EAT > Marmelo, Melbourne (18/20)

Marmelo is a suave, wood‑fired love letter to Portugal that feels purpose‑built for Melbourne: ambitious but relaxed, visually dramatic yet quietly comforting, and already one of the CBD’s most compelling hotel dining rooms. In our opinion Marmelo is the best Portuguese restaurant (in Australia) There is something about Portugal that I find incredibly appealing,…

ByCrispinJune 14, 20260Comments

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STAY > Fairmont Hotel, Tokyo (18/20)

Fairmont Tokyo is a polished new arrival on Tokyo Bay: a vertical, glass‑wrapped refuge that delivers classic Fairmont theatre with a distinctly Japanese sense of restraint and ritual. It is also the brand’s long‑anticipated debut in Japan, perched high above Shibaura with big‑screen views of Tokyo Tower, Rainbow Bridge and the working harbour below. Tokyo…

ByCrispinMay 25, 20260Comments

EAT > AUSTRALIA EAT > GC EAT > NOOSA EAT > SA EAT > SOUTHERN VALES WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Victory Hotel, Sellicks Hill (16/20)

There are pubs that age badly, and there are pubs that age magnificently. The Victory Hotel, perched on the brow of Sellicks Hill with a panorama stretching across Aldinga Bay and the Fleurieu coast, belongs emphatically to the latter camp. This is one of Australia's great gastropubs — weathered, warm and quietly formidable, with a…

ByCrispinApril 26, 20260Comments

EAT > AUSTRALIA EAT > MELBOURNE EAT > VICTORIA WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Blackbird, Melbourne (14/20)

Blackbird Melbourne is a three-level, moodily newcomer on Flinders Lane that feels built for long, steak lunches built around fire, flesh and a little theatre. It’s the Brisbane icon reimagined for Melbourne, with an open kitchen anchored by a Josper grill, a serious cellar and a cocktail bar that leans hard into nostalgia. Blackbird is…

ByCrispinApril 17, 20260Comments

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

EAT > CATALINA, Rose Bay Sydney (19/20)

Catalina’s has become a venue for our special events, it is that kind of place. Stunning views, exceptional service, delicious food and a world class wine list. There are few restaurants around the world that have such an abundance of world class assets and as such Catalina remains one of the most in…

ByCrispinApril 7, 20260Comments

STAY > FIJI WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > Six Senses, Fiji (18/20)

Tropical Paradise the Six Senses Resort, Malolo Fiji Six Senses Fiji is a polished, design‑forward barefoot luxury outpost on Malolo Island that wraps high‑touch service and serious sustainability credentials in an easy, island‑club mood. It feels more like a private Vunabaka beach enclave with a Six Senses overlay than a conventional resort, which is precisely…

ByCrispinApril 5, 20260Comments

EAT > AUSTRALIA EAT > MELBOURNE EAT > VICTORIA WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Geralds Bar, Carlton (15/20)

Gerald’s Bar 2.0 on Lygon Street feels less like a “new” opening and more like a beloved neighbourhood institution stretching comfortably into a much bigger, grander suit (think Talking Heads) — same irreverent soul, and a lot more room to play. The move of Gerald’s Bar from its old cozy location to a new…

ByCrispinMarch 31, 20260Comments

STAY > BURGUNDY STAY > FRANCE WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > Le Relais Bernard Loiseau, Burgundy (18/20)

Le Relais Bernard Loiseau is a destination hotel where serious gastronomy, deep spa-soothing and old‑world Burgundy village charm intersect. Perhaps more famed as the home of restaurant 'La Côte d’Or' which has held as many as 3 Michelin stars in its famous history. It is a place where you come for the meal…

ByCrispinMarch 29, 20260Comments

EAT > AUSTRALIA EAT > MELBOURNE EAT > VICTORIA WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Scopri, Carlton (18/20)

There are places that stay forever on your most reliable list. It takes a special mix of reliably fine food a warm and comfortable room, good acoustics and genuine service. Scopri remains one of those establishments that remains on our favourite list and is one of Melbourne’s most quietly assured Italian dining rooms: a…

ByCrispinMarch 21, 20260Comments

STAY > CALABRIA STAY > ITALY WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > Il Casato, Scilla Italy (15/20)

Il Casato Deluxe Rooms is a polished little waterfront hideaway in Chianalea di Scilla, pairing modern, simple rooms with a spectacular over‑water restaurant that makes the most of the Costa Viola light. AMBIENCE > Chianalea is the most evocative corner of Scilla, a tight weave of alleys, stone houses and fishing boats nosing up to…

ByCrispinMarch 17, 20260Comments