EAT > Ristorante Regina Lucia, Ortigia, Syracusa Italy (18/20)

Nestled in the heart of Ortigia’s iconic Piazza Duomo, Regina Lucia delivers refined Sicilian cuisine with contemporary flair in a historic baroque palace setting. This MICHELIN Guide-recommended spot earns consistent praise for its inventive dishes and polished service.Summary Intro goes here. As you wander the Piazza Duomo with its buskers, tourists and the occasional wedding…

ByCrispinMarch 7, 20260Comments

EAT > ITALY EAT > ORTIGIA EAT > SICILY WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Cortile Spirito Santo, Siracusa, Ortigia Italy (18/20)

Nestled in the historic heart of Ortigia, Syracuse's enchanting island, Cortile Spirito Santo delivers Michelin-starred Sicilian refinement in a 17th-century palazzo. This gem, part of Palazzo Salomone Luxury Suites, blends Baroque elegance with contemporary flair, earning its star in 2023 for chef Giuseppe Torrisi's masterful dishes. AMBIENCE > Elegant and serene, the restaurant unfolds in…

ByCrispinMarch 7, 20260Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Elanto Pinot Noir, Balnaring (18/20)

Mornington Peninsula is home to many fine Pinot Noir wines but it has been quite a few years since the industry got quite so excited about a new vineyard. Elanto has only released two vintages of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to date and they are already receiving outstanding reviews from the biggest names in wine. …

ByCrispinMarch 2, 20260Comments

DRINK > AUSTRALIA DRINK > BARS DRINK > MELBOURNE

DRINK > Death & Co, Melbourne (18/20)

Slip behind the velvet curtain on Flinders Lane and Melbourne falls away, replaced by a low-lit room that feels like an edit of the world’s great cocktail bars: a little East Village swagger, a lot of CBD polish, and a level of detail that rewards staying late. This is Death & Co’s first international outpost…

ByEd ItorFebruary 28, 20260Comments

DRINK > WINE

WINE > S.C Pannell Sunrise 99, 2022 (18/20)

There are Grenaches that charm, and then there are Grenaches that draw a line in the sand. S.C. Pannell’s Sunrise 99, from a century-old McLaren Vale vineyard, feels like the latter: a debut that arrives fully formed, pitched at the serious, ageworthy end of the spectrum while still humming with McLaren Vale warmth, but this…

ByCrispinFebruary 15, 20260Comments

EAT > JAPAN EAT > TOKYO WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Sushi Mizukami, Chiyoda, Tokyo (18/20)

Sushi Mizukami in Ichibancho is a study in quiet precision: an intimate, nine-seat counter where Edomae tradition, long-honed technique and a distinctly Kyoto-like sense of calm converge in one of Tokyo’s most focused sushi experiences. Helmed by Chef Michinobu Mizukami, a 16-year apprentice of Sukiyabashi Jiro (Two Michelin Stars) and Executive Chef Masami Nesaki, it…

ByCrispinJanuary 9, 20260Comments

STAY > AUSTRALIA STAY > NSW STAY > SYDNEY WHERE TO STAY >

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, it delivers an urban escape that feels equal parts boutique hideaway and backstage pass to the CBD’s creative pulse. AMBIENCE > Arriving at QT Sydney,…

ByCrispinDecember 1, 20250Comments

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

EAT > Olympus Dining, Sydney (18/20)

Since opening their doors at the new Wunderlich Lane in Redfern, Olympus Dining has been one of the hottest bookings in Sydney. Greek food at its finest, in the heart of one of Sydney’s original Greek suburbs. AMBIENCE > The Wunderlich Lane precinct includes the Eve Hotel, restaurants, bars, supermarkets and apartments. It’s stunning, and a vast improvement from the former shopping…

ByPaulaOctober 26, 20250Comments

EAT > MELBOURNE EAT > VICTORIA WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Stokehouse, St Kilda (18/20)

Stokehouse is Melbourne’s definitive seaside address—a place where the city’s appetite for luxury, sun and salt converge in a breathtaking, glass-fronted pavilion perched above St Kilda beach. Days here roll from luminous lunches under blue skies to candlelit dinners set against dramatic sunsets and the rhythmic hush of surf below. It’s a restaurant that has…

ByCrispinOctober 19, 20250Comments

STAY > LONDON STAY > UK WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > The Standard, London (18/20)

Where to stay in London is often the eternal question. For this visit, we were arriving via Eurostar and departing via Heathrow five days later. I landed on staying near St Pancras for ease of movements, helped by having The Standard on the door step. . ABOUT > The Standard Hotels The Standard…

ByPaulaOctober 11, 20250Comments