EAT > L’OMBELICO, Shibuya (15/20)
Tucked into the ground floor of TRUNK(HOTEL) YOYOGI PARK on the Yoyogi Park side of Shibuya, L’ombelico feels like a little slice of contemporary Tokyo-Italian: wood-fired warmth, natural wine energy, and that relaxed, park-adjacent buzz that rolls from breakfast through…
DRINK > Great Dane Brewing, Akiu, Sendai (15/20)
Set against Akiu’s pine-lined hills and onsen steam, Great Dane Brewing brings Midwestern brewpub heart to one of Tohoku’s most storied hot spring valleys—a Wisconsin-born, Sendai-brewed outpost where craft beer, wide-open views and a low-key road-trip energy converge. It feels…
EAT > KUFUKU±, Akihabara Tokyo (17/20)
Tucked into a quiet backstreet on the Akihabara side of Chiyoda, Kufuku feels like stepping out of electric town and into a parallel world—one where time, fermentation, and French technique quietly reframe Japanese comfort food. Set inside a lovingly preserved…
EAT > Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, Ginza, Tokyo (17/20)
High above Ginza’s polished sidewalks, Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura feels less like a fashion-house spin‑off and more like a jewelled little universe of its own—part salon, part stage, part lucid dream in Gucci green. Here Italian technique, Japanese produce and…
EAT > Shiratsuyu at ANA Intercontinental Appi Kogen (14/20)
Shiratsuyu at ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen is less a standard hotel restaurant and more a calm, quietly luxurious alpine dining room, where polished service, thoughtful cooking, and a deep sense of place come together just steps from the snow.
Returning to Appi Kogen after a couple years has been a mixed experience. Our first time was so good we were really excited about returning. However returning was not the same outstanding experience. Ski lift tickets have nearly doubled in price, and the general maintenance of the whole resort feels very tired. Shiratsuyu was very good last time (being the main restaurant in the ANA Intercontinental) and we made sure we booked to go back twice during our stay.
AMBIENCE >
Tucked within ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort, Shiratsuyu opens onto a cocoon of soft light, blond timber, and wide glass that frames the ski slopes and surrounding forest in cinematic layers. In the evenings,…
EAT > L’OMBELICO, Shibuya (15/20)
Tucked into the ground floor of TRUNK(HOTEL) YOYOGI PARK on the Yoyogi Park side of Shibuya, L’ombelico feels like a little slice of contemporary Tokyo-Italian: wood-fired warmth, natural wine energy, and that relaxed, park-adjacent buzz that rolls from breakfast through to late-night pizza.
AMBIENCE >
Set on a prominent corner of Inokashira-dori with three sides of floor-to-ceiling glass, L’ombelico is bright and breezy by day, then glows like a modern trattoria lantern once the sun dips behind the Yoyogi treeline. Inside, a large Neapolitan-style wood-fired oven anchors the room, surrounded by a mix of counter perches, easygoing tables, and a generously sized terrace that looks straight to the park’s canopy.
The mood is laidback but polished: staff move with hotel-honed assurance, music sits just above conversation, and there’s a constant drift of people ducking in for morning bowls, lunch pizzette, and wine-heavy dinners. Dog-friendly terrace seats and an open, all-day…
STAY > TRUNK(HOTEL), Yoyogi Park, Shibuya Tokyo (17/20)
TRUNK(HOTEL) YOYOGI PARK is a design-led, boutique bolthole on the edge of Yoyogi Park that channels low-key Tokyo cool, rooftop glamour, and neighbourhood warmth in equal measure. This is a…
STAY > QT, Sydney (18/20)
QT Sydney brings theatrical glamour, bold design, and a playful, inner-city energy to one of Sydney’s most characterful heritage corners. Blending the restored State Theatre and former Gowings department store,…
SKI > Palisades Tahoe, California USA
There are resorts that are iconic with legendary steeps that are whispered in hushed tones. Palisades (formally known as Squaw Valley) is a former home to the Winter Olympics.…
STAY > QT Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise (16/20)
QT Gold Coast takes the art of hospitality and turns it into a vivid, playful experience that’s unmistakably Gold Coast—an exuberant fusion of beachside glamour, contemporary style, and a dash…
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…
STAY >
DRINK > BARS
DRINK > Great Dane Brewing, Akiu, Sendai (15/20)
Set against Akiu’s pine-lined hills and onsen steam, Great Dane Brewing brings Midwestern brewpub heart to one of Tohoku’s most storied hot spring valleys—a Wisconsin-born, Sendai-brewed outpost where craft beer, wide-open views and a low-key road-trip energy converge. It feels less like a side-trip from the city and more like…
DRINK > Conte, Sydney (17/20)
Conte in Sydney’s CBD is grand, an unapologetically Italian, ode to the Negroni. Part bar, part ristorante, and all about drama, detail and la dolce vita energy. With more than 30 (and climbing toward 40) Negroni riffs, serious Italian wines and a full dining menu, it feels less like a…
DRINK > Gracie Melbourne, Hardware Lane (15/20)
Hardware Lane is a place that many Melburnians stay away from (largely given a bad reputation by the touts that stand outside the largely formulaic but popular tourist restaurants that fill most of the laneway). Gracie Melbourne is a stylish little venue in a part of the city…
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 > WINEWine & Spirit Reviews
WINE > Domaine de Bellene Nuit Saint Georges, Vielles Vignes, 2022 (17/20)
There are wines that whisper history, and then there are bottles that speak in confident, measured tones—Domaine de Bellene’s Nuits Saint Georges Vieilles Vignes 2022 is unmistakably the latter. From the first pour, its deep ruby hue glimmers with an old-vine intensity, setting the stage for a wine that embodies…
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 > …
