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From Executive Chef Andrea Ferrero, Piacare , meaning pleasure in Italian, delights palates atop the Shangri-La Hotel in Tokyo. A stunning dining room lit elegantly by rich lighting and ladened with fine fabrics, diners come by the droves for a little Italian and a little ambiance with European charm. The menu suggests everything from imported burrata to prosciutto, homemade pasta and delicate fish. Whatever you order here, it will surely be authentic and remind you of a dinner you might have had on the shores of Lake Como. One of the most spectacular dishes here is the squid ink pasta with mussels and clams in a tomato sauce. Or, risotto porcini with aged parmesan. Delicious. Taking a seat in a private dining area, I was treated to a dinner that made me want to return again and again. A mixture of fish, pasta and meat – the curation of my set menu was flawless and every dish was paired with wine from various regions of Italy. Service at Piacere was warm and friendly, prompt and attentive. For any lover of Italian cuisine visiting Tokyo, you cannot miss it.

Sense , inside Tokyo’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel, is probably Tokyo’s top Cantonese eatery. Stepping into this modern restaurant with clean lines and decor, designed by Ryu Kosaka, which is composed of colored glass, crystal and wood – juxtaposed against a stunning view of the city – you’re impressed immediately. I was a guest at the restaurant and was invited for lunch, to experience a tasting menu composed of some of the restaurant’s classics and new additions to the menu. At Sense, the menu is riveting. It’s very difficult to choose anything, as everything looks mouth-watering, so it’s best to leave it up to the chefs. You might try things like: barbecued Peking duck, fried rice with king crab and lettuce, steamed Okinawa star grouper filet or barbecued Mochibuta pork with malt sugar. The dim sum is beautiful, dumplings hand-folded and delicately scented with cherry blossom or lemongrass. The presentation at Sense is so beautiful, you feel badly eating each morsel brought to your table. But, you do end up eating, because you can’t resist. The service is flawless, servers darting about filling glasses with pours of 2004 Dom Perignon or delivering expertly crafted cocktails. Come here, sit, relax and indulge in Tokyo’s most fantastic Chinese. You’ll be hard-pressed to find any better.

Alain Ducasse is a culinary genius and his partnership with Chanel Tokyo, and the creation of Beige, is a food moment for the books. Sitting atop Chanel in the forever chic Ginza neighborhood, Beige invites you into the world of Chanel, accented and accentuated by Mr. Ducasse’s fantastic food. Executive Chef Mr. Kei Kojima executes and conceptualizes a menu that is deeply rooted in France, yet, somehow, delivers a Japanese sensibility to make for the most perfect lunch moment. The room is evocative of Chanel, obviously, with the famous tweed and black and beige reigning supreme over the space. Floor to ceiling windows with views of Tokyo give way to streams of light, making this place an Instagram-worthy experience. The menu is littered with options, but the choice is difficult. Puffed bread with beetroot butter, filet of bass, sautéed mushrooms, seared beef filet from Kyushu, a selection of French cheeses and a chocolate-praline Chanel square. Delicious. Each tantalizing bite has you looking forward to the next. And each course is the perfect size, as you leave full, but never stuffed. On the roof, Beige and Chanel are building an outdoor terrace with views over the city – perfect for a glass of champagne in the spring, summer or autumn months. The restaurant will soon undergo a redesign, but, the food will remain the same – superb.

Hinokizaka Sushi and Hinokizaka Teppanyaki , tucked inside the Ritz Carlton in Tokyo’s Roppongi neighborhood, is a sushi and beef mecca that calls for any sushi and meat lover to visit. Here, you can experience Edomae, which is a combination of high end fish from the Tsukiji Fish Market and cooked rice that is seasoned with rice vinegar, expertly prepared at a gleaming sushi bar. You will also experience a grill room with the most beautiful beef, cuts that go up to more that $50,000, and tempura that all come together to make a unique dining experience. You can pick and choose what to experience here. For those who might not love fish, you can opt for the teppanyaki or tempura experience, only. If you are absolutely fanatical about sushi, you can plant yourself at the bar and indulge all night long. I tried both the sushi and teppanyaki experiences, moving from room to room to feel the unique ambiance of each. Beginning with beef, I was able to watch the expert chefs take chunks of wagyu beef and turn them into succulent and sizzling pieces of goodness, served with fantastic tempura vegetables. At the sushi bar, the sushi chef sliced and diced the most gorgeous fish I ave ever seen, layering it with flavor and resting it on perfectly made rice. Tuna is my favorite, and he listened. I indulged in fatty toro all night long. Honestly, I could have sat at that bar until breakfast. This dining experience is unique and special, with only the best ingredients available. You cannot miss it while you’re in Tokyo.

Arquiste, a fragrance collection by the talented Carlos Huber, is a stunning mix of scents and stories that captures its audience through first whiff. Creating a series of fragrances that align with particular destinations and stories behind their creation, Mr. Huber has taken a different approach to perfume making. There is a three-dimensional feel and layers upon layers to uncover here. Because, when you learn about the brand and the art of creation behind it, you realize you’re not simply wearing a scent – but an entire moment in time. We sat down with Mr. Huber to ask him a few questions in relation to his brand, and two of our favorite scents for 2018 – Anima Dulcis and L’Etrog. IC: What were your main inspirations behind Anima Dulcis and L’Etrog? CH: My main inspiration behind every Arquiste scent is to transport you to a inspiring time and place. Anima Dulcis takes you, by way of its notes, to a convent kitchen in 17th century Mexico City, where nuns prepared Baroque recipes of hot chocolate with ingredients like smoked peppers, jasmine, and oriental spices. It’s a sophisticated scent for both men and women that instantly warms up your blood and tickles your nose. L’Etrog transports you Medieval Calabria, Italy, to a warm night in early October, in citron and lemon grove, inside a cabin built of tree branches and palm fronds, where farmers would spend the night with the harvested citron fruit…eat dates, drink wine and sleep under the starry sky surrounded by the bright citrus scent. It’s fresh, crips but also woody. It’s a long lasting citrus unisex scent that is elegant and evocative. IC: Which scent ingredient do you enjoy working with most? CH: I love working with ambers, as well as orange blossom. IC: What scents are you currently working-on or developing? CH: This September we will launch a scent that smells like skin after a day at the beach, a swim in the ocean…an immediate pleasure transporting you to the beach. Always my favorite place. IC: Who is the Arquiste wearer? What embodies their spirit? CH: Someone that loves traveling, interested in discovering the world and different cultures and appreciates an intelligent approach to luxury and quality. IC: Which Arquiste scent or scents do you wear the most? CH: The Architects Club….it’s my go to, for every occasion. And it never fails to get compliments. Always the winner on my skin. IC: Are there certain skin types or personalities that work better with fragrance families, i.e. citrus vs. leather? CH: People say that darker skin types tend to pull of sweeter or floral scents better, since they balance it well. I think fair-skinned people smell amazing with dark, leathery, smoky notes. But this is not total rule, since your own nutrition, lifestyle, etc. will likely influence even more than your skin type. This is why I like working with ambers, citrus notes, and orange blossom. These tend to smell amazing on everyone!

Arquiste, a fragrance collection by the talented Carlos Huber, is a stunning mix of scents and stories that captures its audience through first whiff. Creating a series of fragrances that align with particular destinations and stories behind their creation, Mr. Huber has taken a different approach to perfume making. There is a three-dimensional feel and layers upon layers to uncover here. Because, when you learn about the brand and the art of creation behind it, you realize you’re not simply wearing a scent – but an entire moment in time. We sat down with Mr. Huber to ask him a few questions in relation to his brand, and two of our favorite scents for 2018 – Anima Dulcis and L’Etrog. IC: What were your main inspirations behind Anima Dulcis and L’Etrog? CH: My main inspiration behind every Arquiste scent is to transport you to a inspiring time and place. Anima Dulcis takes you, by way of its notes, to a convent kitchen in 17th century Mexico City, where nuns prepared Baroque recipes of hot chocolate with ingredients like smoked peppers, jasmine, and oriental spices. It’s a sophisticated scent for both men and women that instantly warms up your blood and tickles your nose. L’Etrog transports you Medieval Calabria, Italy, to a warm night in early October, in citron and lemon grove, inside a cabin built of tree branches and palm fronds, where farmers would spend the night with the harvested citron fruit…eat dates, drink wine and sleep under the starry sky surrounded by the bright citrus scent. It’s fresh, crips but also woody. It’s a long lasting citrus unisex scent that is elegant and evocative. IC: Which scent ingredient do you enjoy working with most? CH: I love working with ambers, as well as orange blossom. IC: What scents are you currently working-on or developing? CH: This September we will launch a scent that smells like skin after a day at the beach, a swim in the ocean…an immediate pleasure transporting you to the beach. Always my favorite place. IC: Who is the Arquiste wearer? What embodies their spirit? CH: Someone that loves traveling, interested in discovering the world and different cultures and appreciates an intelligent approach to luxury and quality. IC: Which Arquiste scent or scents do you wear the most? CH: The Architects Club….it’s my go to, for every occasion. And it never fails to get compliments. Always the winner on my skin. IC: Are there certain skin types or personalities that work better with fragrance families, i.e. citrus vs. leather? CH: People say that darker skin types tend to pull of sweeter or floral scents better, since they balance it well. I think fair-skinned people smell amazing with dark, leathery, smoky notes. But this is not total rule, since your own nutrition, lifestyle, etc. will likely influence even more than your skin type. This is why I like working with ambers, citrus notes, and orange blossom. These tend to smell amazing on everyone!

Serge Lutens’ Un Bois Vanille was created in 2003 and remains a luxurious, rich and potent scent to satisfy even the most discerning of vanilla lovers. Coconut, licorice, bees wax, wood and vanilla come together in a stunning dance that concocts a fragrance with the power to seduce and excite those who wear and experience it. Known for utilizing the best ingredients money can buy, Un Bois Vanille brings together some of the most rare and expensive scents. Heady and strong, yet light enough to wear during the day or in warmer months, you won’t be able to resist the intoxication that seems to entrance all who smell it. Simply put, people just can’t get enough.

Every New Yorker, whether you’re male or female, is constantly on the hunt for the perfect wax. They are searching high and low for studios that use the most luxurious ingredients, hurt the least and offers the best overall experience. Look no further. Daphne: European Skincare and Sugaring Studio , on the border of Manhattan’s SoHo and Lower East Side neighborhoods, is perfect. Known throughout the city as a preeminent destination for skincare and hair removal, once you try their services, you won’t want to go anywhere else. The studio is trained-in and uses the incomparable Biologique Recherche skincare products, second to none. They customize facials using the cult French line – including manual lifting, oxygenating and de-puffing. Daphne uses the products for the face and body – including offering some of the most results-oriented body treatments in the city (slimming, tightening and cleansing). They’re fantastic. But, what Daphne is known for, is sugaring. Their expert aestheticians grab a glob of amber-colored, melted organic sugar and roll it into a giant ball. They prepare your skin and body hair through trimming and prepping. The sugar blob now makes its way into their hand, where it’s applied to your skin and, rip, your hair is gone. I’m not going to say it doesn’t hurt, it does. But, like waxing, the more frequently you do it, the easier it becomes. Clients can expect skin that is clear and clean, with little to no bumps after the hair is removed. Daphne is the perfect one-stop-shop for beauty and hair removal in New York.

A creation by the house of Frederic Malle and designed by Maurice Roucel, Musc Ravageur is truly a triumph in the art of fragrance. Embodying the true image of sex appeal, this scent will stop you in your tracks when you get a whiff. Melding bergamot, mandarin and lavender with musk, vanilla and sandalwood – you’ll be instantly taken by the combination which is light yet deep, rich and warm – yet not overpowering. The person who wears Musc Ravageur is confidant, warm, mysterious and seductive. And, for those who aren’t those things naturally – this fragrance will give you a nudge in that direction.

Skinceuticals is one of the market’s top skincare brands founded in science. And, with winter in full effect, it’s essential to find the right products to protect your skin – keeping it safe from the dry, cold air. And, while you’re at it, why not throw-in a little anti-aging power in there? These two products from Skinceuticals, Phloretin CF and Serum 20 AOX+, work together to heal, tighten and infuse your skin with essential nutrients. Designed for daytime use, the Phloretin CF antioxidant serum neutralizes free radicals to prevent signs of accelerated skin aging. The blend of phloretin, pure vitamin C and Ferulic acid improve the appearance of discoloration, fine lines and uneven skin tone. Serum 20 AOX+ is formulated with the precise concentration of 20% vitamin C that has been proven to provide maximum environmental protection and anti-aging benefits. This facial serum neutralizes free radical damage that contribute to atmospheric skin aging – environmental damage and premature signs of aging caused by free radicals from UVA/UVB light. In addition to antioxidant benefits, this facial serum diminishes fine lines and wrinkles. By combining these two products together, you can maximize your vitamin C intake morning and night, keeping your skin as radiant and protected during the winter as possible. Photos taken at the Efendi Hotel in Akko, Israel

London is an incredible city and there are a plethora of luxury options when choosing a place to stay; but none of them quite match-up to immersing yourself into the fabric of the city like a local by renting an apartment through UK Sotheby’s International Realty . Offering some of the most beautiful apartments (flats) and homes for rent, you can choose from a melange of options on their website to make your stay as personalized and special as possible. And, with luxury being a part of Sothebys International Realty’s DNA worldwide, you can expect professional service and an easy rental process before, during and after your trip. On a recent trip to London, I rented a stunning two bedroom flat in the Belgravia neighborhood, near Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Knightsbridge shopping and international embassies. This flat struck me most of all their properties because of the astounding art collection that graced the walls of every room. At nearly 2,000 square feet and offering two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a private entry, terraces and a backyard – I couldn’t have found a more peaceful and elegant respite in a city that is bustling 24-hours a day. The owner is an avid art collector and staying here really felt like sleeping at the Tate. Renting through UK Sotheby’s International Realty is very easy. After locating your property on their website, you simply send an inquiry and their prompt team will respond from an office almost immediately. The agents working with UK Sotheby’s International Realty are kind and thoughtful, as mine asked me about my plans while in town and offered to help me find the best property to fit my itinerary should the one I chose be unavailable. Luckily, this property, at 2 Halkin Street, was available. Renting through UK Sotheby’s International Realty is a different experience when staying in London. Some prefer hotels with over-the-top services, which none can argue as a bad thing. But, if you’re coming alone or as a family, or in a group of friends and would like to stay as a local – in some of the best locations in the city, UK Sotheby’s International Realty has you covered. I loved unpacking my bags into my bedroom’s spacious closet, putting a few bouquets of fresh flowers in vases and running around the corner for a couple bottles of wine, fresh cheese from The Fine Cheese Company on Motcomb Street and snacks from WaitRose market. It’s a different experience, entirely. I can’t recommend it enough.

Neill Strain is a name synonymous with luxury in the world of flowers. Operating from a stunning floral boutique in the Belgravia neighborhood of London and offering his creations through partnerships with Harrod’s Knightsbridge amongst others, you can count on Neill and his team to assemble some of the most stunning flower arrangements on the planet. On a recent trip to London, Neill created a few arrangements for our team’s beautiful space in a rented flat through Sotheby’s International Realty in Belgravia. We spoke to Neill about his brand, inspiration and ethos behind what has become a true icon in London and worldwide. IC: When did you first realize flowers were your passion, and why did you fall in love with designing floral arrangements? NS: I realized flowers were my passion when I was very young. I used to work in the garden in Ireland with my grandmother and at age 12, I took on a Saturday job at the local flower shop. I fell in love with designing floral arrangements because I believe fresh flowers are the most extraordinary material for creating emotive art. Whether one is working on an event, a wedding, or decorating the front of my own Belgravia boutique, I see that floral designs give people an extraordinary feeling. The ephemeral beauty of flowers is unique. IC: What is your favorite flower to work with and why? NS: It is impossible to have one single favorite flower, however, I often have a favorite flower of the season, such as Tulips in the spring, Roses in the summer and Dahlias in the Autumn. The number of different varieties of these flowers available today, thanks to the exceptional work of our Dutch breeders, means with one single flower type we can work with many different styles and colors. I like to work with seasonal flowers yet I also have a passion for Orchids and almost always include this large family of flowers in my work: long trails of Phalaenopsis, giant stems of Cymbidium and the exotic colors of Vanda, to name a few. Every May, during the Chelsea Flower Show, we host an exhibit of one single flower and showcase old, new and rare varieties that I source from Holland. These exhibits have included Hydrangeas, Peonies, Roses and Orchids, all of which are on occasion my favorite flowers. IC: Where does your greatest design inspiration come from? NS: I have many sources of inspiration. I have an eye for architecture and the buildings and garden squares of Belgravia, where I have the boutique are always inspirational. Nature in general is extremely inspirational for a floral artist and I visit London and Richmond parks for this, or go out to the countryside for the weekend. I am a fan of fashion and haute couture; the materials, the colors, textures and the lines of fashion are particularly inspirational for our hand-tied bouquets. Finally, since a lot of my work includes designing flowers for interiors, the interior design, the colors and textures, the style and personal character of a home, are both inspirational and influential for my designs. IC: What has been your greatest career achievement to date? NS: My greatest career achievement occurred this summer and was something my team and I have been working towards for a long time. We opened the flower concession at Harrods. Over the past 10 years, since I first opened my boutique in Belgravia, I have created a network of the very best growers in Holland from whom I source flowers of absolutely exceptional quality. This, combined with the high level of design we create for our discerning clientele, means that Harrods is the perfect place to showcase our flowers and our work. IC: What is the best advice you can give people who might be designing their own floral arrangements at home? Any tips? NS: My advice is to first look at the colors, the textures, the lines and the proportion of the the room in which you wish to design your flowers. Consider the overall style, if the interiors are traditional or contemporary. Then select your flowers accordingly. Tall flowers and big arrangements for large proportions and small bouquets or arrangements or even a single flower for a small room. Making a mood board can sometimes help to make sure you don’t wander from your theme. Choosing the right container is also important. Glass vases expose stems so make sure the stems are attractive, or you can place large leaves inside the vase, such as Monstera leaves, to cover the stems and this creates an interesting look. A ceramic or porcelain vase must not compete but complement the flowers so take care choosing either the vase or the flowers first so you can select the other accordingly.