HOTELS & RESTAURANTS, beyond mainstream

In the heart of Midtown Manhattan, just steps from Grand Central Station, Monogram New York rises as a contemporary interpretation of Art Deco elegance. Conceived by architect Ismael Leyva in collaboration with Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu of Shanghai-based studio Neri&Hu, the 35-storey residential tower marries the rhythm and refinement of early 20th-century design

Berlin has never been shy about reinvention. A city of fractured histories, bold experiments, and irrepressible energy, it is no surprise that its most iconic landmark – the Berliner Fernsehturm –  is once again at the centre of cultural life. On 3 June 2025, the tower’s revolving restaurant has reopened as Sphere Tim Raue, a culinary and design project that promises to be as dizzying as its 207-metre perch above Alexanderplatz

Along the north bank of the Danube, where Vienna’s urban fabric softens into the green edges of the river, Hilton Vienna Waterfront has re-emerged after a complete transformation by international design studio THDP

In the serene heart of Forte dei Marmi’s pinewood, where the hush of the trees meets the refined echoes of Italian history, the Augustus Hotel & Resort unveils a new chapter in its legacy of elegance and excellence with the rebirth of Villa Radici. This refined five-star residence, inaugurated in July 2025 after a meticulous restoration, is not merely a new addition to the Augustus family but a powerful affirmation of its vocation

Set in a 1903 Beaux-Arts building in Manhattan, The Ned NoMad is where timeless glamour meets downtown energy. It’s the first Ned to open in North America, with interiors by Soho House Design and architecture by Stonehill Taylor – a bold reimagining

The bright blue of the Ionian Sea stretches endlessly below, while terraced hills burst into flame with magenta bougainvillea. Behind it all, Mount Etna rises, taller and more imposing than I had imagined. Around the piazzas, laughter bubbles up, a singer’s voice rises above the chatter, and the flicker of matchsticks lights the evening air. Above all, the locals’ deep love for their hometown. It takes time here for a visitor to move beyond spectator – to become part of this living performance. Thoughts about this town always take unexpected turns