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, amongst velvet, marble, and spirited conversation, that a chap might imagine himself on the Right…

BySimonJuly 20, 20250Comments

EAT > ATHENS EAT > GREECE

EAT > Merceri, Athens Greece (16/20)

There are restaurants in Athens that lean on nostalgia, and those that chase the latest culinary trends. Then there’s Merceri: a quietly confident bistro in the heart of Thissio, where Greek tradition meets cosmopolitan flair and the result is something genuinely memorable. AMBIENCE > Tucked away on the pedestrian stretch of Iraklidon Street, Merceri…

ByCrispyJune 29, 20250Comments

EAT > ATHENS EAT > GREECE EAT > ITALY

EAT > Gallina, Athens Greece (16/20)

There are restaurants in Athens that lean on history, there are restaurants that lean on the view, and then there’s Gallina—a cosmopolitan newcomer that stands at the intersection of art, design, and gastronomy. Tucked away in the Acropolis-adjacent neighbourhood of Koukaki, Gallina is the kind of place where every detail, from the marble mosaic floors…

ByAngieJune 21, 20250Comments

EAT > AMALFI EAT > ITALY EAT > POSITANO

EAT > Next2, Positano Italy (16/20)

There are restaurants in Positano that lean on the view, there are restaurants that are just for the tourists (formula and expensive), there are premium restaurants (overly expensive) and then there’s Next2: a contemporary gem tucked up above the town’s main drag, where the food is as memorable as the setting. In a village known…

ByCrispyJune 15, 20250Comments

STAY > DOLOMITES

STAY > Alpin Garden Luxury Maison & Spa, Ortisei, Italy (18/20)

Nestled on the edge of Ortisei, where the Dolomites rise like a jagged crown above South Tyrol, the Alpin Garden Luxury Maison & Spa is the kind of hotel that lingers in your memory long after checkout. This adults-only retreat is a masterclass in Alpine chic, where bold design meets understated elegance, and every detail—from…

ByEd ItorMay 31, 20250Comments

STAY > DOLOMITES

STAY > Hotel Garni August, Ortisei, Italy (15/20)

There’s a quiet kind of magic in the early morning at Hotel Garni August. The peaks of the Dolomites glow pink above Ortisei, and from your balcony, the valley feels close enough to touch. Garni August is not a grand hotel, nor does it try to be. Instead, it offers a kind of understated warmth…

ByCrispyMay 29, 20250Comments

STAY > KOREA

STAY > Grand Hyatt, Seoul, South Korea (16/20)

Perched on the slopes of Namsan, the Grand Hyatt Seoul is a classic city resort that marries cosmopolitan energy with tranquil, leafy surrounds. With 616 rooms and suites, a sprawling fitness complex, and panoramic views across the Han River and city skyline, this is a hotel that feels both grand and grounded—a perennial favourite for…

ByCrispyMay 26, 20250Comments

STAY > COSTA BRAVA

STAY > Hotel Villa Gala, Cadaqués (16/20)

Perched above the whitewashed labyrinth of Cadaqués, Hotel Villa Gala is a boutique retreat that captures the languid, sun-drenched spirit of the Costa Brava. With just 14 rooms, all boasting sweeping views of the Mediterranean and the town’s iconic church, Villa Gala feels less like a hotel and more like a private hideaway for those…

ByEd ItorMay 11, 20250Comments

STAY > ITALY STAY > Sicily

STAY > UNA Hotel Capotaormina, Sicily Italy (16/20)

Perched dramatically on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea and out to the Isola Bella (which is immediately familar to anyone who watched White Lotus) The UNA Hotel Capotaormina offers the perfect beach alternative to being up high in the pretty village of Taormina (204 metres above). The UNA is a funny hotel its…

ByCrispyApril 18, 20250Comments

EAT > ORTISEI

EAT > Zirm, Ortisei Italy (16/20)

Zirm sits up quite high above the busy streets of Ortisei, its only a ten minute walk (up a steep hill) but the view when you get there is quite lovely and is back across the river towards Mount Sëuc. If you are a wine lover this is definitely a key destination for you, the…

ByEd ItorJanuary 29, 20250Comments

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