Three of the Hottest New Hotels to Book for Food

[Sarah] Food. Is there a better reason to travel?

I don't think so.

Food doesn't just connect us to our senses,

it connects us to a destination in a completely unique way.

[upbeat percussive music]

I'm Sarah Khan, a travel journalist

and contributing editor at Condé Nast Traveler.

I've been known to travel to far-flung corners of the world

in pursuit of a good meal.

I'm traveling to three

of Condé Nast Traveler's hot-list hotels this year

to see if their food alone is worth booking a room.

[upbeat percussive music]

Come with me as I visit the Dunlin

from Auberge Resorts Collection in South Carolina,

the Beach Club at the Boca Raton in Florida,

and the Henson in the Catskills of New York.

The Henson is a luxury boutique hotel

tucked away in the Catskills of New York.

The vibes are cozy, classic, countryside inn,

but when you step inside, you're surrounded by great art,

beautiful design and contemporary flair,

but what's lured me to this dreamy setting

is Matilda, the Henson's restaurant

where chef Jonas Offenbach is serving up a menu

inspired by the abundance of the region.

Quintessential American comfort food, right?

I couldn't have been more wrong.

What I get is completely unexpected.

Thought-provoking, even.

From the presentation to the complex flavors,

the food here is as layered

and surprising as the hotel itself.

Truffles are always a good idea,

but a Matilda's honey-nut squash,

served with creamy Comté cheese

and blanketed under a layer of truffles,

they're transcendental.

What could have been a simple side dish

becomes pure, elevated decadence.

I love the textures in the wood-grilled oysters,

which come with bone marrow and a dash of pumpkin-seed oil,

with perfectly-seared Maine scallops

on a bed of koshihikari rice for velvety perfection.

All of that paves the way for the hay-aged Muscovy duck,

which is so beautiful that I hesitate to slice into it,

but don't worry, I do, and I savor every bite.

I'm still full from dinner when I make my way downstairs

for breakfast the next morning,

but when I'm greeted by the scent

of the decadent onion frittata, I'm ravenous again.

I start with the fresh sourdough

with cultured butter and assortment of house-made jams,

then move on to a cloud-like olive-oil cake,

and, of course, that frittata.

I may go back for seconds.

This feels like a lovingly-prepared spread

casually thrown together by your superstar chef friend.

Everything is fresh, local, delicious,

a true taste of the Catskills.

This is destination dining at its finest.

Speaking of great breakfast, my next visit

is to the Dunlin on Johns Island in South Carolina,

a hotel with common green walls

and coastal charm in every corner.

[upbeat guitar music]

The standout meal here is a brunch at Linnette's,

with local eggs from storied farms just down the road.

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With views of the water, I make my way

through a buttery brioche French-toast,

the yogurt morning ambrosia, and oysters.

[upbeat guitar music]

The food at the Dunlin doesn't just taste sublime,

it tells a story about heritage and history

that comes through in every bite.

You can learn so much about a region by its cuisine,

and here, the fresh southern coastal menu

features seafood from local fishermen's catches,

as well as produce and dairy from nearby farmers.

[upbeat guitar music]

You can even pop over and visit

the goats and chickens around the corner.

Sometimes, I just wanna savor

fresh, beautiful ingredients steps from the source,

which is why I fly to Florida

to stay at the Beach Club at the Boca Raton.

With its panoramic sea views in every suite,

the hotel is a luxurious place to call home for a few days.

After checking in, I make my way to the restaurants,

where the local catch is a star.

The move here is to go all in on the seafood.

My favorite dishes are the shellfish tower

from the Mediterranean-inspired Marisol,

the pescado Boca Chica from Onda,

a deep-fried whole snapper with plantains.

Yum.

There's no better way to take a break from my hectic life

than by slowing down in pristine destinations

and learning about them through their local ingredients

and culinary traditions.

Plate after plate, meal after meal,

these hot-list hotels deliver dining experiences

I'm ready to travel for again and again.

For more information on all these hotels,

including what to pack, head to cntraveler.com.