Back in the day actors’ contracts required them to stay within a 100 mile radius of Los Angeles during filming. As a result Palm Springs was born. Known for famed pool parties and Moroccan inspired retro design, Palm Springs has always lured Tinseltown stars, sun worshippers, and design lovers with its fusion of Hollywood glam and Vegas flamboyance.

Star-Studded Chic

From the minute you pull up to this resort, you know you’re in for a treat. The Riviera is stylistically awe-inspiring. The lobby is lined with floor to ceiling walls ensconced in a floral lattice pattern. Illuminated from behind with glowing orange light, the walls are reminiscent of a designer honeycomb. Packed with retro furnishings, all this glitz is set beneath a sky of modern chandeliers descending from a ceiling studded with starlight bulbs.

Walk of Style

Past the lobby is a hall filled with mirrors. Divided into mini lounge spaces, each section is filled with glamorous accents like pointillist artwork comprised of Guatemalan coins, purple shag carpets, and metallic sofas paired with glass chandeliers. The flashiest of all is the bejeweled billiards table!

Pool Culture

No one should visit Palm Springs without clocking some serious pool time. The Riviera is centered around a big pool lined with palm trees and private cabanas beneath a backdrop of desert peaks. It’s the perfect place to spend a leisurely afternoon lounging and soaking up some pure California sunshine.

Sexy Lounges and Desert Cocktails

Lounge cats will love Sidebar, where desert nights pair perfectly with creative cocktails enjoyed under the stars on bed-like lounge chairs. Be sure to order a Desert Heat, a peppery mix of tequila, lime juice, and agave syrup with a splash of pineapple, spiced up with lip-tingling jalapeños. Or bask in the tangerine glow of the swanky Starlight Lounge, where you can sip cocktails, like the lavender and blueberry accented Pink Panther, beneath a video wall playing mash-up cinema classics.

Gourmet Hot Spot Circa 59

Circa 59 (named for the year the Riviera opened) hums with red. Arguably the most beautiful part of the resort, its jumbo red and black jeweled chandeliers accent its lush patterned booths and ceiling. Red patent leather chairs surround you. In fact, everything in here is black, red, white, or mirrored. Executive chef Aaron Burns continuously transforms seasonal local ingredients into contemporary Californian masterpieces. Dimly lit and intimate, you’ll feel like glitterati yourself by the end of your meal.

Just like Palm Springs, the Riviera resort is iconic and stylish. In addition to being the perfect place to unwind, it’s sure to please anyone seeking design in the desert.

I’ve never set foot in a more beautiful hotel. Words to describe it? Timeless. Graceful. Opulent. Stylish. Unique. Palatial. Every last detail of this hotel is pure perfection. Consisting of 5 riads (traditional Moroccan residences centered around a courtyard or garden) with 28 individually themed rooms total, La Sultana is a shrine to Moroccan design and craftsmanship. From the minute you step into this hotel, filled with glimmering gold accents, you can feel the outside world of endless streets, honking mopeds, open-air butcher shops, donkey traffic, aggressive hawkers, and snake charmers melt away to nothing but a distant whisper.

Wow Factor

Upon arrival, guests are whisked away to a richly appointed salon where a multi-tiered tray of Moroccan pastries awaits, accompanied by mint tea. You’ll pass through the distinctly decorated riads on the way to your room, encountering chic minimalist decor featuring sun-drenched white stucco, as well as fiery terra-cotta and beijmat (brickwork) juxtaposed against Majorelle blue garden elements. There’s also an ochre-hued courtyard of carved cedar wood with plenty of elaborate zellige tile work evocative of the imperial city of Fes, and rooms centered around a pool framed by banana and palm trees and interlaced with brick corridors full of Moroccan lanterns. Perhaps the most impressive of all is the African section, decorated with a fusion of Moroccan and Senegalese design styles, complete with African masks, animal-patterned furniture, and safari-themed rooms.

Verdict: Fabulous!

Design & Style

La Sultana has the grand ambiance of a royal palace. The rooms and suites are decked out in sumptuous Moroccan furnishings fit for a sultan, queen, or perhaps maharajah, with stained glass windows that open onto courtyards filled with beautiful ceramic tile-work, mosaic fountains, carved wood accents, and Moroccan art. Every last inch of this hotel is a feast for the eyes, packed with lavish carvings, marble accents, and elegant lanterns that cast a magical spell.

Verdict: Fabulous!

Luxury Meter

Outnumbering guests, the staff are extremely attentive, waiting on your every need. It’s hard to find a reason to leave the property, as everything you need is provided. A full breakfast is included, along with snacks and beverages, and gourmet dining on site. Live musicians perform classic Moroccan music in the evenings, and there’s a bar with an underwater window into the swimming pool. The spa has an extensive menu of treatments, there’s a beauty salon and boutique, and you’ll be showered with all the usual luxury amenities, along with thoughtful extras like sound-proofed rooms and welcome platters filled with pastries, dried fruit, and nuts.

Verdict: Fabulous!

Location, Location, Location!

La Sultana is located in the kasbah (royal palace of the sultans) next door to the ancient Saadian tombs, within Marrakech’s historic medina, or walled old town. From the hotel’s deck you can take in the skyline and panoramic views of the Atlas mountains, all while soaking up some sun. This is a true oasis in the middle of the bustling pink city.

Verdict: Great

Culinary Prowess

Riads are excellent places to enjoy world-class Moroccan cuisine. La Sultana features a tasting menu where guests can sample several courses of Moroccan specialties such as pastilla, a Moroccan meat pie (usually prepared for special celebrations like weddings) made of puff pastry and dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon, and harira soup, a tomato and lentil soup served during Ramadan and also a meal in itself. Other standouts include foie gras with juicy apples, and Moroccan salads, which by the way don’t include a shred of lettuce, but instead consist of assorted vegetable dishes ranging from carrots to beets to pickled cucumbers, lentils, and spiced chiles. Standout classic dishes slow-cooked in a tagine, or clay pot, include honey-glazed leg of lamb and a beef tagine with figs and walnuts. La Sultana also offers cooking workshops, perfect for foodies and those looking to explore the gastronomic side of Moroccan culture.

Verdict: Fabulous!

Spa Report

When in Morocco, you can’t miss the traditional Moroccan hammam, or Turkish-style steam bath. After de-robing, attendants pour buckets of water over your body then apply a scrub which is again washed away with more buckets of water. Afterwards, you lay on heated marble platforms, guaranteed to force your muscles to surrender, as you take in the steam. Next comes the exfoliation process where an attendant scrubs your skin rigorously with a kissa, or rough glove, to remove dead skin cells. Follow this up with a massage for the ultimate experience. La Sultana offers several massage packages and additional treatments including therapeutic baths, seaweed treatments, chakra-balancing, and aromatherapy using organic oils in classic Moroccan scents like rose, honey, almond, lemon, orange blossom, and argan oil.

Verdict: Fabulous!

Details

La Sultana
403 rue de la Kasbah 40 000
Marrakech, Morocco
Tel. +212 5 24 38 80 08

It’s no secret that Seattle is a gourmet wonderland for foodies. Emphasizing fresh local ingredients, Pacific Northwest chefs are constantly seeking creative combinations of ingredients. Although you’ll fare pretty well in Seattle eating wherever you happen to be once your stomach rumbles, there is definitely something wonderful about staying at a hotel with a restaurant good enough to be a destination itself.

The following foodie hot spots combine luxurious hospitality with gourmet prowess:

Hotel Andra & Lola

For those who love modern design, Hotel Andra is a cozy refuge filled with chic minimalist furniture and trendy design accents evocative of the Pacific Northwest. Located in Seattle’s hip Belltown district, Hotel Andra sits at the epicenter of celebrity chef Tom Douglass’ culinary empire. Tempting aromas of Greek and North African treats waft though the hotel’s sleek Scandinavian-inspired lobby from Douglass’ restaurant Lola. The perfect spot for a late night snack or cocktails, Lola also serves mouth-watering spreads like kalamata~fig and Kopanisti~pistachio all day. Across the street are Douglass’ Dahlia Lounge and Dahlia Bakery, famous for their triple coconut creme pie, and around the corner you’ll discover sizzling pizzas at Douglass’ Serious Pie.

Hotel Monaco & Sazerac

Outfitted with comfortable rooms in the heart of downtown, featuring your very own pet fish, Hotel Monaco is the perfect place to imbibe, with a complimentary wine hour nightly in the hotel’s stylish lobby. The hotel’s next door restaurant, Sazerac serves seasonal organic cuisine from local farmers. Committed to sustainability, chef Jason McClure’s environmentally-sound kitchen also features low-flow water valves, biodegradable cleaning supplies, and energy efficient lighting. All products are recycled, including excess cooking oils which are converted into bio-diesel fuel. Best of all, the food is excellent and affordable, and the ambiance is stellar with exposed brick walls, a warm, rustic color palate, and artistic chandeliers.

Inn at the Market & Campagne Restaurant

Inn at the Market, a boutique hotel located at the entrance to Pike Place Market, is a hot spot for any foodie. Comfortable rooms offer views of the water, and the rooftop deck is a fantastic place to soak up panoramic views of downtown and Elliott bay while enjoying wine and cheese. With one of Seattle’s premier restaurants situated right in the hotel’s own courtyard, guests can enjoy Campagne’s Southern French cuisine prepared with the freshest of ingredients. Chef Daisley Gordon’s creative artistry shines through across perfectly executed dishes and a menu full of tempting choices that will render the hungry traveler utterly indecisive. Additionally, a less expensive alternative is the bohemian Cafe Campagne, the restaurant’s equally delicious cafe counterpart.

The Edgewater Hotel & Six Seven

Located along Seattle’s waterfront with stunning views of Puget Sound, The Edgewater is a rustic retreat within a stone’s throw of downtown attractions. With design highlights like pine furniture, rock fireplaces, and endearing antler chandeliers, this Pacific Northwest gem boasts cozy rooms with unbeatable views. The hotel’s award-winning restaurant Six Seven serves New American cuisine while affording floor to ceiling waterfront vistas. There’s even an outside patio that seems to float right on the waves. From signature seafood dishes like dungeness crab and shrimp cake with lobster lemongrass sauce and tomato jam to gourmet meat specialties like “Oregonzola” crusted Filet Mignon with forager mushroom ragoût, asparagus, potato crisp and natural jus, dining here is sure to be an elegant treat.

When in Morocco, you can’t miss the traditional Moroccan hammam, or Turkish-style steam bath. There are a variety of public and private hammams ranging from uber-luxurious spa experiences, like the hammam at La Sultana in Marrakech, to simple public bathhouses. So how does it work? Step one: de-robe. This is not the time to be shy! Do as the Moroccans do and strip down to the bare essentials. Next buckets of water are poured over you, in the fancier establishments by your own attendant. Then comes the steaming. The heated stone platforms you’ll lay on are guaranteed to force your muscles to surrender.

Shedding Your Skin: Exfoliation

Next comes the exfoliation process, and it’s not likely to resemble any exfoliation you’ve ever received. Here your skin is scrubbed rigorously, and I mean rigorously, with a kissa, or rough glove designed to remove dead skin cells. If you happen to glance down at yourself during this process, you’ll see globs of skin clustering like discarded snake skin. Follow that all up with more rinses and perhaps a shampoo, scalp rub, and facial scrub. The best way to complete your hammam experience is with a massage, pure heaven for the weary traveler.

Moroccan Fragrances

Some of the classic Moroccan scents you’re likely to encounter include rose, mint, honey, almond, lemon, orange blossom and argan oil. Once home, a simple whiff of these scents will be enough to transport you right back to Morocco.

Wow Factor: Antique Meets Modern Chic

This hotel is simply beautiful. Small artisan details abound at each turn, such as wood carvings, paneled ceilings, alcoves containing Roman busts, and stained glass doors. The interior design fuses traditional and contemporary design elements perfectly, creating a stylish interior space inside a former 18th century church vestry. The fashionable interiors combine the best of classic Andalusian design, including decorative painted tilework and rooms surrounding a multi-story courtyard accented by a Moorish fountain. One of a kind antique furniture, restored with modern fabrics and bold accents, can be found throughout. The staff is friendly and helpful, and with only 25 rooms, the hotel has a cozy, boutique feel.

Verdict: Fabulous!

Design & Style

We couldn’t get enough of the trendy chandeliers located in the rooms, bathrooms, and public spaces. The lighting design throughout the hotel was stellar. We absolutely loved the signature black chandelier in the lounge, floating below a silver ceiling and juxtaposed by cherry-red vinyl chairs complete with silver carvings. We were also crazy about the hotel’s fancy hand-carved gold and silver mirror frames and lighting accents, often brimming with metallic flower flourishes. We also loved Sacristía de Santa Ana’s color scheme: warm earth tones dressed up with bright splashy accent colors, floral patterns, and metallic highlights.

Verdict: Fabulous!

Location, Location, Location!

The hotel is located at Alameda de Hércules, a wonderful jumping off point from which to explore Seville. About a 15-20 minute walk from Seville Cathedral and the central sites, it’s a little off the tourist path, although by taxi it’s a quick ride. If you choose to walk, you’ll wander though the heart of Seville’s shopping district. Sacristía de Santa Ana is located in a thriving, youthful neighborhood without many tourists. As a result the food is inexpensive and authentic. This happens to be an emerging gastronomic district, so dining options abound everywhere!

Verdict: Great

A Room With a View

Popular Alameda de Hércules is a hopping night spot as well as a culinary hotspot. The hotel opens onto this lively plaza, which brims with tapas bars, cocktail lounges, and outdoor cafes. After a long day of sightseeing, be sure to join in the fun and pop down for a late dinner, Spanish style. Enjoy a glass of sangria, or a mojito or two. This really hits the spot on summer evenings after the sun has set and taken the heat of the day with it. Although the sounds of revelry are in full swing at night, you’ll also catch live accordion music or flamenco guitar from your room if you’re lucky.

Verdict: Great

Details

Sacristía de Santa Ana Hotel
Alameda de Hércules, 22
41002, Seville, Spain
Tel: (+34) 95 491 57 22

Wow Factor: The Moroccan Riad

Instead of staying in a traditional hotel, experience a slice of Moroccan culture by staying in a riad, or small hotel converted from a traditional Moroccan home or palace centered around a courtyard or garden. Marrakech is bursting with stylish luxury riads, many of them European-owned. For a taste of something more authentic, check out Riad Kniza. This is one of the city’s most luxurious riads, which also happens to be Moroccan-owned. Dating from the 18th century and restored with traditional artisan-crafted materials, this 11-room gem is owned by a renowned Marrakech antiques dealer, who also doubles as a tour guide whose client roster includes former American presidents and celebs like Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman.

Design & Style

Riad Kniza is centered around a tall open-air courtyard filled with hand-carved wood and marble accents, surrounding a mosaic fountain filled with rose petals. During the day the riad is filled with boisterous bird-song, while at night stained-glass lanterns illuminate the halls with dancing light. Extra-tall wooden doors open onto luxurious suites filled with sumptuous fabrics and unique decorations like inlaid mirrors, Moroccan lanterns, and hand-painted tables.

Verdict: Fabulous!

Pamper Rating

The staff at Riad Kniza are attentive and friendly, and the riad has a homey feel about it. Moroccan tea and pastries are served upon request in your room or anywhere on the property, as is breakfast and dinner. There’s a spa and hammam, plunge pool, and rooftop terrace, as well as Moroccan cooking courses and city tours available upon request. Rooms are large, air-conditioned, WiFi enabled and equipped with all the modern amenities of a luxury hotel.

Verdict: Fabulous!

Location, Location, Location!

Located in the city’s historic medina, or walled old town, Riad Kniza is near Marrakech’s famous Jema l’ Fna square, filled with snake charmers, storytellers, musicians, food stalls, and endless shops peddling Moroccan crafts and souvenirs. It’s also near the city’s souks, or markets dedicated to specific crafts. However, Marrakech’s medina will disorientate even the most savvy traveler, so be prepared to wander and get lost.

Verdict: Great

Culinary Prowess

The food at Riad Kniza is amazing. Not surprising since they host Moroccan cooking workshops, which are a great way to experience another facet of Moroccan culture. Dinners are prepared with fresh ingredients gathered daily from local markets, and begin with a Moroccan salad course, which by the way doesn’t include a shred of lettuce. Instead you’ll encounter close to a dozen vegetable dishes ranging from carrots to beets, to pickled cucumbers, lentils, and lima beans with chiles. The trend here is spice, and lots of it. Many of the dishes include a hearty dose of favorite Moroccan spices: cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, saffron, and paprika. The tagine dishes, cooked in a clay pot over low heat, are absolute heaven, with choices ranging from lamb with dates, almonds, apricots, and figs to chicken or fresh fish with lemons and root vegetables. There’s also hand-made berber bread and tempting desserts like cinnamon drizzled orange slices with cream and caramel. The Moroccan pastries are fabulous as well, especially the ones with a slight aroma of flowers.

Verdict: Fabulous!

Details

Riad Kniza
34 Derb l’Hotel, Bab Doukala
Marrakech, Morocco
Tel. +212 5 24 37 69 42

For those seeking a unique place to sleep in Spain’s capital, look no further than Casa de Madrid. This boutique retreat in an upscale 18th century building is located in the heart of the city, just steps from both Madrid’s iconic Puerta del Sol square and the Royal Palace, as well as a metro stop and some of the city’s top dining spots. Facing the Royal Opera House and situated in what is arguably Madrid’s best neighborhood, Casa de Madrid is surrounded by countless architectural gems.

Staying here is like rooming at a friend’s house, that is a friend with impeccable design taste. You’ll have plenty of privacy, as there are only 7 rooms, each individually decorated down to the smallest detail. With stylish touches like painted wall murals and custom furniture, most of the rooms are travel-themed. There’s an “Indian room” and “Spanish room”, as well as the standout “Greek room”, with its painted murals showcasing panoramic ocean vistas, adorned with Greek columns below a bright blue ceiling painted with gold suns.

Additionally there are two smaller rooms: the “zen room” and the “leaves room”, which both open onto a charming library stacked with crooked piles of leaning books in both English and Spanish. However, since the hotel has only one common area available during limited hours, I highly recommend splurging for one of the larger rooms, since the price difference isn’t great enough to offset the tremendous difference in size (the zen room has a tiny closet bathroom). On the other end of the scale, there’s also the extra large “Damascus suite” which will have you feeling like you’ve got your very own apartment in the city center.

A light breakfast of warm toast and croissants is served each morning on silver trays in the lounge. Painted with cheerful garden scenes and accented with fresh flowers, there are plenty of plush sofas and chairs to lounge in as you sip your morning tea or coffee.

Casa de Madrid is truly a stylish retreat, perfect for enjoying city life while surrounded by great design. Richly decorated with one-of-a-kind antiques and Greek sculptures alongside colorful fabrics evocative of far flung destinations, a stay here will leave you feeling like an aristocratic local.

Details

Casa de Madrid
Calle Arrieta 2, 2ª
28013 Madrid, Spain
Phone: +34 91 55 95 791

The Grand Hyatt Macau is a luxurious haven of sunlight and glass set along the pearl river delta. A perfect retreat from the hustle of Macau island, the newly-opened Hyatt offers an elegant, secluded space to unwind in the midst of Macau’s next hot spot: the Cotai strip.

Macau’s Cotai Strip

Located between Taipa and Coloane islands on a stretch of reclaimed land that now joins the two islands as one, the Cotai strip is Macau’s challenge to Las Vegas. About a 15 minute taxi ride from downtown Macau island, it’s a bit removed, but certainly won’t be for long: this newly developed street is gearing up for a huge coming out party. The Venetian, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Crown Towers, and the Four Seasons are already here. Scheduled to join them are more big players like the Sheraton, Shangri-La, Raffles, and the Wynn. In fact, the construction is well under way—windowless shells of future powerhouses, temporarily abandoned in the economic slowdown, sit like sleeping giants, ready to be transformed into glass and neon.

The City of Dreams

For now the first phase of the strip, known collectively as City of Dreams, glitters at night in a chorus of dancing lights that flow down the length of all the buildings, reminiscent of the encrypted computer patterns from The Matrix. So far the Grand Hyatt Macau is the only hotel in the City of Dreams without a casino, dedicated exclusively to travelers, rather than gamblers.

Grand Impact: a Cutting-Edge Design Space

With its skyward-sweeping ceilings and polished mirror-like floors, the Hyatt’s lobby is an impressive sight. Among a sea of geometric modernism, one of the first things to catch your eye is Hong Kong artist Danny Lee’s three-piece sculpture Dance of Clouds and Rain, composed of giant suspended raindrops and water rivulets spilling from sculpted clouds in the ceiling. Rising below them from the middle of the lobby’s shiny, vertigo-inducing floor is a bulbous half-dome fountain covered in silent, flowing water. Continuing the effect of reflective surfaces, the reception area is filled with immaculately polished black tables that hold hundreds of flowers, forming the illusion of a flower-filled corridor, complete with the hint of a soft floral scent.

Guest Rooms

The Hyatt’s guest rooms are spacious and comfortable, set up more like small apartments rather than traditional hotel rooms. Filled with light from wall-sized windows, the rooms open into living rooms outfitted with contemporary furniture adjoined by kitchenettes complete with stylized coffee and tea makers and upscale accessories. Decorated with art prints celebrating local Macanese heritage, the rooms are simplistically zen-like with sliding wood panels revealing cabinets and closets, as well as forming walls to separate rooms.

The bedrooms and bathrooms are a study in light-play with an abundance of glass. Enclosed by glass, most showers and tubs overlook the bedrooms, sharing views of Macau. (For the modest traveler, black-out curtains and sliding wall panels create some privacy.) The bathrooms are an oasis of modern design filled with glass and mirrors. Glass doors that swing both ways lead to the toilets and to the showers—which are pure heaven after a day on your feet, with high pressure shower heads mounted on the ceilings and the walls. Framed by fresh flowers, twin sinks with lighted mirrors show off modern faucets that shoot water in wide arcs.

Rest and Relaxation

The Grand Hyatt Macau is an excellent place to retreat from the city. You can lounge poolside in your own plush cabana, resembling a four poster bed with curtains. Alternatively, there are lounge chairs submerged in the water, and private indoor whirlpools and saunas. The fitness center is open 24 hours a day, and Isala Spa offers an array of private spa retreats from shorter massages to four hour spa rituals that include features such as hot-cold jade stone massage or sweet lychee scrubs.

Gourmet Dining

For those seeking gourmet cuisine, the Grand Hyatt has you covered. Upscale Beijing Kitchen serves up northern Chinese cuisine in a sleek, contemporary setting, while mezza9 Macau satisfies a variety of tastes: from Japanese to Macanese, with a grill, wok, and deli station to boot. You can enjoy drinks and live music in the lobby lounge, and the hotel’s patisserie serves up mouthwatering fancy sweets, including Macau’s famous Portuguese egg tarts—comprised of custard nested in crispy layers of flaky pastry.

An extra treat for VIP guests is the Grand Club Lounge, which serves around the clock complimentary treats, snacks, and drinks, along with daily breakfast and light dining in the evening. Highlights include fancy pastries topped with gold leaf, noodles to order, and honey via an actual honeycomb.

Old Macau Versus New Macau

This hotel is the perfect place to indulge all of your senses. It presents world class luxury set in a beautiful contemporary setting, yet manages to maintain an intimate feel. With its unique design culture, unlike any other hotel in the Hyatt chain, the Grand Hyatt Macau manages to feel like a boutique hotel, while retaining all the indulgent comforts of a hotel of its enormous scale.

With its relaxed atmosphere, this 791-room hotel feels a world apart from the busy city streets and turbo-charged casinos of central Macau—a call out to days past when Macau was comprised of sleepy villages. A stay here will no doubt wow you, but also open your eyes to the new tug of war game playing out between Macau island, with its energetic fusion of Chinese and Portuguese history and charm, and the Cotai strip, with its glossy designer shops and mega-casino transplants of the future. As Macau continues to play the chameleon, the Hyatt will no doubt remain the perfect perch from which to watch the action unfold.

Details

Grand Hyatt Macau
City of Dreams, Estrada do Istmo, Cotai,
Macau, People’s Republic of China
Tel: +853 8868 1234

Located inside the lobby of the Grand Hyatt in Macau is Beijing Kitchen, a Chinese restaurant dedicated to Northern Chinese cuisine, outfitted with sleek, modern design. Not only do the chefs at Beijing Kitchen all hail from the northern capital, but this restaurant is also modeled after its famous Hyatt Beijing counterpart: Made in China.

Design that Celebrates Chinese Culture

The vibe here is east meets west—with walls lined with floor to ceiling cubbies filled with decorative tea ware. A long cloth dragon dangles above diners, and further inside, the Grand Hyatt’s signature interior design style continues with high ceilings and plenty of dark wood, making the space feel open and contemporary. The restaurant houses multiple food stations: there is a dumpling and noodle station, a dessert station, a wok station, and a wine cellar. Best of all, a display kitchen shows off two traditional wood-burning ovens used to roast Beijing (Peking) Duck, one of the restaurant’s trademark dishes.

Beijing (Peking) Duck Cooked in Traditional Wood Burning Ovens

The must-try Beijing duck is served three ways at Beijing Kitchen, with the extra special treat of a chef outfitted in a white hat who personally carves your duck in front of you. The first dish includes only the thinly sliced top layers of skin from the duck, served with sugar. The next is filled with the juiciest, meatiest cuts, while the last includes the remaining selection of tasty bites, accompanied by garlic and plum sauce and thin pancakes for wrapping. The duck is succulent and decadently rich, seeming to melt on cue once it hits your tongue, with the pancakes serving to slow down the seduction of meat on the taste buds.

Essential Beijing Kitchen Entrées

Another signature dish not to be missed is Sweet and Sour Fish, which is served whole on a platter, with cubed fruit and veggies that play out their own juxtaposition of delicious flavors, parallel to the contrasts already inherent in the sweet and sour sauce. The Smoked Bean Curd Skin is another mouth-watering standout with lots of juicy layers that fall away in your mouth, while the Sautéed Bitter Melon with Fresh Fungus combines crunchy mushrooms with a subtle bitterness that leaves your palate refreshed.

Other divine dishes include Spicy Poached Chicken with Crusted Peanuts in Spicy Sauce, Glazed Sweet and Sour Pork Bits, Cucumber Batons in Garlic and Aged Vinegar Sauce, Sizzling Sliced Lamb in Cumin and Coriander, and Wok-fried Prawns with Peanuts, Almonds, Dried Chili, and Ginger.

Specialty Desserts

Desserts are equally delectable at Beijing Kitchen. Under the direction of a French pastry chef, the restaurant serves up light desserts such as Chocolate-dipped Popcorn Sticks, as well as fancier favorites like Warm Homemade Bean Curd Pudding, and Melon and Sago Coconut Pudding. The ice cream is all homemade here, and another must-try item is the Mango Pudding with Homemade Crispies, a soft-textured treat bursting with full-bodied fruit flavor and crunchy accents.

Discovering Culture Through Food

What makes this restaurant special is the attention to detail in both preparation and presentation, and a dedication to the authenticity of the cuisine. Beijing Kitchen even goes so far as to bring in tea masters from well-known tea regions across China just to hand-roast tea leaves on-site. This restaurant is truly the perfect stop for both those who can’t make it to Beijing (as well as those who can!) and those looking for an experience that combines traditional cuisine with a creative fusion of flavors, all served up in an environment that promotes cultural discovery. Beijing Kitchen truly offers a rich sampling of classic Chinese cuisine that demonstrates unparalleled excellence.

Details

Beijing Kitchen | Grand Hyatt Macau
City of Dreams, Estrada do Istmo, Cotai
Macau, People’s Republic of China
Hours: 10:30 am to 12:00 midnight
Reservations: +853 8868 1930

Celebrating Scandinavian Design in the Pacific Northwest

How do you make a splash in a city that oozes culture? Try playing Scandinavian design elements off Pacific Northwest ambiance utilizing two elements central to Seattle’s core: wood and water. What do you get? Iconic fish tanks filled with neon tetras and guest rooms accented in cobalt blues. A contemporary lobby outfitted in sleek, minimalist furniture that includes tangerine Arne Jacobsen chairs, natural wood tables, and high ceilings that show off floor to ceiling wood bookshelves and hanging twin lanterns. Add to the mix alpaca headboards, retro clocks, and FACE Stockholm bath products in all the guest rooms, then top it all off with an avant-garde celebrity chef restaurant that’s turning heads—and you know you’ve arrived at Hotel Andra.

Location, Location, Location!

Located just steps from Pike Place Market on the corner of Fourth and Virginia in Seattle’s chic Belltown district, you’ll discover an abundance of restaurants to satisfy your inner foodie. At the hotel’s bustling restaurant, Lola, chef Tom Douglass serves up re-invented Greek specialities with a distinctly Pacific Northwest flare.

Foodie Hotspot: Lola

Dining beneath suspended neon flames, you can sample modern Mediterranean cuisine comprised of fresh local ingredients. Be sure to try Lola’s spreads. We absolutely loved the Kopanisti Pistachio Mavrodaphne (a base of blue and feta cheeses drizzled with Greek dessert wine, sprinkled with pistachio bits, and served with pita bread). Tom’s Big Breakfast is another must try: a scramble with grilled octopus, diced yams, spinach, and bacon tossed on a bed of yogurt-based sauce and topped with eggs any way you like.

With a cozy lobby that’s ideal for fireside reading by day, and late-night cocktails and conversation by night, Hotel Andra is the place to be for stylish design aficionados and culture mavens when in the Emerald City.

Details

Hotel Andra
2000 Fourth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
877.448.8600