De Kastanjehof — Restaurant in Baarn

De Kastanjehof — a refined retreat of history, taste, and tranquility. Tucked away among the ancient trees of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, in the heart of the tiny village of Lage Vuursche — home to fewer than 300 residents — the boutique hotel and restaurant De Kastanjehof opens the door to a world of peace, gastronomic delight, and warmth. This is more than just a hotel — it's a place with a soul, steeped in history and filled with quiet elegance. The building that houses De Kastanjehof carries a rich and layered history. Until 1985, it belonged to the aristocratic family Blöeland van Oordt. While the exact date of construction is unknown, records show that the establishment was already operating as a hotel-restaurant in the 1960s, earning mentions in culinary guidebooks of the time. Over the decades, it became a beloved retreat for not only well-to-do travelers but also for royalty and renowned artists seeking a peaceful escape from city life. A golden era began in 1985, when Wulf and Marianne Engel acquired the property. Under their care — and with the culinary mastery of chef Jan Schipper — the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in both 1990 and 1991. Later, chef Bruno Vittali carried the torch, preserving the venue’s fine dining legacy. A new chapter began in 2021, when a group of young entrepreneurs from Amsterdam gave De Kastanjehof a vibrant rebirth. Following a thoughtful renovation, the hotel reopened in 2022 with a renewed identity — modern yet warmly intimate, respectful of its past while embracing the present. Today, it offers not only luxurious accommodation but also a rich calendar of experiences: wine and whisky tastings, electric bike rentals, forest walks, mini-golf, and games of pétanque in the fresh country air. The restaurant is known for its modern cuisine with French flair. Guests are treated to both timeless classics and creative vegetarian options such as sweet potato soup with coconut or a pumpkin quiche with walnuts and aged cheese. The house specialty — Côte de Boeuf — remains a highlight. A professional sommelier is always at hand to pair the perfect wine with each dish. Guests can choose from five room types, including spacious luxury suites. Each morning begins with a gourmet breakfast of homemade pastries, fresh fruit, and just-pressed juices. The hotel grounds feature private gardens, a sunny terrace, and a brand-new spa area with jacuzzi and sauna, available by reservation for full relaxation and renewal. Nearby landmarks such as Drakensteyn Castle, residence of Princess Beatrix, and the royal Soestdijk Palace lend the surroundings an air of nobility and historical charm. De Kastanjehof is a place where heritage, fine dining, nature, and contemporary comfort are beautifully woven together. Whether you’re in search of inspiration, flavor, serenity, or adventure — this refined sanctuary offers something for everyone who cherishes life’s...

We had decided to meet a group of friends in this area for a weekend, and the good reviews of this establishment convinced us to book the room and the restaurant for the evening.|Good points: The staff is very welcoming and the pets are very well treated; the room is spacious and have an airco system (not tested..), the diner was correct but nothing special in term of culinary experience, the breakfast was ok. (no breakfast buffet which was good for us because we do not eat a lot at breakfast)|Negative points: We thought that the hotel had its own parking, but when we arrived we realized that was not the case...on Saturday afternoon around 15:00 it was impossible to park your car, and only by chance could we find a spot not too far from the hotel from which we had to drag our suitcases (and dogs..)|The bathroom was nice and spacious enough, but the plumbing was not good at all..the sink was almost completely blocked, the shower drains very very slowly.|At last, when we got some drinks on the terrace or when we had the dinner we were surprised not to be asked to sign the bills, but we totally trusted the hotel's organisation; unfortunately, at the checkout we realised that the final bill was far to low and we pointed this out to the staff who promised to send us a corrected bill (to be fair the initial error was in our favour..).|We got a detailed bill 3-4 days later with the amount to be paid (which was correct), except that the corrected bill itself was incorrect (but not the final amount to be paid).|In conclusion, nice atmosphere, good stay, very friendly staff, but few problems which add a shadow...

I stayed a night here and had dinner on the first evening. First, the staff is friendly and helpfull. The waiters all knew details about the food and the wines, which is a good thing.

We sat down in a large group and were offered the three course menu (of course the meat eaters were really sad about the 'beet' Wellingtong). Our courses took about three hours to be at our table in total (each dish took about one hour). This was a bit slow but one must add that the dishes were really tasty!!! Good food BUT way too little portions. If one sits down for a total of three hours with only three drink moments (at the start, prior to the main and after the deserts) with no bread on the table or anything... I can only say that I was hungry when I went to bed, which is sad after such good flavours. The fries that should have accompanied the main dinner came 10 minutes after this course was allready consumed... so that was a bit meh too.

Apart from this, all dishes had almost nothing on it except from what you orederd. Duck was duck and fish was fish with three tiny bits of vegetables underneath it. No bread, long sitting time and tiny portions = hungry Vincent.

The hotelroom was nice, a bit old but nice (some of the paint was falling off in the bathroom). The bed was a bit warm but I had a good night sleep nonetheless and it was really comfy.

Breakfast! Perfectly cooked eggs with the yolk still running a bit (spot on). Not much choice for the breakfast but all was really tasty and the coffee was excellent! I think it was good that there was not that much to choose. Also less to throw away!

Overall:...