Round Hill Hotel & Villas on Jamaica's Montego Bay coast is hosting one of its more ambitious food events in years: a four-day culinary residency with Chef Alex Dilling, the London chef behind one of the UK's fastest-rising fine-dining restaurants. The pop-up runs November 25-28 and blends modern French cooking with the resort's beachfront setting.
Dilling's credentials are the draw. His restaurant, Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal, picked up two Michelin stars just six months after opening in 2023 — the only new restaurant in the United Kingdom that year to reach that level. His cooking leans on precision, seasonal ingredients and a polished, contemporary French style that rarely leaves London, which is precisely why this Caribbean appearance stands out.
The programme unfolds in three parts. It opens on Wednesday, November 25, with the resort's weekly Manager's Cocktails, where guests can meet Dilling informally over drinks and small bites while he talks through his techniques and philosophy. On Thursday, November 26, a live-cooking demonstration called The Art of the Craft gives a small audience a behind-the-scenes look at the skills behind his two-star kitchen — seats are limited, so reservations go through the concierge at concierge@roundhill.com.
The centrepiece lands on Saturday, November 28: a Grand Finale Dinner built around a five-course tasting menu of Dilling's signature dishes, each designed for the occasion. Like the demo, seating is restricted, and bookings are handled by emailing restaurantreservations@roundhill.com. Both ticketed events are small on purpose, so anyone keen should plan well ahead — late November is also peak season for Jamaica's north coast, when the weather is dry and hotel demand is high.
For travellers, this is a rare chance to pair a classic Jamaican resort stay with a Michelin-level tasting menu without leaving the beach. Round Hill, a long-established favourite near Montego Bay, is known for its villas and low-key elegance, and the residency slots neatly into a winter-sun escape. Even if you skip the finale dinner, the welcome cocktail evening is open to the resort's guests and offers an easy, low-pressure way to meet the chef. Just remember the timetable is tight: arrive, toast on the Wednesday, watch the demonstration on the Thursday, and book the Saturday finale before you fly.
Story via Global Traveler.
