STAY > G-Rough, Rome

Just off the Piazza Navona at the end of a quiet little square and across the road from the famous Roman 'talking statue' Pasquino, you will find the design hotel G-Rough a bespoke ten room hotel. Set in a 17th century building the rooms offset the rough patina on the walls with slightly weathered…

BySebastian SomerledFebruary 26, 2024

STAY > ROME

STAY > Soho House Rome

The Soho House brand has gone global and the once slightly secretive hipster private club now has venues around the world and some of them are excellent hotel choices for those looking for comfort, style and familiarity. Soho House Rome is a dedicated building 10 floors with a gym, rooftop pool, the Soho House signatory…

BySebastian SomerledFebruary 19, 2024

CAFE CAFE > MELBOURNE

CAFE > Hardware Société

Hardware Société redefined the concept of breakfast in Melbourne in 2009, ditching the eggs and smashed avocado on toast that was de rigour for most cafe's and instead constructing layers of flavour more akin to gourmet fine dining than usually expected at breakfast. Where once there was just a 35 seat restaurant in Hardware Street,…

BySebastian SomerledJanuary 31, 2024

EAT EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > Courthouse Hotel North Melbourne (16/20)

After a rough 3 years the Courthouse Hotel in North Melbourne is back open under new ownership from the team behind Naughtons in Parkville. Seeking to bring the local gastropub back to its heyday with a new menu, wine list and range of beers. The room has a warm refreshed style that is just the…

BySebastian SomerledDecember 30, 2023

DESIGN

TECH > New Luxury Sound – The Sonos ERA 300

Sonos has always been a name synonymous with luxury and high-quality sound. The brand’s latest addition to its line-up, the Sonos Era 300 speaker, takes things to a whole new level of sophistication and indulgence.

BySebastian SomerledApril 16, 2023

EAT EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > Aru Restaurant Melbourne – Brilliant Food in a Smart Room

This super smart (two hat) restaurant is in a slightly unlikely location on little Collins Street, just behind the Bourke Street Mall, an area more associated with smart cafe's and quick lunches than fine dining. But there is no question that Aru is fine dining. Opening in 2021 and immediately getting recognition for…

BySebastian SomerledApril 13, 2023

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Rob Hall – Harriet’s Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021

Rob Hall has had considerable experience in making Yarra Valley chardonnay and pinot noir, he was head wine maker at Mount Mary for 10 vintages

BySebastian SomerledApril 13, 2023

DESIGN

Quickmill Rubino Black

So you are thinking about buying yourself a spunky new home coffee machine and you have done your research and you know you are in for spending about $2500 on a Rocket Appartemento, a Bezzerra EZ10, or a Quick Mill Rubino. You will be looking for a copper heat exchanging boiler (all…

BySebastian SomerledMarch 28, 2023

DRINK > SPIRITS

DRINK > Dutch Apple Pie Moonshine

In the Victorian Alpine, on 120 acre plot (just 10 minutes from the township of Mansfield), there is a tiny family-run distillery where sustainability and purity is central to the very limited artisanal product. The Dutch Apple Pie Moonshine is made in a still named "Sue" and is based on an apple pie recipe that…

BySebastian SomerledMarch 28, 2023

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Chardonnay

WINE > Pimpernel Chardonnay 2020

The Chardonnay from Pimpernel is perfectly on point again with the 2020 release a fine blend of white peach, slightly acidic hints of lemon with a long drawn out and lingering palate. The fruit was gently basket pressed, then fermented in new and seasoned French oak barrels and maturation in the barrel on lees. …

BySebastian SomerledMarch 25, 2023