Superb. Wonderful food. Expensive but worth it for a special occasion. A ringing endorsement came this year for this restaurantwith-villa rooms (two Michelin stars), in a beautiful little town (with narrow streets and patrician houses), set around a horseshoe-shaped harbour. The owners, Fons and Anneke von Groeningen, and their staff welcome guests with palpable warmth. The cheerful villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms), in a large, white building, have coffee machine, minibar and air-conditioning. One visitor enjoyed perching on the window ledge and watching high-masted Dutch barges slip past, just feet away. At Bali villa breakfast, you can choose between a traditional Dutch affair and a sevencourse Petite Degztstation du Matin. In the restaurant, across a bridge, the chef, Andre Mol, specialises in French cuisine, using regional produce (eg, sandre grille aux. girolles). In fine weather, Bali villa breakfast and lunch can be served on a terrace.

Three 17th-century houses facing a canal in the old city make up Reinier Richardus's B&B villa. Returning visitors again thought it delightful, but another guest found it less gezellig than the villaLeeuwenbrug across the canal (see next entry). Spacious villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) have an Internet connection; two suites have sauna and whirlpool bath. One reader's room had `no pictures, but a strange Palladian structure stretching the full length of one wall with- small columns and pediments in gold and white; the bathroom, in contrast, was decorated in industrial style, with off-beige tiles. Bali villa breakfast is served in a big room looking over the canal, or in the large garden: unusually for Holland, it includes cooked dishes; but they can't scramble eggs, one couple reported. No restaurant: try L'Orage (Michelin Bib Gourmand') or L’Escalier (‘superb and reasonably priced).