Where the feast and the fiction are the only storyline
Two days of quiet luxury in regional Victoria. Twelve readers. Designed for lovers of fantasy, romantasy, and sci-fi.A chef's table designed to be as memorable as the books themselves.
| Where | When | Table For | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne, Australia | 9 - 11 September 2026 | Maximum twelve guests | AUD $2,250 per person |
Enchanted Table's Terms and Conditions
[email protected]
"This one's for the readers. The ones with a TBR pile. Who have opinions about magic systems. Who cried at fictional deaths and aren't sorry.
If you've ever said, "just one more chapter", at midnight, Enchanted Table was built for you."
The Premise
Uninterrupted reading for the epicurean
Enchanted Table is a two-night reading retreat for fantasy, romantasy, and sci-fi lovers.A private estate within ninety minutes of Melbourne. Time to catch up with good books, cosy corners, and a chance to gather with like-minded souls.There is no programme to keep up with. No icebreakers. Just delicious meals, and the rare luxury of finishing a book in one sitting.No care in the world. A chance to appreciate slow living.
Beyond the Ordinary
We built the retreat we kept failing to find
| Reading first | Intentional dining | Your kind of people |
|---|---|---|
| Every space is built around the act of reading. Chairs that hold you for hours, light that softly filters through, and most importantly, quiet moments take you to another realm. | Chef-curated, intentional menus. Nothing reaches the table unless it belongs there. | Up to twelve readers who are passionate about what you love! No small talk required, but available, if you want it. |
Your Retreat, In Three Parts
One arrival. Two nights. A handful of perfect moments.
A loose shape, not a schedule. Times are gentle. Take part in what you want. This is your time, your space. There are no expectations.
| Part I: Day 1 - Prologue | Part II: Day 2 - The long, slow middle | Part III: Epilogue |
|---|---|---|
| ● Arrive in the afternoon between three and five. Welcome drinks are waiting for you. | ● Coffee and a long breakfast laid out. | ● Brunch at your own pace, quiet, slow. |
| ● There's time to settle in, open that book, unpack, and unwind into your space. | ● The whole morning is yours. Read until lunch interrupts you. | ● One last chapter, one last moment of stillness. |
| ● A slow first dinner. Shared long table. Thoughtful dishes, conversation that flows easily. stories shared. | ● Lunch is leisurely. Cheese, cold cuts, wine, book. | ● Departures by noon, a return to the everyday |
| ● A nightcap. Tea, coffee, digestif. | ● Optional walk around the property or explore surroundings. | |
| ● The night winds down slowly, back onto the next chapter! | ● The chefs-table at seven. One long conversation. |
The Meals
We believe that the best adventures should be savoured.Where the provenance of the plate matches the depth of the plot.At Enchanted Table, this forms the second half of our retreat.Two thoughtfully curated dinners. The first night is a long shared table, fire, wine, and conversations that flow naturally. The second night is a seven-course chef's table. The centrepiece of the retreat, and the moment the weekend has been building toward.We're currently in conversation with a chef with a MIchelin-starred restaurant background, working through what reaches the table.More to follow as the menu takes shape, but know that this is where the real care has gone."Our menus are designed with the same intention I bring to every meal I write about, nothing ends up on the table unless it genuinely belongs there," - I-Hua, Founder @msihua
*Dietary requirements are accommodated with advance notice, you'll be asked when you secure your place.
Images are a sample and will be different for each retreat.
The Spaces
Enchanted Table retreats are hosted in carefully selected locations, within 60-90 minutes of Melbourne.Boutique hotels, heritage homes, and design-led spaces chosen for their warmth, atmosphere, and sense of escape.Each venue is different, but the feeling remains the same.Private, restful, and gently removed from the everyday.
Images are indicative of the style and atmosphere of venues used. Each retreat location varies.
Eden Retreat
9 - 11 September 2026
Eden Estate, Yarra Valley
The Eden Retreat is the first Enchanted Table Retreat. This retreat deliberately runs from Wednesday to Friday.
A weekend away can often feel rush. A different scenery, same pace, and Monday comes around too fast.
A mid-week retreat sits apart, and allows you to step out of the week, intentionally giving you the time to unwind, give your permission for self-care, and allows you to return to your routine balanced.Curated details and terms provided at the time of booking.
| Included |
|---|
| ● Two night's accomodation in a luxurious private room (four tiers)* |
| ● All meals, including Day 2 breakfast, lunch, Day 3 brunch |
| ● Two thoughtfully curated, provenance-led dinners. A shared long table dinner, and an intimate-culinary 7 course Chef's Table experience |
| ● Beverages: welcome drinks, wines, coffee, tea, and anything in between |
| ● A welcome gift, chosen for the retreat |
| Not Included |
|---|
| ● Travel to and from the property |
*Once a room is secured, it's yours alone for the retreat, and off the table for everyone else. Choose the chapter that is calling to you.**Wine is served thoughtfully across both dinners, selected to complement the menu. Additional beverages available on request.
Enchanted Table's Terms and Conditions
The Spellbound
Private Chalets
$3,350 (shared per person)
$4,450 (solo)
Choose between one of two chalets in The Spellbound for your two nights at the Eden Retreat.With gorgeous views overlooking the private estate's gardens, your own king sized bed, sofa, deck and kitchenette, these chalets offer your very own sanctuary on the retreat.Top: Willow Chalet
Bottom: Maple Chalet
The Charmed
Private Ground Floor Suites
$2,650 (shared per person)
$3,550 (solo)
Choose between two private garden suites for your two nights at the Eden Retreat.With your own private entry, large windows overlooking the estate gardens and courtyard, sofa, your own king sized bed, spat bath, these suites are the perfect escapadeTop: Rose Garden Suite (own private entry deck)
Bottom: Wisteria Lane Suite
The Fabled
Private Suites
$2,750 (solo)
Choose between two private suites for your two nights at the Eden Retreat.The Primrose Suite offers ground floor access with garden views, private entry, king bed, spa, with close proximity to outdoor areas and the communal game zone.The Iris Suite is located on the first floor within the main house, with its own garden views, king bed, and spa.Top: Primrose Suite
Bottom: Iris Suite
The Storied
Private Rooms
$2,250 (solo)
Both these rooms have quirky configurations with multiple bunk beds, adding to more cosy reading spots.Perfect for those who love to move around whilst reading in their rooms, and are happy to make the space their own.The Lilac Rise room is located on the first floor within the main house, with its garden views, king bed, and a private ensuite with shower amenities.The Rosemary Retreat offers ground floor access with garden views, private entry, king bed, and a private ensuite with bath.Top: Lilac Rise
Bottom: Rosemary Retreat
Your Host
Hello there! Enchanted Table is founded by me, I-Hua (@msihua). I'm a Melbourne-based food and travel content creator, and a Tastehunter for the World's 50 Best Restaurants.For the last 20 years, my work has taken me inside some of the world's most extraordinary dining and hospitality experiences. Restaurants and hotels that appear on Michelin Guide & Keys, 50 Best Restaurants, Bars & Hotels, Tatler, Forbes Travel, and Travel and Leisure's best-in-world lists.What I've taken from those experiences isn't a wish list. It's a calibration. A sense of what genuine hospitality looks like when someone has thought about every detail.That standard is what I've brought to every decision about Enchanted Table. And alongside the food world, I've spent two decades inside corporate Australia, understanding, professionally, what it costs high-achieving people to never fully stop. Enchanted Table is, in part, my answer to that. The venues, the rooms, the menus, the rhythm of the retreat. From the private estates we secure, to the dining experiences you will enjoy, to the quiet permission to simply luxuriate.All of this, alongside twenty years of writing and sharing about remarkable meals and memorable travels, often with a pile of books close by.
Why Enchanted Table?
This is my passion project. I've often wondered if I was part-hobbit, with my love for reading and dining. One day, I thought, "Surely there are others who want this? Who need this. The slow living and quiet luxury of a retreat where everything is taken care of. All they need to do is find a cosy corner, open their books, and turn up for meals. Perhaps a feast fit for the faerie realms. Hopefully not prepared by house elves.In my downtime, I read a voraciously across fantasy, romantasy, and science fiction. I feel very strongly about the number 42, and am still, patiently, awaiting my Hogwarts letter.
Books! What is on my list?
| Top 5 Reads of All Time | Current Obsessions | What's on my July TBR List |
|---|---|---|
| Lord of The Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien | Dresden Files, Jim Butcher | Iron Gold, Pierce Brown |
| Farseer Trilogy, Robin Hobb | Dungeon Crawler Carl, Matt Dinniman | The Book of Doors, Gareth Brown |
| Discworld (all of them), Terry Pratchett | River of London, Ben Aaronovitch | Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Emily Wildes |
| Mistborn, Brandon Sanderson | Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree | Alchemised, SenLin Yu |
| His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman | Nettle and Bone, T Kingfisher | Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir |
*Special mention for the Belgariad, David Eddings, which sparked my love for reading, whom I sacrificed my lunch money for his books
2026 Books I've Read Thus Far...
| The Dark Tower - Gunslinger, Stephen King | Dungeon Crawler Carl, Matt Dinniman | Twelve Months, Jim Butcher |
| The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison | Carl's Doomsday Scenario, Matt Dinniman | Something Rotten, Jasper Fforde |
| Nettle and Bone, T Kingfisher | The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook, Matt Dinniman | Twelve Months, Jim Butcher |
| A Soceress Comes To Call, T Kingfisher | The Gate of the Feral Gods, Matt Dinniman | Scythe, Neal Shusterman |
| Lost in a Good Book, Jasper Fforde | The Butcher's Masquerade, Matt Dinniman | Thunderhead, Neal Shusterman |
| The Well of Lost Plots, Jasper Fforde | The Eye of The Bedlam Bride, Matt Dinniman | Toll, Neal Shusterman |
| A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, George R.R. Martin | This Inevitable Ruin, Matt Dinniman | Parade of Horribles, Matt Dinniman |
| Red Rising, Pierce Brown | Golden Son, Pierce Brown | Morning Star, Pierce Brown |
The Practical Bits
Questions you might have before you say, yes.
When are the first retreats?
The inaugural retreat will take place in Eden Estate, Yarra Valley from 9 - 11 September 2026. These are small by design, and I do expect them to fill up fast.Why is Enchanted Table priced the way it is?
Honestly? Because I refuse to cut corners on the things I care about the most, including the food. I've spent twenty years eating at some of the world's best tables, and I'm a Tastehunter for the World's 50 Best Restaurants (there's only 18 of us globally). Nothing ends up on the table unless it genuinely belongs there, and I'll be working closely with the chefs on this. Add in a tiny group (capped at twelve), beautiful venues, a welcome gift I've curated with love and care, and that's where the price comes from. It's not a reading retreat with nice snacks. The meals are the other half of the retreat. If that sounds like your kind of thing, I'd love to have you at the table.Can I come on my own?
Yes! I designed this retreat with solo readers in mind (my own dear husband doesn't read, unless you count comics!). You'll arrive, settle in, and by dinner, be in a deep conversation with someone about magic systems, fantasy realms, and maybe robots and sentient AI systems.What if I have dietary requirements?
Not a problem, just let me know when the booking opens. The menu is written for the group, and curated as such. We will have the flexibility to work around what you need. As long as you are upfront, and we aren't scrambling on the day.How do I actually book?
Email [email protected]. Full payment secures your seat. As retreats are strictly limited and capped to twelve guests and require significant advance commitments, we require payment in full at the time of booking.What's the cancellation policy?
All bookings are non-refundable, reflecting the upfront commitments required to secure venues, chefs, and accommodation at this scale. If you can't make it, you're welcome to transfer your place to someone else with at least 14 days' notice. Full details are in the Terms & Conditions linked on this page.Will there be activities, networking, or workshops?
No schedule. No icebreakers. No workshopping your five-year plan. The whole point is that you don't have to do anything you don't want to. There might be an optional walk, or something low-key on the second day, casual conversations by the fireplace but nothing is compulsory and nothing is structured. If you want to spend the entire retreat in a chair with a book and only surface for meals, that is genuinely the goal.What's the vibe? Will I know anyone?
Probably not, and that's kind of the magic of it. However, if you do bring a friend, then yes! The retreat is designed so that no more than twelve people who love the same kind of books, are gathered around for a retreat. Conversation tends to happen pretty naturally. But there's also no pressure to socialise beyond mealtimes.What should I bring?
Books, obviously. A few more than you think you'll finish. Ebooks, Audiobooks, whichever you want. You might want to switch things up and go for a walk listening to your latest book. Comfy clothes, layers if you're prone to getting cold (regional Victoria in Sept has its own personality), and anything that makes a reading nook feel like yours. Everything else, is waiting for you when you arrive.Will there be more retreats after the first?
That's the plan. If the inaugural retreat goes the way I hope it does, I want to run these regularly. The guest list will always hear about future dates first, so staying on it is the best way to know when the next one opens. Watch this space.
Enchanted Table's Terms and Conditions© 2026 Enchanted Table. All rights reserved.
ABN: 32 979 403 607 · Victoria, Australia[email protected]