DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Nebbiolo (including Barolo)

WINE > Figli Luigi Oddero Barolo, Piedmont Italy 2013 (18/20)

There are Barolos that linger politely in the glass, and then there are those that stride into the room with quiet gravitas—Figli Luigi Oddero’s 2013 Barolo is firmly the latter. Heritage and tradition echo in every swirl, as this estate’s legacy (fractured but never diminished by familial divides) carries through in the pedigree of the…

ByCrispy3 days ago0Comments

DRINK > BARS DRINK > Burgundy

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 pure vinous discovery. AMBIENCE >…

BySimonAugust 2, 20250Comments

STAY > SPAIN

STAY > Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastián Spain (18/20)

The Maria Cristina is a grande dame whose very walls seem to hum with the glamour and history of San Sebastián’s Belle Époque. Built in 1912 and named for the Spanish queen who summered here, the Maria Cristina is more than a place to sleep: it’s a living stage for the city’s most elegant moments.…

ByCrispyJuly 26, 20250Comments

STAY > GREECE

STAY > The Dolli at Acropolis, Athens (18/20)

There are hotels that simply provide a place to rest your head, and then there are those rare addresses that leave an indelible impression—The Dolli at Acropolis is firmly, and strikingly, in the latter category. LOCATION > Right in the heart of ancient Athens, Dolli is a boutique retreat set within the historic Plaka district,…

ByAngieJuly 26, 20250Comments

EAT > NYC

EAT > Cosme, New York (18/20)

Some restaurants in Manhattan are just looking for a crowd. Cosme, though—Cosme feels like it was built with the city in mind: restless, inventive, and impossible not to love, at least if you know what you’re looking for. Step into this Flatiron institution, the music’s up, the crowd’s dressed, the mezcal’s cold—and you just know…

ByCrispyJuly 20, 20250Comments

EAT > NOOSA

EAT > Ristorante Tubladel, Ortisei Italy (17/20)

Just a short walk from the bustling heart of Ortisei, Ristorante Tubladel offers a dining experience that feels both timeless and inventive. The restaurant—whose name means “hay barn” in the local Ladin language—occupies a beautifully renovated mountain chalet, its interiors wrapped in warm wood and Alpine charm, evoking the coziness of a classic Tyrolean Stube.…

ByAngieJune 9, 20250Comments

STAY > DOLOMITES

STAY > Hotel La Perla, Corvara Italy (18/20)

Step into Hotel La Perla and you’re stepping into the heart of the Dolomites—both geographically and spiritually. In Corvara, framed by the jagged limestone drama of the Sella massif and the gentle hum of Tyrolean village life, this family-run retreat is a masterclass in alpine hospitality: storied, soulful, and quietly spectacular. This is the quiet luxury…

ByEd ItorJune 9, 20250Comments

STAY > SWITZERLAND

STAY > Chetzeron, Crans-Montana, Switzerland (18/20)

There are mountain hotels, and then there’s Chetzeron: a former gondola station perched at 2,112 metres, high above Crans-Montana, reimagined as a minimalist alpine sanctuary that feels both of-the-moment and out-of-time. Here, the drama is not just in the view—though the panorama of the highest Alpine peaks is nothing short of cinematic—but in how every…

ByEd ItorJune 7, 20250Comments

EAT > NOOSA

EAT > Sails, Noosa (18/20)

I may have called it too early, in recognising Rickys as probably the best restaurant in Noosa (and it is very good) but after a really excellent meal at Sails, because I think we have a new winner for the title. Sails has been under the steady hand of executive chef Paul Leete since it…

ByCrispyApril 27, 20250Comments

EAT > NOOSA

EAT > Rickys River Bar and Restaurant, Noosa (18/20)

Set on the tranquil banks of the Noosa River, (a short and easy 15 minute walk from Hastings Street) Rickys River Bar & Restaurant is a long-standing pillar of Noosa’s dining scene — it’s a place where Noosa’s Sunshine Coast natural beauty meets polished hospitality and refined, produce-driven cooking. Rickys has doubled its riverfront footprint…

ByCrispyApril 21, 20250Comments

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