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EAT > Society, Melbourne (17/20)
Amidst the sparkling towers of Collins Street, Society is less a restaurant and more a statement—one part art installation, one part theatre for the business set, and one part shimmering supper club. Enter and you’re enveloped by velvet, soft lamplight,…
EAT > Cosme, New York (18/20)
Some restaurants in Manhattan are just looking for a crowd. Cosme, though—Cosme feels like it was built with the city in mind: restless, inventive, and impossible not to love, at least if you know what you’re looking for. Step into…
EAT > Maison Bâtard, Melbourne (16/20)
Aspiring to Parisian grandeur is some what expected in Australia's French restaurants, but Maison Bâtard takes it to a new level, four of them actually. An unabashed, four-level reverie to la belle France, right on Bourke Street. It is here,…
STAY > The Lindis, New Zealand (19/20)
Set in the heart of New Zealand’s majestic Ahuriri Valley, The Lindis is a standout luxury lodge that redefines high country hospitality with a blend of architectural elegance, immersive natural beauty, and bespoke experiences.
LOCATION >
Tucked within a 240-hectare sheep and cattle station in the South Island, The Lindis commands sweeping views of the Ahuriri Valley, framed by the grandeur of the Southern Alps. It’s remote yet accessible, offering an exclusive gateway to some of New Zealand’s most pristine landscapes—from tranquil rivers ideal for world-class fly fishing to hiking trails and horseback riding across wild, untamed terrain.
THE PROPERTY & STYLE >
With just eight suites, including two Master Suites, three lodge suites, and three remarkable glass pods, The Lindis ensures privacy and intimacy. The architecture is striking—clean geometric lines and natural materials blend effortlessly with the rolling hills. Floor-to-ceiling windows dissolve the barrier between indoors and the breathtaking…
STAY > Maison Heler, Metz France (17/20)
Nestled in the vibrant Amphithéâtre district of Metz, Maison Heler Metz, a Stark hotel and part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, redefines contemporary hospitality with its visionary blend of art, storytelling, and architecture. Designed by the iconic Philippe Starck, this hotel is not merely a place to stay but an immersive, surreal experience that captures the imagination from the moment you arrive.
LOCATION >
Maison Heler’s architectural statement is striking—a monolithic nine-story concrete and metal base crowned by a perfectly preserved 19th-century Lorraine mansion seemingly suspended in mid-air. This rooftop house, inspired by a fictional narrative crafted by Starck himself, tells the tale of Manfred Heler, an eccentric inventor whose ancestral home is mysteriously elevated above the cityscape. This blend of brutalist modernity and historic charm creates a fascinating dialogue between past and present, giving the hotel its unique identity and commanding presence beside the Centre Pompidou-Metz.
THE STORY…
STAY > Maison Heler, Metz France (17/20)
Nestled in the vibrant Amphithéâtre district of Metz, Maison Heler Metz, a Stark hotel and part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, redefines contemporary hospitality with its visionary blend of art, storytelling, and architecture. Designed by the iconic Philippe Starck,…
STAY > Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa, Broome WA (17/20)
Finding the perfect tropical escape can be a gamble—resorts promise barefoot luxury and ocean views, but often it comes down to whether the reality lives up to the vision. At Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa, on Western Australia’s remote…
CAFE > Apartment Coffee, Singapore (19/20)
There’s a certain quiet confidence to Apartment Coffee, nestled along Selegie Road in Singapore — a space where light pours in through clean lines and minimalism meets artistry. Once a local secret and now crowned Asia’s best coffee shop (and…
SKI > RESORTS
Powder, Altitude, and the Endless Adventure of Shiga Kogen
There’s a special sense of anticipation as you wind your way up into the Shiga Highlands—a feeling sharpened with every turn, the landscape shifting from pine-lined valleys to the broad, powder-laden slopes of Shiga Kogen. Set within Nagano’s Joshinetsu National Park,…
Madarao isn’t just a powder hound’s secret stash—in recent years, this mid-sized Nagano resort has stepped confidently into the limelight, drawing freestyle fans, families, and adventurers hunting for bottomless snow, wild terrain, and a refreshingly relaxed atmosphere where “no lift lines” is more than marketing hype. Madarao reminds me…
Epic Views, Big Terrain, and Lakefront Energy at Heavenly Tahoe
Heavenly Mountain Resort is a place where California meets Nevada, and the drama of the Sierra Nevada collides with the crystalline wonder of Lake Tahoe. Spread across both state lines and boasting the highest elevation in Tahoe, Heavenly isn’t just…
EAT >Where to Eat & Restaurant Reviews
STAY >
DRINK > BARS
DRINK > Caves de l’Abbaye, Beaune, Burgundy (18/20)
Step from Beaune’s winding, cobbled heart into Caves de l’Abbaye, and you’re greeted by the cool hush of a centuries-old cellar—a true Burgundy hideaway shaped from vaulted stone. Beneath low arches, the glow is candle-soft, shadows flicker against wine-streaked walls, and every table feels like a private alcove ready for…
DRINK > Her, Melbourne (16/20)
Step through the pink neon glow on Lonsdale and you’re in Her, a vertical wonderland where chic Melburnians come to trade the city’s grit for a splash of glossy, Euro-tinted sparkle. Four floors, each with its own mood—Her’s always got room for something (or someone) new.
AMBIENCE >
Her’s ground…
DRINK > Materia Prima, Athens (15/20)
Tucked away in the lively neighbourhoods of Koukaki and Pagrati, Materia Prima is the kind of wine bar that quietly redefines what it means to drink well in Athens.
Here, the city’s creative pulse meets a deep reverence for the craft of wine, making it a must for anyone…
DRINK > Old Palm Liquor, Brunswick East (15/20)
The northern end of East Brunswick's Lygon Street is now a busy bar and dining district. It is an area where you can stumble left or right into a smart bar that serves good food. Old Palm Liquor is one of these places that is full from the front…
DRINK > Mid Air, Melbourne (15/20)
Early Autumn is my favourite time in Melbourne, it is when the warm days end with warm evening that cool down to fresh mornings. It is a time when there are so many things to do all complemented by amenable weather. Grand Prix, Comedy Festival, Food & Wine Festival, Fashion Festival its…
DRINK > Bar Morna, Milano Italy (15/20)
We stumbled into Bar Morna after a long drive from the Dolomites back to Milan and a fairly long walk from the car hire return (at the Duomo) back towards our hotel Magna Pars in the vibrant Via Tortona area of Milan.
The hosts immediately welcomed us in encouraged…
DRINK > WINEWine & Spirit Reviews
WINE > Valli Bannockburn Pinot Noir, Central Otago NZ (2021)
There are Pinots that gently introduce themselves, and then there are Pinots that make the room go quiet for a moment: Valli’s Bannockburn sits firmly among the latter. Bannockburn, the original Central Otago subregion for Pinot Noir, is famed for clay-schist soils and sun drenched, cool-climate vines—and winemaker Grant Taylor’s…
WINE > Quealy Musk Creek Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula Australia
APPEARANCE & AROMA >
A luminous garnet in the glass, Musk Creek Pinot Noir immediately impresses with its clarity and vibrancy. The nose is beguiling—florals, wild strawberry, and a touch of rose petal, underpinned by exotic spice (think Sichuan pepper) and forest floor. There’s a sense of autumn leaves…
