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HOT
DESTINATIONS
FOR
2018
for
T H E WA L L S T R E E T
JOURNAL

NOT REDISCOVERING ON
TO MISS A CLASSIC: OUR GLOBALITE’S
IN 2018 LONDON NOTEBOOK

Nihi Sumba Island

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HOT DESTINATIONS FOR 2018
NOT
TO MISS
IN
2018
Photo: JP Piter
IL SERENO
LAGO DI COMO
Designer Patricia Urquiola brings her
high-style brand of contemporary
luxury to Lake Como, with an Italian
outpost of Le Sereno from St. Bart’s.
Worth a trip just to laze in the infinity
pool, the only one around.
Why now—Because it’s buzzy and
brand new—and provides a very
different take on a Northern Italian
lakeside resort from the grand hotels
in this storied destination.
Words: Laura Begley Bloom
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Nihi Sumba Island
N I H I W AT H U
Remote eco-resort doesn’t begin to
describe this dreamy jungle paradise
set on the Indonesian Island of
Sumba, with first-rate fishing, scuba-
diving, horse-back riding—and
sublime pampering.
Why now—If you are into surf, not
only will you have the opportunity to
catch uncrowded waves, but also the
exclusive “God’s left,” limited to just
10 surfers at a time.
BY ESSENTIALIST
Photo: Jasper Conran
MARRAKECH
Perhaps nowhere on earth can
travelers find a more seductive mix
of the luxurious and the exotic than
Marrakech. New hotels continue
to pop up, but the current standout
is L’Hôtel Marrakech, a five-suite
hideaway from British designer Jasper
Conran. And, recently inaugurated,
a major museum honors Yves Saint
Laurent and his love affair with the
city.
Why now—Because this still-flavorful
destination is on a growth sprint and
there are still some fantastic things
to buy, such as tunics from Beldi, in
advance of the dedicated fans of YSL.
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HOT DESTINATIONS FOR 2018
VIKING SKY
With its midcentury-modern designs
and infinity pool, the new Viking
Sky looks more like a chic urban
boutique hotel than a cruise ship. It’s
an amazing way to explore areas of
Norway that are otherwise hard to
access (and to do it in style).
Why now— This cruise line knows
the ins and outs of Norway—its roots
go deep here—and this is a great
way to immerse yourself in the local
culture.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
NOT TO MISS IN 2018
Photo: Andrew Pattman
C H ÂT E A U L A C O S T E , P R O V E N C E
FRANCE
This villa hotel known for its blue-
chip art, architecture, and biodynamic
vineyards is dazzling guests with a
new spa and restaurant designed by
the studio of Hong Kong designer
André Fu. And the kitchen is overseen
by celebrated chef Gérald Passédat, of
the three Michelin-star restaurant Le
Petit Nice.
Why now—The high-design hotel
is giving new meaning to Provençal
style.
Photo: Stevie Mann
THE MALDIVES
It’s the Maldives’ moment, thanks
to a host of elegant new resorts
sprinkled across this Indian Ocean
nation. For design aficionados, the
St. Regis Vommuli Island Resort, has
77 slick villas from Singapore-based
firm WOW. And there’s no beating
the myriad delights of Soneva Jani,
with its stunningly beautiful and large
over-water villas.
Why now—Out here, among its
1,190 islands, the luxury offerings
have always been best-in-class and
they just keep getting better.
BY ESSENTIALIST
BELMOND TRAINS
Luxury sleeper trains are top of mind
since Kenneth Branagh’s cinematic
remake of Murder on the Orient
Express, hit theaters. Belmond (which
runs the real Venice Simplon-Orient-
Express) is debuting some sleeper
hits, as well. A dedicated spa carriage
with hot stone massages just launched
aboard the Royal Scotsman. And,
since last spring, the Andean Explorer
whisks passengers from Cusco to
Lake Titicaca and Arequipa in Peru.
Why now—The romance of traveling
on a sleeper train through dramatic
landscapes harks back to another era
and is the ultimate in slow travel.
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HOT DESTINATIONS FOR 2018 BY ESSENTIALIST

REDISCOVERING
A
CLASSIC

LONDON

England’s capital boasts a vibrant new

multi-culti energy that’s put it at center
stage for all things contemporary, from
experimental theater to world-beating
restaurants.

Words: Maria Shollenbarger

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 4

HOT DESTINATIONS FOR 2018 BY ESSENTIALIST

REDISCOVERING A CLASSIC: LONDON

E AT L A F R O M A G E R I E SHOP DAUNT BOOKS

With the shelves crammed with There are a handful of Daunt

MARYLEBONE VILLAGE French, Swedish, and Italian delicacies,

the counters boasting tempting pastries
locations around town, but this
flagship steals all the hearts. Its two
made in-house, the air pungent with elegantly arcaded floors of top-
epoisse, raclette, and Stitchelton, and a quality travel guides and writing are
Time was, not so long ago, this quaint stretch of urban style
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
few rough-hewn tables for perching complimented by an accomplished
around Marylebone High Street was a bit of a well-kept secret,
and enjoying a quiche and a glass of edit of fiction and history—with lovely
with its independent shops, its old-school hardware store, and
rosé, this Marylebone stalwart is where correspondence and greeting cards
its working man’s cafes. Today it’s a different story: but despite
chic London comes to breakfast, or thrown in for good measure.
being a not-so-stealth style destination that lures tastemakers
brunch.
from Buenos Aires to Bangkok, Marylebone is still central
SHOP TRUNK
London’s favorite village (complete with a charming farmers’
ART WALLACE COLLECTION Mats Klingberg may be Swedish,
market on Sundays)—and with the right walking itinerary, you
Proving that small is beautiful, and the clothing and accessories
can enjoy that village vibe.
especially when it comes to cultural edit at his Chiltern Street shop,
venues, this delightful assemblage resolutely international; but Trunk
of paintings—among them some is synonymous with London style.
very familiar works by Franz Hals, From classic British (Mackintosh),
E AT C H I LT E R N F I R E H O U S E
Gainsborough, and Canaletto— to relaxed Italian (Boglioli, Caruso)
It’s the scene of all scenes, and the service can skew epically
armor, 18th-century furniture, to high-fashion Common Projects
bad. But Nuno Mendes works serious magic in his showplace
sculpture, and priceless porcelain is sneakers, Klingberg’s ultra-discerning
kitchen at André Balazs’ perennially packed hotel. Succulent
arranged over a three-floor gallery eye rarely misses a trick.
pigeon; silky octopus enlivened with eggplant and daikon; a
with a charming orangerie café at its
deconstructed Caesar salad: all sublime. Lunch in the garden
center. SHOP MOUKI MOU
when the sun’s out is especially lovely.
The gorgeous little interior—tongue-
S E E R E G E N T ’ S PA R K and-groove walls, vibrant tile floors,
DESIGN THE CONRAN SHOP
This is north-central London’s vintage mantelpiece—is reason
The emporium founded by Terence Conran in 1974 is as
Central Park, with Frisbee and soccer enough to pop into this Marylebone
much museum of good taste as it is shopping experience.
played across its hundred-odd acres treasure. But the mix of fashions
Amid Provencal faiance, classic midcentury furniture, rugs
of lawns, some 400 rose varietals in from America (Dosa, Zero+Maria
from India, Nepal, and Morocco, and acres of bath and
Queen Mary’s Garden, and frolicking Cornejo) and Japan (denim
kitchen accessories are scattered art and fashion tomes,
seals in its zoo. It’s also home to Taste specialists 45rpm) also intrigues,
greeting cards, bags, shoes, and the occasional one-off
of London (“the world’s greatest manifesting owner Maria Lemos’
vintage piece for good measure.
restaurant festival”) every June, and love of simple architectural lines and
Frieze London, the leading art fair, handcraftsmanship.
every October.
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HOT DESTINATIONS FOR 2018 BY ESSENTIALIST

REDISCOVERING A CLASSIC: LONDON

1 . E AT C H I LT E R N F I R E H O U S E
1 Chiltern Street,
W1U 7PA London.
5
2. DESIGN THE CONRAN SHOP
55 Marylebone High Street,
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
W1U 5HS London

3 . E AT L A F R O M A G E R I E
2 - 6 Moxon Street,
W1U 4EW London

2 4. ART WALLACE COLLECTION

Hertford House, Manchester Square,
W1U 3BN London

5 . S E E R E G E N T ’ S PA R K
6
Chester Road,
NW1 4NR London
3
6. SHOP DAUNT BOOKS
8 83 Marylebone High Street,
W1U 4QW London
1 7
7. SHOP TRUNK
8 Chiltern Street (Trunk Clothiers) /
34 Chiltern Street (Trunk Labs),
W1U 7PU London
4
8. SHOP MOUKI MOU
29 Chiltern Street,
W1U 7PL London

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 6

HOT DESTINATIONS FOR 2018 BY ESSENTIALIST

REDISCOVERING A CLASSIC: LONDON

The Conran Shop

Trunk. Photo: Jamie Ferguson Regent’s Park

La Fromagerie Regent’s Park Chiltern Firehouse

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 7

HOT DESTINATIONS FOR 2018
REDISCOVERING A CLASSIC: LONDON
STAY
45
PARK LANE
The Dorchester’s upstart little sister does things her own
way, bringing an assertive, clubby sensibility to the design of
the rooms, and high-voltage glamour to the restaurant and
bar—all while never missing a trick on exemplary service.
What we Love
· The top-floor views into the verdant reaches of Hyde
Park—and the stone’s-throw proximity to Mount Street’s
shops.
· The discreet lobby, where you can do some fantastic
people-watching.
· CUT, Wolfgang Puck’s elevated take on the steakhouse:
All deep banquettes and Steely Dan on the stereo, it’s a
garrulous, delicious good time.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Photo: Darren Chung
THE ZETTER TOWNHOUSE
MARYLEBONE
The patrician facade belies a great
deal of lovely mischief within—from
the red-walled naughtiness of the bar
(and its wildly creative cocktails) to
the tongue-in-cheek design of the
24 rooms. The staff are young and
gregarious—but supremely competent.
What we Love
· How the hotel embraces its heritage
without skimping on luxury touches.
· The beds: almost every one of them is
either antique or reclaimed.
· The lobby, which feels so much like
walking into someone’s living room
(one from about 280 years ago, that
is) that its name—the “Parlour”—is
far more apt.
BY ESSENTIALIST
Photo: Simon Brown
H A M YA R D H O T E L
Firmdale Hotels’s central-Soho pièce de
resistance marries ebullient design and
a modern take on five-star service, with
brilliant results. It’s an across-the-board
hit, from the spectacular entertaining
and event spaces to its tea lounge and
bar to its ethereally pretty, fairy-lit
courtyard.
What we Love
· The witty details and warm service
· The roof terrace—planted with
geraniums and olive trees, dotted with
garden tables, it’s a surprise oasis.
· The riot of colors and patterns, which
in lesser hands would be a disaster—
but in Kit Kemp’s work beautifully.
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HOT DESTINATIONS FOR 2018
REDISCOVERING A CLASSIC: LONDON
EAT & DRINK
Photo: John Carey
NOPI
Star chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s elevated takes on Middle
Eastern food finds an elegant home in bustling Soho, in
a white-on-gold dining room that’s a fresh, appealing
backdrop for his equally fresh and creative sharing plates,
with an emphasis on beautiful produce.
What we Love
· The convivial vibe: downstairs is refectory-table seating,
and plates are calibrated for sharing (often for groups)
· The supremely satisfying vegetarian fare, from rib-sticking
roasted cauliflower to zingy zucchini fritters
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Photo: Anabel Navarro Llorens
MARKSMAN
PUBLIC HOUSE
Take one St. John Hotel alum, another
alum of Jamie Oliver’s 15, give them
a battered old public house on the
Hackney Road to fix up, and you get
The Marksman. Mushys peas, chips,
lamb curry, mussels on toast: standard
concepts are upended and deliciously
reinvented. And the newly renovated,
wood-paneled room
is a knockout.
BY ESSENTIALIST
L E S C O M PA N I E S D E S
V I N S S U R N AT U R E L S
Call it CVS to save yourself time (and
sound in-the-know). The London
outpost of the Experimental Group’s
wine bar concept is pretty, comfy, and
seriously impressive. Riesling from
Adelaide? Check. A dozen-odd whites
from France’s Jura region? Oui. And
44 champagnes; and the coveted reds
produced by Arianna Occhipinti in
Sicily; and it goes on. That the small
snacking plates are all sublime is a
bonus.
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HOT DESTINATIONS FOR 2018
REDISCOVERING A CLASSIC: LONDON
INSIDER EXPERIENCES
AN
AFTERNOON AT
CLIFTON
NURSERIES
The best place we know of to indulge your inner hunter-
gatherer: You’ll embark on a foraging “Wild Food” walk
across this famed nursery-restaurant’s natural gardens
and the surrounding fields along the Thames, in suburban
Richmond. Then enjoy the spoils of your efforts—herbs,
edible greens, and flowers—in a delicious lunch.
The Insiders
Set on a Regency estate near the Thames in leafy
Richmond, Petersham Nurseries shot to fame in 2004,
when Skye Gyngell opened a kitchen adjacent to the dirt-
floored conservatory—and earned a Michelin star for it.
Today, resident foraging expert Claudio Bincoletto oversees
the produce and plants that go into the still-superb kitchen’s
efforts.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
STYLE GUIDE: THE CHIC
SHOPPER
Weave a path through some of
Kensington, Chelsea, and Mayfair’s
most atmospheric and singular
boutiques: from home accessories to
vintage jewelry to thoroughly local
fashion, you’ll see the best.
The Insider
The Chic Shopper is an Aussie expat
in the UK—the London editor-at-large
for Vogue Living, a regular contributor
to the British weekend newspapers,
and author of the new city guide
London Precincts. Best of all, she has
the keys to the style kingdom; you’ll be
welcomed with open arms at the best
addresses.
BY ESSENTIALIST
B E H I N D T H E S C E N E S AT
T H E R O YA L A C A D E M Y
The Royal Academy is world famous
for blue-chip exhibitions, and across
England for its annual Summer Show.
So it’s easy to forget this venerated
institution is, as its name says, an
academy, where a select cohort
of aspiring artists (just 17, out of
thousands of applicants) refine their
talents. You’ll venture beyond the
exhibitions to meet the students in their
own studios and admire their work.
The Insider
A major figure on the contemporary art
scene in the 80s and 90s, painter and
printmaker Eileen Cooper was elected
Keeper of the Academy—the first
woman to hold the position since the
R.A. was founded in 1768.
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HOT DESTINATIONS FOR 2018 BY ESSENTIALIST

ON OUR
GLOBALITES’

NOTEBOOK

Exclusive insider tips from the world’s

most seasoned and insightful travelers

Ham Yard. Photo: Simon Brown

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 11

HOT DESTINATIONS FOR 2018
LEYLA
PIEDAYESH
MY PERSONAL GUIDE
TO BERLIN
Insider tips from the taste arbiter behind
Berlin’s cult fashion line, Lala.
Words: Gisela Williams
A NIGHT OUT
There are only really three places
where I go out for dinner. Obviously
Grill Royal is one of them; it’s the
place to go for the Berlin scene. The
owners recently opened Petit Royal
in the west; it has a bit of French
character and chic but super-cozy
interiors. And the Paris Bar has an
amazing collection of art on the walls
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ON OUR GLOBALITES’ NOTEBOOK
and so much history—in the 80s
everyone who was anyone, including
David Bowie, hung out there.
ART PILGRIMAGE
Johann König Galerie in the St. Agnes
church in Kreuzberg is a must-see.
The space, a mid-century Brutalist
church, is incredible, and König
represents interesting local artists,
BY ESSENTIALIST
including Alicja Kwade. The C/O an amazingly lively flea market here; a
Gallery, which is now located in the little bit like the Portobello Road, but
west, in the very cool Amerika Haus so Berlin, with all the performers and
building people doing graffiti.
FOR NIGHTLIFE BEAUTY BREAK
I always suggest going to Berghain, When I have time to do something
in Neukolln, for anyone who loves for myself I book a facial at MDC,
techno music—it’s still going strong in Prenzlauerberg. They have a great
after more than a decade. For a more
intimate scene I like King Size Bar, a
tiny dive bar owned by the Grill Royal
selection of beauty products and top-
notch treatments.
guys that attracts a great, eclectic
crowd.
FOR SHOPPING
Some of the most interesting shops
in town are in Mitte, on Torstrasse
and Mulackstrasse, where my shop,
Lala, is. On Tor, make sure to check
out Rianna + Nina, run by two girls
who re-appropriate vintage scarves
and pieces in creative ways. And The
Store, Alex Eagle’s concept space at
Soho House Berlin, has a really nice
selection of international fashion.
TWO VERY DIFFERENT
PA R K S
One must go to the Tiergarten—it’s
the Central Park of Berlin, a huge,
historic green space with lakes and
beer gardens and playgrounds. And
then go to the Mauerpark, near
Leyla Piedayesh
Prenzlauerberg. On Sundays, there’s
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HOT DESTINATIONS FOR 2018
RENÉE
PRICE
CRAFT & CONSCIOUSNESS
IN NEW YORK
Neue Galerie director and Essentialist Globalite Renée
Price celebrates the thoughtful and the hand-made.
Words: Peter J. Frank | Photography: Brigitte Lacombe
DE VERA
“De Vera is my favorite store in all
of New York City,” says Price of the
cabinet-of-curiosities-style gallery
in SoHo, its collection of jewelry,
sculptures, and curios impeccably
curated by Federico de Vera. “You
can spend hours in there, discovering
things, learning from the atmospheres
he creates.” Price has commissioned
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
ON OUR GLOBALITES’ NOTEBOOK
De Vera to design several exhibits at
the Neue Galerie, including a 2014
show on Egon Schiele’s portraits.
SELIMA OPTIQUE
Another frequent collaborator is
Selima Saulan, the French-Moroccan
eyewear designer whose Selima
Optique has several locations in New
York (as well as Paris). “She has
beautiful frames that she designs
herself,” says Price, along with vintage
frames and leather goods. Saulan,
whom Price refers to as “one of the
grande dames of Soho,” has designed
a series of frames sold at the museum,
inspired by Sigmund Freud, Blue
Angel–era Marlene Dietrich, and
Schiele.
ABC CARPET & HOME
Price also mentions the atelier of her
fellow Globalite Madeline Weinrib,
which is filled with baskets of colorful
wool, custom carpets, and hand-
embroidered fabrics that are made
by hand at the rate of a square meter
per year. The showroom is open only
to the trade, but Weinrib runs a retail
atelier at ABC Carpet & Home, the
furnishings temple founded by her
grandfather.
CANDLE 79
Price’s preference for the hand-
crafted extends to the food she eats. “I
always look for something made with
love—you can taste the difference.”
As an example, she cites Candle 79,
a longstanding favorite for organic,
vegan food on the Upper East Side.
“I love the integrity” of the restaurant,
she says. “It’s not trendy, but
everything is seasonal and fresh.”
BY ESSENTIALIST
OMEN
Similarly, the downtown Japanese
restaurant Omen represents the
triumph of quality over modishness.
“It’s old-school SoHo: small and
austere, not unlike a ryokan or Japanese
country inn, with beautiful hand-made
pots and platters on display. I usually
go with artist or architect friends.”
BOHEMIAN
This Japanese restaurant in NoHo
neighborhood is another under-
the-radar favorite with an unusual
reservations policy. “It’s hidden behind
a Japanese butcher on Great Jones
Street,” Price explains. “You can’t get
in unless they ‘accept’ you—or you
have to know some who has already
eaten there. It attracts a very eclectic
crowd, and it’s like eating in someone’s
living room.” Beef, particularly
the Wagyu steak, and seafood are
specialties.
Renée Price
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Essentialist

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 14