“What unites our projects isn’t a visual style, but rather an open and speculative design process,” says Krištof Hanzlík, one of the founders of Coll Coll (short for “collaborative collective”), based in Prague. Known for embracing technological innovation (the firm built one of the city’s first keyless, light-switch-free smart homes in 2020), Coll Coll recently renovated Planetárium Praha, which boasts the world’s biggest LED astronomical dome display.
Hanzlík, one of the founders of the Prague-based firm Coll Coll. Photograph by Kristina Hrabetova.
Here, Hanzlík shares his beloved spots in Prague, a city he cherishes because “it still has this raw, unpolished edge—a vibe that encourages you to experiment and create.”
Eat
Black cod at MIRU
MIRU: “At Four Seasons Hotel Prague, it’s definitely MIRU, the Japanese summer pop-up restaurant on the roof. Events like this add so much colour to life [here].”
Zdenek’s Oyster Bar: “They serve five kinds of fresh oysters, which is pretty remarkable for a landlocked country.”
Malostranská Beseda: “A traditional place with great beer. We designed it, so it feels like our second kitchen; it’s a lifesaver when we don’t have time to cook.”
Food is served with a view at Kuchyň
Kuchyň: “Located right in front of the main gate of Prague Castle, it serves Czech food with a contemporary twist and has the second-best view of Prague. Of course, the best [view] is from my own garden.”
Tåst: “A hidden fine-dining gem in Malá Strana [neighbourhood]. It’s not a show-off place, but pure pleasure.”
Kro: “This bistro offers a global take on local cuisine. Imagine pork knee with hoisin sauce and coleslaw.”
The industrial-chic interior of Eska. Photograph by Archive of Ambiente.
Bakeries:“Bread—oh, we love bread! Over the past few years, so many incredible bakeries have popped up, [including] Icelandic baker Artic Bakehouse; Eska, especially their [rye, wheat, and potato] Bread 33; and Chleba & Máslo—in my opinion, the best rohlík [bread roll] in town.”
Štvanice Island: “Take a stroll over the HolKa Bridge, a brand-new pedestrian bridge connecting Holešovice and Karlín. Make a digression to Štvanice Island, where you’ll find tennis courts, a skateboarding center, and Baden-Baden Štvanice—a fantastic outdoor spot for summer chilling.”
Browse
Bookstores: “Since my wife is a publisher, we hoard books! Our go-to spots are Kavka, ArtMap, and Meander for unique children’s books.”
See
Planetárium Praha’s LED dome, designed by Coll Coll. Photograph by Boys Play Nice.
Planetárium Praha: “Our newest project features a first-of-its-kind, 40-million LED dome and is part of a growing network of cutting-edge cultural spaces in Prague. Alongside newly opened venues like [digital art gallery] Signal Space, as well as the recently renovated Nová Spirála theatre, these spaces form a fabric of top-tier digital and visual infrastructure. This brings all sorts of magic to town.”
Villa Bílek: “The studio-home of sculptor František Bílek from the early 20th century. It’s one of the most extraordinary houses I’ve ever seen.”
The New Stage of the National Theatre
New Stage of the National Theatre: “Famous for its striking Cuban [serpentinite] interiors and the monumental glass façade designed by Brychtová and Libenský.”
Strahov Library: “It’s less pompous and crowded than the Klementinum library but equally breathtaking.”
There is no shortage of exquisite wellness experiences at Four Seasons. Here’s but a sampling of the extraordinary treatments, facilities, and getaways offered at Four Seasons spas around the world.
Overwater Bliss in Mauritius
Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita
After a thorough reimagining, Mauritius’s only overwater spa, Oseyan at Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita, now offers more ways to relax and rejuvenate while taking in the serene natural landscape. The renovation includes a state-of-the-art hydro circuit with a cold plunge and experience showers, an overwater salon, and the Royal Spa Suite with a monumental stone tub and impeccable views of a turquoise lagoon. “At the heart of our philosophy is the belief that ‘a person is a person through others,’ ” says Joelle Jennepy, the resort’s senior director of spa and lifestyle. “We honour this connection by creating meaningful moments that remind us that well-being flourishes through shared humanity and care.”
Wellness Immersions
The newly built Wellness Shala at Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica
For a getaway that puts personal revitalization front and centre, the new Wellness Villa at Casa del Mar at Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica, can be booked for three- and five-day retreats revolving around such practices as sunset gratitude circles, sunrise light therapy, and sound baths. The 6,300-square-foot residence includes a private gym and cold plunge. Dedicated well-being stays are also available at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, where Alo yoga equipment, LED face masks, and Peloton bikes are available in rooms and suites on the Wellness Floor. And at Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, three new indoor-outdoor glass cabanas take the spa experience out into the property’s lush Mediterranean gardens. Guests can enjoy massages, work out with Technogym equipment, or try dry flotation therapy, relaxing on an Epsom salt–infused water mattress.
A Naples State of Calm
The ice room at the Sanctuary Spa at Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort, is part of a thermal circuit that includes aromatherapeutic steam rooms and more.
Florida’s newly opened Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort, has just unveiled its sublime two-level Sanctuary Spa, a 30,000-square-foot retreat offering an array of restorative experiences. Highlights include LPG Endermologie body sculpting—a cellulite treatment applied slowly and rhythmically along the spine to guide the body from fight or flight into a parasympathetic state—and the Ammortal Chamber, an experience featuring light, vibroacoustic, and pulsed electromagnetic therapy to support cellular regeneration and mental clarity. Says Paul Gabriel Nunez, director of spa and wellness, “Life is full of stress triggers, but rarely do we encounter something that can just as easily trigger relaxation.”
An Evening of Relaxation
A masseuse prepares for a couples massage at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi
At Four Seasons Resort Langkawi—a tranquil retreat set on a glorious mile-long beach—the Geo Spa recently debuted the Night Space Ritual, a wellness experience for two in the heart of the rainforest. It begins with an energy-cleansing ceremony, followed by side-by-side massages. “the essence of a healthy life always leads back to nature,” says the resort’s director of spa, Heriberto “Beto” Pena.
A Ritual of Renewal in Mexico
The sweat lodge at Naviva
With just 15 bungalows on 48 coastal acres, the all-inclusive, adults-only Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita, México, is the most intimate property in the Four Seasons portfolio. Its sublime wellness program is deeply rooted in nature and tradition, featuring two open-air spa pods with private gardens and experiences such as a temazcal sweat-lodge ceremony, designed to cleanse both body and spirit.
The Yacht as Sanctuary
The sauna on board Four Seasons 1
Four Seasons Yachts, which began its inaugural season in March, offers revitalization, stillness, and relaxation as comprehensively as any property on terra firma. The L’Oceana Spa balances marine-inspired treatments with advanced recovery experiences, from spirulina body wraps to a cryo chamber to an ice fountain to the Ocean Vista Finnish Sauna set at 176 degrees Fahrenheit. A dedicated well-being coach can curate a personalized, multiday program that weaves together restorative sleep insights, reformer Pilates, guided breath mapping, and tranquil yoga by the water-level marina.
Take wing and explore eight destinations over 20 days, breathing, eating, and sleeping personalized well-being on the World of Wellness journey aboard Four Seasons Private Jet Experience. The incomparable one-time itinerary (May 7 to 26) invites rejuvenation of body, mind, and spirit with customizable experiences, including a hot-air-balloon drift above Mexico City’s Teotihuacán pyramids, a Moroccan beauty ritual in Marrakech, a Jeep trek on Mount Etna in Sicily, a Muay Thai lesson on Koh Samui, and a turtle safari in the Maldives.
With even preteens becoming captivated by beauty and skincare products, it’s no surprise that “offering kid-friendly spa experiences is growing across Four Seasons hotels,” says Dheeraj Singh Patwal, health and wellness manager at Thailand’s Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, where kid-friendly treatments include the nervous-system-soothing Angel Bliss massage and the Sugar, Honey and Rose Scrub. Many guests today, adds Patwal, view spas as “a place for relaxation, curiosity, and quality family time.” There are also facials designed specifically for young skin at Four Seasons Resort Megève (the Sweet Little Face using fruit-based ingredients) and at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze (the Florenteen’s Facial, which incorporates natural products from Florence’s historic apothecary Santa Maria Novella).
Healthy Aging
The longevity clinic at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore
Longevity is an increasing focus across the Four Seasons portfolio, from the new Chi Longevity Clinic at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore to Southern California’s Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, where the newly appointed director of wellness and longevity, Ben Carter, a licensed naturopathic physician, leads the property’s Center for Health & Wellbeing. The centre’s three-day wellness stays can feature a one-on-one meeting with a registered dietician, a tai chi workout, a stress-reduction workshop, and a metabolic assessment.
Near or far, family travel is a chance to connect, explore, and turn curiosity into discovery. Certain destinations can even extend school study, bringing ancient civilizations and different cultures up close. Here’s our select global guide to places where textbook lessons come to life.
Boston
Best for older grade-schoolers
The Paul Revere Mall
What’s New: Ask AI-supported holographic figures about their experiences during the American Revolution as part of the Museum of African American History’s ongoing exhibit Black Voices of the Revolution, which spotlights the roles of enslaved and free Black men and women in America’s struggle for independence.
What’s New: Coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, Washington, D.C., is poised for two major openings: the undercroft of the Lincoln Memorial, a behemoth subterranean space including a theatre presentation and interactive exhibits, and the expansive National Geographic Museum of Exploration.
Extra Credit: Marvel at the monuments and memorials lit up at night on a private driving tour—with stops for photos—organized by Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C.
Athens
Best for middle school students
The Temple of Poseidon
What’s New: When it opens in 2026, the National Museum of Underwater Antiquities in Piraeus, near Athens, will highlight Greece’s maritime history with more than 2,500 artifacts, including a replica of a trireme.
Extra Credit: Let the team at Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens take you and your crew on a guided visit to the Temple of Poseidon, at Cape Sounion. It’s sure to be a big hit with Percy Jackson fans.
London
Best for high school students
The Tower of London
What’s New: The Bayeux Tapestry—a depiction of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, including the critical Battle of Hastings—goes on view at the British Museum in the fall of 2026, on loan from France.
Extra Credit: Explore the Tower of London on a private guided tour arranged by Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge, seeing the Crown Jewels and learning about imprisonments, executions, and a recent excavation of 14th-century burials that may be tied to the Black Death.
Petra and Amman, Jordan
Best for high school students
The ancient city of Petra
What’s New: Archaeologists continue to make discoveries in the ancient city of Petra; a 2024 dig revealed a 2,000-year-old tomb with 12 skeletons, one of which was holding a ceramic cup, an example of Nabataean pottery.
Extra Credit: Along with guided visits to Petra, Four Seasons Hotel Amman offers such unique experiences as painting at the Roman ruins of Pella.
Kyoto, Japan
Best for middle school students
The Higashiyama district, home to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple
What’s New: Kyoto’s famous Kiyomizu-dera and Toji temples are known for their illuminated night displays. Pair a visit to one of them with an immersive experience at the new teamLab museum Biovortex, where multisensory digital art exhibits include Forest of Resonating Lamps: One Stroke, whose illumination changes in response to human presence.
Extra Credit: Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto offers a host of special tours, which can include visits to the feudal-era Nijō Castle and the Yasaka Pagoda or an after-hours tour of the imperial gardens at Sennyū-ji Temple.
Mexico City
Best for older grade-schoolers
Hot-air balloons over the Teotihuacán pyramids
What’s New: The recently opened Museo Casa Kahlo focuses on iconic artist Frida Kahlo’s early family life, highlighting never-before-seen letters, childhood photos, and clothing, as well as a recently discovered mural. It’s a few blocks from the famed cobalt blue Museo Frida Kahlo, which showcases Kahlo’s artwork and marriage to Diego Rivera.
Extra Credit: Have the team at Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City arrange a private hot-air balloon ride over the spectacular Teotihuacán pyramids, where a major pre-Columbian city once flourished.
What will we covet next? A who-what-where report from the frontlines of luxury fashion, design, dining, and more.
01
THE SUMMIT OF EXCLUSIVITY: Limited-edition lines, such as Louis Vuitton’s Objets Nomades home and furniture collection, represent an increasing focus for high-end brands. With worldwide distribution more available than ever for a maison’s main lines, it’s no longer enough for price to confer exclusivity. Luxury houses dream up extra offerings characterized more by scarcity and whimsy than by simple cost. A standout from the 2025 Objets Nomades roster is the Kaleidoscope Cabinet (pictured below, left), produced with Brazil-based Estúdio Campana. More than two years of development went into the creation of this exquisite limited edition (there are only eight)—with time spent on everything from the gold-plated brass hinges to the curved bottom drawer. (The drawer was so difficult to achieve, it almost stymied the entire concept.) —Mark Ellwood
02
FASHION RESET: A changing of the guard electrified the runways for the Spring 2026 season. In Milan, Dario Vitale’s first solo outing for Versace mixed bold colours with slim cuts evocative of Gianni’s 1990s heyday, while at Gucci, Demna’s tribute to the label’s iconic motifs included maximalist interpretations of the horse bit and the GG monogram. From Paris, highlights included Jonathan Anderson’s modern take on the New Look at Dior; Pierpaolo Piccioli’s sculptural designs in a “neo gazar” fabric at Balenciaga; Michael Rider’s blend of French minimalism and preppy chic at Celine; and technicolour-bright pieces, inspired by an Ellsworth Kelly painting, from Loewe designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez (the founders of Proenza Schouler). But few designers stirred more anticipation than did Matthieu Blazy, formerly of Bottega Veneta, with his debut collection for Chanel. On a runway themed to Coco Chanel’s love of astronomy, Blazy offered his interpretations of the house’s iconic codes, from menswear influences to textural tweeds and colourful feathers (see photo above). The overriding idea? Said Blazy, “I just wanted to have fun.” —Laurie Brookins
03
SENSE OF PLACE: Since its 2023 debut on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list at number 37, Sézanne at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi has continued its rise. In 2025, it rocketed to the list’s number-seven spot; it also holds three Michelin stars. Under chef Daniel Calvert’s direction, Sézanne is celebrated for its 12-course tasting menu highlighting seasonal Japanese ingredients. Calvert credits the restaurant’s success to an unwavering pursuit of excellence: “That’s what you strive to do—a little better every day.” —Degen Pener
04
ICONIC CHARMS: Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor were photographed in the 1970s wearing Alhambra—the famed collection that Van Cleef & Arpels debuted in 1968—but today, as men increasingly embrace luxury jewelry, it might be NBA legend LeBron James, Olympic fencer Cheung Ka Long, or the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas sporting the striking four-leaf-clover designs (tiger’s-eye style shown). The newest Alhambra examples showcase clovers of blue agate, while others include onyx, historically a talisman against negative energy. —L.B.
1: The new Kaleidoscope Cabinet from Louis Vuitton’s Objets Nomades collection.
3: Morel mushrooms with white asparagus and roasted chicken sauce at Sézanne.
05
PERFECTLY POISED IN LONDON: Understated. Discreet. Refined. Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane exemplifies this era’s embrace of quiet luxury. The original Four Seasons in Europe, the London hotel celebrated its 55th anniversary in 2025 by earning three Michelin keys for the second year in a row, while its Yannick Alléno–helmed restaurant Pavyllon London retained its Michelin-star honour. A collection of 18 recently renovated suites (some with terraces overlooking Hyde Park) feels like a sanctuary in the city, as does the spa, which offers treatments and wellness therapies ranging from a jet-lag massage and body brushing ritual to a holistic facial based on Chinese medicine techniques. The property shares its three-Michelin-keys distinction with its Four Seasons sister hotels in Megève, France; Athens (Astir Palace); Tokyo (Otemachi); and Paris (George V). —Pavia Rosati
06
AI HYPERCAR: In a sign of how artificial intelligence is entering the luxury auto world, the start-up Vittori unveiled its first hypercar, the Turbio, in October. Designed with the famed Italian firm Pininfarina, the vehicle features a sleek and sculptural silhouette derived from hundreds of AI-generated concept renders, and AI-powered 3D printing methods influenced the shape of the carbon-fiber and titanium chassis. Only 50 models will be made, produced in collaboration with Pininfarina. —D.P.
07
BRITISH WINE WINS: The bubble’s popped: French sparkling wine no longer retains its stranglehold after a series of upstart wineries bested Champagne’s finest at several contests—and those triumphant vintages are from England, where the terroir mirrors that of Épernay but the climate retains the crispness essential to superb fizz. Specifically, it was Nyetimber’s 2016 Blanc de Blancs Magnum that pipped four shortlisted candidates for the crown at the International Wine Challenge awards in September, the first time a wine from outside of Champagne has taken the title. Order a bottle or two of Nyetimber at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi. —M.E.
08
EAR CANDY: In a sea of on-the-go audio options, Bang & Olufsen’s Beo Grace wireless earbuds stand apart for their chic refinement and world-class sound quality. The striking earbuds with polished aluminum stems are remarkably lightweight—enough that each earpiece can rest on a flower petal. Even the pearl-blasted aluminum charging case is elegant and can stylishly sit on a valet tray when not in use. —Beau Hayhoe
5: Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane celebrated its 55th anniversary last year.
09
VINYL RENAISSANCE: Vinyl has serious staying power, as seen in the number of listening bars opening worldwide. To get that hi-fi, high-design experience at home, look to Wrensilva’s meticulously engineered record consoles, available in a variety of wood finishes, each one a statement piece. The San Diego–based company’s latest offering is the Wrensilva Larrabee Creator Edition M1 console, a limited-edition collaboration with the Grammy-winning mix engineer and Larrabee Studios owner Manny Marroquin. Built to integrate with Sonos audio systems, the console is a study in both striking good looks and remarkable sound quality. —B.H.
10
ULTRA PERSONALIZED: No other fashion company in the world is quite like NB44. Founded by Nicolas Bijan Pakzad, the invite-only, membership-based brand takes the personalization of luxury to the next level: Each quarter, it sends a custom-built trunk (pictured below, left) of its stylish menswear to its clients, who include Wicked director Jon Chu, with each delivery tailored to the wearer’s lifestyle. Clients can purchase what they like and request any changes they desire, such as remaking a burgundy zip-neck sweater in navy with a shawl collar. —B.H.
11
HANDPICKED FOR HOME: If, like most style obsessives, you’re still mourning the demise of MatchesFashion.com, fret not: co-founder Tom Chapman, with his signature edgy, eclectic eye, is now running Abask, an online outlet specializing in home and design. The site epitomizes the search for exclusivity that remains a core driver for luxury. It features 2,000 or more handpicked treats, both antique and contemporary, as well as its own reissues of design classics from the likes of NasonMoretti, the Murano-based glassworks. This season’s particular focus: Japanese makers. Take your pick between Kyoto-based Seikado, renowned for exquisite pewter for almost 200 years; Kagawa-based Mori Glass, including the studio’s striped tumblers (pictured below); and the Tokyo-based contemporary home line Thursday Furniture, among others. —M.E.
12
EFFERVESCENT AND LOW ALCOHOL: Move over Aperol. There’s another spritz in town. And in 2025, it took over the world. The Hugo Spritz is an invigorating form of floral refreshment born of the Italian Alps—an assemblage of St-Germain elderflower liqueur, Prosecco, fresh mint, lime, and soda. Though it was initially conceived 20 years ago, the Hugo is surging in popularity now, thanks in part to today’s no- and low-alcohol movement (see “Zero Proof, Full Flavour”). The ginger-tinted drink retains body and flavour while having half the alcohol content of a typical martini. —Brad Japhe
10: NB44’s special delivery: a custom-built trunk packed with a new seasonal wardrobe for the client.
11: Striped Mori Glass tumblers at Abask.
13
SUNNY DIAMONDS: The ubiquity of lab-grown diamonds has had a ripple effect on the fine-jewelry industry: Retailers are seeing rising interest in natural coloured diamonds that stand out among look-alike icy white cultured stones. In-demand hues include warm whites, ambers, and yellows—the last a favourite and a focal point of the new Talk to Me, Harry Winston collection. Among the pieces from this series is a ring highlighting a 5.02-carat, pear-shaped yellow diamond, as well as 26 pear-shaped and round brilliant diamonds, set in 18-karat yellow gold and platinum. The message is clear: in a market flooded with sameness, rarity and uniqueness still rule. —Victoria Gomelsky
14
SPLENDOUR IN SPAIN: In 2025, Four Seasons garnered the most property rankings on the latest World’s 50 Best Hotels list, which also named the company the “most admired hotel group” in the world. A remarkable seven Four Seasons properties were lauded across the full list (with extended rankings 51 to 100), including Four Seasons Hotel Madrid. Opened in 2020 as part of the Centro Canalejas Madrid complex, the hotel stands in the heart of Madrid’s historic city centre—now revitalized with galleries, boutiques, and cafés—and serves as a beacon of the neighbourhood’s transformation. On the seventh-floor roof terrace sits Dani Brasserie, where Michelin-starred dishes by chef Dani García mix Spanish and Andalusian flavours, and visitors and Madrileños alike take in the panoramic views, appreciating the city’s past and present. —Julie Pham
15
KNITTED AND FITTED: Nothing says “quiet luxury” quite like chic knitwear, be it cashmere or a fine merino wool. And few names in the space do knitwear better than N. Peal, established as a men’s haberdashery in London in 1936. In 2025, the brand teamed up with actor and travel-show host Stanley Tucci for a capsule collection of irresistible pieces, from cashmere quarter-zips and superfine silk-blend polos to cashmere-and-silk bird’s-eye jacquard ties. —Tres Dean
16
THE ARTISANAL DIFFERENCE: In 2018, Johann Rupert, the chairman of Richemont, co-founded the nonprofit Michelangelo Foundation with an express mission: to champion craftsmanship of all kinds. Makers were to be celebrated, and their skills propagated. So, the foundation launched Homo Faber—a pop-up exhibition, held regularly in cities like Venice and Seville, that showcases artisan works. Now, it’s offering an always-on option: a series of handy craftsmanship-oriented guides to different cities on the Homo Faber website. The 11-stop itinerary for Florence, for example, features everything from the perfumer Aquaflor to the workshop of Daniele and Letizia Traversari, fourth-generation mosaic makers with a particular aptitude for portraiture. —M.E.
15: Stanley Tucci wearing pieces from his capsule collection for N. Peal.
17
MECHANICAL LEAP: Ahead of 2025’s Watches and Wonders fair in Geneva, speculation about Rolex’s upcoming debut buzzed across social media. When the company officially revealed the Rolex Land-Dweller—its first entirely new model since 2012—the excitement proved justified. The watch features a slim, vintage-inspired case paired with an integrated flat-link bracelet, marking a fresh aesthetic direction. More important, the timepiece holds Rolex’s groundbreaking Dynapulse escapement, a new mechanism that governs the transfer of energy from the mainspring to the hands. Watch insiders have praised the robust and efficient movement as a game-changer precisely because it reaffirms that mechanical innovation can be pushed to new heights. “An accomplishment like this happens every couple hundred years,” says Paul Boutros, the head of watches for the Americas at the auctioneer Phillips. “It’s revolutionary.” —V.G.
18
CULTIVATING EDEN: Through his five-year-old lifestyle brand Flamingo Estate, former advertising executive Richard Christiansen has somehow made regenerative agriculture downright glamourous. In 2025, he took it to new heights. Think collaborations with chefs such as Alice Waters and Evan Funke to guest-curate Flamingo Estate’s coveted produce boxes; limited-edition jars of pickles dreamed up with Pamela Anderson; and a steady stream of swoon-worthy skincare, soaps, and standout candles like the decadent Prinsesstårta (pictured below, left), inspired by San Ambroeus’ iconic Principessa cake. Nestled in the hills of Los Angeles, Flamingo Estate crafts everything using organic ingredients grown at more than 140 regenerative farms—proving that sustainability can, in fact, smell amazing. —D.P.
19
PICKED AT THE PEAK: Amid all the tweezer-y ornamentation and pageantry of fine dining, there is ultimately nothing more luxurious than a piece of perfectly ripe fruit. Consider Tomat, a Los Angeles farm-to-table restaurant near LAX, where the most succulent thing on chef Harry Posner’s menu might be a pastel green slice of arava melon, harvested at Weiser Family Farms, that he caps with a few pieces of white strawberry kimchi and droplets of sesame oil. At Ki, in L.A.’s Little Tokyo neighbourhood, chef Ki Kim occasionally winds down his Michelin-starred Korean tasting menu by slicing up a ripe and just-right summer peach and dusting it with lime zest. “When the fruit itself tastes that good,” Kim says, “there’s no need for much else.” —Jeff Gordinier
20
CARRY THE DAY: Fashion is offering an alternative to the quotidian canvas tote, something a little more luxurious: the leather tote as an everyday carryall. The bag of the moment? Superstar designer Willy Chavarria’s signature, genderless W Tote bearing a bold “W” topstitched across its front and back panels. —T.D.
18: Flamingo Estate’s Prinsesstårta candle, inspired by San Ambroeus’ iconic Principessa cake.22: Marc Jacobs at his pop-up with artist Anna Weyant at New York Fashion Week. Photograph by BFA.
21
THE NEW GILDED AGE: Gold, if you haven’t noticed, is on a tear. In October, the precious metal’s price topped $4,000 an ounce for the first time. While the rising cost of the material has rattled the fine-jewelry industry, consumers appear undeterred and are leaning even harder into gold despite—or perhaps because of—its soaring value. Pieces of the moment include David Yurman’s 18-karat gold Sculpted Cable bangle bracelet. —V.G.
22
ALL THINGS GREAT AND SMALL: Perhaps Goldilocks was wrong when she settled for that just-right-sized bed. Across design culture today, a rule-breaking focus on playing with proportion is afoot, from the goofily gigantic to the endearingly Lilliputian. In the latter camp, several British makers offer custom miniatures of iconic architecture, from Mulvany & Rogers to Chisel & Mouse, which recently released a mini Thomas Jefferson Memorial to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. In September, zeitgeist-surfer Marc Jacobs partnered with white-hot artist Anna Weyant for a pop-up installation during New York Fashion Week, where the pair created a life-size, dollhouse-like landscape. Visitors could meander through, enjoying such outré details as an oversize two-headed teddy bear. —M.E.
23
LUMINOUS INNOVATION: Sweet Chemistry and Knesko are redefining skincare with distinct, science-backed approaches. Sweet Chemistry face products feature the brand’s proprietary Matrikynes complex, a mix of bioactive peptides found in upcycled bovine bones, to boost skin density and hydration and reduce fine lines. Meanwhile, GemClinical Technology infuses gemstone particles into Knesko’s decadent treatments to stabilize active ingredients like CoQ10 and vitamin C and to help activate the body’s chakras, or energy centers. The Knesko collection includes the Diamond Radiance Collagen Face Mask, which is used in the signature facial at the Beverly Hills Spa at Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, A Four Seasons Hotel. —Elycia Rubin
24
EPICUREAN EXCELLENCE: The same year that French haute cuisine was crowned the best in the world at the biennial Bocuse D’Or chef competition (in 2025), two redoubts of haute gastronomie retained their three-Michelin-star rankings: Le Cinq at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, and Caprice at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. At Caprice—a temple of opulence with dazzling Czech crystal chandeliers, a glass catwalk, and stunning views of Victoria Harbour—the central open kitchen is where the culinary magic happens, with chef Guillaume Galliot and team leaning into luxurious ingredients; think blue lobster from Brittany, Alaskan king crab, and Japanese Saga beef. The wine list is extensive, as is the selection of cheeses at Caprice Bar. —Nicola Chilton
25
LIQUID ARTISTRY: In 2025, three establishments at Four Seasons were honoured by the World’s Best 50 Bars list: Virtù at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi (renowned for the use of Japanese produce with French spirits); Argo at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong (noted for its innovative ingredients); and BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, which excels not just because the drinks are outstanding but also thanks to storytelling. BKK Social Club’s latest narrative-driven menu takes inspiration from all things Mexico, with creations like the Frida Kahlo (with Michter’s Bourbon, lavender-infused maple syrup, and coconut) and the Lucha Libre (a Michelada-style highball). “Each drink tells a part of Mexico’s story,” says Philip Bischoff, beverage manager at the Bangkok hotel (which the 2025 World’s 50 Best Hotels list named the second best on the planet). —Vincent Vichit-Vadakan
On a crystal-clear day in September, Mohammed—my guide to the ancient ruins of Carthage—took me up to a plateau in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. This spot in the North African country overlooks harbours that were first built by the Phoenicians nearly 3,000 years ago. Behind me, a Catholic church built by the French in the late 1800s was just reopening after a refurbishment. There were ancient columns beside me as well. Mohammed explained that they are remnants of the town forum, built by the Romans in the first century B.C. and themselves standing on the ruins of the ancient city of Carthage. The striations of human history appeared piled up in one tableau, all of it glittering in Mediterranean sunshine, overlooking the brilliant blue sea.
Along the shores of the Med, one doesn’t have to search too terribly far to find this sort of layering of story, influence, and civilizations. Any lover of history knows that Muslim rule extended for nearly 800 years in parts of the Iberian Peninsula, which left a lasting influence on Spanish architecture. Other connections are less widely known. During my recent visits both to Tunis and to Taormina, in northeastern Sicily, echoes of the region’s interconnected past were all around me.
A foyer at the hotel. Photograph by Chris Wallace.
Sicily itself lived under Islamic rule for more than 200 years, starting with an invasion by the Aghlabid dynasty (which ruled what is now modern-day Tunisia) in 827 A.D. The conquest of the island was complete in 902 A.D. with the fall of Taormina. This ancient city winds up the slopes of Monte Tauro like something out of a fairy tale, with commanding cliffside views of the ocean that simply stop you in your tracks.
Checking into San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel, is like entering a walled garden in paradise. Once a hilltop redoubt for the Dominican order, the onetime monastery, which served as a hotel as early as 1896, has both Arabic and Italian architectural influences, highlighted by a central plaza. The real centrepiece of the property, though, is the garden, where the smell of hibiscus rises in the afternoons. According to the hotel’s art concierge and tour guide, Margaret Ranieri, this is where monks would have contemplated the bounty of nature while looking out over the Ionian Sea.
As we walked through Taormina’s old town—passing vignettes seen in Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1960 film L’Avventura—Ranieri led me through the city’s various histories. “The visitors arrived like the tides,” she said. And many of the famous travellers who came to Taormina—from Oscar Wilde and Greta Garbo to Gustav Klimt and D.H. Lawrence—were in search of refuge. The town has always been a tolerant place that can receive the tides, she noted.
Sunset in Taormina. Photograph by Chris Wallace.
In Sicily, you can find historical links to many parts of the Mediterranean. The church in the centre of Taormina, for example, has a catacomb with bodies mummified in the ancient Egyptian manner. Witness, too, around town the frequently used symbol of the elephant, employed in some cases to protect against Mount Etna’s “moods,” as Ranieri called them. It is even possible, Ranieri said, that the skulls of the long-extinct dwarf elephants that made their way to Sicily from Africa in ancient times, with their enormous central cavity, gave rise to the legend of the Cyclops that appears in Homer’s Odyssey.
On our tour, when we reached the famed Ancient Theatre of Taormina—originally built by the Greeks in the third century B.C.—Ranieri invited me to think about catharsis. She was referring to the ancient Greek sense of the word, the way Aristotle used it to mean a kind of cleansing of the mind and spirit that comes from contemplation of nature, or, indeed, of the drama in a theatre. Looking down the mountain from this ancient temple built for a kind of exaltation, I thought I rather understood: my mind felt radically clear.
The coast, seen from the Ancient Theatre of Taormina. Photograph by Chris Wallace.
Taormina’s old town. Photograph by Chris Wallace.
From the theatre’s cafe, there is a clear view of ferries crossing the Strait of Messina toward the Italian mainland and heading to points elsewhere as well. As the filmmaker and photographer Andrea DeFusco tells me, ferry culture and the seaborne journey is still very romantic in the minds of Italians, here where the likes of the Argonauts and Odysseus once roamed.
DeFusco is developing a book about Sicilian ferries with his brother Giacomo, and he rides the boats from the mainland every year. “You board,” he says, of his preferred overnight ferries, “and night quickly falls. At that point, it’s as if you were nowhere anymore—the land has disappeared beyond the horizon. You are simply on the ship, on a moving island. Even the idea of time fades away.”
Culture exchange is evident on menus everywhere in Tunis.
On a map, Sicily and Tunisia look like they could have touched at some distant point back in time. The Sicilian port of Marsala (the Saracen people reverentially called it Marsa Allah, or “Harbour of Allah”) on the western side of the island is, after all, only around 130 miles by sea from Tunis, and a 10-hour-plus ferry runs approximately two times a week from Palermo, Sicily, to the Tunisian capital.
I made my way to North Africa not nearly as directly, flying from Sicily to Rome and then on to Tunis. Immediately on arriving in Tunis, I was attuned to the linkages—in architecture, in design, in aspect—reverberating across the Strait of Sicily, from painted tiles reminiscent of the blue-and-white tiles in Taormina to, of course, Roman columns found in the ruins in the capital. In fact, a recent show at the Ahmed Bey Palace in the Tunisian coastal city of La Marsa explored the Italian influence in the architecture of Tunis from the 1600s through the 20th century.
Culture exchange is evident on menus everywhere in Tunis. There are caponata-style stews—maybe the most iconic of Sicilian dishes but made with ingredients and practices first brought to the Italian island by North Africans—and plenty of traditional Tunisian dishes with pasta, some blending the sour and sweet flavours most identified with Sicilian cuisine: agrodolce sauce. The town of La Goulette, not far from the city centre, expanded significantly in the 19th century due to a wave of emigrants from Sicily, and until recently was still referred to as Petite Sicile, or “Little Sicily.”
Inside Dar El Jeld Restaurant in Tunis. Photograph by Chris Wallace.Zitouna Mosque, in the medina in Tunis. Photograph by Chris Wallace.
Near Tunis, on the coast about a 20-minute drive from the Medina, lies the town of Sidi Bou Said. Known for its blue-and-white houses and for looking a bit like the kasbah of Tangier, it hugs a hilltop with 270-degree views of the water. At Bleue!, a lo-fi, high-vibes café and deli, owners Katherine Li Johnson and Reem Al Hajjej offer locally sourced salads and sandwiches and sell great merch. It’s a buzzing community hub. As the Tunisian German fashion designer Lamia Lagha tells me, Bleue! is the place to go to meet everyone in the art and music and design scenes—and to find out where the best concerts and parties are.
A short drive north of Sidi Bou Said, past the grand old corniche of Marsa, the vibe shifts. Four Seasons Hotel Tunis is a sort of village unto itself, made up of modernist cubes hugging a scene-y pool and the Mediterranean-style Blu Seafood Kitchen & Bar, which leads to a private beach cove. There’s a feeling of refuge. Here, on the edge of the African continent, looking out on the sea as it goes from a shimmering aqua at midday to a dusty mauve after the sun sets, you can feel both way, way out there and in the very centre of the world, cloistered and connected, like the Sicilian monks on their clifftop perch.
The feeling of being suspended between worlds stayed with me. On the afternoon that Mohammed showed me the Roman forum, he also took me to the ancient amphitheatre of Carthage—still a busy cultural venue hosting concerts and festivals—which is almost a perfect mirror of the theatre in Taormina. As we walked up the steps, past the ruins of the neighbourhood where the Roman patricians had their villas, Mohammed and I admired the commanding view of the sea. It seemed yet another perfect place for catharsis, and an ideal vantage from which to contemplate the layers of time.
