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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,…
EAT > Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld VIC (19/20)
There are restaurants that feel like a pilgrimageâWickens at Royal Mail Hotel is one of them. Set at the foot of the Grampians in Dunkeld, Wickens is not just a meal, but a masterclass in the art of place-driven dining.…
EAT > Kafeneion Emeis, Melbourne (15/20)
Once upon a time Lonsdale Street was home to Melbournes Greek community and was thick with restaurants and cafes. Today however most are gone, out to the suburbs leaving most people to believe that there are few choices in…
EAT > Wine is Fine, Athens Greece (14/20)
Wine Is Fine, is a French-inspired wine haven tucked into a sidestreet in the heart of Athensâ historic triangle. This is where the cityâs new wave of food and wine lovers gather: a place that feels both cosmopolitan and quietly…
EAT > Cosme, New York (18/20)
Some restaurants in Manhattan are just looking for a crowd. Cosme, thoughâCosme feels like it was built with the city in mind: restless, inventive, and impossible not to love, at least if you know what youâre looking for. Step into this Flatiron institution, the musicâs up, the crowdâs dressed, the mezcalâs coldâand you just know youâre in very good hands.
AMBIENCE >
Walk in and itâs all chic, dark lines, a little moody, unmistakably cosmopolitan. The room buzzes with birthdays, dates, post-gallery openings and finance bohemians. Thereâs an open kitchen with the confidence to be on display, and a bar up front serving agave cocktails thatâd impress a Brooklyn mixologist. Lighting is discreetly dramatic, and, despite the roomâs size, you wonât have to shout to be heardâunless you want to talk over the table about just how much youâre about to spend. Staff move briskly: friendly, yes, but also…
STAY > Hotel Mediterraneo, Kastellorizo (15/20)
There are places where the Aegean feels infinite, where the line between land and sea blurs into a kind of dream. Hotel Mediterraneo, perched at the quiet edge of Kastellorizoâs horseshoe harbour, is one of themâa seven-room retreat that feels…
CAFE > Anäna, Syntagma Athens (15/20)
If youâre looking for a little corner in Athens that feels like a breath of fresh, contemporary airâthis is Anäna, right in the heart of Syntagma. With its bright, glass-fronted façade and a charming, glass-roofed arcade, Anäna is a place…
STAY > Hotel Pupetto, Positano Italy (15/20)
Step off the ferry, leave the chaos of the main beach behind, and meander along the coastal path to discover Hotel Pupettoâa tranquil retreat nestled on the secluded sands of Fornillo Beach. Here, the Amalfi Coast reveals a quieter, more…
SKI > RESORTS
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 isnât just…
Powder, Luxury, and Adventure on Japanâs Snowiest Slopes
Thereâs a certain thrill to arriving at Lotte Arai Resortâa sense that youâve come to a place where the mountains still call the shots. Set on the flanks of Mt. Okenashi in Niigata Prefecture, just under two hours from Tokyo by bullet…
Nestled in the heart of the Italian Dolomites, Val Gardena is a world-class ski destination that blends breathtaking scenery, rich Ladin culture, and access to one of Europeâs largest ski networks. The resortâs unique partnership with Seiser Alm (Alpe di Siusi) forms the largest ski area in the Dolomites, offering…
EAT >Where to Eat & Restaurant Reviews
STAY >
DRINK > BARS
DRINK > Her, Melbourne (16/20)
Step through the pink neon glow on Lonsdale and youâre in Her, a vertical wonderland where chic Melburnians come to trade the cityâs grit for a splash of glossy, Euro-tinted sparkle. Four floors, each with its own moodâHerâs always got room for something (or someone) new.
AMBIENCE >
Herâs 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 cityâs 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 > GrĂźnbeck, St Anton AM (15/20)
Finding a place that is really comfortable to pop in for a coffee, a beer, a snack or a meal. That is the sign of the local you want to visit.
Another good sign is when the patrons start talking and sharing stories. GrĂźnbeck has both and plenty…
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: Valliâs 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 vinesâand winemaker Grant Taylorâs…
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 beguilingâflorals, wild strawberry, and a touch of rose petal, underpinned by exotic spice (think Sichuan pepper) and forest floor. Thereâs a sense of autumn leaves…
WINE > La Maison Romane, Hautes-CĂ´tes de Nuits 2018(91/100 points)
La Maison Romane's 2018 Hautes-CĂ´tes 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…
