Luxury means different things to different people. Perhaps you require your own personal butler? Or access to a private pool or beach? Some simply require excellent customer service and an appreciation for the statement “the customer is always right”.

We have picked five destinations that personify luxury and can provide all of the above and more.

Tokyo

What to do: Do you love Japanese cuisine? Master the art of Kaiseki (traditional multi-course Japanese dinner) with a Michelin star chef. Using the freshest ingredients tied to the appropriate season, your world-class chef will show you how to prepare dashi (a special stock) and miso (soybean paste), which will provide the base of your meal.

A trip to Tokyo is incomplete without a visit to one of their world-class spas. Set high above the Tokyo skyline, the Aman Tokyo Spa is a light-filled sanctuary that is inspired by the Japanese principles of nature and balance. The spa features large Japanese-style hot baths and steam rooms as well as a 30m pool with panoramic views overlooking the city.

Where to eat: Excellent sushi can be found all over Tokyo, but the Tapas Molecular Bar offers something rather different. From the imagination of Chef Ngan Ping Chow comes a selection of tapas-style portions that resemble whacky science experiments but taste sublime. This is an interactive dining experience that screams luxury.

Where to stay: The Park Hyatt Tokyo has become a bit of an icon since appearing in the 2003 film Lost in Translation with Billy Murray and Scarlett Johansson. The 177-room hotel is all about modern luxury and offers some impressive views of Mount Fuji. It also has one of the city’s most atmospheric cocktail bars complete with live jazz: the 52nd-floor New York Bar and Grill.

Sydney

What to do: Discover Sydney from above and take in views of the magnificent Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge by seaplane. Sydney Seaplanes depart from Rose Bay and offer a discreet VIP area at their terminal lounge. Sip on champagne while waiting to board your seaplane, then fly along the coast to Palm Beach for a luxurious lunch at Jonah’s.

If you fancy a little exercise, make your way to Royal Sydney Golf Club at Rose Bay and practice your swing on their lavish grounds. You’ll follow in the footsteps of the golfing greats, as The Royal Sydney has been a multi-time host of the Australian Open.

Where to eat: Plan the ultimate romantic dinner for two in one of the carriages of the Ferris wheel at Luna Park overlooking Sydney Harbour. Held most Sunday evenings during the warmer months, you’ll board your own private gondola for a three-course meal with wine pairings. Enjoy the gentle rotation of the wheel as the sun sets romantically over the harbour. For the ultimate luxury experience, upgrade to a Cinderella Carriage decorated with sparkling fairly lights.

Where to stay: Sydney is well-known for its love of real estate, so there are some very impressive hotels to choose from. The Park Hyatt Sydney occupies the number one spot, with uninterrupted views of the Opera House, a rooftop pool the highest level of personalised service.

Paris

What to do: Paris is one of the fashion capitals of the world and is home to many famous designers including Chanel, Dior and Jean-Paul Gaultier. Don your finest outfit and head to Avenue Montaigne to shop in the city’s most prestigious designer boutiques.

After purchasing your outfit for the evening, take a cruise along the Seine on the private yacht Don Juan II. You’ll be greeted by sailors in uniform before boarding the yacht and sitting down for a gourmet dinner while you sail along the Seine. For the ultimate luxury, you can arrange to be picked up from your hotel by a vintage Rolls Royce.

Where to eat: For a truly Parisian experience book a table Alain Ducasse Au Plaza Athenée, with its glittering chandeliers and distinctly French feel. Ingredients are sustainably sourced and very fresh – fruit and vegetables are picked each morning and arrive at the kitchen just a few hours later. 

Where to stay: Le Meurice is situated in a prime position on arcade Rue de Rivoli and has a grand interior, with the ground-floor suites resembling something out of the Palace of Versailles. Despite its opulence, the hotel avoids being stuffy.

Singapore

What to do: Enjoy a luxurious twist to your ride on the 164m tall Singapore Flyer, Asia’s largest observation wheel. Book a private capsule and watch the world go by as you sip on the finest bubbly paired with chocolate and strawberries.

For a more high octane experience, channel your inner Lewis Hamilton and book an Ultimate Drive Experience in a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Race around the official F1 circuit at Marina Bay Sands in a Ferrari F430 F1 Spider or Lamborghini Gallardo and get your adrenaline pumping.

Where to eat: JAAN, which is located on the 70^th floor of Swissotel The Stamford, has gorgeous views of Singapore’s skyline and waterways. The Michelin star restaurant has an imaginative and seasonal menu curated by Chef de Cuisine Kirk Westaway.

Where to stay: Take inspiration from the Hollywood blockbuster Crazy Rich Asians and bask in luxury at Marina Bay Sands. The hotel cost a whopping eight billion Singapore dollars to build and has luxury woven into it everywhere, from the 57^th floor infinity pool to the upscale Banyon Tree Spa.

Dubai

What to do: Nowhere in the world screams luxury quite like Dubai. Whether you’re relaxing on a private yacht on the Arabian Gulf or enjoying a facial with a 24-carat mask made with gold chains at the Talise Ottoman Spa, it’s likely almost every activity in Dubai will have a luxurious element. It’s even possible to indulge in an edible 23-Carat Ice Cream from Scoopi Café.

Where to eat: Fancy eating in a restaurant with an indoor waterfall? The Cavalli Club Dubai is set over three floors and its almost worth the money just experiencing the lavish interior. Launched in collaboration with Italian fashion designer Robert Cavalli, the menu comprises both Gourmet Italian and international cuisine, including New York steak of Wagyu grade 9+.

Where to stay: In keeping with the film theme, the Burj al Arab can be spotted in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol starring Tom Cruise (although it’s not the one he scales – that’s the Burj Khalifa). The Burj al Arab contains everything you’d expect from Dubai’s fanciest hotels: Eiderdown duvets, exquisite Egyptian cotton linen and an ultra-deluxe super king bed. It also has the world’s largest brigade of butlers and the 780 square meter Royal Suite has its own private cinema.

Source: The Travel Magazine

The post 5 Luxury Destinations Around The World appeared first on The Fine Food Magazine .

Hytra Restaurant & Bar: Hytra Restaurant has developed its culinary identity based on the approach and the redefinition of the rich cultural heritage of Greek gastronomy by giving a contemporary expression in execution and the presentation of dishes.High-quality service and hospitality, the creation of a high aesthetic, warm and homely atmosphere, the continuous update and development in the approach to the concept of food, and the emergence of Greek cuisine through Greek raw materials and recipes, are the main components of the philosophy of Hytra Restaurant & Bar.
Address: Leof. Andrea Siggrou 107-109, Athina 117 45.

Varoulko: located in one of the most beautiful places, the Mikrolimano marina, in front of the sea, has easy access from downtown Athens & Piraeus and provides its visitors an elegant atmosphere and an outstanding view. It provides fish plates with great imagination. Varoulko won its first Michelin star in 2002.
Address: Akti Koumoundourou 54 Mikrolimano, Piraeus.

Botrini’s: At Botrini’s Restaurant Athens, their focus is on a complete experience. In doing so, they want to highlight the relationship between raw nature, produce and our cultural history. It is a passionately run restaurant with a modern interior, a sleek modern cuisine, and verdant terraces. Botrini’s restaurant in Athens is awarded with a Michelin Star, for the second consecutive year, from the Michelin Guide Main European Cities 2017.
Address: Vasileos Georgiou B’ 24b, Chalandri, Athens.

Ithaki: The seaside location overlooking the Saronic Gulf is truly magical and is fitting for one of the best Vouliagmeni restaurants. Ithaki provides a large outdoor area to dine al fresco in summer and appreciate the view. With an impressive list of visiting celebrities including Bill Clinton and Sean Connery, Ithaki is one of the best established restaurants in Athens where many Athenians dine to impress special guests. The Mediterranean menu is infused with French and Japanese influences and you will be spoilt for choice with sushi platters and black cod marinated in miso on offer or the Chateaubriand for two.
Address: Apollonos 28 Vouliagméni, Greece 16671.

All senses: A provocative, emotional, international-level performance plays out on a table with 12 comfortable armchairs. In the specially designed space of this special restaurant in Glyfada, an ambitious project unfolds. Special displays, sounds, smells, flavors, all work as gastronomic stimulation.
Address: Lazaraki 12, Glyfada, Athens Greece.

Nolan: Nolan is all about our passion for tasty food, an urban-cool ambiance and a menu that looks beyond geographical borders. The food takes inspiration from “familiar” ingredients that bring out feelings and memories – A food that is coupled with our love and continuous search for raw materials and techniques; A creative bridging of Greek and Asian flavors – from street food of Beijing and Vietnam to the all-time favorite fried chicken.
Address: 31 Voulis Athina, 105 57 Greece.

CTC Restaurant: CTC restaurant in Ilisia is a degustation restaurant in Athens. The famous chef Alexandros Tsiotinis created CTC to offer creative Greek cuisine and gourmet tastes. CTC is a special space with minimal decoration, a European style, and an ambient atmosphere. Here, you can taste the award-winning exquisite corn lobster. CTC restaurant is ideal for both business lunch and romantic dinner as well as special events. Enjoy a unique gourmet journey, the unique flavors, aromas, and colors of CTC’s menu and make your dinner a memorable experience.
Address: 14, Oumplianis Str. & Diocharous 27, Athens.

Matsuhisa Athens: Home of the world-famous Nobu cuisine, the restaurant Matsuhisa Athens has brought the quiet power of Japanese culture and the charm of fusion philosophy to the gastronomic map of Athens. Beautifully nestled in one of the city’s most stylish and scenic locations, the Astir Palace, Matsuhisa Athens promises an unforgettable gastronomic experience. Designed by the famous Rockwell Group from New York, Matsuhisa Athens, with its minimal and organic design, lends beautifully to its natural surroundings. With magnificent views overlooking the Saronic Gulf, majestic sunsets and stunningly illuminated by night, Matsuhisa Athens is one of the city’s hottest dining destinations.
Address: 40 Apollonos Street, Vouliagmeni, Athens 16671 Greece.

GB Roof Garden Restaurant & Bar: The Acropolis and the Parthenon as well as Lycabettus hill and the Doric Greek Parliament at Syntagma Square, are located just one breath away and can be admired from every corner, giving a touch of unparalleled glamor to the classy GB Roof Garden Restaurant and Bar. The menu, based on the Mediterranean culinary tradition and the application of modern haute cuisine techniques, is created of premium fresh raw materials and inexhaustible inspiration.
Address: 8th floor of Hotel Grande Bretagne – 1 Vasileos Georgiou A, Syntagma Square Str, Athina 105 64.

Source: CEOWORLD Magazine

The post Luxury Restaurants In Athens You Must Try appeared first on The Fine Food Magazine .