Tag: shopping

Weekend Getaways for Couples, Friends and Solo Travellers

Posted on by Rachelle Lucas

Sometimes you only need a quick escape to relax, recharge and find adventure. A few days away can be as refreshing – and low-stress – as an extended holiday, if you know how to plan. Our recommendation: Select a destination within your reach and explore a specific aspect of that place that interests you. Have a history weekend in Washington, DC, or spend two days browsing the antique and vintage shops of Paris. By focusing your short holiday, you’ll spend less time wandering and more time doing what you love.

For inspiration, we’ve selected our top weekend getaways for couples, friends and solo travellers. Pick the one that’s right for you, and all you have to do is pack.


High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta’s High Museum of Art is home to a renowned collection that includes 19th and 20th century American and decorative art, modern and contemporary art, European pieces, and African and folk art.

Photography courtesy High Museum of Art

Add to your art collection in Atlanta

Georgia’s capital is known for creativity, and with music moguls, fashion designers and fine artists calling this southern U.S. city home, it’s no wonder the art scene is booming. Stroll through one of Atlanta’s many art festivals and find unique pieces to add to your home collection. Only a few blocks from Piedmont Park, Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta puts you within walking distance of two legendary events: the Piedmont Park Arts Festival in late summer and ELEVATE, held in September and October in locations around the city. Contemporary and fine-art galleries are the main attractions in Castleberry Hill and the Westside Arts District. In downtown Atlanta, you could easily spend a full day at the High Museum of Art, one of the country’s leading art museums.

Find your new favourite artist in Atlanta

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National Theatre in London

The National Theatre showcases new plays and classic works in its three distinct theatres on London’s South Bank.

Photography courtesy Philip Vile National Theatre

Steal a scene from a blockbuster movie in London

London has been the backdrop for countless films and television shows, which means you can easily spend a weekend tracing the steps of your favourite stars. Head to the River Thames for a James Bond–inspired RIB boat ride. After you’ve worked up an appetite, have lunch at the modern brasserie OXO, where scenes from the movie Thor: The Dark World were filmed. Finish the evening with a live performance in West End or at the National Theatre. For a true movie-star experience, let Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane chauffeur you for the weekend in a Rolls-Royce.

Feel like a movie star in London

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The inner courtyard of Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City offers a soothing oasis just steps from the bustling Paseo de la Reforma.

Go bold in Mexico City

Vibrant colours, historic details and futuristic façades are just some of the things you’ll see when exploring Mexico City’s iconic architecture. The verdant inner courtyard at Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City, a hacienda-style urban oasis along the bustling Paseo de la Reforma, is an excellent place to start. From there, you have at least three unbeatable choices: Set out to explore Luis Barragán’s modernist masterpieces, such as the colourful Casa Gilardi and the architect’s own Casa Luis Barragán. Walk the historic hallways of the 18th-century Castillo Chapultepec, now home to the Museo Nacional de Historia. And take in the shimmering Museo Soumaya, with plenty to marvel at both inside and out.

Tour Mexico City’s icons

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Cheese and balsamic vinegar during a wine tasting at Vincigliata Castle, Florence

Make the most of a quick Italian vacation by taking in all of the flavours of Florence during wine tastings, food tours or cooking classes.

Taste Tuscan flavours in Florence

Artistic masterpieces and historical wonders abound in this Renaissance city, but it’s also the perfect place for a culinary escapade. Four Seasons Hotel Firenze can arrange tours of the city’s food markets, Italian cooking classes and even a day trip to countryside vineyards for wine tastings. The food, wine and romance of this city make it an ideal weekend getaway for couples.

Plan a romantic meal in Florence

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Barrels In Distillery

Go behind the scenes on a tour of a local distillery and try your hand at blending your own bottle of traditional Tennessee whiskey.

Connect with your creative spirit in Nashville

Nashville is a city of makers. Whether it’s food and drink, design, art or – of course – music, the spirit of creativity can be felt wherever you go. Located in downtown’s SoBro neighbourhood, the new Four Seasons Hotel Nashville (open for booking in November 2022) is the perfect jumping-off point for your weekend getaway. Unlock your own inner artisan when you learn how to blend your own bottle of Tennessee whiskey with a master distiller. Live out your dreams of music stardom by collaborating with a local musician to write your own song. The Hotel can arrange for a recording session to capture the finished product.

Experience the Nashville music scene

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Uncover Sydney’s hidden gems by exploring its vibrant neighbourhoods on foot.

Go on an urban walkabout in Sydney

Sydney’s emerging art scene, trendy shopping districts and legendary coffee culture are well worth exploring, but there are also plenty of gems tucked away among the city’s storied streets that are best experienced on foot. Have the concierge team at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney arrange for a private guided walking tour of the historic Rocks district and its charming alleyways. Or grab a sandwich to go from the family-owned Fine Foods Store and stroll over to the site of the original Dawes Point Battery under the Sydney Harbour Bridge for a quiet view of the stunning harbour. Another can’t-miss spot: The Grounds of Alexandria, close to the arts district of Surry Hills, serves up some of the city’s best coffee and farm-to-table fare. To end your day with a flourish, schedule a private helicopter ride over the harbour.

Explore Sydney on foot

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A weekend spent in Singapore exploring its deliciously diverse culinary scene is a foodie’s dream come true.

Indulge your senses in Singapore

Care for some savoury Hainanese chicken rice from a stall at Maxwell Food Centre? How about the vegetarian-friendly (and massive) paper dosai at Komala Vilas in Little India? Singapore’s eclectic food scene offers plenty of delicious ways to fill your weekend. Have the concierge team at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore put together a custom itinerary for your epicurean excursion. And don’t forget to stop by Garden@One-Ninety for its breezy atmosphere, inspired by the nearby Singapore Botanical Gardens, and the fragrant craft cocktails expertly poured by Head Bartender Sophia Kang.

Eat well in Singapore

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Four Seasons Hotel Miami is home to an impressive collection of art that can be seen throughout the Hotel, including pieces by world-renowned Spanish artist Antonio Dominguez de Haro and many more.

Explore the booming Brickell City Centre in Miami

Spend the weekend at Four Seasons Hotel Miami, which is well situated for art and design fans looking to spend time browsing the trendy district’s boutiques, contemporary furniture stores and modern art galleries. Before heading out to cultural mainstays like the bayfront Pérez Art Museum, take in the vibrant art collection at the Hotel, reflecting the city’s mix of influences, from local painter Hernan Bas to Colombian sculptor (and auction favourite) Fernando Botero. Be sure to stop by indoor-outdoor modern steakhouse EDGE Steak & Bar for an aperitif or dinner, and then dance the night away in nearby South Beach, where art deco architecture still dominates the skyline.

Spend a stylish weekend in Miami

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Bar Margot in Atlanta

A Week Well Spent in Bogotá

Posted on by Brooke Porter Katz

Globally inspired restaurants, world-class museums, a buzzed-about design scene and plenty of neighbourhoods ripe for exploring – there’s a lot to like about Bogotá, not least its contagious energy. If you’re seeking inspiration for an itinerary, here’s how my family and I tackled the South American city on our last visit.

Four Seasons Hotel Bogota

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Monserrate Church and overlook

Photos courtesy of Ana Lorenzana & iStock

Friday, 9:30 am: The Best View in Town

It’s difficult to grasp the sprawl of Bogotá until I see it from the top of Cerro de Monserrate, where the altitude is a breathtaking 3,152 metres (10,341 feet). Those who want to earn their view can hike up the hill; others, like us, opt for the toddler-approved choice: a ride on the funicular. Eventually we tear ourselves away from the panorama to look inside the 17th-century church – pilgrims come to it to prostrate themselves before the Altar of the Fallen Christ.

From here, it’s a quick drive to La Candelaria, the colourful historic centre, to visit cultural institutions like the popular Museo de Oro, whose thousands of ancient gold artefacts are glimpses into a pre-Columbian world of extravagance. In an odd juxtaposition, there’s the Museo Botero; Fernando Botero is known for his paintings and sculptures of corpulent figures, many shown from the back.


Prudencia Restaurant Colombian Food

Photos courtesy of Ana Lorenzana

Friday, 3:00 pm: A Meal to Remember

Ready to be refuelled, we collapse into our seats at lunch-only Prudencia, a light-filled restaurant where Chef Mario Rosero stops by each table to say hello. Luck is on our side: Our 2-year-old son is passed out in his stroller, and he remains so throughout the duration of the leisurely affair. Rosero’s menu changes daily and stars local ingredients in dishes like the melt-in-your-mouth beef rib served with creamed corn and sautéed mustard leaves. Make sure to order the rustic homemade bread, so good we pack the rest to go.


Shopping Bogota

Photos courtesy of Ana Lorenzana

Saturday, 8:30 am: The Hidden Gem

Despite its location right in the middle of the city, the tiny Quinta Camacho neighbourhood feels more like a charming village than part of a bustling metropolis. It’s known for its distinctive architecture – brick Tudor-style houses have been transformed into boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and bakeries such as Brot, where we plot our day over flaky croissants.

On our list of stops: Wilborada 1047 Bookstore, which will make you wish for independent bookshops everywhere; Ba Hué, a concept boutique where men’s and women’s fashions from more than 30 designers are displayed like works of art; and Casa Riegner, a respected gallery that champions contemporary Latin American artists. Our “eat and drink” list is ambitious as well: Guerrero, a casual new sandwich shop; Siete Cabras, for pizzas cooked over firewood; and cocktails at Huerta Coctelería Artesanal, a buzzy bar that incorporates fruits and vegetables into drinks like the Mezcalitico (made with Mezcal Montelobos, elixir of blackberry and ginger, basil, and lemon).


Catacion Publica coffee house Bogota

Photos courtesy of Catación Pública & iStock

Sunday, 10:00 am: Caffeine and Crafts

On the recommendation of Juan Diego Lopez Verano, a front desk agent at
Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogotá, we get a lesson in Colombian coffee at Catación Pública, an educational café in the historic neighbourhood of Usaquen. After sampling beans from three of the country’s 20-plus growing regions, we stroll the Usaquen flea market, open on Sundays only. Learn from our mistake and save suitcase space so you won’t have to leave the traditional woven bags, organic soaps and other handmade crafts behind.

Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogota

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Bogota skyline and Ajiaco from La Calera

Photos courtesy of Ana Lorenzana & iStock

Sunday, 2:30 pm: Escape the City

It takes about 40 minutes of winding up a single-lane mountain road to reach the countryside town of La Calera, a worthwhile half-day trip from the city. After browsing the vendors in the main square and picking up some honey candies and mangosteens for later, we settle at an outdoor table at El Palmar del Café, a no-frills restaurant that serves what I’ve been told is the best ajiaco in the area. This traditional soup – made from different kinds of potato, shredded chicken, half an ear of corn and a mild herb called guasca – is served with avocado and thick cream to stir in. It’s rich and hearty, but somehow doesn’t leave us too full to sample treats from the bakery nearby, Postres Olivar. My personal favourite: the classic almojábana, a dinner roll–shaped bread made from corn flour and a soft, sweet cheese.

Bogota graffiti and street art

Photos courtesy of Ana Lorenzana & Camilo Perdomo

Monday, 11:00 am: Downtown Exploration

An hour into our Bogotá Graffiti Tour our guide, Jay, has already imparted a wealth of local knowledge – and not just about the incredible street art that seems to cover almost every surface. We’ve learned that Colombia is responsible for 70 to 90 percent of the world’s emerald market, and that it’s one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet. The tour, which takes place twice a day in English and runs on donations, starts and ends a few blocks from the city’s main square, Plaza de Bolivar, and the historic restaurant La Puerta Falsa, established in 1816. Here, we can’t resist some more ajiaco, plus another Bogotá classic: hot chocolate with cheese. You put the wedge directly into the drink and eat it with a spoon once it melts. Strange, yes, but also strangely delicious.


Bogota Salt Cathedral in Zipaquira

Photos courtesy of iStock

Tuesday, 9:30 am: A Site to Behold

My son has just licked the wall of a cathedral – but here, an hour north of the city at Catedral de Sal, it’s acceptable behaviour. That’s because the entire Roman Catholic church, hundreds of feet below ground in a salt mine, is constructed out of, you guessed it, salt. Visitors enter this astonishing place through a long, narrow tunnel. A dim, winding path leads to various naves, Stations of the Cross and sculptures of angels aglow in blue and purple lights.

Leo Restaurant Bogota

Photos courtesy of Ana Lorenzana

Tuesday, 2:30 pm: The Last Lunch

We’re late for lunch after spending too much time at Bitâcora, an appointment-only design studio that hosts modern art exhibits and sells its own line of textiles in addition to having a hand in innovative projects around the city. (They created the branding for Câscara, which produces single-use biodegradable dishware out of rice husks and corn.) Luckily, our table is still waiting for us at Leo, the highly lauded restaurant from Chef Leonor Espinosa. A wholehearted celebration of Colombian ingredients – the map on the menu traces their origins – the 14 petite but beautiful dishes are a fitting way to end our time in this multifaceted place.

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The Ultimate Los Angeles Road Trip

Posted on by John Ortved

Los Angeles tends to be the beginning, or the end, of many a memorable adventure. It was the launch pad and the landing strip for Hunter S. Thompson’s “fear and loathing” – and at least a million less famous trips. But LA and its sunny sprawl can play host to an idyllic, self-contained road trip.

It might already be known as a driving city, but such functionality has no place in your vacation mindset. No matter where you’re starting from – east or west, the Valley or downtown – you and your car (and whoever you take along) can make more than just a day of it, particularly with three Four Seasons outposts to call home base. Here, the local spots our knowledgeable staffers say should most certainly have a place on your itinerary.

Silverlake Map

The provenance of hipsters and the creative class, these East Side neighbourhoods are the perfect foil for, or respite after, a day of culture.


Scenes of Silverlake LA

EAT

Dinette

Gareth Kanter’s breakfast window (1608 1/2 Sunset Blvd) is the perfect place to start your day – on the go. Try the scrambled eggs on toast, served with a sprinkling of Parmesan and delicate shaved ham. The pastries are tops, too. We recommend taking your snack, or even just your coffee, a couple of blocks south, where you can picnic on the banks of Echo Park Lake.

VISIT

Cactus Store

What Cactus Store’s (1505 1/2 Echo Park Ave) name doesn’t convey is the Zen-like atmosphere of this tiny piece of the desert that’s been transported to Echo Park Avenue. Pick up a zero-effort plant, or just browse the needles of hundreds of unique cacti sourced from around the globe. And yes, these plants travel – that is, they ship.

DRINK

The Friend

This cotton candy-coloured spot (2611 Hyperion Ave) is cosy yet playful – an unexpected blend of 1950s diner and French cafe decor. Cocktail titles draw upon Los Angeles characters like The Dancer and The Artist and served alongside pinball machines.

Arts District LA Map

Los Angeles is home to some of the country’s best endowed, and best curated, museums. By all means, check out the Broad (pronounced “brode,” as in it rhymes with “road”) and LACMA, but don’t miss the Arts District, a section of LA’s former industrial home that was recently settled by contemporary galleries and has since been redeveloped with them in mind.


LA's Arts District

EAT

Bavel

Ori Menashe and his wife, pastry chef Genevieve Gergis, brought fine Mediterranean dining to LA’s Industrial District with the incomparable Bestia. But they may have bested themselves with their new homage to Middle Eastern cuisine (500 Mateo St). Menashe and Gergis mined their family backgrounds – Israel, Morocco, Turkey and Egypt – to devise dishes like a duck nduja hummus, oyster mushroom kabobs and a tagine with braised Wagyu beef.

Mariscos Jalisco

Aren’t feeling like a whole sit-down situation? Want the best taco in town? Jump the river to Boyle Heights and find Mariscos Jalisco (3040 E. Olympic Blvd). Just a humble food truck, it’s the source of the most celebrated fried shrimp taco in Los Angeles, maybe the world. Food critics flock here; there’s nothing else like it.

VISIT

Night Gallery

Part of the ground level for Los Angeles’ once burgeoning, now established contemporary arts scene, Davida Nemeroff’s expansive Arts District space (2276 E. 16th St) hosts riveting exhibits from some of the industry’s most exciting artists, like David Korty and Anna Rosen. While you’re in the area, stop by Hauser & Wirth’s outsize East Third Street location – on the Arts District’s most developed strip (coffee shops and boutiques galore) – which hosts more established names, like Alexander Calder.

Beverly Hills LA Map

The most famous zip code. If you can pry yourself away from the legendary pool at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, or want to do something with all the good energy you picked up at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, this neighbourhood is a perfect jumping-off point for some of the best shopping, recreation and sightseeing LA has to offer.


Scenes in Beverly Hills LA

VISIT

RTH

The twin shops (537 N. La Cienega Blvd) that René Holguin, the son of a bootmaker, built on this strip of La Cienega have come to embody a whole modern Western lifestyle, not just a look: There are unisex ponchos and shirting and roughshod leather laptop cases and palo santo for days. It’s not simply where you’ll find something for the person who has everything, it’s where you’ll find something for everyone.

Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation

You have to book your tour ahead of time, but it’s well worth it to view Weisman’s private collection in an astounding 1920s villa (265 N. Carolwood Drive). It includes work by modern masters like Giacometti and Rauschenberg, as well as a trove of abstract expressionist works: de Kooning, Rothko and Frankenthaler. . . . The pop gods are here too, including Warhol and Lichtenstein. This is a museum-worthy collection, on view just for you and yours.

DO

Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine Temple

Don’t be misled by the word “temple.” Reservations are required to discover this place to chill (17190 Sunset Blvd). Waterfalls. A lake. Fountains. Flower beds. Walking paths. Aren’t you feeling better already? Founded by yogi Paramahansa Yogananda in the Pacific Palisades, a quick drive from Beverly Hills, this relaxing spot (a favourite of Elvis Presley) is on your road to wellness. “It’s a quiet oasis” to wander around or just sit and meditate says Kisha Franklin, Concierge Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles.

Malibu CA Map

Gorgeous, unending beaches; the freshest food going straight into the finest cuisine; vineyards upon vineyards: Malibu is California dreaming. And for guests of
Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, set in the Santa Monica mountains, it’s just a stone’s throw – or a car ride – away.


Scenes from Malibu, CA

EAT

Taverna Tony

“Tony will come around and fill your plate with food,” Franklin says. “It’s a true Malibu local restaurant.” The thing about Malibu is, while luxurious, it’s low-key. And this is the kind of spot (23410 Civic Center Way) that draws the residents: fresh, lively Greek food – saganaki cheese served flaming, baby octopus straight from a charcoal grill – a beautiful terrace, and loads of charm.

VISIT

Point Dume State Beach

“A lot of people will go to Paradise Cove, but Point Dume (Cliffside Drive and Birdview Avenue) is a little further out and more private, more local, and just beautiful,” Franklin says. Take in the views of Point Dume’s cliffs and bluffs, and the solitude you might enjoy even more. It offers all the stunning beauty of the California coastline, but with fewer tourists.

DRINK

Cornell Winery & Tasting Room

A highlight of Malibu is its proximity to the rolling hills of wine country. Nadine Jurchynsky, Chief Concierge at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, recommends Cornell Winery (29975 Mulholland Highway, Agoura Hills) and its unbelievably charming tasting room, with vintages sourced from local wineries. Another option is Malibu Family Wine, where you can look out over the 1,000-acre Saddlerock Ranch estate while you sip.

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Our Guide to the Best of Lower Manhattan

Posted on by John Ortved

While incredible landmarks like the Empire State Building and Central Park reside above 14th street, downtown New York City is it. From the stunning architecture of the Oculus, to the world-class galleries in Chelsea, to the unmatched views of Lady Liberty, Lower Manhattan is a bustling revelation of sights, fine dining, cosy cafés, art and nightlife. When you step out of Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown, these are just a few of the city’s coolest spots waiting for you, some just a short stroll away.

Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown

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The Oculus

The Oculus

“It is necessary that public space prevail,” world-famous architect Santiago Calatrava told The New York Times as his Oculus, the luminous transportation hub at the World Trade Center, was set to open. Today, it is filled with singular shopping experiences, and yet Calatrava’s vision for returning the blighted site of tragedy to the people of New York has not been sullied. The space isn’t bad for your Instagram, either.

Statue of Liberty

The best way to see the colossal statue is by sea, and downtowners have no shortage of options for doing so. We recommend the complimentary classic: the Staten Island Ferry. Or pay a $7 fare and take the Liberty Landing Ferry from the World Financial Center on the west side – it gets you closer to the copper giant, but you can’t imbibe on board.

Le District

The brand-new Brookfield Place – known for its array of upscale shops, like Louis Vuitton and Hermès – isn’t just a shopping destination; there’s great food here too. At lunchtime, you’ll find editors from magazines like Vanity Fair, Vogue and Bon Appétit (they work across the street in the Freedom Tower) prowling les halles of Le District, a distinctly French market experience. There are fluffy, flaky croissants at the patisserie, heart- and belly-warming boeuf bourguignon at the lunch counter, crêpes and salads, and the best mustard selection this side of the Seine.


Two Bridges, Lower Manhattan

Dimes

While this trendy little spot offers healthy edibles, like a black bean power bowl with pumpkin seeds and grilled salmon with turmeric yogurt, it’s just as much about the view. The restaurant – Dimes also has a deli and a grocery market just across the street – is a touchstone for the beyond-cool crowd that works, lives and plays here. All the fashion inspiration you’ll ever need is sitting at the next table or skateboarding by.

2 Bridges Music and Arts

Part gallery, part music shop, part bookstore, this singularly funky collection can be found upstairs in a nondescript, predominantly Chinese mall on East Broadway. Don’t be afraid to ask questions: The owners have filled the shop with art books and records that appeal to them personally. Last time we visited, they were displaying a book of secretly taken photographs in North Korea and playing the latest LP from Playboi Carti. No matter where you’re coming from, this shop is a must.


Wall Street sign

CUT

What surprises many diners about Wolfgang Puck’s CUT, the star chef’s sophisticated steakhouse that joined Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown earlier this year, is how many patrons stop in besides Hotel guests. It’s become a local hotspot. For Puck, part of the attraction was being able to source his food locally, whether beets from nearby farms or scallops from Nantucket.

When it comes to steak, Puck goes with the 8-ounce New York American Wagyu Striploin. “You have the best of both worlds,” he says, “the richness of the Wagyu beef and the flavour of the American Black Angus.” Diners can do more than look into the open kitchen, where their steaks and fish are grilled over open fire; they’re welcome to venture in and witness the food preparation. “It’s really exciting, and the chefs love it,” he says.

The Mailroom

Don’t let the name fool you – there’s nothing quotidian happening at this subterranean lounge. Instead, you can party like The Wolf of Wall Street (within reason), with mixologist-made cocktails, vintage pinball, plenty of room to dance and even a bocce-ball court. Since it opened in the fall of 2017, the room has played host to countless New York Fashion Week events, as well as performances by Patti Smith and James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. Consider it the perfect place to continue the fun after dinner.

Via Carota

Chefs and partners Jody Williams (Buvette) and Rita Sodi (I Sodi) joined forces to produce Via Carota, a loving testament to rustic Italian cooking and market-fresh fare. While reservations are not an option, the temptations that emerge into the woodsy, hopping dining room are worth every minute of the wait. A fall menu might see grilled lemony artichokes, whole bean soup and a bone-in pork chop, while the summer could cast a spotlight on pan-fried peaches and a heavenly Dover sole. Every meal here is an event, even if it’s just a bite and a glass of Super Tuscan while window-shopping.

Walk This Way

When it comes to footwear, the West Village refuses to disappoint. Ladies should seek out Pierre Hardy; the venerable and always chic French designer has a small shop on Jane Street filled with playful pumps and killer boots. Meanwhile, men can meander over to Leffot, a posh, airy space on Christopher Street where classics from Alden and Saint Crispin’s are displayed like museum exhibits, but with touching encouraged.

Not Quite Coffeehouses

A well-kept local secret, Té Company is where some of the city’s most prominent foodies flock. With nods to traditional Hong Kong tea services, it’s a go-to for matcha lovers, as well as fans of immaculately well-made and -presented small bites. Around the corner on Greenwich Avenue you’ll find Mah Ze Dahr Bakery, a minimalist retreat whose pastries are spoken of in nearly religious terms.


The High Line

Cheim and Read

Up there with the biggest names in the Chelsea Gallery scene, like Gagosian and David Zwirner, Cheim and Read boasts a roster of American and international artists – and a single location – that all but guarantees an impressive viewing experience. Take in contemporary art stars like Jenny Holzer and Jack Pierson, as well as modern masters like Diane Arbus, Robert Mapplethorpe and Alice Neel.

Barneys Downtown

Some called it overdue, others a homecoming, but in 2016, Barneys, New York’s ultimate fashion destination, reopened a location on Seventh Avenue near 17th Street where the legendary department store first opened in 1923. More important than when was how, as Barneys revealed a rejuvenated, optimistic, dare we say “cool” edit at the new/old location, with choices from the likes of Vetements.


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Scents of Tuscany

Posted on by Stephanie Epiro

When scent maker Lorenzo Villoresi recalls his childhood home, the 800-year-old Villa Villoresi nestled in hills outside Florence, the scenery isn’t what comes to mind. What he remembers most distinctly is its smells: the air thick with sweet fragrance when the orange trees flowered, wild rosemary that sprang up between the rose bushes, and the sage his mother would pluck from the garden to season Sunday lunches.


Lorenzo Villoresi’s childhood garden

The garden at Villa Villoresi was filled with aromatic herbs, which today Villoresi uses for inspiration in his contemporary yet nostalgic fragrances. 

Photography courtesy Lorenzo Villoresi

“Our garden was full of Tuscan herbs: wild fennel, tarragon, savory, thyme, marjoram, peppermint and sage – herbs that most Tuscans have kept in their vegetable patch for hundreds of years,” Villoresi says. “They certainly helped me develop a curiosity and an interest in all that is fragrant.”

A perfect match


lorenzo villoresi firenze perfumes

Villoresi encapsulates the essence of Italy through the masterly development of his fragrance collection, making him the perfect person to create products that help guests of Four Seasons Hotel Firenze remember their time in Tuscany.

Photography courtesy Lorenzo Villoresi

Before Four Seasons Hotel Firenze opened its doors eight years ago, General Manager Patrizio Cippollini and his team worked to ensure that every detail of the Hotel – from the menu at Il Palagio to the original frescos adorning the walls – provided an opportunity for guests to immerse themselves in the spirit of Tuscany.

For the in-room amenities, Cippollini wanted to find products (think luxury soaps and shampoos) that captured the distinctive fragrances of Italy so that guests could take home a small part of Florence after their stay.

He needed to find the right person to create a custom amenities line, and the search led him to Lorenzo Villoresi. The perfumer has been bottling the scents of Tuscany for guests of the Hotel ever since.

“Guests want to absorb the Tuscan experience, and [Lorenzo] knows how to communicate that in a very special way,” says Patrizio Cippollini of Four Seasons Firenze. “His fragrances are an integral part of their memories of the Hotel and Florence.”

Formulating Italy’s fragrance


Lorenzo Villoresi perfume making

A Villoresi scent is more than just a perfume – it embodies an experience, a place and a time.

Photography courtesy Lorenzo Villoresi

Places – like food, flowers and even people – carry with them distinct aromas that represent what life is like there. When these scents are encountered, even months or years after visiting a destination, they have the power to transport us back to an exact moment in time.

“Scent touches an emotional part of the brain, it triggers memories,” says Villoresi, who is often asked to create personalised scents for clients that recall cherished places. “The aim is to gently suggest the evocation of certain places without really imposing their exact scent. It has a lot more impact,” he says. “I know I have captured the scent of a place perfectly when clients are moved upon smelling it.”

 

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The master perfumer has his own geographical olfactory connections, associating Cairo, for instance, with tobacco, molasses, rose water and amber; Jerusalem with cumin and curry. Many of Florence’s signature scents – rosemary, clary sage, thyme, wisteria, magnolia, mimosa and jasmine – reside deep in the city’s abundant hidden gardens.

Tuscan spices and herbs have roots in the first eaux de cologne created in the 1600s, and were handpicked not only for their bold odours but also for their health benefits. Today they bring a distinctive Mediterranean tinge to contemporary fragrances lining shelves from Florence to San Francisco.


Lorenzo Villoresi Products

Crafted to elicit impressions of Italy, Villoresi’s products give guests a sensory recollection of their time there.

 Photography courtesy Lorenzo Michelini

Villoresi uses Tuscan ingredients in small doses “because they are very powerful.” For one recent fragrance collection, he selected sea rosemary, found growing on Tuscany’s coast, to infuse the freshness of the Mediterranean as a contrast to the fragrance’s heady oriental notes of frankincense and amber.

According to the award-winning nose, the art of recreating the scent of a city is not to overwhelm the fragrance with a single note, but to add that note as a nuance in a more complex formula.

Memories in a bottle

Villoresi’s dedication to Tuscany’s native ingredients, together with his passion for eclectic spices, come to the fore in the Museum and Academy of Scent he has created in Florence’s centre, set to open in the fall of 2016. Within the remodelled space, a pair of 15th-century houses close to the Ponte Vecchio, is a 2,000-square-foot (186-square-metre) garden where Tuscan herbs grow alongside aromatic plants from all over the world.


Lorenzo Villoresi’s new store in Via de Bardi

Villoresi’s new store in Via de’ Bardi showcases a collection of perfumes, soaps and candles – as well as Villoresi’s dedication to designing luxurious custom fragrances.

 Photography courtesy Guglielmo de’ Micheli

“Every fragrance is a vision. It’s the representation of a different kind of world,” says Villoresi. “In perfumery, when you smell something there is no possibility to stop the emotion.”

Hear more from Villoresi about the art of perfume in the video below and meet more of Italy’s artisans here.


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