Helder Farm Studios is a breath of fresh air in Portugal. Esmee and her boyfriend Laurens bought 7,5 hectares of land in Portugal and built their dream farm here. A butter-yellow Portuguese Casa do Campo, a large stone oven for pizzas next door, cacti and pomegranate trees, balmy summer evenings at the shared long table in front of the rooms, a trip to the beautiful surrounding beaches, nature hikes, early morning dives, or yoga on the yoga deck. And that’s not even mentioning the animals: chickens, cats, ducks, the white horse Zahid and mule Jenny, Ruuf and Yoshi, two Australian Shepherd mixes that provide a good dose of coziness. Bring a book, and unwind completely here.

Helder Farm Studios

A little Retreat, a little bit design hotel, and above all a dream place. Starhead It is located in the wine region near Franschhoek and was built from the ground up by a Dutch couple who selected everything – from flowers to beds – with love and taste. Think: large soft beds, warm tones, art on the walls, flowers on the table, and food that lands straight from the garden onto your plate.

There is a a hammam for deep relaxation, yoga for those who want it, massages to dream away with and enough nice corners to lose yourself in for hours. Detox allowed, drinking wine too (we say: balance). Staying at least two nights is mandatory, but believe us: you won't want to leave.

Starhead

The smell of fresh mint tea. The sun through the carved windows. Everywhere you look beautiful details… Hello Jnane Rumi, the newest retreat in the Palmeraie of Marrakech. This recently opened dream accommodation in the rustic palm grove oasis about 15 minutes drive from the Medina is the latest Moroccan dream – without a doubt.

Why the enthusiasm? Jnane Rumi understands exactly how to weave design and modern luxury with Moroccan authenticity. We can see that not only from the pictures, we also know it from our girlfriends at The Souks who have already slept in this dream (see also our Marrakech guide). The architecture is reminiscent of the local style: the building has been completely renovated by a famous Moroccan architect who was also responsible for the opera, and is designed as a centuries-old riad around a water feature. Inside – of course – handmade Zellige tiles in subtle and bright colour schemes (not in one room; the rooms have different colour themes) and Tadelakt-treated velvety walls. Oh, and that light…

Read more about Jnane Rumi, Marrakech

On Pantelleria, hidden between the rugged landscape and the archaeological remains of the Parco Archeologico dei Sesi, lies Parco dei SesiIt started as Margot and Massimiliano's home, but grew into an accommodation where guests are invited for peace, space, and the rhythm of the island.

They met on Pantelleria, maintained a long-distance relationship for years, and eventually decided to settle down together on this part of the island.

The hotel features thirteen rooms, each with its own character yet understated, natural, and inspired by the surroundings. Striking are the African art objects that Margot collected herself over the years and which reappear throughout the accommodation. Linen curtains sway in the breeze, there are sheltered seating areas for reading or doing nothing, and from the terraces, you look out at sunsets slowly disappearing into the sea. Dinners are regularly organized where guests join for homemade dishes, local wine, and long conversations that often end later than planned. There is no formal hotel feel, but rather the sense that you are briefly part of life on Pantelleria.

Here you stay in the countryside, but you truly become a part of it for a while. In the rolling hills of South Devon, close to Dartmoor, lies Fowlescombe Farm: a nearly five-hundred-year-old estate that has been given new life as a regenerative farm and small-scale hotel. Not the kind of countryside escape with plaid throws and an outdoor setting, but a place where luxury and country life come together surprisingly naturally.

The Owens family took over the estate in 2019 and transformed it into a retreat where everything revolves around the seasons and the connection to the place. There are only ten suites, spread across the Victorian farmhouse and former barns, decorated in calm earth tones with local oak, natural stone, and art by makers from the region. Even the mattresses reference the farmyard: they are made with wool from the estate's own flock of sheep.

Collecting eggs for breakfast in the morning, picking herbs for cocktails, baking bread, a farm tour, yoga in the greenhouse, or a dip in the sea: the program changes with the seasons. The heart of the stay is The Refectory: an intimate communal table where Chef Elly Wentworth cooks a new four-course dinner daily based on what has been harvested, picked, or prepared that day.

Fowlescombe Farm

What began as chef Merlin Labron-Johnson's Michelin-awarded destination grew into something bigger: a restaurant with rooms, amidst the rolling countryside just outside Bruton. Rash found accommodation in a restored 17th-century inn. Above the restaurant lie four rooms, named after local rivers. Featuring whitewashed walls, dried herbs on the wall, handmade jute rugs, solid oak beds made of local wood, and large windows overlooking the hills of Somerset.

Just a few minutes from the restaurant lie Osip's own farms, where Chef Merlin and his team grow a large portion of the ingredients.

At the foot of the Folgefonna Glacier, in the quiet hamlet of Sundal, lies this historic guesthouse dating back to 1889. Caroline and Harald renovated it with rare care: eleven rooms with Coco-Mat beds, gingham curtains, no unnecessary screens, a sauna by the water, and a four-course menu sourced entirely from the region. The Bondhusvatnet Glacier hike begins practically on the doorstep. Seclusion here is not a marketing promise but a topographical reality.Website

All time fav: D'une île. The place where you can come back every year and still be surprised. From morning to night you can be pampered in this farm. Or you do none of that and go out on your own - everything is possible, everything is allowed.

We are especially fans of the table d'hôte which is served every evening and is always refined and good and never disappoints. The wines? Idem.

In addition, the facilities top notch. Think sauna with a view of the greenery, spacious rooms with bath and since summer 2022 also a swimming pool. That settles it.

Anyone traveling to Jaipur quickly thinks of palaces, bustling bazaars, and all the color and energy Rajasthan is known for. But just outside the city lies Anopura: an accommodation that seeks the exact opposite. No grand resort feel, but a sprawling estate on the edge of the Aravalli hills.

Anopura originated from founder Aditya Baheti's childhood memories of his grandfather's farm. What once began as a single cottage on a large plot of land has grown into a small-scale retreat featuring villas and suites. The architecture is inspired by traditional houses from Rajasthan: thatched roofs, courtyards, weathered materials, and spaces that are intentionally not too perfect. In the villas, you will find private pools, antique objects collected by the owner, and details from various parts of India. The newer suites feel slightly more modern but remain rooted in the same warm, earthy aesthetic.

Food plays a major role on Anopura and follows the rhythm of the land. Products come directly from the farm and determine what appears on the table: elaborate breakfasts, long lunches, and dinners filled with regional dishes from Rajasthan. In between, you can participate in activities.

Anopura, Jaipur, India

If you, on your way to Masseria Moroseta In Puglia, crossing the Italian country lanes—which, by the way, are surrounded by spectacular olive trees—you will find the white stone farmhouse with a stunning view of the sea and the beautiful white town of Ostuni, in the Apulia region of Puglia. Upon seeing the farmhouse, you are immediately immersed in tranquility. Hello vacation! The farmhouse has six bedrooms, each with a kingsize bed and a private bathroom where you can relax. But that's not all. Because the surprise of Masseria Moroseta is chef Giorgia. She takes you on a culinary journey and not joining in is really not an option. There is no set menu, but we do cook with products that can be found on the premises, such as our own olive trees, vegetable gardens, orchard and small chicken coop. All dishes are local, organic and seasonal. And: you can also take cooking lessons. How nice!

An organic farm on Mallorca's smaller, less polished sister island. Tucked away between Alaior and Es Migjorn Gran, in the heart of the island's tranquil interior, an abandoned nineteenth-century finca was transformed.

Behind His White Benedicta Linares Pierce and Benoît Pellegrini stand here: a couple who translated their love for Menorca into a place that shows that luxury can also be soft, local, and conscious. They began the renovation of the old farmhouse in 2016 and ultimately took seven years to complete it, with the guiding principle of working with local materials as much as possible and making the estate as self-sufficient as possible.

 Limestone, clay, wood, handmade furniture, and work by local makers combine to create an interior that is understated and warm. Across the entire 130-hectare estate, you will find vegetable gardens, an edible forest, olive groves, aromatic gardens, and animals.