The best all-inclusive resorts for foodies

It doesn’t get much more ‘down under’ than Saffire Freycinet, based on Tasmania Island off the south coast of Australia. Going so far south has its benefits, however, beyond cold-climate wines and ethereal sea-meets-mountain views, it’s the awaiting foodie experiences that excite us most. At Saffire Freycinet, you can taste the very best of the island, on tours of local oyster farms, nearby vineyards, or even, at a cooking class with the resort’s own chef. Guests are also sure to be blown away by the ever-changing menu at Palate, the hotel’s on-site restaurant and one of the best in Australia. In line with the blissful food, Saffire Freycinet’s striking main lodge is an architectural wonder both inside and out, coloured by a cathedral-like ceiling and artwork to mimic the natural world of eucalypt forest and sandy bay outside.

Travel to the base of the Great Smoky Mountains in Sleepy Walland, Tennessee, to find the 4,200-acre retreat of Blackberry Farm, where the best of seasonal Southern cuisine comes lovingly prepared using produce from the farm’s own creamery, bakery and charcuterie. The 180,000-bottle wine cellar, craft brewery and 600 whisky blends can also ensure you’ll never go thirsty. Try all of this either in The Barn or The Dogwood dining room, joining the master gardener beforehand for a farmstead tasting tour to see how it all comes together.  Otherwise, simply enjoy the tranquillity of Blackberry Farm, lounging on the lawn with a sweet tea or roasting s’mores and telling stories around the bonfire on an evening. The Wellhouse can also bring some ease, alongside gardening classes, cheesemaking, fly-fishing and horse-drawn carriage rides through the sweeping countryside.

It’s on to the Caribbean to find the 18th-century plantation turned boutique resort Jade Mountain, where guest suites come flanked by grand peaks and characteristic Caribbean beaches. In amongst the stellar views, find a fine restaurant run by award-winning chef Allen Susser and a chocolate tasting lab for those more sweetly inclined. Local seafood and creole dishes are firmly placed on the menu at Jade Mountain, with gourmet twists to create dishes such as the cinnamon mahi-mahi and the blue crab couscous. Devour a multi-course tasting menu from the comfort of your high-rise room – complete with a private infinity pool and dedicated butler – or pack some truffles for trekking up the Piti and Gros Piton mountains or hiking down to the beaches. Otherwise, the hotel’s spa services can help you relax ahead of cocktails and live music on the sky deck.

Foodie hashtags at the ready for a stay at Le Blanc Resorts & Spa Cancun, a Riviera Maya hotspot that’ll make you feel #full #blessed. This five-star property on the beachfront is just-for-adults, making for a tranquil experience while dining at any of six gourmet restaurants, drinking at the bars or lounging under the cabanas (by the beach or pools). Swim-up bars and two-person hot tubs make relaxation extra easy for all, spread across the property’s five smoke-free acres. After an international fusion breakfast or lunch buffet at the resort, embark on tours to Chichen Itza, Tulum, Xcaret and the jungle, before returning to base to take advantage of the butler service, full-service spa and live nightly entertainments.

On a foodies tour of St. Kitts meanwhile, savvy travellers can base themselves at Belle Mont Farm, one of the best all-inclusive resorts for foodies in the Caribbean. Not only does Belle Mont Farm have the very best sea-to-fork fare across its six restaurants and bars, but the property also has an earth-friendly setup built upon a 400-acre working farm on the slopes of Mount Liamuiga. Guests stay in colonial-style cottages while at Belle Mont, enjoying outside baths and verandas that look out across the sea towards Saba and St. Eustatius islands. Besides gorgeous West Indian cuisine and communal dining on the plantation, guests can roam the grounds on golf buggies, picking bananas and teeing off across the nine-hole ‘edible’ golf course. Other facilities on the farm include the full-service spa, fitness centre and tennis courts, with shuttles running to Basseterre and South Frigate Bay Beach.

The penultimate choice in our foodie guide is the elegant St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico, located on 483 acres between El Yunque National Forest and Espíritu Santo River State Preserve. The hotel grounds include three kilometres of Atlantic shorefront, while, inland, an 18-hole golf course and tropical sanctuary filled with wildlife await. Work up an appetite at the tennis school and watersports centre (otherwise lounging by the hotel’s oasis pools on private cabanas), before feasting at Fern restaurant, the Greek Paros restaurant or the casual Beach Club. Seagrapes is another option for tea rituals and s’mores, while the bar serves up signature sundowners. The annual food truck event is another reason to stay at St. Regis when the nation’s best four-wheeled eateries swing by to provide guests with authentic Puerto Rican cuisine.

Before you set off on your trip, educate yourself on all the best local restaurants in your destination, downloading apps such as OpenTable and Roaming Hunger or bookmarking the best websites for foodies such as vegan-centric Happy Cow or The Travel Bite. Once the hard work is done, get hyped for your trip by watching the best films for foodies such as Chocolat and Sideways, following our favourite quotes for foodies; ‘First, we eat. Then, we do everything else.’

Whether you want a resort vacation, wildlife safari, city break, luxury cruise, wellness retreat, honeymoon, once-in-a-lifetime adventure or weekend escape, the trip curation experts at Mr Hudson make travel planning a breeze. Find out how we can handle the finer details of vacationing in style.