Travel & Lifestyle

Often cited as one of the best Italian restaurants in Sydney, Machiavelli Ristorante Italiano has edged forward with something the institution has never before done. After three decades of serving high flying corporates, visiting celebrities, and most famously Australia’s political elite, the Italian restaurant is now extending trading hours to include Saturday nights. Historically, the…

Last week, I jumped on board Virgin Atlantic‘s flagship route from Heathrow to JFK on board the new Dreamliner 787. How does the service stack up? Here’s today’s flight review… Airline: Virgin Atlantic Route: LHR – JFK (VS137) Aircraft: Boeing 787-900 Seat: 59G centre aisle 3-3-3 Flight Time: 6 Hours 45 Minutes (Scheduled at closer…

You’d be mistaken if you thought Sydney was all about the summer months. As soon as winter hits, the city seems to spring to life with some of its greatest yearly events, as well as a whole host of other fun things to do. And the next few weeks will certainly showcase that, with the…

The Dead Sea can hardly be claimed as a new attraction. When Christ was born not even 50km away, Cleopatra had already built the world’s first spas on the shore of the famously salty lake, so that she could bathe in the mineral-rich waters and retain her youthful looks. Clearly it worked, and many others…

One look at the Sydney Opera House and the surrounding Circular Quay during Vivid Sydney is all it needs to fall in love with the festival all over again. Despite the train delays and constant crowds, something about this buzzing and energetic festival of lights, music and ideas captures the imaginations of both visitors and…

No one who has been to Canberra in the past few years would dare say the city lacks character. Though Australia’s capital may be better known as the seat of a chaotic political scene, its not hard to be won over by world-class museums, stunning urban vineyards, classic markets, spectacular light festivals and an exceptional…

Starting today, McDonald’s outlets across Australia will be the first across the globe to introduce some subtle improvements to the burgers that have made Maccas the dominant chain it is today. The classics, which include the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder and Cheeseburger, are said to have undergone a number of careful improvements to the way…

From cronuts to freakshakes, most of Sydney’s zany dessert trends involve doughnuts in some capacity. The latest: the Zippoli. The traditional Italian version of the classic doughnut has been officially put forth as Sydney’s next deep-fried food obsession thanks to restauranteur Anthony Furfaro, who has opened a new dessert bar in the South-West suburb of…

Tokyo may be one of the most popular travel destinations for Aussies right now, but it doesn’t necessarily have a reputation for being a “digital nomad” city. Given that space is a premium, language barriers still very much exist, and Japan’s love of rules and paperwork, it’s a reputation that in the past has been…

Head of Sony Pictures Men in Black: International, the studio has teamed up with Booking.com to faithfully recreate the film’s London based headquarters, and open it up for public accommodation. Available exclusively on the booking website, two guests per night will be able to book into this very unique stay which will come with a…

After a very successful debut last year, Sydney hospitality juggernaut Merivale have decided to once again toast to the start of winter by shaving 49% off the top of all drink prices across their many venues. All bars and pubs falling under the Merivale banner, including Bar Topa, Bert’s Bar, Coogee Pavillion bar, ivy Pool…

It’s been 15 years since Hawaiian Airlines started flying between Sydney and Honolulu, a route that has flown almost 2 million passengers since. And such a milestone calls for an appropriate celebration, right? Right. Hawaiian Airlines are not only nodding to the long-running route by kicking off a sweet deal that brings Sydney to Honolulu…

L.A-originated Paligroup have officially stretched out of the Golden State and headed up coast, opening their first boutique hotel in Seattle in what is easily the city’s most valuable location. Building on a reputation for dependable, eclectic neighbourhood hotels and suites like Palihotel Melrose and Palihouse West Hollywood, the recently opened Palihotel Seattle has sprung…

Of the four Fairmont properties in Vancouver, only two can claim the distinction of immense waterfront views. Grand harbour vistas that stretch all the way to majestic coastal mountains, promising inspiration for all those who visit the great British Columbian city, immediately connecting them with the sense of adventure that gives Vancouver its allure. Unbeatable…

“This is so incredible. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate them doing this.”, I heard a woman saying as I entered the new TWA Hotel at New York’s JFK, which opened yesterday alongside the modern Terminal 5. She said she used to work for the airline in the 70’s, and was wearing her…

There may not be a hotel group as iconic in Canada as Fairmont. From Quebec and Whistler, to Lake Louise and Vancouver, the defining locations of this inspiring country are almost always accompanied by one of Fairmont’s historic properties. The group boasts an enviable claim on location, thanks to its history and position in Canada’s…

If you thought it was hard to find casual fine-dining that celebrates local flavours around Circular Quay then take a visit to Q Dining. Celebrating local native flavours, and boasting stunning harbour views, you won’t find this restaurant within the tourist-hustle bustle along the promenade. Instead, take a step inside the luxury Pullman Quay Grand where…

It would be right in saying that gin has rather become the drink à la mode of late. But one distillery that was at the forefront of the gin fold well before the recent boom, is Martin Miller’s Gin. Since opening up a small distillery in Notting Hill in 1998, Martin Miller and David Brombige…

It’s only been just over a month since Etihad Airways announced a campaign to offer travellers free stopovers in Abu Dhabi, and apparently it’s gotten so popular the airline has had to extend the campaign’s dates. The national airline of the UAE will now be offering free stopovers in Abu Dhabi up until the end…

Accor’s lauded MGallery by Sofitel collection is about to make its anticipated debut in Hong Kong later this year with The Silveri. Set to open in the second half of 2019, the new hotel will make the 33rd MGallery by Sofitel in Asia, reiterating the highly curated collection’s profile of unique high-end boutiques. The luxury…

Whether it’s exploring a comprehensive survey of immersive White Rabbit gems at NGV, hunting for miniature art at an Art Series Hotel, or indulging in local honey while chilling in a rooftop igloo, there’s plenty to perk up the beginning of winter in Melbourne. Here are five things we think you should definitely be doing…

British Airways, which operates a daily flight between Sydney and London, have put up a hefty Autumn sale that’ll stay live for Aussie travellers until 7th June 2019. Given the airline’s network, the sale has spread to include more than 110 destinations, notably Singapore, London and Rome across all cabins. This ranges from economy class…

It’s an outrageous understatement to say that Japan is a country full of natural diversity. From the snow-capped peaks of Hokkaido’s mountains to the tropical islands of Okinawa, for a nation whose landmass is relatively humble, it doesn’t matter how many times you visit, there will always be something new to discover. Case in point…

In a nod to how much effort it takes to switch and open new tabs in internet browsers nowadays, Pizza Hut Australia has announced an industry-first ordering platform via Facebook Messenger. The social media messenger app can now be used on mobile devices to access “Pizza Hut Instant Ordering”, overseen by a customised bot with…

There’s a lot of things out there. Too many, actually. It’s going to be hard to run around the various metro centres of Australia to try and pick out the perfect last-minute gift for this coming Mother’s Day, so we’ve rounded up five of the best things we’ve been particularly fascinated by lately in the…

Over the last couple of years, London-based singer-songwriter Jade Bird, has enjoyed something of a breakthrough. Within the last twelve months alone she has found herself on several end of year Best of round-ups, was selected for the BBC Sound of 2018 and won the 2018 Grulke Prize for developing non-US act at SXSW. She’s…

While in Australia for a nation-wide tour, chart king Past Malone has lifted the lid on a brand new collaboration with none other than Crocs. Helping the divisive shoe ascend from the murky depths of fashion hell, the “Wow” singer has finessed what is his third drop of the successful footwear collaboration, which has been…

As popularity continues to grow for small group tours, new lux-adventure company Unmapped has stepped onto the scene to champion solo travellers in their 30s and 40s. Founded by Australian Jennifer Gaskin, Unmapped will attempt to slide in the oft ignored spot between the 18-30 and 50+ demographics, tightening focus on “active adventure, foodie experiences,…

Mother’s Day is coming up in less than a week now, and Sydney’s best restaurants are starting to fill up with families looking to treat mum to something special. Each year we go through and pick out some of the restaurants we feel will be leading the pack when it comes to the special occasion,…

David Rayner has teamed up with Luke Mangan for the next instalment of Luke & Friends at Hilton Sydney’s glass Brasserie. The culinary dream team has worked together on a new autumn menu which will be available until 31 July of this year, featuring three seasonal seafood dishes that highlight produce sourced fresh from across…