ALMANAK MAGAZINE

CAFE > JUNIPER, South Melbourne (16/20)

Close to the South Melbourne Markets there are numerous coffee shops that each offer a little something. Juniper however brings that perfect combination of fine coffee, quality food and good service in a warm and friendly space. Great coffee, delicious food, an ideal location AMBIENCE > There is something quietly magnetic about a space…

23 hours agoByCrispin

EAT > AUSTRALIA EAT > MELBOURNE EAT > VICTORIA WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Blackbird, Melbourne (14/20)

Blackbird Melbourne is a three-level, moodily newcomer on Flinders Lane that feels built for long, steak lunches built around fire, flesh and a little theatre. It’s the Brisbane icon reimagined for Melbourne, with an open kitchen anchored by a Josper grill, a serious cellar and a cocktail bar that leans hard into nostalgia. Blackbird is…

2 days agoByCrispin

VISIT > AUSTRALIA VISIT > McLaren Vale VISIT > SA

VISIT > Samuel’s Gorge, McLaren Vale SA

Samuel’s Gorge is one of McLaren Vale’s most atmospheric red-wine addresses, a rustic 1850s farm shed perched above the Onkaparinga gorge with views that feel painted into the label itself. This is a cellar door for people who like their Grenache wild‑haired and characterful, poured by a team who clearly live the wines they’re talking…

5 days agoByCrispin

EAT > AUSTRALIA EAT > NSW EAT > SYDNEY WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > CATALINA, Rose Bay Sydney (19/20)

Catalina’s has become a venue for our special events, it is that kind of place. Stunning views, exceptional service, delicious food and a world class wine list. There are few restaurants around the world that have such an abundance of world class assets and as such Catalina remains one of the most in…

April 7, 2026ByCrispin

STAY > FIJI WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > LOMANI ISLAND RESORT, Mololo Fiji (15/20)

Lomani Island Resort & Spa is an adults-only Mamanuca escape that feels purpose-built for couples who want barefoot Fiji with just enough polish, and a blissful buffer from the family chaos next door at Plantation. Lomani Island Resort is Fiji’s Adults Only calm and relaxing alternative AMBIENCE > Lomani means “love” in Fijian, and that…

April 6, 2026ByCrispin

VISIT > AUSTRALIA VISIT > McLaren Vale VISIT > SA

VISIT > KAY BROTHERS, McLaren Vale South Australia

Kay Brothers is a heritage-rich, red‑focused McLaren Vale address where old vines, traditional winemaking and elevated vineyard views come together in one of the region’s most characterful cellar doors. VARIETALS > Kay Brothers is, at heart, a Shiraz house, with the variety accounting for the majority of production and underpinning the flagship Block 6 and…

April 5, 2026ByCrispin

STAY > FIJI WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > Six Senses, Fiji (18/20)

Tropical Paradise the Six Senses Resort, Malolo Fiji Six Senses Fiji is a polished, design‑forward barefoot luxury outpost on Malolo Island that wraps high‑touch service and serious sustainability credentials in an easy, island‑club mood. It feels more like a private Vunabaka beach enclave with a Six Senses overlay than a conventional resort, which is precisely…

April 5, 2026ByCrispin

STAY > FIJI WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > Sofitel, Denarau Fiji (14/20)

Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa is a polished, French-accented playground on Denarau that manages to feel both genuinely Fijian and decisively international, with a scale and amenity set that rewards longer stays and return visits. It is not the most intimate address in the islands, but it is one of the most complete, especially if…

April 5, 2026ByCrispin

EAT > AUSTRALIA EAT > MELBOURNE EAT > VICTORIA WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Geralds Bar, Carlton (15/20)

Gerald’s Bar 2.0 on Lygon Street feels less like a “new” opening and more like a beloved neighbourhood institution stretching comfortably into a much bigger, grander suit (think Talking Heads) — same irreverent soul, and a lot more room to play. The move of Gerald’s Bar from its old cozy location to a new…

March 31, 2026ByCrispin

STAY > BURGUNDY STAY > FRANCE WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > Le Relais Bernard Loiseau, Burgundy (18/20)

Le Relais Bernard Loiseau is a destination hotel where serious gastronomy, deep spa-soothing and old‑world Burgundy village charm intersect. Perhaps more famed as the home of restaurant 'La Côte d’Or' which has held as many as 3 Michelin stars in its famous history. It is a place where you come for the meal…

March 29, 2026ByCrispin