French style meets Viet home cooking at Madame Hiên
Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, enchants with its blend of socialist artwork, Buddhist temples, French colonial architecture and tiny, atmospheric streets, but it’s long lagged behind brasher sister Ho Chi Minh City in the dining stakes. We’ve uncovered two buzzing new establishments however, determined to take it to that southern hussy Saigon…
Tinkerbell, is that you...
Time was you could always find fairies at the bottom of your garden, as long as you believed in them, but in the world of Wii we live in today they’re scarce as hen’s teeth. Unless you live in Bangkok. Tucked away on hip strip Thonglor is an intoxicating dingly dell of a new bar, The Iron Fairies, that has the Big Mango’s boys with poise and girls sans pearls in a spell – a dark, whimsical, unique and atmospheric adult hideaway where clever Aussie Ashley Sutton brings together wine, cocktails and comfort food with, of all things, a foundry. Clap your hands for Tinkerbell and if you really believe…
Bed, the bosom battlefield
It’s every gal’s nightmare. You awake from a peaceful, joyous dream where you own every single shoe in Michael Lewis’ new season, to find your embonpoint looks like a bomb has gone off in your nightie. A creasy cleavage is just no good for sexy times with the old ball and chain, and wave goodbye to wearing your wraparound DVF for that important breakfast meet. But what’s a gal to do? All the StriVectin in the world won’t help those grand canyons. Wrinkles down your cleethorpes are simply unavoidable for gals whose cups runneth over. Or are they…
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Mirrors, mirrors on the wall at Palazzina Grassi [image courtesy of Design Hotels]
That annual mask and costume hell, the Venice Carnival, has almost whirled its way through for another year, leaving a momentary calm when locals reclaim the city before the next wave of the leezure suited arrive in spring. Sure, it’s still rather parky in February and several shops and restaurants will be closed, but the beauty and joy of a deserted Piazza San Marco is worth the trip alone, and though it’s been slow coming, there are now more stylish hotels than ever to bed down in La Serenissima, including Philippe Starck’s first foray into Italian hotels via the whimsical Palazzina Grassi.
In the red [Photo by chooyutshing/Flickr]
Lanterns, lai see (red packets) and lions, oh my! In case you missed the memo, lunar or Chinese New Year is this Sunday and while it’s V-day for many, it’s fam time for others. Each family has their own traditions, but if there’s one thing everyone does, it’s eating. We’ve picked one iconic dish from cities that celebrate the festival, from Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong, via Toronto (yep, Toronto), so you’d better get those stretch slacks ready, Tiger.
The LUXElife Travel Q&A
Loving the outfit, Fiona
Who are you, and what are you wearing?
Fiona Kotur Marin, founder and creative director of KOTUR handbags, and I am wearing my fabulous new Dries van Noten boots, and my own KOTUR handbag.
Lust and beauty from Adriano Zumbo
It’s that time of year again – carnations and baby’s breath, silver balloons and greeting cards, hearts won and hopes dashed. There’s no avoiding Valentine’s day, unless possibly you’re in Myanmar, or North Korea, but there’s no need to make it cheesier than a Roquefort cave. Here’s a quick whip round the world for luxe ways to give and celebrate that won’t always break the bank, but are a darn good bet for bedroom Olympics. Mwaah!
This article was first published by The New York Times T Magazine Blog ‘The Moment’.
Become a merry old soul at the King Cole Bar in New York
One of the many jobs charged unto the staff and city resident LUXE editors is to search out the perfect pre-prandial perch to enjoy this liquid divinity in each city that we cover. New York, the home of The Beautiful Drink, is chokka-blocked with great places – personally we are fond of the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis despite being more famed for its Bloody Mary, we love it for its dark atmos and quiet, but upbeat murmuring. But let’s not forget Death & Co and the always excellent Pegu Club or Milk & Honey. But where else around the world should you partake? Here’s a whizzbang round-up of a few other personal faves around the globe…
Sil-ooh-ette
The cheongsam (a.k.a. qipao), that curvy, figure hugging embroidered Chinese frock is a beautiful thing, but unless you’re a size zero or Zhang Ziyi, that Peking duck you just had will be showing up in all the wrong places. So what’s a gal to do if she wants to bring home a little sartorial, highly wearable memento from Beijing?
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Welcome to the pamper palace, The Peninsula Bangkok
For years, people have begged and pleaded for the opportunity to be a LUXE reviewer, and thanks to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Hong Kong’s leading English-language daily, you finally got that chance. SCMP readers were asked to submit a review on any hotel, restaurant, bar, spa, shop or activity of your choice in trademark witty LUXE style for the chance to win 3 delicious nights at smooth-as-silk The Peninsula Bangkok, right by the banks of the Chao Phraya River. The stunning Asian Grand Tour Box set was also up for grabs by 3 runners up. We’ve sorted and sifted through the responses of all you budding critics out there and you know what we found?
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