Remi André Lurud — Travel & Food

Paris invented the palace hotel, and its hospitality scene remains the benchmark against which all others are measured. But the city also excels at boutique properties — Left Bank hideaways, converted townhouses, and design hotels that capture Parisian elegance at every price point. Palace Hotels Le Bristol Paris — Discreet, elegant, and favored by those who know. Rooftop pool, legendary Epicure restaurant (three Michelin stars), and gardens in the 8th arrondissement. Hotel Plaza Athénée — On Avenue Montaigne. The red awnings, the courtyard, and Alain Ducasse's restaurant. Classic Parisian glamour. The Ritz Paris — Restored to its legendary splendor. Bar Hemingway, L'Espadon restaurant, and the most famous hotel pool in Paris. Four Seasons George V — Spectacular flower arrangements, Le Cinq (three Michelin stars), and the spa. The American palace. Boutique and Design Hôtel Rochechouart — In the 9th. A former 19th-century hotel revived with style. Rooftop bar with ...

Paris remains the world's culinary capital — not because it rests on tradition, but because it constantly reinvents itself. The city that invented haute cuisine has also birthed the bistronomy movement, embraced global influences, and maintained a bakery culture that makes a simple croissant a daily work of art. Fine Dining Le Cinq — Three Michelin stars at the Four Seasons George V. Chef Christian Le Squer creates the kind of grand French cuisine that reminds you why Paris set the global standard. L'Ambroisie — Three Michelin stars on Place des Vosges. Classical perfection. The chocolate tart is legendary. Arpège — Three Michelin stars by Alain Passard. Vegetable-forward haute cuisine that revolutionized fine dining. Le Clarence — Two Michelin stars in a stunning Haussmann mansion. Chef Christophe Pelé's cooking is precise, elegant, and deeply French. Bistronomy Septime — The restaurant that launched a thousand imitators. Chef Bertrand Grébaut's seasonal ...

Paris needs no introduction — but it does need a reintroduction. Beyond the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, this is a city of neighborhood markets, hidden wine bars, contemporary art galleries, and a food scene that continues to reinvent itself while honoring tradition. The Paris that rewards repeat visits is the one found in the side streets, the local bistros, and the quiet corners of the Marais. When to Visit April-June and September-October are ideal. Summer is warm and festive but crowded. Paris in autumn, with golden light along the Seine, is perfection. Winter is atmospheric and excellent for museums and restaurants. What to See and Do Musée d'Orsay — Impressionist masterpieces in a converted railway station. Often more rewarding than the Louvre for a half-day visit. Le Marais — The historic neighborhood with galleries, vintage shops, falafel joints, and beautiful architecture. Walk the Place des Vosges. Montmartre — Beyond the tourist crowds at Sacré-Cœur, explore t...

The Gulf of Saint-Tropez offers accommodation from legendary five-star hotels to charming village rentals. Port Grimaud itself is best experienced by renting a canalside apartment, while nearby properties cater to every level of luxury. Luxury Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez — LVMH's stunning property on the waterfront. Three-Michelin-star restaurant, spa, and Saint-Tropez at its most refined. Byblos Saint-Tropez — The legendary hotel since 1967. Pool, spa, and the famous Les Caves du Roy nightclub. Château de la Messardière — The largest five-star in Saint-Tropez. Hilltop with panoramic views, multiple pools, and a spa. Boutique and Character La Bastide de Grimaud — In the medieval village. Provençal charm with pool and garden. Hôtel Giraglia — In Port Grimaud. Simple but well-located with pool and garden. Best Value Port Grimaud apartment rental — The most authentic experience. Canalside living with your own mooring. La Pinède Plage — Beachfront between Port Grimaud...

The Gulf of Saint-Tropez is one of the finest dining areas on the French Riviera, combining Provençal tradition with Mediterranean seafood and the occasional Michelin star. Port Grimaud itself offers waterside dining, while nearby Grimaud village and Saint-Tropez expand the options significantly. Fine Dining La Table du Mareyeur — In Port Grimaud, Michelin-starred seafood right on the water. The bouillabaisse and the grilled Mediterranean fish are outstanding. La Vague d'Or — Three Michelin stars at Cheval Blanc in Saint-Tropez. One of the finest restaurants on the entire Riviera. Le Girelier — On the old port of Saint-Tropez. Classic seafood in a prime location. Traditional and Local Le Café de France (Grimaud village) — On the main square of the medieval hilltop village. Provençal cooking with character and fair prices. Les Santons — In Grimaud village. Refined Provençal cuisine in a beautifully restored building. Casual Favorites Café du Port — Canalside in Por...

Port Grimaud is one of the most charming places on the French Riviera. Built in the 1960s as a car-free lakeside village inspired by Venice, it sits on the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and offers colorful houses, canals, private boat moorings, and a gentle Mediterranean pace that feels worlds apart from the Riviera's glitz. What to See and Do The canals — Explore by foot or take an electric boat tour through the waterways. Every house has its own mooring. Church of Saint Francis of Assisi — Climb the bell tower for panoramic views of the village and the Gulf. Plage de Port Grimaud — A sandy beach facing the gulf. Clean, calm, and family-friendly. Saint-Tropez — A 15-minute boat ride or short drive away. Combine Port Grimaud's calm with Saint-Tropez's glamour. Tuesday and Sunday markets — The local markets in the main square sell Provençal produce, lavender, and artisan goods. Where to Eat La Table du Mareyeur — Michelin-starred seafood on the waterfront. The bouill...

Athens hotels compete on one thing above all: the Acropolis view. The best properties offer terraces where you can watch the Parthenon glow golden at sunset — and that alone can define your trip. Luxury Hotel Grande Bretagne — On Syntagma Square since 1874. Grand luxury, rooftop restaurant and pool with the most famous Acropolis view in the city. The defining Athens hotel experience. King George — Next door to the Grande Bretagne, slightly more intimate. The Tudor Hall restaurant terrace rivals any view in the city. Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens — On the Athens Riviera in Vouliagmeni. Beach resort luxury, 40 minutes from the center. Boutique and Character AthensWas — Design hotel at the foot of the Acropolis. The rooftop terrace view is spectacular. Modern, comfortable, excellent location. Coco-Mat Athens BC — In upscale Kolonaki. Eco-friendly design, rooftop pool, and the natural-material comfort that Coco-Mat is known for. Perianth Hotel — On the edge of Psy...

Athens has undergone a food revolution. While traditional tavernas remain the backbone of the city's dining culture, a new generation of chefs is reimagining Greek cuisine with creativity and global perspective. Fine Dining Spondi — Two Michelin stars in Pangrati. Greek-French tasting menu in a beautiful neoclassical villa with garden dining. Athens at its most refined. Hytra — One Michelin star at the Onassis Cultural Centre. Modern Greek cuisine with Acropolis views from the terrace. CTC — Chef's Table Concept by Georgianna Hiliadaki. One of the most creative dining experiences in Greece. Traditional and Local Karamanlidika — A deli-taverna specializing in cured meats from Constantinople Greek traditions. Outstanding charcuterie, pies, and traditional dishes. To Kafeneio — In Plaka. Traditional taverna with home-style cooking. The moussaka and lamb kleftiko are excellent. Diporto — A legendary underground taverna near the central market. No sign, no menu. Win...

Athens is a city where 2,500 years of history are not preserved behind glass — they are part of the living fabric of everyday life. The Acropolis rises above neighborhoods where street art covers ancient walls, where tavernas serve recipes unchanged for generations, and where the energy of a modern European capital pulses alongside ruins that shaped Western civilization. When to Visit Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are ideal. Summer is very hot (35°C+) but the long evenings and rooftop dining compensate. Winter is mild and uncrowded. What to See and Do The Acropolis — The Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Propylaea. Go at opening time or late afternoon. The new Acropolis Museum below is world-class. Plaka — The oldest neighborhood, at the foot of the Acropolis. Narrow streets, neoclassical houses, and tavernas. Monastiraki — Flea market, street food, and views of the Acropolis from rooftop bars. National Archaeological Museum — One of the world's ...

Most visitors treat Sintra as a day trip, but staying overnight transforms the experience. After the tour buses leave, you have the misty forests and moonlit palaces virtually to yourself. Luxury Tivoli Palacio de Seteais — An 18th-century palace converted into a luxury hotel. Valley views, formal gardens, and the most romantic stay in Sintra. From around 200 EUR. Penha Longa Resort, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel — In the Sintra hills with a championship golf course, spa, and multiple restaurants. The grounds are magnificent. Boutique and Character Chalet Biester — A recently restored 19th-century chalet turned luxury boutique. Theatrical interiors and a connection to Sintra's romantic history. Lawrence's Hotel — Claiming to be the oldest hotel on the Iberian Peninsula. Lord Byron stayed here. Small, charming, and full of history. Best Value Sintra Boutique Hotel — Modern, clean, and well-located in the old town. Good base for exploring on foot. Moon Hill Hostel — For...

Sintra's restaurant scene is smaller than Lisbon's but full of charm. Between palace visits, you will find excellent traditional Portuguese food, local pastries, and a growing number of creative restaurants. Fine Dining Incomum by Luis Santos — Modern Portuguese cuisine in the old town. Seasonal tasting menu. The best fine dining in Sintra. Restaurante Palacio de Seteais — At the Tivoli hotel. Formal Portuguese cuisine in an 18th-century palace dining room with valley views. Traditional and Local Tascantiga — Traditional petiscos and Portuguese wines in a cozy tavern. Charcuterie, cheeses, and honest cooking. Adega das Caves — In a wine cellar setting. Traditional grilled meats and fish at fair prices. Tulhas — Rustic restaurant in the old town. Good grilled fish and traditional stews. Casual Favorites Piriquita — The famous bakery for travesseiros (almond pastry) and queijadas de Sintra. Queue, buy, eat immediately. Casa do Preto — Another queijada institu...

Sintra feels like stepping into a different century. Just 40 minutes from Lisbon, this UNESCO World Heritage town is a landscape of romantic palaces, lush forests, and misty hilltops that have captivated poets and kings for centuries. Lord Byron called it a glorious Eden. When to Visit Spring and early autumn are ideal — pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds. Summer is busy. Winter is atmospheric but some palaces have reduced hours. Arrive early to beat the crowds regardless of season. What to See and Do Palacio da Pena — The colorful hilltop palace that defines Sintra. A Romanticist masterpiece in yellow, red, and blue. Book timed tickets online. Quinta da Regaleira — The most mysterious estate. Gothic towers, underground tunnels, and the famous Initiation Well. Allow 90 minutes. Palacio Nacional de Sintra — Medieval royal palace in town center with distinctive twin chimneys. Oldest surviving royal palace in Portugal. Castelo dos Mouros — Moorish castle ruins with spect...

Cascais has evolved from fishing village to refined resort town. Clifftop palaces, design boutiques, and family resorts — all within reach of the beach and the train to Lisbon. Luxury The Albatroz Hotel — Clifftop above the bay. Former ducal palace with pool, spa, and the most prestigious address in town. Grande Real Villa Italia — Former residence of Italy's exiled King Umberto II. Gardens, pools, sea views. Boutique and Character Farol Hotel — Converted 19th-century mansion with contemporary design, rooftop pool bar, live music. Most social hotel in Cascais. Pestana Cidadela Cascais — Converted 16th-century fortress with pool, art installations, and historic rooms. Best Value Martinhal Cascais — Purpose-built for families. Kids' club, pools, spacious apartments. Hotel Baia — On the main beach. Simple, clean, and excellent location for the price. Which Area to Choose Center/Marina — Walking distance to restaurants and beach. Most convenient. Guincho — W...

Cascais punches above its weight for a town of its size. Atlantic-fresh seafood, proximity to Lisbon's talent, and an affluent local population create genuine dining depth. Fine Dining Fortaleza do Guincho — 17th-century fortress on the coast. Michelin-starred Portuguese cuisine with Atlantic views. Seafood rice and turbot outstanding. Hemingway — At Farol Hotel. Creative cuisine with fresh fish focus. Marina terrace is the best dinner spot. Traditional and Local O Pescador — Classic seafood restaurant. Straightforward, excellent fish. Locals since decades. Mar do Inferno — Above Boca do Inferno with dramatic views. Fresh grilled fish and seafood rice. Restaurante Furnas — On Guincho Beach. Seafood rice with the sound of waves. Casual Favorites House of Wonders — Health-conscious cuisine. Excellent brunch. Moules & Gin — Mussels every way plus gin menu. Simple, well-executed. Gelados Santini — The legendary ice cream. A Cascais pilgrimage. Practical Tips...

Cascais is everything a coastal escape should be — elegant, relaxed, and just 30 minutes from Lisbon by train. Once a fishing village turned royal summer retreat, it now offers beautiful beaches, excellent restaurants, and a charming old town. When to Visit May to October for beach weather. Year-round for seafood and coastal walks. Summer weekends are busy with Lisbon day-trippers. What to See and Do Boca do Inferno — Dramatic cliff formation where waves crash into a sea cave. Praia da Rainha — Sheltered cove beach in the center of town. Guincho Beach — Wild, windswept, popular with surfers. Ten minutes from town. Paula Rego Museum — Designed by Souto de Moura, housing Portugal's greatest living artist's work. Cycling to Guincho — Beautiful coastal bike path from Cascais to the beach. Where to Eat Fortaleza do Guincho — Michelin-starred dining in a 17th-century fortress overlooking the Atlantic. Mar do Inferno — Perched above Boca do Inferno with cliff vie...