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EAT > Bar Lourinhã, Melbourne (17/20)
Bar Lourinhã has long stood as a beacon of Iberian warmth in Melbourne’s heart, its yellow shopfront glowing like a lantern on Little Collins Street. Step through the mosaic-tiled threshold and it’s as if the rush of the city fades…
EAT > Pearl, Aldinga Beach (15/20)
Pearl is the kind of beachside restaurant that instantly feels like the South Australian coast in miniature—the salt in the breeze, surf in earshot, layered sunlight painting the tiles and timber. This is Aldinga Beach at its best: relaxed, elemental,…
EAT > Le Globe, Meursault (Burgundy) France (17/20)
In the heart of Burgundy’s fabled wine country, Le Globe stands on Meursault’s main street—a boutique bolthole where the joys of French hospitality, jewel-like plates and insider wine knowledge blend together in a style that is distinctly local yet wholly…
EAT > The European, Spring Street Melbourne (17/20)
Step from the tram-swept bustle of Spring Street into The European and the years seem to slide away. The mosaic floors and bentwood chairs recall another era—a continental refuge under the colonnade, shadowed by the stately Parliament House. Here in the theatre district, Melbourne’s appetite for the Old World is enduring, and nowhere is it more comfortingly realised than at The European.
Step from the tram-swept bustle of Spring Street into The European and the years seem to slide away. The mosaic floors and bentwood chairs recall another era—a continental refuge under the colonnade, shadowed by the stately Parliament House. Here in the theatre district, Melbourne’s appetite for the Old World is enduring, and nowhere is it more comfortingly realised than at The European.
From breakfast to lunch, dinner and post dinner drinks The European has always been a staple of style, the standard by which other restaurants are judged.…
STAY > Forest Inn Sangoro, Zao Onsen, Japan (14/20)
Hidden deep within the vast cedar forests that blanket Zao Onsen, Forest Inn Sangoro is a Japanese mountain retreat where the spirit of alpine adventure blends seamlessly with the gentle rhythms of an old hot spring town. Arrival is part pilgrimage: winding uphill through heavy mist, fragmenting glimpses of snow-caked branches and wooden signposts leading finally to Sangoro’s timber frame, perched on the edge of Zao’s sprawling ski fields.
Forest Inn Sangoro immediately reminded me of a Rifugio in the Sud Tyrol, not just the charming old timber styling, but the fact that it is isolated from the town a base all of its own on the mountain, next to the lifts but also remote from the resort below. In the green season you can drive to the door but in winter it is oversnow or a slightly complicated transfer via gondolas.
AMBIENCE >
Step inside…
CAFE > Fuglen Espressobar, Tokyo (18/20)
There’s a certain timelessness at Fuglen Espressobar, tucked away on Tomigaya’s sleepy backstreets, just moments from Yoyogi Park — somewhere between retro Norwegian cool and Tokyo edge, every detail balancing minimalism with cosy, mid-century warmth. Fuglen is a Japanese…
STAY > Ergon Bakehouse, Athens Greece (16/20)
Rise + Rest. The tag line for the converted bakehouse is based on letting the dough rise and then rest. This is reflected throughout the entire experience. Ergon Bakehouse is a calming and charming oasis from the hard lines and…
STAY > Rifugio Fredarola, Dolomites Italy (16/20)
We discovered Rifugio Fredarola quite by chance, it is on the path of the iconic Sella Ronda ski route that travels around the imposing Sella Massif, the path crossing four dramatic mountain passes: Passo Sella, Passo Pordoi, Passo Campolongo, 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…
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…
WINE > La Maison Romane, Hautes-Côtes de Nuits 2018(91/100 points)
La Maison Romane's 2018 Hautes-Côtes de Nuits is a captivating expression of Pinot Noir that showcases the unique winemaking philosophy of founder Oronce de Beler. This biodynamic wine offers a delightful balance of elegance and rustic charm.
APPEARANCE & AROMA >
Medium ruby color with good clarity. Vibrant…
WINE > Hoddles Creek 1er, Yarra Valley Pinot Noir (95/100 points)
Hoddles Creek Estate has once again demonstrated their mastery of cool-climate winemaking with their 1er Yarra Valley Pinot Noir. This exceptional wine showcases the unique terroir of the Upper Yarra Valley and the skillful craftsmanship of winemaker Franco D’Anna and the Hoddles Creek team.
Appearance and Aroma > …
