Location, location, location is what it's all about when it comes to the Kimpton de Witt Amsterdam. What's more, this slickly designed hotel boasts a top notch cocktail bar from the same team behind White Lyan, Cub, Dandelyan and Lyaness on the premises. I checked into the 274 room historic Dutch building on a Thursday afternoon. It's literally a hop and a skip from Amsterdam's central train station, which is the Eurostar hub from London and less than 20 minutes from Schiphol airport. From the outside the brick building doesn't look like anything special, but a garden wall and neon light...
Read more →Martini 9
I opened the plush velvet bedroom curtains to a view of a golden Willow tree blowing in the breeze, grassy banks twinkling with morning dew and the Thames trickling on by. It felt all very countrified but in fact I was just a short walk from a London tube station. Following a major refurb, I'd present the Bingham Riverhouse in Richmond as the ultimate London staycation spot. The interiors are chic yet cosy and with only 15 rooms, there is a certain intimacy about the place. I checked into the quaint redbrick townhouse (a former literary hub frequented by the likes of Ruskin and Yates) on...
Read more →I'd always heard great things about Cape Town and when I visited the city recently it surpassed expectations. It's a charming metropolis with clean streets, a buzzing marina, a mouth watering restaurant scene, mind bogglingly low prices and a wealth of nature on the doorstep. On the accommodation front, one spot that certainly won my heart was the Belmond Mount Nelson. I'd got a tip off about the hotel from a friend whose impeccable style and taste I firmly trust and with his recommendation, decided to investigate. This sprawling resort complex boasts 198 rooms and suites spread across s...
Read more →The 110-year-old Strand Palace as undergone a multi-million pound transformation and the results are pretty incredible. The 786-room hotel has been brought up to the 21st century, with some art deco touches adding to the charm. I checked in on a Friday night, with a friendly man greeting us on the door. The lobby had a cool contemporary feel with polished floors and wood-pannelled walls. There was also modern art dotted around the place, keeping my eyes distracted. Check in was swift and we were directed to a newly-refurbished superior king on the 8th floor. Despite it being a king, the...
Read more →You always know when you’ve found a good place when you’re reluctant to write about it, in fear of giving the secret away. But letting you in on a hidden gem... add the Aman to your Venice must-see list. This hotel, restaurant and spa is opulent and discreet. A slice of heaven on earth. The complex is housed within a grand 16th century palazzo, which is still owned by the family and leased to the Aman. The original features are intact, with dreamlike frescos, playful plasterwork and magical murano glass chandeliers. Careful care has been taken to blend the old with the new and the Aman’...
Read more →This spring, The Botanist Gin, an artisanal hand-crafted and distilled gin from the Scottish island of Islay, have announced their collaboration with iconic London venue sketch for their new range of martinis, each inspired to epitomise the four different sketch rooms - The Glade, The Parlour, The Gallery and East Bar. To create these exceptional martinis, The Botanist Gin organised a day with the sketch bar team at Crucible, a creative hub and laboratory for bartenders to meet, work, exchange ideas and play with the latest hi-tech equipment. Through experimenting with seasonal and foraged f...
Read more →If you're looking to add a real dash of flare and flavour to your night, then COYA Mayfair promises to satisfy your cravings. The Peruvian-inspired restaurant and pisco lounge is a sultry lair where your tastebuds are sent on a journey to the sunny wilds of South America. I checked into the place on a Friday night and the dining room steadily packed out to create a buzzing yet refined atmosphere. Taking a pew on a table next to a window, a friendly waitress came to run us through the menu and explained that dishes were best shared and that if we weren't drinking wine there were lots of cock...
Read more →If you want a taste of classic, upper crust New York, head to the deliciously understated Mark Hotel. This historic spot, which boasts 150 Art Deco-influenced rooms and suites, recently swept to international fame after Meghan Markle picked as the place to host her baby shower party. She booked the hotel's lofty penthouse, which comes in at an eye-watering $75,000 a night. As soon as you pull up to The Mark, you're transported to a world of refined luxury, with suited doormen ready to greet you and well-groomed guests wafting in and out. The lobby features low ceilings, sparkling monochr...
Read more →Sat in Le Pont de la Tour on a Friday night, I was suddenly drifting to a memory of dining at the River Cafe in New York. From the classic sophisticated decor, to the classic style of service and polished menu, this place reminds lots of the revered Manhattan spot. We’d settled into a window seat looking out on to the Thames, with the place embalmed in the warm glow of candle light. Topping off the convivial atmosphere was the gentle chatter of happy diners and jazz music tootling away. 'We could be a Woody Allen movie,' I thought. From start to finish, the service was on point, with th...
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