Make reservation at Marques de Riscal

The  landmark Hotel Marqués de Riscal,  is  in the “City of Wine”:  winery, hotel and spa in El Ciego,  in the heart of the Rioja wine region. Designed by world famous architect Frank  Gehry, the hotel is his second masterpiece in Spain, after Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum. For this project Gehry has used materials and forms similar to those used in the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum, but this time the titanium which covers the structure are in the colors of Marqués de Riscal: Pink: for the red wine, Gold: the mesh which covers the bottle, Silver: the capsule of the bottle

Herederos del Marqués de Riscal wanted a modernistic building that aroused emotions. To achieve that they thought of Frank O. Gehry, known for works such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. But they  were not certain that Gehry would accept. However, the proposal was offered accompanied by a wine of his birth year (1929), and he accepted. 

The 43 authentic guest rooms and suites pay tribute to Frank O. Gehry´s  design. For a more spacious retreat, the 29 bedrooms located in the Spa Wing with unique views over the vineyards, the Gehry Wing, and the town of Elciego.
The Marqués de Riscal Restaurant and the 1860 Restaurant offer an elite selection of wines of the world and offer the best traditional Basque-Riojan cuisine combined with modern influences. The Wine Bar Vinoteca and the Rooftop Lounge – Library present a stylish, yet comfortable atmosphere with panoramic views.

The “City of Wine” is a 21st century chateau in which the different experiences that wine can offer may be enjoyed.

Make reservation at Marques de Riscal

Make a reservation at Mystique

Santorini is one of the most romantic places in the world with its unique landscape and great views.  In Santorini nothing has much changed in the last 15 years, which is good and bad at the same time. You find the places, restaurants, beaches you visited before  exactly the same but the service and comfort you are expecting from a hotel has changed in 15 years. Finding a hotel that matches your expectations is not easy on this island except Mystique, that’s why it is The hotel in Santorini.

Mystique, is the latest addition to the Starwood Luxury Collection, located in Santorini, Greece. It is not only a stylish luxury boutique hotel but it also has the most exquisite setting on this island. Mystique is in the village of Oia, the most beautiful village of Santorini with most famous cliffs and sunsets  and dazzling views of clear blue equatorial waters towards the volcano and the Aegean Caldera.

Santorini island-style architecture of the hotel preserves the nature in a climate of unabashed luxury built in the beautiful scenery. The hotel’s unique cave-like interiors provide a genuinely romantic, cozy environment, for the many honeymoon couples that stay on Santorini. It features 18 villas, carved into the cliff, with panoramic private terraces and unrivaled views of  the ocean. The suites combine tradition with modern conveniences.
Mystique’s facilities include an outdoor infinity pool at the cliff’s edge, the Charisma gourmet restaurant, the poolside Aura bar which are perfect for a wedding ceremony.�
Hotels Secret Wine Cave has a dramatic 150 year old wine cellar, with a rare and local wine selection.

Sunsets are the perfect timing to experience this beautiful and romantic hotel..

Make a reservation at Mystique

Make a reservation at Cellars Hohenort

The Cellars-Hohenort is located in the Constantia Valley, Cape Town. Situated in the heart of the Constantia Valley Cellars-Hohenort is a haven of peace and tranquility unifying two great traditions, the restoration of the 18th Century Klaasenbosch wine cellars and the  Manor House of the Hohenort, previously owned by the Spilhaus family.

On the eastern slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain and neighboring Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, this  hotel boasts accommodation in individually decorated 53 rooms and suites with varied views of the breathtaking 9 acres of world renowned hotel gardens and vineyard.

Having one of the best wine lists in South Africa, the dining choices are endless in this hotel. Dining in either The Greenhouse Restaurant and Bistro with the emphasis on the organic and the fresh or The Cape Malay restaurant serving traditional authentic Cape Town cuisine  is a real treat. The Martini Bar is the place to be seen where you can sample the bar’s signature drink from one of the longest Martini lists in the world.

Make a reservation at Cellars Hohenort

Opened by Mario Batali in 1998, Babbo has been one of the best Italian restaurants in the world and one of the best restaurants in New York.  Although Batali has expanded its restaurant kingdom, Babbo has always been his throne. Babbo is located steps from Washington Square Park, in the center Greenwich Village with a split-level dining room and a lively bar area.

The philosophy of Babbo is to use the best local ingredients as simply as possible and serve them with flourish and joy. The menu is a roster of Chef Mario Batali’s lusty creations, incorporating the best and freshest seasonal produce, Italian cheeses, meat, game and seafood, accented with fine Italian olive oils, traditional aceto balsamico.  The wine list is also one of the most extensive and intelligent collections in the city. If you are in the right season, try the eternal Osso Buco..

Located in Acland Street of St Kilda,  this wine store is a uniquely designed haven for consumers, ranging from novice wine drinkers to serious collectors.  The two sibling Prince Wine Stores in South Melbourne, stock comprehensive ranges of local and international wines, beers, spirits, cigars, glassware, decanters, wine magazines and textbooks.  It is equipped with a climate controlled cellar, is a haven for tastings, seminars, small private dinners and other functions.  Open seven days a week or by appointment, each Prince Wine Stores is worth a visit.

The Tasting Room is the  fine dining restaurant at Le Quartier Francais. Margot Jansen, the executive chef uses seasonal local ingredients, so visitors can expect to see Wildebeest, Franschhoek Trout or Ganzvlei Vastrap Cheddar on the menu. The restaurant is among the top 50 best restaurants in the world and has been selected the best in Middle East Africa.

Course after course of exquisitely presented culinary delights showcase chef Margot Janse and her team’s award-winning talent. Try the 8 course tasting menu with the matching wine list. It is  haven on earth.

Adour is the new successful New York restaurant of Alain Ducasse. The success lies behind the approachability and humility of the menu and service, compared other Alain Ducasse Michelin star restaurants.  The menu created by the Executive Chef Joel Dennis and Wine Director Thomas Combescot where dishes and wine-paring balance one another. The 88 seating restaurant and bar is designed by David Rockwell inspired by wine. He used wine bottles, burgundy and chardonnay tones in this elegant room inside the legendary St. Regis hotel.

Adour has an extensive wine list and accompanying tasting menu and is very affordable compared other high end Ducasse restaurants.

Lodhi is located in a three-level, free-standing building within the grounds of Aman New Delhi . Guests are given the choice of two dining areas; the entrance level features a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the large reflection pool, whilst guests dining on the upper level will enjoy its jaali windows, leather floor, silver leaf ceiling and Catalonian cuisine created in the open kitchen and wood-burning oven.

The Tapas Lounge on the lower level offers a selection of authentic Spanish tapas and features a central serving area with elevated seating, creating an informal setting. A Wine Cellar offers an intimate tasting area and the wine selection is impressive.

Make a reservation at Aman Summer Palace

After 20 years Aman still continues to impress travelers with its new city resorts and Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing is the ultimate ‘urban resort’.

Opened at the end of 2008, Aman Summer Palace is the peaceful retreat just steps from the East Gate of one of Beijing’s most remarkable landmarks – the Summer Palace., an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Housed in a series of pavilions, some of which are over hundred years old,  which served as guest quarters for those awaiting an audience with the Empress Dowager Cixi at the turn of the last century. Aman has a private door which opens directly to the Summer Palace and gives you access to the beautiful gardens and architecture dating back to 12th century. If possible, wake up early and visit the summer palace gardens before the crowds.

Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing has the courtyard architectural style of the Palace with elegant Ming-Dynasty inspired furniture and the use of traditional materials. Although it is in one of the biggest and crowded cities of the world  balance and tranquility provides the perfect respite from the outside world, and the ideal base from which to explore the vibrant capital.Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing is the ideal portal through which to experience this multi-faceted city, and within the resorts walls a mysterious sense of peeking through the veil of time to the romance of another era lingers on.

With Aman Summer Palace Aman also started an initiative about Wine. Amanresorts’ new wine and spirits program launched just last year.  The family and boutique producers from every corner of the globe to make available some of the world’s most coveted wines and spirits at select Amanresorts properties worldwide. Many producers have developed brand extensions, including reserves and single-vineyard bottlings of their finest vintages, exclusively for Amanresorts. Others have made their previously ‘off-limits’ caves, private reserves and personal library selections available to Amanresorts alone.  Guests of Amanresorts will also be welcomed into the wineries, chateaux and homes of partners around the world by prior arrangement. Aman Summer Palace has its own private wine selection which is available through all its restaurants and bars and in its tasting room.

The resort has 8 Guestrooms and 10 Courtyard Guestrooms  and 8 Suites, all facing to a private courtyard.  With its cultural private tours, impressive Aman Spa and indoor pool, elegant lounges and bars, and different restaurants for all tastes and of course with usual exceptional Aman Service this is THE place to stay in Beijing and experience both the 12th and 21st centuries.

Make a reservation at Aman Summer Palace

photos are courtesy of Aman Resorts

Jean Georges offers in his impressive Shanghai restaurant a very light French cuisine, using mainly local grown produce and the freshest of seafood. It has a wine cellar over 5000 bottles, including a fine selection of wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy and Alsace..Eric Johnson is the Chef at partner at JG Shanghai and he does an excellent job with the menu..

Located on the fourth floor of Three on The Bund building the 1500 sq meter space has impressive views of Bund and Pudong, a huge open kitchen, a bar and lounge area, a wine cellar apart from the main dining room.

Designed by Michael Graves, the restaurants style is mixture of grandeur old Shanghai and romantic French seaport with a balanced combination of natural light and dark paneled wood, surrounded by cobalt blue and deep wine reds.

Make a reservation at Palais Coburg

Six centuries of Viennese architectural history can be experienced in Hotel Palais Coburg, which is in the city center and only a couple minutes from Stephansplatz.
The Palais was built between 1840 and 1845 in a classicist style, commissioned by Ferdinand von Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha. The grand palace was constructed atop a former bastion, the Braunbastei, whose foundations include sections of the city’s fortifications dating from the sixteenth century.In 1997, a private foundation, POK acquired the building. From2000 to 2003, after several years of planning, they renovated, revitalized, and rebuilt the structure taking into account all available historical information. In November 2003, the “new” Palais Coburg opened to the public. With the new additions and carvings the entry of the hotel is very impressive The other impressive aspect of the hotel is its Wine Cellar and owns finest wine collection of Austria.  The building’s unique historical fabric is also the base of the Palais’ current use, with its total area of more than 16,000 square meters.. 35 Hotel Suites are over two floors and each is individually designed, and named after historic personalities..

Chef Silvio Nickol and his team are synonymous with creative cuisine of the highest level. The gourmet restaurant at the Palais Coburg is a place of comprehensive, contemporary dining culture. Creative interpretation of classic dishes and exceptionally composed innovations as well as subtly arranged interaction of food and wine are the main topics. In the wine list more than five thousand positions are listedThe hotel has also a rooftop pool and spa.. To enjoy history, luxury, excellent wine and gourmet food in the city center of Vienna is really amazing..

Make a reservation at Palais Coburg

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, New York is different than its original Paris spot..It is inside the Four Seasons hotel and  has not only a twenty-seat bar but also individual tables for 30 people.

We prefer again the bar counter because the tables contradict with the soul of the L”Atelier.. L’Atelier’s signature counter seating give you the opportunity to concentrate only to this magnificent  food, see how small “tasting portion” dishes prepared and served. L’Atelier features essentially the same food as the Paris original which is perfect : Joel Robuchon’s creamy and much beloved Pommes Puree Truffee, or truffled mashed potatoes, are featured along with his famed La Caille Farcie de Foie Gras et Caramelisee, free-range quail stuffed with foie gras. Also appearing on the menu, L’Agneau en Caree Dore it lafleur de Thym, delicate roasted rack of lamb perfumed with thyme, and a spicy Steak Tartare served with crispy hand-cut fries. The wine list is extensive, impressive and international with a focus on France… This is a perfect place for power lunches..

photos courtesy of Joel Robuchon and Ozlem Avcioglu

Among all Joël Robuchon restaurants we like L’Atelier most, because it offers haute cuisine around a circular bar overlooking to an open kitchen with 36 seats. This allows you to follow the service, to watch the preparation of the dishes, and to compose your own meal according to your appetite, as the menu offers all the great classics to taste in small, tapas-style portions. The interior design has been created in such a fashion, leaving the focus solely on the food . The décor consist of the basic ingredients of Robuchon’s kitchen, with large glass jars accentuating the raw colors of fruits and vegetables.

The tasting menu is the best choice since the intensely flavored recipes work better in smaller portions. (A portion of sea urchin intricately fixed in lobster gelée, foie gras–stuffed quail,  slices of Kobe beef,  truffled mashed potatoes are some of the dishes) They all are heavenly tasty. A large choice of carefully selected very good wines are also available by the glass..

L’Atelier is very innovative and it is best to go there by yourself or as a couple to enjoy only the food…Also due to the way the restaurant is set out, it is not advisable to go with a party larger than four.
The only problem you will face is that tables can only be booked for 6:30 p.m. If you choose to dine later, odds are you’ll wind up waiting for an hour or more in the next bar..But it is worth the wait..

Located in the Ritz Hotel, L’Espadon restaurant promises some of the city’s best traditional dining. Michel Roth creates his innovative cuisine with head sommelier Jean Claude Ruet to marry food and wine. Specialties include mosaic of sea bass with mustard seeds and frisson of chocolate and mandarin oranges. Perfect service and a premium wine list complete the overall experience. Choose chefs tasting menu with wine paring for a fine french traditional food expereince in Paris.

Although Asiate is inside the Mandarin Hotel and has best view in the New York, it is far from a ‘touristic’ place. To begin with the entrance of the restaurant is very dramatic with a wine wall of an impressive collection of over 1,300 bottles, then come the breathtaking Central Park and Columbus Circle views visible through 16 foot high windows. Designed by Tony Chi, the inside is dominated by a glittering tree-branch sculpture that hangs from the ceiling. The French-Japanese fusion menu is an artistic and modern approach to Asian-inspired cuisine which changes as the seasons change in the park. Chef Nori Sugie trained in France and Japan, cooked at two world famous restaurants, Charlie Trotter’s and Tetsuya’s in Australia and created a very surprising menu together with the exiting and dazzling wine list.  We suggest to have the tasting menu and let them bring the accompanying wines.

Les Crayers is not only the best place to stay in Champagne region, it has one of the best service in the world. The Chateau is a luxurious gourmet retreat in Reims, where guests can relax in their great rooms or superb garden and savour the cuisine and champagne…

Les Crayeres is located in a seven hectares park and was the private residence of the Polignac Family. The Xavier Gardinier family, who owns Château Phélan Ségur in Saint-Estèphe as well  bought this internationally-famous place in 2001. The restaurant of Château Les Crayeres, located in the heart of Champagne area, is an important place of the French traditional gastronomy.

Didier Elena, the chef has worked for more than fifteen years with Alain Ducasse who gave him, at the opening, the responsibility of the Essex House’s kitchens. The menu is designed according to its Champagne menu, which is one of the bests..Apart from Champagne you could also taste great Pinot Noirs from the region.

The most important is that the service  remains always high and one of the highlights of the stay.

photos courtesy of Les Crayeres and Ozlem Avcioglu

Alain Ducasse Restaurant at the Plaza Athénée, the famous chef created the  ‘Place of Excellence’ not only with food but with one of the worlds best wine list, service, and decoration..The restaurant is run by Christophe Moret who offers  contemporary French cuisine with a strong emphasis on authenticity in order to reveal the hidden flavors of the ingredients.The excellent wine list is created by Gérard Margeon, Chef Sommelier of all his establishments, together with Laurent Roucayrol, Sommelier of the Alain Ducasse Restaurant at the Plaza Athénée. They have compiled a thoroughly modern wine list that is easy to read and, they hope, is as objective as it is suggestive, grouping together the very quintessence of France’s vineyards in 1001 labels.

The tasting menu which consist of the seasonal dishes comes with very interesting wine paring according to the wines you like..The designer Patrick Jouin gave to the restaurant the appropriate illustration, creating a look and style that reflects both magic and poetry. The chandeliers have exploded into stardust, into a cloud of 10,000 dangling, illuminated crystal pendants…Eating at Alain Ducasse is not only about food, it is like being on a stage with a lot of actors performing excellent service around you..A reel once of a lifetime experience..

Fire & Ice – Raffles Cellar & Grill is in Raffles Dubai and its menu is revolving around the four elements of life: Fire, Water, Earth and Air, one of the core themes to Raffles Dubai’s designs.

The culinary team of Fire & Ice, led by award-winning Chef Cedric Darthial, has come up with a series of innovative menus, promising to tantalize all your senses and create an experience above the ordinary. Fire & Ice offers a modern European cuisine with colorful presentations, delicate textures and exquisite flavors. Sample signature dishes are ‘Nitro Wagyu Beef’ (Fire), ‘Toro Sashimi’ (Water) or ‘Foie Gras Tower’ (Air).

To complement this superb menu, the Head Sommelier Nicolas Murcott and his dedicated team will be on hand to recommend wine pairing with each course, based solely on your preferences. With no less than 600 references offering the best from both the Old and New World, each glass will perfectly accompany your meal while exploring any of the four elements.