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Nestled on the quaint and charming side of the River Thames in the 16th-century village of Bray, The Waterside Inn is a gastronomic institution. Serving inspiring French cuisine since the early 1970s, it has a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere and ...READ MORE about The Waterside Inn
Our Inspector's Highlights
- The exquisite French cuisine is the reason to make the hourlong trek from London. It’s one of the best restaurants in the country.
- Even though the Bray inn bills itself as a “restaurant with rooms,” the 11 bedrooms are still as inspiring as the food — each offering its own unique personality and décor.
- The menus vary with the season, but one thing you can always choose between is either a full à la carte menu or the Menu Exceptionnel, which offers a robust multi-course dining experience for the ultimate foodie.
- Don’t skip dessert. Chef Alain is a master patissier, and his beautifully crafted sweets are some of the best in the U.K.
- Regarded for food, the inn is also a great spot for wine lovers, with more than 1,000 varietals on the menu, including full bottles and unique by-the-glass options.
Things to Know
- Children under age nine are not permitted to stay at the luxury hotel.
- The Waterside Inn doesn’t offer room service or a concierge, but you’ll find everything you need in the neighboring guest kitchen, including coffee, a variety of teas, wine and more.
The Rooms
- You may not be able to enjoy dinner in your room, but a hot continental breakfast is served in the comfort of your suite. So you can nosh on perfectly poached eggs Benedict or buttery croissants in your pajamas.
- There are five standard double rooms, three superior doubles, a deluxe superior double and two suites, all of which boast beautiful views of the gardens or the Thames.
- The newest room, the deluxe superior, is the first one located in the Tan Home cottage right next door to the main building. Offering a king-size bed, a bathroom with a river view, a separate walk-in shower and big windows, the room is illuminated by natural light every morning and evening.
- The largest of the rooms is the Mallard. The two-story suite comes with a breakfast area, sitting room and private waterfront terrace with loungers.
The Restaurants
- If you can’t do dinner, stop into the restaurant for lunch, when you can sample some of the chef’s masterful creations with the three-course Menu Gastronomique.
- The menus are beautifully executed, with dishes like succulent pan-seared scallops, soft-baked foie gras, rich and pungent cheeses hailing from all regions of France, crispy baked duck and soft pistachio cream foam.
- The crown jewels of the menus are the desserts, thanks to to Alain’s passion for the sweet life. Do yourself a favor and sample as many as you can, like the coconut meringue with pineapple and pomegranate, the Guanaja dark chocolate with a stewed pear, a warm orange soufflé or the Peche gourmand selon Alain, which will give you six of the chef’s mouth-watering specialties.
Amenities
Restaurants
Getting There
Ferry Road, Bray, Berkshire SL6 2AT
TEL44-1628-620691
