El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain
The three Roca brothers could soon be up there with those other Catalan brothers, Ferran and Albert Adrià of El Bulli. Chef Joan Roca's cuisine, like Adrià's, is highly technical, but his maintains stronger ties to the traditional cooking he learned at his parents' cafe (still going strong next door). Middle brother Josep is sommelier, in charge of over 1,000 wines, while little brother Jordi creates utterly gorgeous desserts, some inspired by perfumes like his Trésor de Lancôme.
0034 972 222 157, elcellerdecanroca.com, tasting menu €90. Budget carrier: Ryanair (ryanair.com) to Girona. Where to stay: Keep the budget down by staying a 10-minute taxi ride away at the quirky Pension Bellmirall (+972 204 009, grn.es/bellmirall) in Girona old town; doubles €60.
Restaurant Parkheuvel, Rotterdam
Chef Cees Helder was the first Dutch chef to win three Michelin stars, a feat he achieved thanks to his unique eye for presentation and perfect choice of ingredients. Don't miss his extravagant take on boiled egg and soldiers: a soft boiled egg with black truffles, fried brioche, and a tapenade of truffle. Housed in a modern semicircular building, the impressive dining room has tables overlooking the River Maas.
0031 10 436 0766, parkheuvel.nl; menus from €80. Budget carrier: Transavia (transavia.com) to Rotterdam from Stansted. Where to stay: Westin Hotel (0031 10 430 2000, westin.com); doubles from €99.
Restaurant Bras, Laguiole, France
There's no question that this is one of Europe's most striking restaurants. Built on a mountain overlooking the Aubrac pastures in the Midi-Pyrénées, architect Eric Raffy's steel and glass building is modern, brilliant and challenging, just like chef Michel Bras' cuisine. The 15 minimalist rooms are just as sleek. The restaurant retains its traditions, however, with the chef's mother coming in daily to prepare the aligot, a local dish of mashed potato with Laguiole cheese
00335 65 51 18 20, bras.fr; menus from €100; doubles from €176. Open April to October only. Budget carrier: Ryanair to Rodez from Stansted.
Restaurant Dieter Müller, Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany
You've a choice of two three-star establishments in this leafy town near Cologne: Restaurant Dieter Müller or Vendôme. Müller's grand dining room in a solid country pile, Schlosshotel Lerbach, just swings it on the strength of his key role in reinventing haute-cuisine in Germany. The hotel's rooms are generously proportioned, if somewhat chintzy.
0049 2202 2040, schlosshotel-lerbach.de; four courses à la carte from €116; doubles from €180. Budget carriers: German Wings (germanwings .com) and easyJet (easyjet.com) to Cologne-Bonn.
Ristorante Le Calandre, Sarmeola di Rubano, Italy
Chef Massimiliano Alajmo is one of Italy's most exciting young talents, with three Michelin stars at the age of just 32. He's unafraid to experiment with the latest fashions, like savoury ice creams or powders, but is also master of the perfect risotto. He offers a choice of tasting menu, classic or contemporary. The Alajmos also run the adjoining Hotel Maccaroni, with its cheery, reasonably priced rooms, a more casual restaurant, Il Calandrino, and a delicatessen. This means there's little reason to stray far from the village, although Venice is just an hour away.
0039 49 630303, calandre.com; menus from €130; doubles from €90.Budget carrier: Ryanair to Venice Treviso, easyJet to Venice Marco Polo.
Hilary Armstrong
