If Hotel du Vin isn’t on your list of places to dine in Henley, it’s time to add it! The restaurant, food, and service are top-notch, and we know first-hand as Experience Henley was invited to the Bistro at Hotel du Vin for their Sunday Lunch.

You can’t help but be impressed by the hotel and bistro, housed in the historic Brakspear Brewery building. Its character has been beautifully preserved, creating a truly special setting in a building that holds dear to many in Henley.

Hotel du Vin says of its Henley bolt-hole, ‘Step into a world where Georgian elegance meets boutique luxury at Hotel du Vin Henley-on-Thames. Nestled in the heart of the scenic Oxfordshire town of Henley-on-Thames, our charming hotel offers an idyllic retreat set against the backdrop of the captivating English countryside.’ They’re spot on as this place is special.

From the moment you walk into the bistro, through the bar via the courtyard doors, you are struck by the stunning dining space. Sunlight poured through the glass doors overlooking the courtyard, filling the room. The French-inspired décor with high ceilings and white tablecloths felt elegant but not pretentious. The dining room was humming with the ambient chatter of diners and felt really warm and welcoming.

The Sunday Lunch menu is excellent value, offering two courses for £29.95 per person or three courses for £34.95. The meal starts with their “French Market Table,” a beautiful buffet featuring soup of the day, hot and cold smoked salmon, shell-on prawns, charcuterie, grilled vegetables, salads, freshly baked breads, and more.

What we loved about this element of the meal as it was such a relaxed way of dining being able to graze from the buffet, taking as long as you like and popping back to pick up a prawn or two in case you missed out.

For mains, you can opt for the “Roast du Vin,” with a choice of Roast Sirloin Beef or Roast Chicken with stuffing, served with all the trimmings—roasted vegetables, potatoes, and Yorkshire pudding. Or, if you’re not in the mood for a roast, their Plats Principaux offer equally tempting alternatives, like Schnitzel de Poulet or a Halloumi Schnitzel, Brown Butter Baked Hake and Burger and Frites (veggie option available).

Our roast beef was excellent, really tender along with super tasty veg of roasted parsnips and carrots, roast potatoes and broccoli. It’s always a good sign when the veg is given just as much care and attention to the meat on the dish. The homemade fresh horseradish sauce was great and packed a punch, so approach with caution! Another lovely touch is the proper old fashioned gravy boats, which were very generously filled.

Hotel du Vin is also known for its incredible wine cellar (does what is says on the tin), and while we could imagine enjoying a bottle from the wine list over dinner, we kept it simple at lunchtime with a carafe of the Maison Rouge. It was the perfect pairing for two.

It would have been rude not to indulge so to finish it was a traditional crème brûlée with a perfectly crunchy sugar top covering a silky smooth, rich custard which could not be faulted, and a profiterole large enough to share, filled with ice cream and a decadent chocolate sauce to drizzle over the top.

Sunday Roast at Hotel du Vin is somewhere we can wholeheartedly recommend. The food, service, and setting combine for a fabulous lunch experience. Make sure it’s on your ‘must-visit’ list—we can’t wait to go back!

Heads up that their new Spring menu has landed and it looks fantastic, perfect for this sunny weather.

To check out all the menus visit Henley-on-Thames | Hotel du Vin

Experience Henley Cardholders receive a fantastic 20% discount on your total bill when dining in the Bistro* – what are you waiting for? Get yourselves booked in and claim your discount by tapping the Experience Henley app. Download the app and check out all the offers www.experiencehenleycard.co.uk

*max six people dining & subject to availability.