5 Unique Hotel Stays for Food Lovers, From an Italian Olive Oil Resort to a Mexican Jackfruit Paradise

Nothing beats a good vacation—it’s something most of us can agree on. Research from SWNS Digital suggests that one-fifth of Americans are usually thinking about when and where they can have their next vacation while they’re still on vacation. Most love to head to a new place to soak up the culture, swim in the ocean, and get involved in activities like snorkeling and zip-lining. But many of us also love to eat the local food.

In 2023, the American Express Global Travel Trends Report suggested that more than 80 percent of people look forward to trying local foods when they go on a trip. If this is you, you might have even planned your whole vacation around food. In fact, the same report found that nearly 50 percent of young people have centered a trip around just one restaurant.

If you’re a big vacation foodie, you might never have thought about staying in food-themed accommodation before. But that’s all about to change. Below, we’ve found some of the world’s best hotels and resorts that are dedicated to certain foods. And we’re not just talking about a great inclusive breakfast. We’re talking about an entire food theme—like Mexico’s Jackfruit Jungle Paradise, Italy’s Olive Oil Resort, or Malawi’s Mushroom Farm Eco-Lodge.

5 unique foodie hotels, lodges, and resorts for your next vacation

Intrigued? Keep reading to find five of the most unique and delicious food-themed stays in the world.

Jackfruit Jungle Paradise

1 Jackfruit Jungle Paradise

Chiquila, Mexico

Just two hours from Cancun, in Chiquila’s Mayan Jungle, you’ll find an eco-friendly, minimalist, unique dome-like house located on a jackfruit farm. The off-grid, solar-powered accommodation—complete with plunge pool and skylight—is the perfect spot to soak up the tranquility and natural sounds of the jungle, but also to learn all about jackfruit from the dome’s host, a jackfruit farmer named Michel.
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Big Idaho Potato Hotel

2 Big Idaho Potato Hotel

Idaho, United States

Let’s be honest, potatoes are hard to beat. They are one of America’s favorite vegetables for a reason: they’re healthy, versatile, filling, and delicious. Arguably, there is no better way to celebrate the humble potato than to stay in a potato hotel. You’ll find one in Boise, Idaho, which is made from an upcycled six-ton potato from the Idaho Potato Commission. It has to be seen to be believed.
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The Mushroom Farm Eco-Lodge

3 The Mushroom Farm Eco-Lodge

Lake Malawi, Malawi

Whether you’re looking for a backpacking dorm, a safari tent, or a cliffside cabin with outstanding views, Lake Malawi’s Mushroom Farm Eco-Lodge has you covered. During your stay, you can indulge in a farm-to-table vegetarian menu with plenty of plant-based options, head out on stunning hikes in the surrounding national park, and, of course, take a local mushroom farming tour.
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Agriturismo Il Giardino di Vigliano

4 Agriturismo Il Giardino di Vigliano

Massa Lubrense, Italy

If staying at an Italian lemon tree farm isn’t on your bucket list yet, it’s about to be when you see the beauty that awaits you at Agriturismo Il Giardino di Vigliano in Italy’s stunning Sorrento province. The hotel is committed to teaching guests all about its citrus groves and the historical significance of the lemon in Sorrento. It runs regular guided tours and demonstrations on the grounds, complete with tastings, of course.
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Villa Campestri

5 Villa Campestri Olive Oil Resort

Vicchio, Italy

Another significant plant-based ingredient to come out of Italy is, without doubt, olive oil. Head to Villa Campestri in scenic Tuscany to learn all about how olives are transformed into the popular, healthy oil that is a key part of cooking all over the Mediterranean. You might even get the opportunity to plant an olive tree yourself. 
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