Celebrity chef and author Suvir Saran reflects on his lifelong pull towards water and the rare stillness he finds in waterfront cities. From California’s cinematic Montage Laguna Beach to the historic Savoia Excelsior Palace in Trieste, he shares atmospheric hotels where sea, food, and landscape merge into slow, immersive stays that feel timeless rather than touristic.
“I have always been a reluctant swimmer. Not because I fear water, but because I have long feared being seen within it,” says celebrity chef and author Suvir Saran. Yet, he believes water has its own language. Little wonder then that Saran gravitates towards beaches, harbours, and waterfront cities. “The most memorable places I return to are not always defined by sand. Some are shaped by stone promenades, by harbours, or by histories that run deeper than tides,” he says.
For Saran, these destinations offer a rare kind of stillness where time dissolves almost imperceptibly. “You wake with the light. You eat when you are hungry. You linger because there is nowhere else you need to be,” he reflects.
Over the years, the chef has checked into some of the world’s most atmospheric waterfront hotels where the setting becomes inseparable from the experience itself. Some overlook impossibly blue coastlines, others sit beside historic ports, but each has stayed with him for reasons that go far beyond postcard beauty.
Saran shares these unforgettable stays with Robb Report India.
For Saran, Montage Laguna Beach captures the kind of California coastal beauty that feels cinematic without trying too hard. Built along rugged bluffs overlooking the Pacific, the resort opens out to uninterrupted ocean views, where mornings are best spent walking along tide pools and evenings are all about glowing orange sunsets. “There is a certain theatricality to Laguna Beach. The kind that turns even an ordinary sunset into something magical,” he says.
What stayed with him most was how well the property connects guests to the surrounding landscape. Whether through private balconies opening out to the sea, long walks through Crystal Cove State Park, or hikes along the trails of Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, the experience constantly pulls you outdoors and closer to the coastline’s rhythms.
For Saran, dining forms an essential part of the stay — particularly at Studio Mediterranean, the resort’s newest restaurant, inspired by Mediterranean and Greek traditions. “At Studio, flavours are layered with precision, never overwhelming the ingredient itself,” he says. Seasonal California produce, theatrical tableside preparations, and whole branzino baked in sea salt round out the meal.
When Saran speaks about Harbor View Hotel, what comes through most strongly is its sense of familiarity. Set along the waterfront in Edgartown overlooking the iconic lighthouse, the hotel captures the easy charm that has long defined summers in Martha’s Vineyard.
There is nothing overly polished or performative about it — just wraparound porches, sea breezes drifting through common spaces, and guests settling into rituals that seem unchanged for generations.
Following an extensive renovation, the hotel’s suites, restaurants, and public spaces feel refreshed while still retaining their old-world character. Days unfold slowly here, beginning with sunrise views over the harbour and stretching into long afternoons by the water. “Evenings are defined by lobster, drawn butter, sweet corn, and conversation that drifts into dusk,” says Saran.
Bettini remains his pick for leisurely waterfront dinners, while Roxana bar — with its jewel-toned interiors and warm pub-like atmosphere — offers standout cocktails and excellent sushi.
Trieste stands apart from the Italy most travellers imagine, and that is precisely what draws Saran to it. Sitting right on the Adriatic waterfront, Savoia Excelsior Palace reflects the city’s old-world character beautifully. Originally built for the Habsburg dynasty in the early 1900s, the hotel still carries traces of that grandeur through soaring corridors, marble interiors, and balconies overlooking the Gulf of Trieste.
For Saran, however, the city’s appeal lies just as much in its food culture. “Seafood is approached with simplicity, allowing proximity to define flavour. There is no need for embellishment,” he says. The rhythm of the city unfolds through strong espressos by the water and lingering dinners centred around regional wines and local olive oils at Savoy Restaurant by Eataly.
What makes Trieste especially significant for him is that it feels less like a conventional beach destination and more like a slower, deeply layered port city shaped equally by history, literature, and the sea.
Saran describes the Athens Riviera as glamorous in a way that never feels forced, and Four Seasons Astir Palace embodies that spirit perfectly. Once a retreat for European royalty and Hollywood stars, the property today balances its mid-century legacy with contemporary luxury. Terraced towards the Aegean, the resort flows from sleek modernist interiors to private beaches, cabanas, and waterfront restaurants drenched in sunlight.
“The sea here is not decorative; it is integral,” says Saran. “To be here is to understand that true luxury is not about scale, but about depth and refinement.”
Food naturally becomes part of the stay. Long lunches by the water revolve around grilled fish brightened with citrus, intensely flavoured olive oils, and dishes that allow the ingredients to speak for themselves. Even as the Athens Riviera experiences a renewed wave of global attention, Astir Palace continues to feel timeless rather than trend-driven.
Among all the properties Saran mentions, Taj Exotica in South Goa perhaps feels the most personal. Long before beach holidays became synonymous with luxury, this was where he first began to understand the emotional pull of the coastline itself. Set along Benaulim Beach, the resort moves to the unhurried rhythm that continues to define South Goa. Mediterranean-style villas sit amid lush gardens and swaying palms, with the Arabian Sea serving as a constant presence throughout the property.
For Saran, part of the charm lies in how effortlessly the hotel balances comfort with familiarity. From the well-appointed rooms layered with thoughtful details to long seafood lunches at Lobster Shack by the beach, everything here feels attuned to Goa’s susegad spirit. “The hospitality is warm, instinctive, and attentive,” says Saran. “This is not a place that seeks to impress. It offers something more enduring—a sense of belonging.”