The Tastemaker

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The Hotel: The Baccarat

The Baccarat brand has a rich heritage spanning over 250 years. Its debut foray into hospitality showcases its commitment to fine craftsmanship. The Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York brings the elegance and sheer perfection of the legendary French crystal maker to life.

It is a celebration of unapologetic opulence, situated on the doorstep of the Museum of Modern Art and Fifth Avenue. There are 114 decadent guestrooms and suites, The Grand Salon for afternoon tea and The Bar, an epic space with barrel-vaulted ceilings and an outdoor terrace. There is also a 55-foot indoor pool in the style of a sunken ballroom and the first Spa de La Mer in America.

The Baccarat Hotel & Residences is the crown jewel of the hospitality scene. New York, there’s a new icon in town, and she is a beauty.

@baccarathotels

baccarathotels.com

28 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, USA

The Resort: Blue Palace

Escape to the wild beauty of Blue Palace, a sprawling bohemian luxury resort overlooking the iconic island of Spinalonga and surrounded by Crete’s glistening azure waters.

Crete is undeniably the unrivalled culinary capital of Greece, famed for its natural produce, such as olive oil, honey and wine. This world-class quality is reflected in Blue Palace’s five extraordinary restaurants. Highlights include the Blue Door Taverna, a beautiful ocean front restaurant that serves the outstanding seafood and authentic Greek cuisine and Flame, one of the world’s finest steak houses which serves locally sourced meat with unforgettable flavour.

At Blue Palace, guests including Rihanna and Lady Gaga are encouraged to indulge in the tranquility of island life in a private and decadent setting.

@bluepalaceresort

bluepalace.gr

Blue Palace, P.O. Box 38, Elounda, Crete, 72053, Greece

Aegean Airlines (en.aegeanair.com) offer return flights from the UK to Crete from £135 per person, including all airport and security taxes. Flights operate via Athens, daily from London Heathrow.

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The Restaurant: Circus

Escape to a dark and opulent world that you never knew still existed. In the 1930s, the site of Circus was once a stable, which housed elephants and donkeys, that worked in the West End shows. Now the magic of these animals is recreated in the world’s greatest cabaret restaurant.

Circus offers outrageous and unpretentious theatrics that will make heads spin. Whilst guests dine on exceptional pan-Asian style cuisine and decadent cocktails, they are entertained by world-renowned acts such as topless fire breathers, burlesque and spectacular acrobats.

Circus is not for the faint hearted, don’t be surprised if you find yourself dancing on the tables with Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne and Katy Perry.

@circuslondon

circus-london.co.uk

27-29 Endell St, London WC2H 9BA

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The Rooftop: Mr. Purple

Rooftop bar and restaurant Mr. Purple captures the vibrant and artistic spirit of Lower East Side New York. It has been carefully designed to recreate an artist-loft ambiance, through the use of reclaimed wood structures, juxtaposed with metal, free hanging lights and contemporary wooden furniture.

It boasts two beautiful outdoor terraces; the eastern terrace is ideal for intimate parties whilst the vast west side terrace has its own swimming pool and bar. The bar menu serves an incredibly delicious menu of iconic culinary stapes, featuring locally sourced ingredients.

Mr. Purple is set against the magnificent backdrop of the New York skyline. In the height of summer, sit beneath a pastel pink evening sky, overlooking the blazing lights from the Empire State Building with a bespoke cocktail in hand.

@MrPurpleNYC

mrpurplenyc.com

Mr.Purple, Hotel Indigo, 180 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002, USA

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The Pool: Grand Hotel Tremezzo

Located on the western shore of Lake Como, Grand Hotel Tremezzo has an illustrious history that spans over a century. This art nouveau landmark offers the traditional hospitality of an Italian family and the delights and opulence of a palace.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s three swimming pools have become its crown jewels. In the winter months, there is the T Spa Infinity Pool, a strip of sparkling azure water, which boasts a double infinity effect. If you seek tranquillity, immerse yourself in the peace of Piscina dei Fiori (the pool among the flowers), which is located in the luscious hotel gardens.

However, it is the Water on Water that takes centre stage, a floating, sparkling oasis that rests on the lake’s surface. The crystal clear waters of the pool are a mesmerising contrast to the deep blue water of the lake. There is nowhere better to plunge into the blue.

@ghtlakecomo

grandhoteltremezzo.com

Via Provinciale Regina, 8, 22016 Tremezzo CO, Italy

The Tastemaker

The Bar: Salon de Ning

Salon de Ning at the Peninsula New York has stolen the hearts of New Yorkers and travellers alike, due to its enchanting and dramatic skyline views over Fifth Avenue. Aesthetically, East meets West with decadently dark décor that reflects the unapologetic glamour of the 1930s.

It boasts an intimate interior bar alongside two spectacular outdoor terraces, where you can enjoy world-class cocktails under a black velvet sky with just the top floors of New York’s most prestigious buildings and the stars above for company.

During the summer months, Salon de Ning brings the casually elegant feel of a Hamptons resort to the centre of midtown Manhattan.

@thepeninsulanyc

newyork.peninsula.com

Salon de Ning, The Peninsula New York, 700 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019, USA