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EAT > Little Truffle, Mermaid Beach (17/20)
Tucked discreetly behind a modest shopfront on the Gold Coast Highway, Little Truffle is the kind of place you hear about in passing and instantly add to your must-visit list—a Mermaid Beach fixture devoted to polished European flavours, immaculate service,…
EAT > Social Eating House & Bar, Broadbeach, Queensland (16/20)
Social Eating House + Bar delivers one of Broadbeach’s most confident, social-leaning dining experiences—a place where well crafted plates and an electric, cosmopolitan mood bleed seamlessly from afternoon aperitif hour into late-night stories at the bar.
Nestled on the Oracle…
EAT > Kōst, Broadbeach, Queensland (16/20)
In the heart of Broadbeach, Kōst impresses as a place where fire, coastline, and a touch of spectacle converge for a distinctively Gold Coast dining moment. Spread across a sprawling, design-led pavilion on Oracle Boulevard, Kōst pulses with a lively…
EAT > Olympus Dining, Sydney (18/20)
Since opening their doors at the new Wunderlich Lane in Redfern, Olympus Dining has been one of the hottest bookings in Sydney. Greek food at its finest, in the heart of one of Sydney’s original Greek suburbs.
AMBIENCE >
The Wunderlich Lane precinct includes the Eve…
CAFE > Dame, Melbourne (17/20)
Dame Café charms with understated elegance and confident calm—a high-ceilinged haven in the beating heart of Collins Street, just a morning stroll from Melbourne’s historic Treasury precinct. Whether sliding into a sunlit window seat or settling in at the marble countertop, there’s a sense that Dame is all about quiet, well-considered hospitality—never rushed, always intent on delighting its local and well-heeled weekday regulars.
AMBIENCE >
Tucked beneath the façade at 35 Collins Street (a building I worked in for 7 years), Dame blends Euro café charm and Melbourne’s design-forward sensibility. An airy space welcomes with timber accents, sculptural lighting, and vibrant greenery. Soft jazz floats above the bustle, giving the café a rhythm that’s energetic but never overwhelming. It’s the kind of spot you find yourself lingering over coffee, even if you came for a quick breakfast.
EAT >
Breakfast and lunch here are a tribute to simplicity done right.…
EAT > Moo Moo, Broadbeach (14/20)
In the heart of Broadbeach’s glittering dining belt, Moo Moo stakes its claim as one of the precinct’s elder statesmen—a steakhouse with swagger, but not without its own scars. Where others offer newness, Moo Moo leans heavily into tradition, its dim lighting and polished black surfaces promising old-school drama, while the clatter of glassware and thunder of conversation announce the room’s relentless energy.
AMBIENCE >
There’s a palpable buzz here, but it comes at a cost. The large open space reverberates with every laugh, chair scrape, and shout from a busy Friday crowd—making table talk an Olympic event in its own right.
Slipping into a seat, the patina of age is evident: banquettes sag in places, worn leather chairs bear the battle wounds of countless dinners, and daylight just serves to highlight the faded glory. Staff move confidently, but there’s little chance you’ll escape the hurricane of…
STAY > The Langham, Gold Coast (15/20)
The Langham, Gold Coast stands as an emblem of modern luxury and beachfront ease, offering an escape where laidback sophistication and a touch of coastal drama converge. Positioned on the absolute beachfront on the Northern edge of Broadbeach (or the…
STAY > The Twenty One Hotel, Athens (17/20)
Step away from the classical chaos and into the contemporary embrace of Twenty One Hotel — a clever, design-forward refuge at the leafy heart of Kifisia, Athens’ most quietly confident district.
Here, you will find a bold façade of…
STAY > Welcome Hotel, Paris (16/20)
With less than 24 hours in Paris, we needed to stay somewhere central that didn’t cost a bomb. Welcome Hotel was perfect.
AMBIENCE >
Welcome Hotel is old and modern at the same time. The building dates to the late…
SKI > RESORTS
Elegance and adventure have found a rare symmetry at One&Only Moonlight Basin, a game-changing debut in Big Sky, Montana—the United States’ newest epicentre of alpine luxury.
One&Only’s first ski resort (and first resort in the US) greets guests with striking Olson Kundig architecture, snow-dusted lodge lines, and panoramic views…
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,…
EAT >Where to Eat & Restaurant Reviews
STAY >
DRINK > BARS
DRINK > Brettos, Athens (17/20)
The oldest distillery in Athens, in the middle of the Plaka, selling cold drinks and snacks. What’s not to like? .
AMBIENCE >
Operating since 1909, Brettos has had time to produce and collect lots of bottles. Two walls are lined with coloured glass bottles, a kaleidoscope of colour and alcohol…
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 > 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 > …
