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What makes a hotel great? Clearly space, design, service and amenities all play their part but given the top tier of the industry is all too aware that they’re competing on these points, the difference – more often than not – comes down to details and the coalescence of all those import…
Going to Disney World is a childhood rite of passage, no doubt about that. And you’re reminded of this as you drive in from Orlando’s international airport because there’s a huge and colourful gateway spread across the motorway that reads: “Walt Disney World, The Most Magical Place on E…
When The Mercer opened in Manhattan on the corner of Prince and Mercer, 25 years ago – as the sister hotel to Hollywood’s legendary Chateau Marmont – it was groundbreaking in so many ways. Not only was it the first luxury hotel to open in SoHo, it also offered a very different concept o…
Once you set foot in the lobby of the Colony Hotel Palm Beach you are treated to an enchanting visual feast thanks to a remarkable collaboration between the iconic newly renovated and re-opened hotel and the artisan wallpaper brand de Gournay. The exquisite wallpaper has the feel of a h…
Damien Hirst has turned an entire two-floor Las Vegas suite into a living artwork, complete with formaldehyde sharks and a cantilevered Jacuzzi. At 100,000 USD a night, it is decadence on an industrial scale.
On the Hawaiian island of Lāna'i, the Four Seasons Resort at Kōʻele, A Sensei Retreat, offers a serene garden of Eden. Cool mountain breezes and warming sun set the scene for genuine restoration and renewal.
Let’s begin with the 46-suite MERCHANT HOUSE in Manama, which is Bahrain’s first five-star boutique hotel and just the second Middle Eastern property for Campbell Gray Hotels (after Le Gray in Beirut). Highlights include an abundance of art, an impressive library and a delig…
First a disclaimer: I have long had a soft spot for the Four Seasons New York. In fact we go way back. That’s because, during the four years I spent in Rhode Island studying for my bachelor’s degree, I would often try to explore as much of the East Coast of the United States as […]
It’s a similar problem for most cities: what to do with that enormous 1970s eyesore? In the case of the Allen Center at the corner Smith and Dallas streets in Downtown Houston, the solution was not to knock the whole thing down and start afresh, rather its owner, Brookfield Property Par…
The Costume Institute's most ambitious show yet spans 25 galleries across two New York sites, tracing how Catholic imagery and symbolism have shaped haute couture from Chanel to McQueen.
Switching to LED lights in our homes, recycling cans, plastics and bottles and bringing our own reusable bags to the supermarket are some of the things most of us can now check on our list of ways in which we reduce our impact on the environment. But what else should we be considering? …
Sinatra's vagabond shoes still long to stray through the heart of New York, only now they are more likely to be red-soled Louboutins, and their owners are buying a place to stay.
It is no accident that the Library, a Manhattan boutique hotel, sits a block from the New York Public Library, the grand century-old building that inspired it. Sales chief Adele Milne explains the connection.
Beyond the fluorescent bikinis, blasting bars and poolside parties lies another Miami, a city of vast, ultra-cool design-district warehouses and unexpected nuance that rewards the visitor willing to look a little closer.
People rave about the sunsets in Islamorada, and our writer's first remains unforgettable. From a small white boutique hotel, the vivid sun drenched the horizon in indigo and magenta above the metallic, midnight-blue ocean.
As a Philadelphia exhibition of unconventional materials draws to a close, Ukrainian-American tape artist Mark Khaisman explains his curious compulsion: I like to peel things, he says, peeling to the point of no origin.
LA’s Hotel Bel-Air boasts a devoted and publicity-shy clientele who appreciate the grand, exclusive sanctuary’s determination to fly under the radar. But following the hotel’s spectacular two-year, 100 million USD renovation, we just couldn’t resist blowing the historic hideaway’s cover…
Artists should take risks, Shirin Neshat insists in her minimalist Soho studio. Restless and steely, the kohl-eyed artist leans forward with excitement to discuss her latest work, a feature-length film about the legendary Umm Kulthum.
Ride the escalator to the atrium of New York's Conrad and you might mistake it for a museum. This unusual five-star has no spa, but art fills every corner and room, complete with guided tours.
David Lake and Ted Flato took lessons learnt in Morocco and applied them across the United States. We tour Arizona's Brown Residence, a desert house of panoramic views from which our region might learn.
When the Soma architects were commissioned to design a Muslim community centre in Lower Manhattan, they could not have foreseen the storm. Branded the ground zero mosque by a blogger, the project drew fierce dispute.
A trip to America's most populous city may thrill, but finding the perfect hotel in vibrant New York is no easy task. Fortunately, Bespoke discovers a serene new sanctuary, the Langham Place, that proves worth every cent.
Nestled in the heart of Jackson, Providence Hill Farm is a multi-acre retreat that redefines equine chic, a lavish country home where both muddy riding boots and old-school luxury find their place.
Few entertainments are as boisterous or as fun as burlesque, with its parody and extrovert exhibitionism. Bespoke joins the sequinned throng at the Burlesque Hall of Fame weekender to witness this centuries-old art in glorious revival.
Well-heeled men and up-and-coming women are using the services of a bright, young LA-based Lebanese matchmaker to find relationships that’ll go the distance. Amber Elias talks to Bespoke about her Elias Elite Introductions, a service for discerning clientele.
Egyptian born, Canadian-trained, Karim Rashid is a world-renowned industrial designer who has exhibited works at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Design Museum in London. Bespoke had the chance to visit him in his stylish New York home.
Nestled in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles, this stunning Tuscan villa sits overlooking the bright lights of the city. Architecturally impressive and replete with unique features, it’s testament to a Lebanese businessman’s individuality.
Thanks to the exchange of culture and art, new ways have emerged in which to bridge the gap of misunderstanding that lies between the United States and that of the Muslim World.
Buddakan, New York © STARR RESTAURANT ORGANISATION / DAVID JOSEPH Designer: Christian Liaigre / Gilles & Boissier From inception this restaurant aimed to become ‘The’ destination to eat in New York. It was recognised that in fashionable destinations the act or arriving and of being seen ar
Once an oil tycoon’s home, Casa Casuarina, fell into disrepair and became a hippie hostel until Gianni Versace took ownership and brought it back to its former splendour. Chris Kensler spent a few nights at the transformed members-only exclusive club and hotel.
What becomes a Hollywood power-player most? Real estate. Those who have the best toys in Los Angeles – cars, boats, planes, art, but most importantly the most outrageous manse in Malibu – generally have the most power in town. Sue Hostetler pays a visit to Hollywood mogul Darren Star’s h
American-based Bluefish concierge service has mastered the art of the ultimate experience and travel. Nothing seems too exclusive or difficult for the company. And that’s why they needed to be set a challenge in the Middle East, writes Rana Ballout.
The Setai is the newest and most glamorous hotel in South Beach. It is the hotel to see and be seen in. However a few days surrounded by its sophisticated and studied Zen-like décor and lounging quietly poolside is an experience in serenity, writes Karim Munib.