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EAT > Star of Greece (18/20)
If ever asked about where to eat in Willunga, The Star of Greece is on the top of my list, actually if its top of my list if someone asks me the best places to eat in South Australia (but…
EAT > Salopian Inn, McLaren Vale (17/20)
Salopian Inn is a location firmly lodged in my childhood mind, it was the home of family friends in my primary school years and I visited often. Decades later I returned to the restaurant with the same couple who…
EAT > Porteño, Surry Hills Sydney (17/20)
In 2025, Porteno was recognised as number 20 on the world's best steak restaurants. This is Sydney hospitality done well, Its a smart room, good food, good service and an excellent wine cellar. What's not to love.
AMBIANCE >
Step…
EAT > Harriot, Melbourne (17/20)
Set on the corner of King and Collins, Harriot is where Melbourne’s European ambitions shimmer brightest. Think discreet bon vivant, white tablecloths and all. Yet beneath the crisp linen and glass is a quietly restless soul, drawing whispers from Parisian…
EAT > Ory’s, Falls Creek (15/20)
Frueaf Village was one of the first of a series of smarter ski accomodation in Falls Creek, initially the home of bar restaurant cafe “Milch” today it is named after the ski trail that drops in above the venue.
Among the alpine peaks and crisp mountain air of Falls Creek, Ory’s is the kind of place that recalls stories by the fireplace—a haven where slope-weary skiers and snow-seeking families converge for warmth and flavor in equal measure. From the outside, it’s modest—the snow dusting Schuss Street and locals ducking in for shelter—but inside, Ory’s trades in broad, welcoming smiles, fire-lit corners, and a gentle hum of laughter that sets the scene for something memorable.
AMBIANCE >
Set against the ridgeline with windows framing the swirling snow, the dining room glows with soft timber, flickering hearth light, and convivial buzz. There’s a pitch-perfect alpine coziness that’s as good for brunch…
EAT > Summit Ridge, Falls Creek (16/20)
Falls Creek has always been a personal favourite ski destination and a tradition has built up in recent years, we always have a Saturday dinner at Summit Ridge.
Summit Ridge in Falls Creek is an alpine classic—a restaurant and lodge perched above the snowbound slopes, quietly (and reliably) keeping the torch lit for mountain fine dining with ambition and charm.
There’s a particular hush that falls over Falls Creek at twilight, as the last skiers crunch across Schuss Street and the air sharpens. Step inside Summit Ridge and the weight of the mountain world softens—timber beams, crackling fires, and polished stone set the scene. Windows frame snowy gums; the room glows with lamplight and the gentle hum of satisfied diners.
FOOD >
Chef plates up alpine comfort laced with sophistication. You might start with goat’s cheese soufflé, airy as fresh powder, or house-cured trout paired with horseradish snow and…
STAY > Reid’s Palace, Madeira Portugal (18/20)
Perched dramatically atop rugged cliffs, where Madeira’s balmy breezes mingle with the salt-sweet tang of the Atlantic, sits Reid’s Palace—a vestige of an older, more gracious world. Arriving, one is met by a sweep of subtropical gardens, their riotous colours…
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…
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,…
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…
