Château de la Resle, Burgundy

Just fifteen minutes outside the town of Auxerre, and surrounded by vineyards and chocolate box towns of Burgundy, sits Château de la Resle – an intoxicating blend of bold modernity and old world charm. On arrival, it has all the hallmarks of a classic French mansion: wooden shutters, turreted roofs, oeils-de-boeuf windows, and façades drapedContinue reading “Château de la Resle, Burgundy”

EALA My Lakeside Dream, Lake Garda

Imagine a hotel where every corner elicits amazement, and where every turn features a different picture-perfect landscape. Add a rooftop bar, a private beach, a Michelin-recommended restaurant, and a full-sized spa, and you’ve just about conjured up EALA My Lakeside Dream, located near the northern tip of Italy’s Lake Garda. EALA is found inside aContinue reading “EALA My Lakeside Dream, Lake Garda”

Palazzo Segreti, Milan

Rarely is something that calls itself a ‘secret’ actually a secret. But in the case of Palazzo Segreti, an 18-room boutique hotel right in the centre of Milan’s fashion district, we really have found a hidden gem. Located between the Sforza Castle and the Duomo – less than ten minutes walk from both – PalazzoContinue reading “Palazzo Segreti, Milan”

Jacqueline, Barcelona

If you’re looking to discover the splendour of Barcelona’s art nouveau architecture scene, and to try some excellent local cuisine, we’ve found the perfect place that kills two birds with one beautifully-designed stone: Jacqueline. This recently-opened gem in Eixample has already played host to numerous well-known brands and celebrity guests, all enamoured by its strikingContinue reading “Jacqueline, Barcelona”

Boulevard, Barcelona

Nowhere does day-to-night quite like Spain, a country where a liqueur coffee in the morning is perfectly acceptable, and where a night out can comfortably begin at 2am. We travelled to Barcelona to test the unique hybrid of a sit-down three-course meal that melts into a dance party. Boulevard is one of the city’s newerContinue reading “Boulevard, Barcelona”

Maison Lefèvre, Luxembourg

If you enjoy your dinner accompanied by illustrious surroundings from a bygone era, look no further than Maison Lefèvre. Located in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg’s second largest city, this fine dining restaurant is hidden away in plain sight among shopfronts and passing traffic. You could miss it altogether were it not for the glittering chandeliers visible throughContinue reading “Maison Lefèvre, Luxembourg”

Fontenille Torre Vella, Menorca

How do you choose where to stay on an island that specialises in luxury agrotourism? Menorca is a treasure trove of excellent boutique and small chain hotels, each one offering something different, from sunset bars to clifftop picnics. After much research and comparison, we decided on Torre Vella, one of two luxury hotels on theContinue reading “Fontenille Torre Vella, Menorca”

Relais Balcone di Giulietta, Verona

It’s every tourist’s dream: at 7pm every evening the crowds are dispersed from Verona’s most popular tourist attraction, the gates are locked, and you’re left in total privacy to enjoy the courtyard with Juliet’s balcony. It’s the sort of exclusive experience you might associate with endless waiting lists and an extortionate price tag. And yet,Continue reading “Relais Balcone di Giulietta, Verona”

Relais & Châteaux Weeshuis Gouda

The chances are that Gouda is not even on your radar yet, and almost definitely not as a luxury destination. At the risk of sounding cheesy (get it?), Gouda is more than just its greatest export. The town is a perfect taster of an authentic Dutch experience, just a stone’s throw from the country’s biggestContinue reading “Relais & Châteaux Weeshuis Gouda”