Since 1926 the stately and laureled InterContinental Mark Hopkins hotel has captivated its San Francisco-visiting guests from the moment they walk through the French Chateau-inspired marble arches into the opulent entrance. They’re even more entranced when they elevate up its 19 stories to the glass-walled Top of the Mark, the iconic Art Deco cocktail lounge and restaurant famous for its spectacular views.

The highest bar in all of San Francisco, and one of the most historic, it offers priceless panoramas of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, and its character-rich Nob Hill neighborhood with the mysterious Pacific-Union Club next door on its manicured grounds.

A triple-A Designated San Francisco Landmark, the 5-star property is the oldest in the impressive InterContinental portfolio, which it joined in 1973. The hotel is named after railroad magnate Mark Hopkins, who built an elaborate mansion for his wife on the site, at that time the highest perch in Nob Hill, in 1878. The mansion was destroyed by fire after the 1906 earthquake.

The former mansion set the grounds for the pedigree that would see the French-and-Spanish-influenced hotel designed by the estimable Weeks and Day architectural firm, open in 1926. Opulence, refined taste, and escapism where channeled into an imposing 380-room structure with 33 suites for guests who cherished history, comfort, and a feeling, well, of being above it all.

The Top of the Mark always attracted its share of affluent swells. But it also hosted countless uniformed servicemen and their gals before the men set off for the Pacific in WWII. A tradition of officers buying bottles for their battle-bound soldiers evolved into a tradition of “squadron shots,” and continued after wartime with a cabinet of bottles purchased by those wishing to do the same; the tradition continues to this day.

In its hallowed past, the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland, Betty Grable, and Elvis Presley all made the Mark Hopkins their escape hatch from the press and paparazzi. Plus the likes of Charles de Gaulle, Britain’s Prince Philip, Herbert Hoover, and FDR. Many were entertained by Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey who performed at the hotel in the Big Band era.

Now you can keep up with the A-listers in a modernized but still classically elegant hotel. Buckwheat blinis with Beluga caviar and a Champagne tasting are a great way to experience the Top of the Mark; the favored hour being, of course, sunset. Open for all meals, the more casual Nob Hill Club, off the lobby and serving traditional American and San Francisco-inspired cuisine, is where to have classic Eggs Benedict, Dungeness crab rolls, or a fresh-caught salmon entrée.

Equally edifying is the treasure trove of artwork throughout the hotel. The nine historic seven-foot-tall murals in the stunning Room of the Dons depict various scenes from California’s history. They were unveiled at the hotel’s opening in 1926 and were created by Maynard Dixon and Frank Van Sloun. Most recapture “discoveries,” such as Sir Francis Drake’s landing in 1579.

The Continental-evocative rooms and suites feature all the modern amenities. And the higher-floor aeries are of course all about the views, views of all the landmarks and the Bay from nearly every room. The top suites, including the California Suite, Penthouse Suite, Presidential Suite, Nob Hill Suite, and, best of all, the Mark Hopkins suite, are a lot like checking into your own private Nob Hill mansion, some complete with wood paneling and fireplaces.

As Mark Hopkins with its elevated anchor, Nob Hill is one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in the city. Nearly every adjacent residence has its own intricate details. And besides all the restaurants, bars, and upscale retail, it is strategically located to take in all of the City on the Bay, with the Financial District and Chinatown just East and Fisherman’s Wharf to the north. Take one of the fabled cable cars on its 90-degree angle street, and visitors will pass emblems of historical and cultural divides, such as Grace Cathedral and roads that Steve McQueen made famous in car chases.

With the Pacific minutes away, as well as Napa and Sonoma wine country just to the north, it is clear why San Francisco is considered easily one of the finest culinary ports in the States. Gastronauts plan trips there annually to sample its seafood and other delights. And do not leave the city, or hotel, without asking concierges where to find the best cioppino, the port’s signature seafood stew first cooked up in the 1800s, or the intel on who has the best oysters in town.

Twice a year Florence, Italy plays host to Pitti Immagine Uomo, aka Pitti Uomo, the world’s top menswear trade fair, which has captured the public’s fascination in recent years thanks to the at-times over-the-top, frequently provocative, and often eye-catching custom-tailored clothing worn by its attendees. Once solely an industry insider event, it now attracts scores of menswear influencers and other personalities who come to see and be seen, and, hopefully, have their photos taken.

“Pitti” has come to be a byword for dandyism, and its favored locale has become the Sina Villa Medici hotel, home to the famed Harry’s Bar Garden, the site of various wine-fueled dinners and soirées during the event. Its place amongst the menswear cognoscenti was cemented in 2021 when Fernando Pane, himself a noted dandy, joined the property, now part of the Autograph Collection, as General Manager.

Of course the hotel’s history dates back well before Pitti Uomo was established in the 1970s. Its namesake is the legendary Medici family, native to Florence, who influenced the art and architecture of all of Europe in the 16^th century. The early 19^th century former private palazzo, with its original buildings dating to 1760, is designed in the Mannerist style, falling between the Renaissance and Baroque.

It was a style that was neither too ornate nor too classical, based upon “elusive complexity, shadows and light and unabashed sophistication and elegance,” with a luscious garden for ladies and gentlemen to take their leisure either strolling or sipping libations. A short walk from the center of Florence and the famed Ponte Vecchio, Sina Villa Medici occupies a privileged position in the city known as “The Cradle of the Renaissance.” Some hotels that are right in the city center can feel cramped or crowded, but Sina Villa Medici offers easy access to everything with a spacious layout and private garden.

Sina Villa Medici more than lives up to the pedigree of a city built upon its old world heritage, architecture, cuisine, and masterpieces of fine art. Of Rome, Milan, Palermo, and Naples, Florence stands alone. Just minutes from the hotel is the fabled Duomo cathedral with its terracotta dome defining the skyline. In Florence art lovers can see both Michelangelo’s “David” and Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” among other masterpieces.

The Sina Villa Medici makes guests feel as if they have stepped back into a more refined and romantic time the moment they enter its grand lobby. Located between the lobby and the pool and garden is Harry’s Bar Garden, which extends into a solarium as well as snaking around the pool. The remaining outpost of the Florentine original Harry’s Bar which opened in the 1950s, it is popular with locals as well as fashion week swells.

All of the hotel’s 100 rooms and suites are sunlit by oversized windows, with elaborately ornate motifs mixing with an almost Mid-Century minimalism, all distinct in design, with marble baths. The most coveted rooms overlook the garden and have private balconies. The 1,000-square-foot-and-up top-class suites take opulence to another level of saturated glamour; one even has it’s own hot tub on the terrace.

Harry’s Bar is a stylish enclave for a Negroni, Aperol Spritz, or a classic Bellini. Try the Garibaldi with Campari and orange juice, a suitable concoction during the earlier hours, we feel. Its signature coral-colored tablecloths are like the silk pocket square peeking out of the breast pocket of its dandified clientele’s bespoke jackets.

The finest tables have a view of the pool, and the food in both its restaurant and bistro is some of the best in Florence. The antipasti include smoked salmon, beef carpaccio, and prosciutto and melon, as fresh as can be. Favorite starters in summer include the vichyssoise, basilico tomato cream soup, tagliarini pasta gratinati alla Harry’s, and green fettuccine with ragout, among others.

Entrees lean toward traditional Italian cuisine with meat and seafood selections, such as curried prawns with mango chutney, a veal done two ways, either Milanese style, or in a tuna-caper sauce. Harry’s steak tartare is a given, not to mention their signature club sandwich and the hamburger made of Robespierre grilled beef with a green pepper sauce.  Try the Gran Marnier-infused flambéed crepes to finish.

By the pool there is also a stellar wellness spa and Turkish bath, notable for its intricate floor-to-ceiling mosaic tiles. It includes a full fitness gym too. The hotel also offers cookery classes and vineyard tours in the countryside and a shuttle if needed to the center of the city and its retail and restaurants. The hotel’s concierges can advise guests on how to “skip the line” to see David or the Duomo’s most intimate chambers. You can also take a day trip to nearby Pisa, Siena or Chianti.

Sina Villa Medici is part of the prestigious Sina Hotels group, and is aligned with the Autograph Collection of hotels under the Marriott Bonvoy umbrella. The Sina brand was founded 63 years ago by Count Ernesto Bocca and now includes unforgettable five-star properties such as the Baroque-style Bernini Bristol in Rome, the Sina Brufani in Perugia, the Maria Luigia in Parma, the Sina Flora in Capri, the Sina Astor in Viareggio, and two spellbinding hotels in Milan, The Gray and Sina de la Ville. 

Like Brigitte Bardot who acted as its muse since its opening in 1967, Saint-Tropez’s iconic Hotel Byblos really needs no introduction for the cognoscenti. However with a new spa and luxury suites, even those who think they’ve been there, done that should be sure to check in—and join the likes of previous devotées like Grace Kelly, Prince Charles, Lauren Bacall, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyoncé, Naomi Campbell, and Bill Gates.

Acclaimed French designer Laura Gonzalez is responsible for the stunning revamp of several suites, while the five-star property’s famed Sisley Spa was also recently renovated, making for a truly sybaritic sojourn. Dock your yacht or valet the Ferrari and stay while.

For the international playboys and the women who were more stylish then them, there’s never been anywhere on the French Riviera like Byblos. And that remains how it is, particularly since the Saint-Tropez resort, complete with world-class restaurants and a legendary nightclub, brought in Gonzalez to conjure the deliciously decadent time period when the hotel first opened, but with a contemporary twist.

For decades this spectacularly-insider “village-within-a-village” enclave of 87 rooms and suites has been the go-to for poolside lounging, decadent dining, and all-night dancing at its enduringly boisterous Les Caves du Roy, the latter where the ceiling glimmer balls (there are more than a few) keep revolving and reflecting of the patrons’ sequined designer dresses, late night-until-day, while champagne corks pop continuously.

Byblos, in 2024, is, as it ultimately always has been, a place of civilized debauchery and Bain du Soleil-tanning respite. The fourth-generation Floirat family owners have kept it that way, maintaining original design architectural and elements while commissioning thoughtful updates from the likes of Gonzalez, a classic-contemporary star with a formidable resumé. The France-based tastemaker has transformed iconic-but-dusty-laureled hotels such as the old-school St. James and Lapérouse,, and, more recently, the Hotel Hana and Cartier.

Inspired by the history of Byblos and the spirit of Saint-Tropez, the new suites, which join others designed by the likes of Italian design house Missoni, blend classic references with an interplay of custom materials, colors, patterns, and textures. “With a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and attention to detail, Gonzalez has carved a niche for herself in the world of luxury interiors,” the property notes.

Byblos selected Gonzalez because, “Her work reflects a deep appreciation for art, history, and cultural influences, and her extensive portfolio spans a wide spectrum of projects from luxurious residences to distinguished hospitality spaces.” This is more than evident in the gorgeous suites she has breathed new life into.

The new suites were designed to “resemble a family home with its own universe but always with the same common thread: a bold blend of colors and influences,” Byblos declares. “With this new design, Laura’s aim was to express modernity through atmospheres reflecting the joy of living as well as the destination.” We’d call it a smashing success to say the least.

Besides waving her wand over the rooms, vegetable garden, famous pool, Byblos Beach, the hotel’s satellite sun-and-sand setup in nearby Ramatuelle, and the nightclub, Gonzalez has upped the ante on the reasons to get in line to go there. Her four renovated suites are of a higher calling, both romantic and residential-feeling escapes, singularly comfort-minded and simply beautiful spaces.

The little-big details are big stuff. Besides all of the vintage furniture and Riviera-centric art pieces, the ceramic minibars—mosaic-tiled and matching the floors—pick up the look of old-school travel trunks on luxury cruise ships of yore. The wooden doors to rooms and baths are made by hand, and colorfully painted. It’s sexy stuff, transporting. Hues evoke the colors of the French Riviera: corals, yellows, turquoises, and celadon. They feel like a wave of cool, and, storied, a nod to a salty past.

“We are delighted to have Laura Gonzalez on board for this new project at Hotel Byblos,” says the hotel’s owner Antoine Chevanne. “With our joint passion for the French Riviera and the colors of the Mediterranean we had every reason to collaborate. Her unique design sensibility and keen understanding of the hotel’s history make her the perfect choice for this endeavor.”

Of the new rooms, Gonzalez notes, “The concept aims to retain the essence of Byblos, embracing a familiar and welcoming atmosphere. The approach involved conceptualizing the suites as if they were part of a family home, designed to provide a warm and inviting space for its guests. This emphasis was intended to create a sense of comfort and ease, fostering a connection between the guests and the space they inhabit during their stay at Byblos.” 

Byblos set its sights last year on the complete renovation of its world-class Sisley Spa, which included the introduction of a distinct holistic program, focusing upon self-improvement techniques. Opened since 2007, the spa now features a new sauna, an updated hamman, and a rejuvenating Waterfall Room. “Dive into this experience being pummeled lovingly by jets and waterfall features everywhere,” Byblos offers. “It was designed to enhance the feeling of being in nature and the primordial urge to return to the sea by renowned architects Anthony and Marine Ugo.”

Clear your head of all that white noise in the real world with an afternoon at the spa. Then have an incredible dinner at Cucina, the hotel’s sumptuous Italian restaurant, helmed by 21-Michelin-star Chef Alain Ducasse. The comfortably chic space is aglow with lanterns hanging from trees. Romantic and fun, Cucina’s menu offers the most flavorful and aesthetically presented cuisine, including its starters of cheese and charcuterie, antipasti, first courses like amberjack carpaccio, and entrees of fish and meat. Linguini and panne’ pasta abound. And all is farm-to-table, trap-to-table, utilizing the freshest produce of the region.

Start with, say, octopus bruschetta or confit beef cheek paccheri. The fish entrees are insurmountable, including seared tuna, dorade filets, sea bream, and whole-roasted sea bass—all given singular preparations via that Ducasse touch. Meat entrees include glazed confit pork belly, beef tagilata, and escalope Milanese. Much of it is gluten-free. Vegetarians will be sated with pods of spinach, ricotta, and egg-yolk ravioli in a vegetable jus with Parmesan emulsion. Plus of course a bottle from Byblos’ legendary wine cellar, such as a vintage Margaux.

Close with a signature cocktail and the deserts of new pastry chef Geoffrey Turpin, who excels in tiramisu and a chocolate pizza. After an early swim the next day, throw on a terrycloth blazer and hit the poolside lunch terrace, Jardin d’Arcadia, which turns into a fine dining venue at night. Bask in the Mediterranean breezes while taking in its subtle and light Mediterranean fare. Nicola Canuti is the property’s extremely talented executive chef, and he delivers masterpieces day and to the delight of Byblos’ extremely discerning clientele, both at the main hotel and the beach club.

The roar of a fine-tuned engine is the soundtrack of the rolling green landscape south of the Apennine Mountains in Northern Italy. The Emilia-Romagna region is called Motor Valley for a reason. This modest stretch of roughly 8,700 square miles is headquarters to the greatest carmakers in the world—Lamborghini, Maserati, Pagani, De Tomaso, Dallara, Ducati motorcycles, Stanguellini (now defunct), but most of all Ferrari, born from the ashes of World War II. 

Home to farmers who have worked the fields since the time of their Etruscan ancestors, Emilia-Romagna is a land of tinkerers and inventors—people like Guglielmo Marconi, who invented the radio in the late 19th century. An inspiration to the region, he spurred a generation of scientists and dilettantes into retrofitting old tools with up-to-date technology, like putting a motor on a bike and finding room for improvement on a new invention called the automobile. 

Road racing in Italy dates to 1899 when the first racing car appeared in Brescia, just to the north of Motor Valley. Ettore Bugatti won a race in the city that year, driving his Prinetti & Stucchi three-wheeler, which helped spark interest in motor racing in the area. The Targa Florio, an endurance race in Sicily, was popular in the early years, as was the Mugello Circuit. But the race that mattered most was the Mille Miglia, first held in 1927, a 1,005-mile race that took more than 21 hours to finish. To test these new ultra-fast cars, manufacturers thought they would have to build a track. But the ancients anticipated their needs by providing Via Aemilia, a road established in 187 BC that runs 176 miles straight through the region. 

The local nickname for the Ferrari Factory is the “Cittadella” (small city), whereupon entering you’ll find Cavallino restaurant, where Enzo Ferrari used to go with friends. Across from it sits a wind tunnel built by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Renzo Piano, and farther on is fellow Pritzker winner Jean Nouvel’s assembly facility, showrooms, offices and retail space, all under one roof. 

Engines are fabricated on a slow assembly line in the Cittadella, giving Ferrari workers plenty of time to complete all the operations with absolute precision (it takes 16 days to make just one crankshaft). A discrepancy of even a few microns can result in failure. The company is currently producing V8, V12 and smaller V6 engines, whose plug-in hybrid layout increases performance while reducing emissions. Ferrari has announced that it is developing a full-electric powertrain, which is set to be unveiled in late 2025. While collectors seemingly prefer the roar of the combustion engine, the company has already said that its electric cars will maintain the Ferrari DNA, including a simulated version of a screaming performance-engine’s soundtrack.

Road-legal models and F1 single-seaters are assembled in separate factories. Some of the latter, reaching speeds of up to 220 mph, are sold for several million dollars once they reach the end of their racing careers. F1 cars are not street legal and can only be driven on private tracks, like the Fiorano test track near Maranello, which is why most owners prefer to leave them on the premises (there’s a whole building full of them). Doing so allows for regular service and maintenance by Ferrari’s team of professionals. The company offers clients a package enabling them to drive their cars at exclusive dedicated tracks where the factory takes care of transport and logistics. One of the most delicate pieces of an F1 car is the steering wheel, which some clients prefer to keep stored in Maranello for safety.

If it’s a Ferrari sports car you’re after (ranging from around $200,000 to the $2,000,000 for the most exclusive models, like the Ferrari Daytona SP3), you’ll have to be patient. Depending on the market, the waiting list for any Ferrari model is around two years, which is why many new to the brand opt for a pre-owned model. The company does have rules when it comes to customization options, even though the range of personalization is theoretically infinite. Rumor has it that you can’t use certain color schemes that are not in line with the history and DNA of the brand. Also, if you hope to buy a special series car or a limited-edition model, you should know that Ferrari gives priority to its best clients and collectors.

Ferrari himself was a racer before he became a manufacturer. Born in Modena, Italy, on February 18, 1898, he attended the Circuito di Bologna at the age of 10, a pivotal event for the future carmaker. In the years following WWI, the prancing horse that symbolizes Ferrari was borrowed from flying ace and Emilia-Romagna native Count Francesco Baracca, credited with 34 aerial victories. Around this time Ferrari applied to work at Fiat but was rejected, ironic considering Fiat bought more than half of his company in 1969. Instead, he joined Alfa Romeo as a racer. He won his first race in 1924, and five years later he founded Scuderia Ferrari, a racing team driving Alfa Romeo cars. Racking up 11 Grand Prix wins, Ferrari finished his driving career in 1932 when his son Alfredo was born. The renowned Dino marque was later named for him.

Scuderia Ferrari was absorbed into Alfa Romeo in 1937, but disagreements soon caused Ferrari to found his own company, Auto Avio Costruzioni. Due to a noncompete agreement with Alfa Romeo, he couldn’t use the Ferrari name for another four years. Later, when a Ferrari beat an Alfa Romeo for the first time, he’s reported to have said: “I have killed my mother.” 

During World War II, Ferrari’s company produced aircraft engines and machine tools for the Italian military, generating a great deal of capital. In 1943, under threat of Allied bombing raids, the company’s factory was moved to Maranello where it was bombed twice. 

Today, Maranello remains its home. Ferrari S.p.A. was inaugurated in March 1947, auspicious timing as the modern Formula 1 championship started in 1950. After several fatal crashes in the 1950s, the Italian newspaper, “L’Osservatore Romano,” branded Ferrari “Saturn, a devourer of his children.” Illustrious driver names like Italians Tazio Nuvolari, Niki Lauda and Alberto Ascari and Americans Phil Hill and Dan Gurney are just a few of the team’s 4,000 victors and 13 world title winners, including nine in Formula 1 where Ferrari remains the winningest team. “Second is the first of the losers,” Ferrari is quoted as saying.

Ferrari lived at 11 Largo Garibaldi in Modena and frequently attended the opera at Teatro Storchi, just around the corner. From there it’s a short walk to Piazza Roma past the Ducal Palace, a baroque castle currently housing a portion of the Italian Military Academy. Nearby is Duomo di Modena, consecrated in 1184, the former seat of the Diocese, later Archdiocese, of Modena.

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In early May, the region’s manufacturers—Ferrari, Pagani, Lamborghini, Maserati, Ducati and Dallara—fill Piazza Roma with old and new models alike for Motor Valley Fest. This year’s included McLaren Senna and three of the Ducati 916 Senna sport bike, marking the 30th anniversary of the passing of the great Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna. Surrounding the event are races on the region’s tracks, as well as conferences, food tastings and parades.

At the north end of town sits the Ferrari Museum, where exhibitions of the company’s cars are ever changing. Shows like “Ferrari One of a Kind” present bespoke cars, many of which have never been seen before, expressing the personality, taste and desires of individual Ferrari owners. The Ferrari 812 Competizione Tailor Made included a 166 MM that was customized according to Italian industrialist Gianni Agnelli’s family colors, as well as an original gold Monza SP1. Also making its public debut was the Ferrari P80/C, part of the brand’s one-off program that allows owners to customize existing models.

Present your Ferrari Museum ticket at the Autodromo di Modena for 15 minutes on the track at a cost of just $37, that can be extended for $2.70 per minute. Or take the passenger seat and let a professional do the driving. Either way is a one-of-a-kind experience. 

Mille Miglia takes place in June, and last year hosted a Ferrari tribute to the famous race. On display were cars ranging from a pair of 1972 Dino 246 GTs, a trio of Testarossas and a 1978 512 BB to modern sports cars, including five SF90 Spiders, four 812 Superfasts and a LaFerrari supercar. At last spring’s Miami Grand Prix, Scuderia Ferrari took third and fifth behind upset winner Lando Norris driving for McLaren. The team managed only third at Emilia-Romagna with Charles Leclerc at the wheel, but revenge was taken weeks later in Monaco where Leclerc took the top spot and third was awarded to Carlos Sainz, also driving for Ferrari.

Since 1952, Scuderia Ferrari has produced 15 champion drivers and chalked up the most race victories, first- and second-place finishes, podiums, pole positions, fastest laps and points than any other team in F1 history. But winning is simply a by-product of being the best. “Aerodynamics are for people who can’t build engines,” Ferrari once remarked. “I have no interest in being the fastest. I want to be the best.”

One of the South of France’s most iconic beachfront hotels recently got a multimillion-dollar makeover in lush Mid-Century style that’s set to bring back the days when Brigitte Bardot frolicked there. Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel has existed in some form since the 1940s, yet of late it had become a jumble of design styles thanks to inconsistent updates. Now renowned Belgian architect Bernard Dubois has completed a meticulous revamp that melds Palm Springs style with the Mediterranean and Mid-Century Modern aesthetic.

Designed to offer the perfect blend of “beachside relaxation, vibrant social spaces, and gastronomic delight,” the five-star hotel features 35 elegant rooms and suites, a private beach, two acclaimed restaurants, and a famed rotunda bar overlooking the beach.

Nestled between the Gallice and Crouton harbors near to where classic movies such as To Catch a Thief were filmed, the Cap d’Antibes Beach Hôtel is designed to be a “boutique retreat seamlessly harmonizing with the breathtaking landscape of the rugged Antibes peninsula.” It’s picture-perfect white-sand beach dotted with pink umbrellas is a French Riviera favorite.

The hotel has always stood out thanks it’s “bold and refined” architectural lines and purity of form. As the day progresses, the vibrant atmosphere at its beachside food and beverage venue becomes a lively celebration, especially the iconic rotunda with its breathtaking views of the azure Mediterranean sea and the yachts passing to and fro.

For the renovation project, Dubois returned to the building’s original structure, peeling away extraneous layers and decoration. “He brought forth a very simple geometric construction, with clean lines and curves, reminiscent of Palm Springs homes in California,” the property notes, using light-colored stucco and granite and stone floors, plus raw-wood furniture designed to be welcoming and warm.

“Integrated with nature, the building plays with sunlight,” Dubois notes. “The eye captures every perspective…. The hotel was designed as a calming and protective place, made up of a play of shadow and light.” With neutral tones and playful splashes of pink, it is soothing to both the eye and the soul of vacation-seekers.

The fact that most of the rooms and suites have sea views and are just steps from the beach contributes to the feeling of a rarified oasis, especially in an area where direct access to the sea is a coveted attribute. In addition to the beach, a shimmering terrace featuring an infinity pool gracefully extending over the waves offers it’s own perfect perch for sunbathers.

“As the gentle waves caress the shore,” prepare for a lively experience at BABA, the hotel’s cool new beachside restaurant from Assaf Granit. As dusk approaches, the Rotunda Bar is the place to be, with celebrants migrating up from the beach or the wellness center nestled in the tranquil garden with its two signature massage suites.

“As the sky clears and the Mediterranean sea sparkles with reflected light, BABA emerges as a vibrant addition to the French Riviera’s dining scene,” as the hotel puts it. The cuisine is an “open-air celebration of nature and culture, embracing the art of grilling with an international flair,” mixing traditional Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences.

Nicolas Saltiel, the visionary behind the hotel, partnered with JLM Group to create BABA as “an experience that embodies the essence of both elegance and camaraderie.” Menu highlights on the lighter side include fritto misto of squid and shrimp spiced with chimichurri and shifka pepper, a beef tartare with roasted eggplant, and “Cleopatra” salad with kale, artichoke chips, and chicken marinated in black coffee and sumac.

Expertly grilled main dishes include fresh fish, farm-raised chicken, steak and octopus. The restaurant’s carefully-curated wine list is a “Mediterranean odyssey, featuring exquisite selections from Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Syria, Croatia, and Italy”, as well as France’s own renowned regions like Languedoc and Provence.

In the evening, guests also have the option of dining with Chef Nicolas Rondelli at his Michelin-starred restaurant, Les Pêcheurs, where breakfast is also served. On a nautical-meets-Mid-Century-style terrace overlooking the ocean and hotel grounds, this is more of an elevated gastronomic experience in the classic French-accented Mediterranean style. “I approach cooking with humility, by composing with dishes inspired by the sea,” Rondelli delcares. “Like a navigator.”

Part of the Adresses Hotels collection, Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel is also a member of the world-class Relais & Châteaux association, established in France in the 1950s and now prevalent all over the world. Relais & Châteaux members commit to “protect and promote the wealth and diversity of the world’s culinary and hospitality traditions, to ensure they continue to thrive,” while they are “equally dedicated to preserving local heritage and the environment.”

If you’re looking for luxury hotels in Asheville, North Carolina, you’ll probably recognize names like Grove Park Inn and Biltmore Estate. But the coolest new luxury hotel in Asheville is The Flat Iron. The boutique property resides in a fully restored 1926 Beaux-Arts office building in the heart of Downtown that just opened in the summer of 2024 after an artful makeover. Intimate, immaculate, and packed with surprises and shared spaces to explore, it is the perfect pied-à-terre for discovering what’s new in walkable urban Asheville.

Stay

In this new incarnation, the angular, eight-story limestone building boasts 71 guest rooms, three bars, and one very fine restaurant. Step into the lobby off the bustling street and you immediately feel the coexisting layers of old and new—like the bright red Steinway upright piano against vibrant muraled walls juxtaposed with old elevator doors and a polished brass post office box. 

In the upstairs hallways, the windows of old offices have vintage-looking logos painted over them—architecture firms and detective agencies—creating the feeling of a Noir movie set. The guest rooms have captivating city and mountain views, and the interior design nods to the original Beaux-Arts aesthetic of the building while still feeling like a fresh and colorful boutique hotel conceived a century later.  

Drink & Dine

I had dinner with my family at the hotel’s restaurant, Luminosa, shortly after its grand opening. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten at any restaurant so new that was already so dialed-in. Even after accounting for the fact that I was there on a media visit, I know by now how to spot the goods that can’t be faked. The staff was lovely, the cocktails conceived by bar manager Sarah Charles were all spot on, and the food from the collective talents of Executive Chef Graham House, Chef de Cuisine Sean McMullen, and their back-of-house team is a marriage of Appalachian and Italian fare (with dishes like ham hock Agnolotti) that is as unexpected as it is delicious. 

For further cocktailing on property, there’s a jewel box of an Art Deco bar in a former basement boiler room called Red Ribbon Society and a rooftop bar where you can sip among the echoes of American Musical history.

A Legacy Of Sound

For the first two decades in the life of the Flat Iron Building, there were two massive radio towers mounted on the roof. This was where Asheville’s first major radio station, WWNC, was headquartered. In February of 1927, music history was made here when Jimmie Rodgers, aka “The Father of Country Music,” got his big break when he broadcast his first live performance from the station’s top-floor studio.

Creating a sound no one had quite heard before, Rodgers mixed the vocal range of Appalachian yodeling with the blues he had picked up from Black musicians in the Deep South while working as a railroad brakeman. This uniquely American blend evolved into Country Music as we know it. The old radio studio is now a rooftop bar, where you can enjoy a martini overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and imagine the broadcasts of early 20th-century America being beamed out on that same path—from the music of Rodgers and Bill Monroe to the speeches of FDR and Orson Welles’ infamous narration of War of The Worlds.

While You’re Here

Be sure to book a meal around the corner at Asheville Proper—a live fire restaurant with standout steaks. I tried a Wagyu Zabuton cut that was sublime. Further afield, snag some picnic wine at Crocodile Wine or a quick meal at a food court in an Art Deco former S&W Cafeteria—the S&W Market. 

Two distinctive 5-star properties in Milan and Tuscany offer up history, luxury, authenticity and culinary excellence, less than two hours apart via Italy’s laudable high-speed trains—or get in your Ferrari and make it an extremely pleasant road trip. There’s never been a better time to visit Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Touring Club and Borgo Scopeto Wine & Country Relais.

Borgo Scopeto Wine & Country Relais, with history dating back to Medieval times, “offers a tailor-made experience, within ancient walls, which tell centuries of history in intimate connection with the landscape and culture, and where it is possible to find yourself.” Situated in the Chianti Classico hills of Siena, it combines the tranquility of nature with exquisitely fine food and wine into a soothing “elixir for the soul.”

Several years ago the historic compound of stone buildings was transformed by the well-connected and aesthetically minded Gnudi Angelini family into a contemporary 5-star refuge, “suitable for living an authentic experience” and enhanced by the products of the property’s own farm and vineyards, known for its excellent wine and Tuscan extra-virgin olive oil.

Under the stewardship of the Gnudi Angelinis, the estate has been transformed into a modern sanctuary that preserves its historical charm while offering contemporary comforts. The property, which includes a tower over 1,000 years old, has been expanded to include a manor house, stables, cottages, a chapel, and a cellar, creating a “fortified villa-farm that blends past grandeur with up-to-date luxury.”

More than just meticulously restoring its former grandeur, and investing in the continued excellence of the vineyards and olive groves, the 1,200-acre Borgo Scopeto has come to be known as Tuscany’s original luxury resort, with its 52 accommodations, including rooms, suites, and villas. Each was carefully designed to maintain the region’s aesthetic heritage, with period decorations and frescoes that evoke medieval charm while incorporating more recent upgrades.

Most notable is the Villa La Torre, a two-story residence with a private garden and hot tub, ideal for private retreats and relaxation with all of the hotel’s amenities at your beck and call. All guests can enjoy two swimming pools, one nestled in a natural amphitheater among olive trees, and another in the main garden with bar service ready to hand.

The wellness center, located in a nearby annex, offers relaxation and beauty treatments in harmony with the estate’s serene atmosphere. On-site activities range from tennis and running to biking, yoga, and mindfulness classes, plus wine tastings of course. And the property is also popular with classic car rallies as it makes the perfect scenic pit stop.

Borgo Scopeto’s gourmet dining venue, La Tinaia, is set in the estate’s historic wine cellars, offering a “contemporary twist on local cuisine within elegant, vaulted surroundings.” The restaurant’s outdoor area offers panoramic views of Siena and a charming wisteria-covered pergola. Guests can also enjoy local flavors at Borgo Bistrot, the estate’s casual dining option, and unwind at Il Castello cocktail bar in the original stone tower before or after dinner.

Overseeing the culinary program is chef Pietro Fortunati, who took the helm as the property’s Executive Chef in 2020. His method is to “infuse his culinary creations with a deep appreciation for raw materials, using organic and locally sourced ingredients from the estate and surrounding producers.” Borgo Scopeto is an old and well-established estate producer of Chianti Classico, a powerful attraction in itself, as well as a much-awarded Super Tuscan.

Meanwhile, in Milan, the 5-star Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Touring Club offers a blend of historic charm and modern luxury. Housed in the Palazzo Bertarelli, designed in 1914 by Achille Binda, the hotel “reflects Milan’s rich heritage” as the former headquarters of the Touring Club Italiano. The building, an iconic city landmark, underwent a major renovation in 2021 by Studio Marco Piva, “preserving its historical essence while introducing modern luxury.”

Located in Milan’s city center, the hotel features 89 rooms catering to discerning travelers who appreciate the location. The hotel’s elegant design “showcases Milan’s fashion-forward spirit” and includes versatile spaces for business and social events, such as the charming interior courtyard, Bistrot Bertarelli 1894 Milano, and Veloce cocktail bar with an adjacent travel-themed bookstore.

The hotel offers rooms with views of Corso Italia or a serene courtyard, with some featuring mezzanine layouts and historical Milanese ceilings. The Presidential Suite stands out with its 1,130 square feet of beautifully-designed space and alluring views of Milan from its private balcony. And Bistrot Bertarelli 1894 Milano, named after Luigi Vittorio Bertarelli, founder of the Touring Club Italiano, offers a contemporary take on Italian dining, blending traditional recipes with modern techniques.

Guests can enjoy the versatile indoor and outdoor dining spaces. It’s no surprise that the Radisson Collection’s first edition of its new Gastronomy Series is launching in Milan, “celebrating the city’s rich culinary heritage.” From saffron-infused risotto alla Milanese to classic ossobuco, “Milanese dishes reflect the region’s tradition of combining comfort with sophistication,” the property notes, with pasta always at the heart of Italian culinary excellence.

Palazzo Touring Club is a quick five-minute walk from the city’s famous Duomo cathedral. It is also a 10-15 minute walk from the iconic Teatro alla Scala opera house and the world-renowned Quadrilatero della Moda, or Fashion District, full of Milanese boutiques, bakeries, and traditional coffee shops, all well worth checking out.

In 1960, the Radisson brand opened the world’s first design hotel, the Radisson Collection Royal Hotel, in Copenhagen, setting off a trend for high-end, design-driven luxury hospitality that continues undiminished. These days the Radisson Collection portfolio boasts some of the world’s most beautiful boutique luxury hotels, from a palazzo in Venice to a five-star resort in Riyadh. No two are alike, and each features a distinctive aesthetic and design philosophy.

A one-of-a-kind getaway nestled amid a 20,000-acre private community in South Carolina’s Atlantic-coastal Lowcountry, the spectacular five-star Montage Palmetto Bluff hotel and resort is a luxurious nod to the best elements of the southern gentleman’s lifestyle—bourbon, boating and sporting pursuits among them.

With 32 miles of waterfront it’s surrounded by a lazy river, wetlands, and pine forests, it abounds in natural beauty, with a protected wildlife preserve laced with walking bridges, waterways, and ancient live oaks draped in Spanish moss. Exotic birds flit everywhere. You may even sight an alligator along the drive leading to the quintessentially Southern-style inn.

In addition to the main inn’s luxuriously appointed rooms, and view-inspiring suites, there are charming screened-porch cottages for a more private escape. These are noted for their rocking chair-lined porches, flickering gas lanterns, tree swings, verandas, pine-wood floors, vaulted ceilings, as well as working fireplaces and outdoor fire pits for the cooler months. You get the feel of a private property with all the amenities of a luxury hotel.

Montage Palmetto Bluff is the embodiment of Southern hospitality, drawing guests from its own region as well as across the Mason-Dixon line. For kids there’s even a tree house that’s as big as some homes. Sportsmen and -women can take advantage of a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, a Shooting Club, water sports, a wood-paneled library, and a massive marina with bar. The property is lushly planted and even the long driveway soothes you as you enter the grounds.

Shooting sports have been a long-standing tradition on Palmetto Bluff for years, if not centuries. The Palmetto Bluff Shooting Club invites you into the world of shotgun shooting. Learn to shoot clay targets on one of the elevated 5-Stands, or hone your advanced skills on the unique sporting clay courses winding through an expansive 120-acre facility.

 If you are looking for fun for the whole family, come enjoy the Archery Range, .22 Rifle Range, and Axe Throwing Range. World-Class instruction is provided by National Sporting Clays Association Certified Instructors. The Shooting Club is both “an ideal experience for those who are looking to try something new, and for advanced shooters looking to improve their abilities.”

While actual hunting for one’s meal isn’t part of the program, the shooting club provides every available means of aiming to please. Located on 120 acres of the grounds, the array includes clay-pigeon shooting, a trap and skeet field, and a “simulated quail wall,” a .22 rifle station and ax-throw. Yes, there will be an archery hunting course too. Locals often come for the frequent competitions; it’s not uncommon to see one of nearby Arkonik’s custom Land Rover Defenders on the grounds.

The hotel also has its own boats for tours and line fishing), and two actual villages in the development for upscale dining, morning coffee with a paper, a home-grown farmer’s market, and retail shopping. Walk off breakfast on one of the 20 acres of nature trails or take out off the marina on a kayak or paddleboard. Boating excursions of all kinds can be arranged via the Canoe Club and marina office. There’s even a resident hound who loves to be taken for walks.

The Canoe Club is also home to one of the South’s most stunning restaurants, an epic ode to nautical style and Lowcountry cuisine. These days the restaurant is reserved for those who own private estates on the Montage Palmetto Bluff acreage. However if you make a special request, the concierge just might be able to accommodate you; it’s well worth asking, in our opinion. You can even see for yourself what real estate opportunities are available.

Situated on the May River, between Hilton Head Island, S.C., and Savannah, Georgia, the 200-key Montage hotel features two over-sized swimming pools, three diverse restaurants, multiple bars (including a basement “speakeasy”), and an award-winning spa. Bicycles and golf carts are supplied for traversing the sprawl of it all, including the old ruins of a turn-of-the-century 72-room mansion and high-society ballroom that set the sepia tone and time. The original mansion tragically burned down in an attic fire in 1926, but the ethos of a former era remains.

Rooms feature black-and-white photos on the walls, of the former R.T. Wilson Jr. mansion and bluffs, as well as freestanding tubs, and wet bars. Guests once arrived by steamship and railroad. Now they can come from the nearby airports in Charleston and Savannah, south and north, respectively. Cadillac is the Official Vehicle of Montage Palmetto Bluff, and guests can reserve a complimentary driving experience in one of Cadillac’s award-winning vehicles to explore the property or visit the towns nearby.

From morning through night, all of the restaurants take their cues from traditional Lowcountry recipes. At the five-star white-tablecloth River House, regional dishes include plump crab cakes, oysters galore, as well as prime cuts of meats. Surf and turf, South Carolina style. The wine cellar features 2,500 labels, from which the sommeliers can provide their origins and suggested accompaniments for each. Jackets for men are recommended out of respect for the classic dining room and Old School etiquette, though not required.

Taking its name from its distinctly rare shape, Octagon, situated just off the gracious lobby, provides casually sharable fare. That includes locally sourced sushi and sashimi of all kinds, and a stellar burger. Après dinner, there is a s’mores bar by the fire pit, just past the screened porch where afternoon tea is served. As sumptuous as the food is, the hotel abides a health-conscious palate too, even down to gluten-free graham crackers.

One of the newest venues is Hush, the semi-secret bar reached through a covert entrance below the main restaurant. Mixologists know their stuff. The bar has an extensive collection of bourbons (naturally–it’s the South) and premium pours. This is your later-night drink Wednesdays through Saturday. Morning time, Fore & Aft , located along a poolside inland waterway, is a tranquil spot for cheese biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, Hoppin’ John, and other indigenous fare. As its adjacent to an aviary, egrets and herons can be watched getting their own morning meals.

The pinewood floor Spa Montage is highly regarded, providing fitness classes, HydraFacials, a unisex hair salon, massages, and multitudinous spa treatments and a new light therapy bed, which helps with circulation. Each month the hotel organizes seminars, tastings, and dinners around a theme. Last January focused on Renewal. In February, Well Living was devoted to honoring Black heritage. Events, many of them complimentary to guests, often highlight locals who showcase their unique knowledge and talents.

And there are always new activations, such as the recent Veuve Clicquot Picnic + Pedal. Via this package, guests could venture out with a bottle of the finest Veuve Clicquot bubbly and a picnic of their choice to explore on the property’s complimentary bicycles. “We’ve mapped out all the best trails and picture perfect settings to spread out your blanket and enjoy the view,” the hotel notes. We’ll drink to that.

For over a century the Hassler Roma, at the top of the famed Italian city’s Spanish Steps, has been recognized as one of Europe’s legendary independently-owned five-star luxury hotels, synonymous with the highest quality of service, attention to detail and discretion. As the five-star, 87-room palazzo celebrates its 130th anniversary, it is poised to evolve into even more of an icon of high-end hospitality.

The titular anchor of Rome’s City Centre, the Hassler Roma is owned by the sixth generation of the Swiss hotelier dynasty that opened it in 1893. Its location alone would be reason enough to enter the doors into the grand Salone Eva lobby space, where it’s tea time or cocktail bar time, or just people-watching all the swells coming and going.

Not to mention its Palm Court garden, it’s bookshelf-lined bistro, and sixth-floor, Michelin-rated Imago restaurant, the latter of which boasts panoramic views of the 16th-century Trinità dei Monti church, Via Condotti, Via Veneto, the gardens of Villa Borghese. The hotel is also within minutes of landmarks such as the Pantheon, the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Trevi Fountain.

One wonders if the staff, nearly all of them, have gone to cartography class. Ask where a boutique or restaurant or church is and they will hand-draw you a map—a keepsake if ever—to their whereabouts. Upon return to the Hassler Roma, staff will often seek you out, assuring you found your destination, and making further expert recommendations as needed.

Celebrities and diplomats over the years certainly have found their way to the Hassler. From Prince Rainier of Monaco and Grace Kelly on their honeymoon to Frank Sinatra, JFK, President Eisenhower, Princess Diana, Bill Gates, Roger Moore, Martin Scorcese, Cate Blanchett, Kiera Knightley, George Clooney, Leo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Daniel Craig all have stayed there. Over the decades films have showcased its visual glory, most memorably Roman Holiday starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. In more recent years, a Tom Cruise-driven Mission: Impossible placed a car chase on those immortalized steps. As it is forbidden to sit or shoot on them, the filmmakers replicated the Spanish Steps on a Hollywood back lot.

The design scheme of the luxurious rooms and lavish suites follow the entire palazzo’s, in rich ochres and reds. Comfort meets opulence, old-school style. Much of the upholstery is silk. All suites are decorated with European antiques with art masterpieces, both obscure and well known, on the walls. The hotel refurbishes ten rooms each year, keeping them up to speed with social media and modern needs, ensuring the legacy lives on and thrives. The suites all have separate living rooms with astounding views.

Swimming pools are rare in Rome, deemed almost gauche. Yet the Amorvero Spa, on the third floor, provides a state-of-the-art gym, as well as massages and facials. Besides simply being there in a slice of Roman history and privilege, the Imago restaurant is one of the finest in the city. After a 2017 renovation, it retains its subtly ambient elegance, and is further showcasing its 1,500- label wine cellar that holds one of the finest in Europe. Chef Andrea Antonini is a true master and one of the premiere chefs of Italy.

In 2017, after working at top European kitchens, he was asked to helm the Imago kitchen, and a year later earned the culinary gem its Michelin star. In 2023 he won the Best Young Chef Award from the Guida de L’Espresso. His menus are split between spring-summer and autumn-winter. Italy driven, seasonal ingredients, aesthetic presentations, and most importantly, flavor is all for him. He has said that he writes down his new ingredients in a dish as if it was a screenplay, culminating in dramatically prototypical dishes that are “beautiful, intriguing, playful.”

Start, or finish, with the cheese platter, which is inspired by the Italian peninsula. Refreshing summer-menu openers include wood-sorrel wild strawberries, peas and caviar, citrus and pollen sea bass, cucumber green-sauce lamb, porchetta-style beef sirloin, and apricots and mustard flowers with watermelon, almonds, and olive. Exemplary entrees include honey and butter gnocci with meat ragu sauce, Milanese-style squid, blackspot bream, and Cacciatora-style lamb.

Room service has its own menu, along with fine dining staples. The focaccia with spinach and ricotta and the parma-ham pizzas are just the ticket for simply looking out the windows in bed. And the Hassler Bar, annexed to the Salone Eva, is a cozy, hidden cocktail nook ideal for an aperitif or an after-dinner-drink. Surrounded by dark wood, red leather upholstery and gilded mirrors, it is like stepping back in time into a glamorous 1940s set, where one could imagine Humphrey Bogart or Audrey Hepburn walking in at any time.

Princess Diana once confessed to GM and owner Roberto Wirth that she had enjoyed the world’s best Bellini here, although she could not resist sampling the Hassler’s signature “Veruschka,” an invigorating mix of pomegranate juice and sparkling Italian wine, as well. Ands last but not least be sure to book a table on the epic rooftop terrace, and watch the sun drop over the Eternal City. This was in fact Hepburn’s favorite perch when filming in Rome, and it’s easy to see why. Saluti!

Living the good life, quite literally, is set to take on a whole new meaning in the spring of 2025, when the old world-inspired Orient Express takes to the rails once again.

The impressively opulent luxury train joins a growing cadre of ultra high-end routes across exotic locales, including a series of Veuve Clicquot train rides and an ambitious Saudi Arabia luxury train announced earlier this year. In keeping with such illustrious company, the revamped Orient Express appears more stylish and cooler than ever.

Just nine passenger carriages will ferry a privileged 62 guests in luxury train cars and suites to a series of indulgent, eye-catching destinations. Perhaps most importantly (and intriguingly), the train takes inspiration from swinging ’60s Italy and the iconic 1960 Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita. Destinations include Venice, Tuscany and Portofino, while one particular itinerary promises a taste of Tuscan vineyards in exclusive fashion.

The ambitious set of itineraries encourages enterprising travelers to “indulge in the enchanting radiance of La Dolce Vita, calling the ride an ode “to the allure of an iconic train’s pure elegance and delights,” as well as a surefire way to experience “an unforgettable voyage through Italy.” Its Ristorante features a menu curated by Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck, to go along with room service covering a “delightful array of savory Italian delicacies,” just one among many things to love about this exceptional train travel experience.

The accommodations are as impressive as the on-train menu and its destinations, featuring 18 suites complete with a private bathroom, a seating area and premium decor channeling Italian-inspired “vibrant hues of orange, terracotta, and purple.” The experience, which also includes itineraries carrying guests to and from historic locales like Rome and Sicily, is billed by the Orient Express as “balancing history with a contemporary spirit, one that the company said “gives the impression of having always existed.” With trip packages starting around $3,000, an entirely new (and yet, old) way to experience Italy awaits.