Today we’re jumping on board budget airline Jetstar’s regular service from Hong Kong to Osaka (KIX) in Japan. The journey starts in Terminal 2 of the busy Hong Kong International Airport and takes us to the Kansai International Airport in Osaka – with a landing time of about 2am. So how does the flight rate…
The minds behind cult favourite Mary’s Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham are opening a new live music venue as they take over and reimagine the former site of The Basement into Mary’s Underground. The venue, which has hosted everyone from Slum Village to Prince during its 45 year history, will very much continue as a…
Kyoto band Zahatorte are a genre-defying trio who blend old-world European cafe sounds with the undeniably Japanese penchant for perfectionism. They’ll be coming to Australia next month for the first time, and before we show them our own country, we asked them to share with us their nine favourite secret hangouts in their hometown. So…
Gamification in the tech industry is nothing new. Apps like Habitica have taken even the most mundane tasks like ticking items off a checklist and turned them into a role playing game in which you, personally, are the star. You might think that’s pretty full on, but hold on a sec because it gets way…
Sitting atop Farrer Park MRT station and on the edge of Singapore’s Little India is Park Hotel’s latest addition to their hotel family. Only a few train stops away from the Singapore’s MRT hub, Dhoby Ghaut, Park Hotel Farrer Park is a good choice if you want to have a little peace and quiet but…
Whether you like it or not, it doesn’t look like the NSW state government are removing the shackles they first placed on Sydney’s once vibrant hospitality (and hence, tourism) industry in 2014. And while people continue to campaign against the paralysing ‘lockout laws’, it’s looking like adaptation is the best way to go, at least…
A luxury resort in Bali offering the kind of lavish stay island fantasies are made of, built with all the ostentation and pampering you could possibly want, is nothing new nor surprising. In fact, it’s expected on the Indonesian island nowadays, where a consistent influx of tourists watch as hotel and resort brands, both internationally…
Gentrification hasn’t yet swept through Sham Shui Po, one of Hong Kong’s least affluent working class neighbourhoods in Kowloon. As one of the more underprivileged areas in the city, it’s certainly a few steps removed from the comparative polish of Central or Tsim Sha Tsui, but that doesn’t mean that tourists won’t find anything to…
Over the last few years, Melbournians have increasingly utilised the Lower Yarra River as a major social and gastronomic hub. And if the popularity of venues like the Arbory Afloat and Supafish are anything to go by, the idea of floating on the iconic river is forever appealing to the masses. If only you could…
Sydney’s ever-changing dining scene has welcomed some super strong entries over the past few months, and while there are almost too many to list in just one article, we’ve done our best to zone in on five we think deserve extra special attention. From a Waterloo restaurant bringing an interesting dimension to vegan dining, to…
Melbourne’s older trilogy (The Larwill Studio and The Chen are fairly young in comparison) of gallery-like properties from Art Series Hotels are located not too far from one another. You’ve got The Cullen, where it all started, directly opposite Prahran Market; The Olsen in close proximity at the top-end of Chapel Street; and finally The…
It is widely known that travelling across Europe by train is a quintessential experience for the nomadic Aussie. The trains, connected all over the continent, are a fast, convenient, accessible and, most importantly, flexible way to get hop from one city to another, with around 40,000 Australian travellers alone making use of Eurail’s rail pass…
I first tried Singapore restaurant Porta during my stay at Park Hotel Clarke Quay and while I didn’t say so in the small paragraph I wrote about it, I did immediately notice the lack of diversity on their menu in terms of dietary options. I mentioned that I was a pescetarian quite immediately when I sat…
On Saturday 8th June 2019, Iconic chanteuse Celine Dion will finally bring her run of Las Vegas residencies to a definite close, sixteen years after she first began performing at The Colosseum. The powerhouse vocalist, now almost forty years into a storied career, is currently working her way to a historical moment for Las Vegas’…
After opening their first ever expansion in Chatswood, Bondi-born favourite Shuk has now revealed their third store, smack bang in the heart of breezy Elizabeth Bay. Located on the back street of Roslyn Gardens, a short walk from Rushcutters Bay and Potts Point, the 50-seat venue fits into the brand new Trebartha Apartments (those lucky,…
All 46 Gelatissimo stores across Australia are now stocking a very summery limited edition flavour, which is perhaps the brand’s strangest – and possibly best – yet. The new release is a partnership with Bundaberg Brewed Drinks to capture the profile of the company’s most successful drink, that being their craft brewed Ginger Beer. “We…
As if a festival with Ozzy Osbourne, Slayer, Alice in Chains and Judas Priest (and those are only the headliners) wasn’t enough, a supersized food program packed with some of the East Coast’s finest eateries has been announced for both the Sydney and Melbourne legs. As was the case last year, Jake Smyth and Kenny…
The first big Australian brand collaboration of 2019 is here, teaming Peters Drumstick with Gelato Messina for a limited edition collection of four drumstick ice creams. Launching around Australia from mid-January, the collection reimagines four of Messina’s most popular flavours as the classic Aussie drumstick as we steam towards what is usually the hottest month…
Positioned near the CBD end of Chapel Street, The Olsen remains one of the favourites of Art Series Hotels’ ever-expanding portfolio of gallery-like, boutique-minded properties. It owes much of its understated elegance to the works of John Olsen, whose delicate landscapes feel a world’s away from the group’s first property, nearby The Cullen, where the…
With 671 rooms/suites and an overall aesthetic that has been finessed by three different firms – Rocco Design Architects for the building, AFSO for three dining spaces and public areas, and Hirsh Bedner Associates for guest rooms – the stunning Hotel VIC on the Harbour is certainly an ambitious undertaking, even for Hong Kong. Operated…
There has been some juicy flight sales coming out of Australia as of late, and we’re not even two weeks into 2019 yet. The latest is coming from Jetstar who have launched their “International Resolutions Sale”, running from now until the 16th January (or earlier if sold out – which is looking highly likely). So…
Heading to FOMO Festival in Sydney or Melbourne this weekend? Well, this is just a reminder to enter on an empty stomach because both legs have a very tempting food line-up planned alongside live music from the likes of Nicki Minaj, Rae Sremmurd, Kali Uchis, Mura Masa and more. Like all boutique festivals nowadays, the…
The Nike Epic React Flyknit was one of the most popular running shoes of last year, so its no surprise that a line-up expansion is coming so soon. Set to release later this month, the Epic React 2 doesn’t do much to dramatically change the successful silhouette, but eagle-eyed sneakerheads have noticed that the heel…
The QT Hotels & Resorts brand has now firmly established its own distinctive language, without coming across as formulaic. The quirky, off-kilter designs and high-concept luxury boutique approach has given the brand a unique way of interpreting and translating location, whether it’s bringing in just enough of Surfers Paradise to brighten the grand QT Gold…
West Hotel Sydney, Hilton’s recently opened designer boutique from their Curio Collection, is offering a sweet sensual summery experience for guests with the temporary ‘Sleep Amongst Botanics’. The botanical room take-over is part of their second ‘Meet the Creatives’ collaboration, where they team up with local design gurus to bring a unique and exciting flair…
multi-award winning chef, caterer, restaurateur and lecturer Darren Taylor is bringing a special pop-up restaurant to Carriageworks over the next few weeks, inspired by the buzzing energy of Sydney Festival. From tomorrow until 27th January, COSECHA will be bringing inspired Spanish dishes to the art institution, operating from lunch right through to dinner. With Carriageworks…
You’d be correct in assuming that San Francisco claims some fantastic boutique hotels across all price ranges. After all the city has long been known as one of the most creative and free-spirited in the U.S, and it’s hotel scene has benefited greatly from all that openness. From the beatnik throwback of Hotel Boheme and…
Every so often European budget carrier Ryanair drop their places to ridiculously low prices, opening up the continent to eagle-eyed budget-minded travellers quick enough to take advantage of the flash sales. It happened a few times last year, and these flashes are seemingly getting more and more common. There’s actually one happening right now. And…
The rumours were true! Arnott’s have officially won the great snack race of 2018, managing to (finally) funnel a classic Aussie combo into the latest flavour for Shapes. Vegemite & Cheese Shapes is being described as “the spirit of the nation distilled down into a cracker”, and has now made its way onto supermarket shelves…
You might not want the same-old go-to spirits for this year’s NYE house party, especially since there have been some new expressions released over the past few months that have really tempted drinks enthusiasts away from their regular bottles. New Year’s Eve brings the perfect time to introduce our new column, “On the Shelf”, which…
