired to visit Canada and stay at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, a luxurious stay at this exquisite Quebec City hotel is a feature on our Indulgence in Eastern Canada limited-edition tour.

An idyllic destination, discover fascinating sights and exceptional gastronomy with our luxury travel guide to Vancouver. A popular year-round vacation spot, Vancouver is one of Canada’s most beautiful cities, world-renowned for its nature and world-class culinary scene. From the top hotels to the finest dining, here’s our pick of the best places to sleep, dine and explore.

Discover this on: Majesty of the Rockies

Magnificent Vancouver 

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British Columbia’s largest city, Vancouver is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and cosmopolitan travelers’ alike. Framed by the Pacific Ocean and dramatic Coast Mountains, Vancouver is frequently lauded as one of the world’s most livable cities. Close to 19 miles (30 km) of uninterrupted waterfront path surround the city’s favorite neighborhoods, including the famous seawall around Stanley Park.

A truly spectacular way to enter the city is on the Rocky Mountaineer train. Vancouver is the final stop on the luxury train’s famous route through the majestic Canadian Rockies. Glass-domed carriages and first-class dining combine for spectacular mountain views and comfort. As you approach Vancouver you cross the downtown bridge to swap mountains landscapes for cosmopolitan life.

Read more: Why journeying through the Rocky Mountains will stay with you for a lifetime

Where to stay

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The DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection Hotel. Inspired by the grandness of nature and the allure of a cosmopolitan city, this sustainably designed hotel is located in the heart of the city. From sumptuous rooms to a rooftop urban park, it provides a comfortable and intriguing place to stay and explore Vancouver.

The DOUGLAS, an Autograph Collection®, stands as a legacy to the mighty fir, inspired by the grandness of nature. For thousands of years, Douglas firs lined the banks of False Creek, towering above what is now the thriving metropolis of Vancouver. The hotel’s design masterfully reconnects people and place, while seamlessly introducing nature into a chic urban environment.

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Guests can choose from a selection of eight world-class restaurants and lounges. In the evenings, sip a signature cocktail on the rooftop bar. A hip, vibrant and exclusive nightlife option perched above the city, this indoor/outdoor rooftop space makes for a coveted cocktail destination in Vancouver.

Related content: Step inside Peru’s blissful Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel

Where to dine

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Renowned for its world-class culinary scene, as you walk around Vancouver you can sense the local appreciation for fine dining. Streets lined with kitchens waft beautiful aromas. Seasonal local ingredients, distinctive wines, ethically harvested meats, and sustainable seafood prevail, with fresh produce coming in daily from the ocean.

Dining in Vancouver is a celebration of kitchens around the world. Dozens of ramen, Indian, and sushi restaurants dot this multicultural city, offering everything from fine dining to street food. In addition, more than 100 trucks have created a food truck scene that is unrivaled in Canada.

With so many places to choose from, here is our guide to Vancouver’s top three:

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The Victor – An in-house restaurant of the Douglas Autograph Hotel, The Victor delights with contemporary dishes and coastal flavors. Here you can savor the seafood bounty of B.C, with fresh catch straight off the coast. A contemporary play on surf and turf, you can also indulge in a sumptuous selection of specialty steaks, and an elevated sushi and raw bar.

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Kissa Tanto – A Japanese-Italian fusion, the restaurant takes its name from kissas, ’60s Tokyo jazz bars. Chef Joël Watanabe, who himself is half Japanese and half Corsican-Italian and Quebecois, makes this concept his own. Stylish and sophisticated, expect pasta dishes like Tajarin (Piedmont-style egg noodles) dressed with butter, roasted mushrooms, and miso-cured egg yolk. As any guide to Vancouver will tell you, this is one of the foodie highlights of Chinatown.

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Salmon n’Bannock – The only Indigenous-owned and operated restaurant in Vancouver, Salmon n’Bannock is run by members of Canada’s First Nations. Revel in traditional and authentic Indigenous foods and flavors, passed down by elders.

Owner and founder Inez Cook has taken traditional ingredients and given them a modern twist. Enjoy pemmican, an important Indigenous food. Traditionally made with dried meat and berries, the dish has been revived into a delicious rich Pemmican Mouse. Made with smoked and dried bison mixed with sage-blueberries and cream cheese and paired with their perfectly toasted bannock.

Travel on the Majesty of the Rockies and join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Salmon n’Bannock. Meet with owner Inez and learn how the restaurant celebrates and educates about First Nations’ culture.

Read more: The story behind Vancouver’s only Indigenous restaurant, Salmon n’Bannock

What to see in Vancouver

Vancouver’s best attractions are informed by its history as much as its future, with futuristic museums nestled next to iconic districts and mountains as far as the eye can see.

Top sights in any guide to Vancouver include downtown’s Stanley Park, with its old-growth cedar forests surrounded by water views and sandy beaches, and the Granville Island Public Market. Other popular neighborhoods include the West End, Gastown, Yaletown, and Chinatown.

Stanley Park – Sited over a huge 1,000 acres, Stanley Park contains beaches, an aquarium, playgrounds, botanical gardens, a golf course and much more. It is famous for its Seawall, which makes a great rail for walking and biking.

One of the essential things to do in Vancouver, you can lose yourself in nature amongst ferns and centuries-old cedars on 40 miles of trails. Keep an eye out for beavers, raccoons, great blue herons, bald eagles, coyotes, and sometimes even whales. Take time to visit the First Nations Totem Poles. There are a number of beautiful totem poles in the park at two different locations.

Gastown – Vancouver’s most historic neighborhood dates back to 1867 and is named after “Gassy” Jack Deighton, a seaman from the UK. Here that you’ll find cobblestone walkways and stunning architecture that set the stage for some of Vancouver’s best shopping, restaurants and cafes.

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Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia – Located on the traditional territory of the Musqueam people, the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) features art by indigenous peoples from Canada and around the world. One of Canada’s largest teaching museums, MOA is home to hundreds of thousands of ethnographic objects, artifacts and works of art. This includes textiles, ceramics, massive totem poles, masks, and more. The iconic building was designed by renowned Canadian architect Arthur Erickson.

Pacific Arts Market – This nearly 2,500-square-foot gallery space features art, jewelry, and other handmade crafts from more than 40 artists from Vancouver and around British Columbia. Browse talented local artists and bring home a unique souvenir. You’ll find paintings, ceramics, jewelry, woodcarving, fiber arts, and products like handmade candles and teas. The colorful space is packed with art for every taste and budget. Artists change regularly, so it’s worth visiting again and again.

If our guide to Vancouver has inspired you to see the delights of this city for yourself, take a look at our Majesty of the Rockies luxury guided tour. Starting in Banff, over 9-Days you will traverse beautiful landscapes and enjoy exclusive experiences. Vancouver provides the grand finale to this majestic journey.