Latest news with #AceHotel
Time Out
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Photography: Supplied
2025 update: Mitch Orr's Jatz and anchovies may have gone, but there's ace stuff coming out of Sydney rooftop restaurant Kiln. Beau Clugston, former Noma chef and owner of Iluka in Copenhagen, Denmark, is now the head chef of the sky-high diner found atop the Ace Hotel in Surry Hills. Clugston, who grew up in Sawtell on the New South Wales coast and worked at the world's best restaurant for six years, is drawing on his fine-dining creds as well as his love of the ocean and native Australian produce for Kiln 2.0. (Though, TBH, we do miss the Jatz.) Read on for our original review of Kiln ***** ✍️ Time Out Sydney never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more, here. When you arrive at 53 Foy Lane and find yourself double-checking directions under the glow of a neon-lit fire door, don't worry: you're in exactly the right spot. In a couple of minutes you'll be whisked down a hallway, into an elevator, and up 18 floors to a spacious glass-walled dining room. Kiln opened in October 2022, and the place feels young and bright-eyed – even though the building carries national historic significance. It's located on the site of the Tyne House brick factory, home to Australia's earliest ceramic kiln discovery, where convict Jonathan Leak (deported here for life from the UK for burglary) produced pottery way back in the 1820s. Needless to say, Kiln doesn't fare badly from this prize location. Popped atop the new 264-room Ace Hotel, the restaurant offers panoramic views of downtown Sydney, peering down on the Downing Centre and Griffiths Teas buildings, and gazing up through vast retractable skylights, punctured by the tops of the city's tallest towers. The 108-seat floor plan offers a mix of sofas, chairs and barstools, all in sight of the open kitchen and woodfired oven. The walls are draped in pale linen, custom-painted with pigment made from salvaged waste materials, which gives the room a playful feel. Chef Mitch Orr (who's racked up culinary awards at the likes of Acme and CicciaBella) describes Kiln's cuisine as 'Italian-ish', taking influence, too, from Japan and South East Asia. Menu sections are unlabelled but loosely grouped as entrées, raw, vegetables, meats and desserts. There's no right or wrong way to order; take all dishes from the same section or one from each – fun for some, a minefield for others. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kiln (@kilnsydney) The entrées are small and simple, comprising two or three ingredients each. Those that fell in love with Orr's Jatz-based creations back at Acme will be stoked to see they are making a comeback at Kiln. Here, each cracker holds one anchovy curled around a near-tablespoon of smoked butter. It's wonderfully rich and salty, an almighty hit of fish in a single bite. The tomato and ricotta tartlet, by contrast, is a light and modest mouthful – you could enjoy a whole basketful if there weren't more treats to choose from. From the raw section, don't miss the market fish crudo, a neat spiral of fish, bathed in a dipping bowl of scallion oil and housemade ponzu. It's deliciously fresh, the salt of the crudo and spring onions melding with the tangy citrus sauce. Also worth a mention is the stracciatella, which collapses in a creamy mess over grilled peach and shiso leaves – a must-have. The roasted eggplant, liberally showered with macadamias and curry leaves, is gently smoky and easily shovelled. It's worth pairing this dish, and others, with a portion of the Randall Farm Koshihikari rice, a Japanese rice often used for sushi, which is washed 15 times so it's cooked optimally to mop up any runaway sauces, oils and juices. As much as you may not wish to hear it, the dessert advice is this: consider sharing. They come big and bold. The corn ice cream – served with a firm perimeter of butter popcorn and drenched in a pool of salted caramel – is one you're unlikely to find anywhere else, and reflects Orr's palpable sense of fun and creativity. The sponge cake, topped with clotted cream and grilled apricot, is another hefty portion, without quite the visual dazzle or relentless saccharinity of the ice wine list is curated by P&V Merchants co-founder Mike Bennie, with a rotating special on tap. The intriguing cocktail menu features a Chamomile Sour with earl grey syrup, a Japanese Berry Highball with herbal bitters and blueberry and, our favourite, the Strawberry Hills Spritz, stuffed with a whopping sprig of thyme and a refreshing sweetness to accompany the evening sundown. Orr plays to his strengths at his latest venture, creating enough show-stopping flavours to match the ace location. We say come with a group of friends, order a bunch of snacks with fine drops, and settle in for a memorable evening at this new Sydney hotspot. - Reviewed March 2023
Hypebeast
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Salomon Joins Forces with Creative Uchida "Uchi" Ryunosuke for Debut Collab
Summary SalomonSportstyle Japan has teamed up with Kyoto-based creativeUchida 'Uchi' Ryunosukefor a limited-edition take on theRX SLIDE 3.0, unveiled at a community-focused event hosted at Ace Hotel Kyoto. The RX SLIDE 3.0 'UCHI' reimagines Salomon's signature recovery silhouette with pine needle-inspired graphics and minimalist styling, reflecting Uchi's naturalistic design ethos. Only 100 pairs were produced worldwide and each was gifted as a surprise to select attendees — making the collaboration an instant collector's item. The launch coincided with the Ace Hotel's latest 'SLOW SERIES' workshop, where over 180 participants joined Uchi in a natural dyeing session using pine needle-based dyes. Alongside tenugui and socks, the unreleased shoes were the highlight of the day, blending craftsmanship with community spirit. The celebration continued with an evening reception at Stumptown Coffee Roasters, where guests enjoyed specialty cocktails and dishes crafted for the occasion. While the shoes aren't available for purchase, this high-profile debut collab signals that there's plenty more to come from Uchi.
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Travel + Leisure
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
How to Spend a Perfect Long Weekend in the Athenian Riviera—Where to Eat, Shop, and Stay
In the 1960s, the stretch of coastline just south of Athens—beginning at the port of Piraeus and sprawling some 40 miles along the western shore of the Attica Peninsula—was the place to see and be seen. Brigitte Bardot, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Frank Sinatra, and other celebrities vacationed there, camping out at the Astir Palace—the grande dame of Riviera elegance and a fixture in films, fashion shoots, and society pages. In the 1970s, however, once travelers could reach the Greek islands directly by air, the area's fortunes began to fade. From left: A guest room at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens; the property's façade. Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens But the tides are changing once again. In 2019, the Astir Palace reopened as the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens , kicking off a renaissance that, in the past two years, has included the arrival of more stylish hotels, restaurants, and beach clubs. Related: How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Athens, Greece, According to Travel Experts Like Rick Steves The suburb of Vouliagmeni, where the Four Seasons sits, saw the opening last year of the Astir Marina, with 50 berths for yachts and mega-yachts. There's also a shopping complex, with boutiques for Greek fashion brands like Zeus & Dione and Karkalis. Oven Manufactory, a bakery and coffee shop in the heart of Glyfada. In the upmarket neighborhood of Glyfada, 10 minutes north of Vouliagmeni, the Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens has been generating buzz since it opened in the fall. The brand's first European outpost is housed in a Modernist building from the 1970s, which has been given an update by the French design firm Ciguë and has a swim club where guests can stretch out by the pool on retro-striped loungers. Related: This Clifftop Sanctuary Was Just Named the No. 1 Resort in Greece—With Glittering Aegean Sea Views All Around New restaurants are diverging from traditional taverna fare. Among them is Bungalow 7 , where chef Dinos Fotinakis—who made his name at Mykonos's acclaimed Beefbar—has crafted a menu that elegantly blends classic Italian dishes with Asian flavors, such as carbonara with Wagyu bacon and matcha tiramisu. Also worth a stop are Sofi's Eatery, a café and deli that's become a popular brunch spot in Vouliagmeni, and Oven Manufactory, a sceney bakery and coffee shop in the heart of Glyfada. From left: A niçoise salad from Sebastian, the restaurant at Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens; Sofi's Eatery, a deli and café in Vouliagmeni. From left: Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens; Thomas Gravanis Sandwiched between these two glamorous neighborhoods is the One&Only Aesthesis , set within 50 acres of forest reserve overlooking the Saronic Gulf. There are 95 bungalows spread across the grounds—some tucked among olive trees and bougainvillea, others right on the water—each with wood paneling, floor-to-ceiling windows, and expansive outdoor spaces with showers and fireplaces. Nearby is 91 Athens Riviera , which was opened last June by Greek hospitality brand Domes. Accommodations take the form of futuristic tents, with canvas strung across domed structures, and include all the trappings you'd expect on a luxury safari, like canopy beds and private plunge pools. A version of this story first appeared in the August 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline "Age of the Aegean ."
South China Morning Post
09-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
8 best Kyoto luxury hotels for all traveller types, for Japanese style with home comforts
Who it is for : City slickers on their second trip to Japan. With that in mind, here is a selection of Kyoto 's most talked-about luxury hotels that cost US$1,000 or less a night, including reasons to book them and some caveats worth considering. The choice of luxury hotels is so wide it has become ever harder to sift through the prospects. And with eye-watering prices, it is a choice most travellers cannot afford to get wrong. In 2024, wellness pioneer Six Senses – known for resorts in such far-flung beach spots as the Maldives and Fiji – opened one of its first urban properties in Kyoto to great fanfare. Within the next 12 months, the so-hot-right-now brand Capella will open its doors in the city's Gion district On any given month, Kyoto receives from 3 million to 4 million tourists, outnumbering residents at least two to one. So it is no wonder that every international hotel brand has been intent on planting its flag in Japan's cultural capital. Here is the deal: Rather than being a pastiche of Japanese aesthetics, like most of the properties on this list, the funky, brightly coloured Ace Hotel leans harder into Kyoto's cosmopolitan flair. There are regular DJ sets at in-house taqueria Piopiko, lectures by creatives and academics, as well as artists-in-residence who can install their works all around the property. Rooms are divided into two wings: a modern hotel tower and a historical building from the Meiji period (1868-1912). You cannot go wrong with either. Rooms at Ace Hotel Kyoto are in two wings: a modern hotel tower and a historical building from the Meiji period (1868-1912). Photo: Instagram/acehotelkyoto Kosa Kyoto, a farm-to-table restaurant at Ace Hotel Kyoto. Photo: Photo: Instagram/acehotelkyoto and kosakyoto One thing we would change: The service ethos feels like a cross between Japanese stoicism and blasé American Generation Z energy, which can inadvertently come off as too cool. What you will pay: Around US$300 per night. 2. Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto Who it is for: The crazy-rich-Asian jet set who want textbook Japanese aesthetics. Here is the deal: The : The Kengo Kuma -designed Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto sits on an elegant perch just above the bustling cobbled lanes that lead to some of the city's most beloved temples. Wooden lattices hang above the entrance, and, in an extreme attempt to represent Japanese heritage, there is even a Noh stage in the back courtyard – though its dimensions are a bit too small for the traditional choreography. A view of Kyoto from one of the rooms in Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto. Photo: Instagram/banyantreehigashiyamakyoto Ryozen, the hotel's main restaurant, does a better job of honouring local culture. It serves elaborate breakfasts in multitiered bento boxes, and its classic multicourse kaiseki dinners can hold their own against Kyoto's most esteemed venues. One thing we would change: OK, two things. Despite the property's architectural pedigree, there are some thoughtless design choices in the rooms, including inefficient placement of light switches and being able to see yourself in the bathroom's mirror while lying in bed. And despite the hotel's fantastic, elevated location, there is no communal place on the property to appreciate the views. What you will pay: Around US$1,000 per night. 3. The Celestine Kyoto Gion Who it is for: Value seekers with refined taste. Here is the deal: For half the price of a room at an international brand, the Celestine offers comfy digs and an ultra-convenient location in the heart of Gion, Kyoto's most prominent : For half the price of a room at an international brand, the Celestine offers comfy digs and an ultra-convenient location in the heart of Gion, Kyoto's most prominent geisha district. Little perks include noticeably larger rooms than at the standard Japanese hotel, plus a lounge with complimentary tea and coffee. One thing we would change: Breakfast is mediocre, even if the staff are superb. What you will pay: Around US$330 per night. Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto features vibrant, contemporary works by Japanese artists. Photo: Instagram/fskyoto 4. Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto Who it is for: Japan first-timers. Here is the deal: There is no : There is no White Lotus drama at this Four Seasons, where the American-style service is truly all smiles. Its legion of international staff seamlessly bridges the gap between cultures, offering the creature comforts of home – there is a steakhouse on site, and plenty of English is spoken. But you still get a genuinely Japanese experience: the hotel is situated on a former samurai's estate in the heart of southern Higashiyama. Opt for a room overlooking the garden, whose pond and bonsai trees are more than 800 years old. One thing we would change: The decor – purples, golds, oranges and floral prints everywhere – feels a tad dated. What you will pay: Around US$730 per night. 5. Marufukuro The art deco motif makes the Marufukurou hotel feel like something out of a Japanese version of Mad Men. Photo: Marufukuro Who it is for: Art deco obsessives who would pick pitch-perfect 1930s opulence over traditional Japanese aesthetics. Here is the deal: Set in the former Nintendo headquarters, this Tadao Ando-designed boutique hotel near Kyoto Station takes a bold art deco swing. Its 18 ultra-mod hotel rooms – and a few moody common areas that double as a lounge or bar – feel as though they could be the set for a Japanese version of Mad Men One thing we would change: The communal spaces are packed with details, so by contrast the rooms feel a bit sparse. What you will pay: Around US$445 per night. 6. Ritz-Carlton Kyoto The Ritz-Carlton's midtown location puts it within walking distance of practically all Kyoto's major attractions. Photo: Instagram/ritzcarltonkyoto Who it is for: Luxury travellers who want to hit the ground running. Here is the deal: The hotel that jump-started Kyoto's five-star hospitality game roughly a decade ago is now a well-oiled machine with top-notch service. Its midtown location – which puts practically all Kyoto's major attractions and big-name restaurants within walking distance – makes it the best pick for busy travellers who are out at the temples for sunrise and izakayas for late-night drinks. When you are kaiseki'd out, the concierge team will happily help you track down great pizza – no judgment. And its signature picture windows, looking out over the lazy Kamo River, still offer the moments of peaceful contemplation that define the world's best urban oases. One thing we would change: The red, lacquer and golden accents tend to read a bit more Chinese than Japanese. What you will pay: Around US$900 per night. The main building of Sowaka is a historic structure that has been renovated from a traditional Japanese restaurant. Photo: Instagram/ 7. Sowaka Who it is for: The inn crowd – meaning someone who would like to stay at the Japanese equivalent of a historic bed-and-breakfast. Here's the deal: More than anything, this is a faithful tribute to the 400-year-old sukiya style of Japanese architecture that you see all over Kyoto – think traditional teahouse aesthetic with tatami floors and shoji paper walls. It inhabits an old structure in the heart of Gion that was once an elaborate restaurant – now with 23 rooms that are each completely unique. The smaller rooms are the more smartly designed ones; avoid the annex with modern rooms, which entirely miss the point. Pro tip: The inn is affiliated with : The inn is affiliated with Small Luxury Hotels of the World – a group of independently owned properties vetted for their ability to deliver a luxury experience – which means you can book it with Hilton points. One thing we would change: The soundproofing, which is thin throughout the old wing of the hotel. What you will pay: Around US$775 per night. 8. Six Senses Kyoto Six Senses is a hotel in Kyoto for travellers for whom well-being is core to their needs. Photo: Instagram/sixsenseskyoto Who it is for: Travellers with picky palates or dietary restrictions. Here is the deal: A small snapshot of what you will find at the spa in Kyoto's most wellness-focused urban resort: a : A small snapshot of what you will find at the spa in Kyoto's most wellness-focused urban resort: a Watsu pool for underwater massages, a 'biohacking zone', a large fitness centre, steam rooms and a so-called Alchemy Bar slinging tailor-made immunity-boosting shots. At the hotel restaurant, you will be served whatever is growing locally that week, prepared in accordance with your particular dietary requirements. That is hard to come by in Japan. Skip these perks – and this hotel as a whole – if you want to be out on the town. But if well-being is core to your needs, there is nowhere else you will be better accommodated. One thing we would change: The views. Most rooms face a very cramped interior courtyard. What you will pay: Around US$965 per night. Advertisement
Japan Today
03-06-2025
- Japan Today
Stay in style: Art hotels and creative lodging in Kyoto
Quirky art awaits at the Hotel Anteroom Kyoto throughout the entirety of its grounds. By Kimberly Hughes As with other highly-traveled destinations, Japan has no shortage of unique accommodation options. These include numerous inns incorporating explicitly artistic touches, such as one styled around a treehouse in Okinawa and another that's a denim-themed guesthouse in the Kojima district of Kurashiki, Okayama (known as Japan's 'jeans capital'). This article introduces two artistically themed inns in Kyoto to keep on your radar for future getaways. While differing from the more traditional accommodation experience in Japan's ancient capital, such as a stay in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) or a machiya (townhouse), both of these options offer an opportunity to experience Kyoto's local culture through the unique lens of innovative modern art and design. Ace Hotel Kyoto: Portland cool meets Kyoto craftsmanship Featuring a copper donut-shaped front desk, with unique overhead lighting and wooden beams, Ace Hotel Kyoto is infused with art on every level. Image: Kimberly Hughes Established in 2020, this hotel is part of the global Ace Hotel network, whose first location was repurposed in 1999 from a fisherman's inn in the U.S. city of Portland, Oregon — setting the tone for the brand's ethos of craftsmanship and community. Ace Hotel Kyoto similarly represents a restoration project, featuring two legendary architects working one century apart. It is housed in the atmospheric Shinpuhkan complex, which was designed in the 1920s as the Kyoto Central Telephone Office by leading modernist Yoshida Tetsuro. The present-day structure features the work of Kengo Kuma — including a majestic kigumi (wood joinery) timber ceiling — with additional collaboration from Atelier Ace and Commune Design. Equal parts cozy and chic, the Ace Hotel Kyoto's lobby area invites lounging with friends while gazing at onsite art installations. Image: Kimberly Hughes The hotel grounds brim with the works of local and far-flung artists and designers alike. Lobby accents include copper light fixtures, works from famed katazome (stencil dyeing) artist Yunoki Samiro and verdant foliage homed in earthy, chunky pots created by artist and fisherman Kazunori Hamana. The first-floor exhibition space features artworks from guest creators, which include a rotating lineup of international, multigenre artists-in-residence. A long working table and comfy couch area serve as a community hub — perfect for enjoying a seasonal latte from the adjacent Stumptown Coffee Roasters, a Portland classic. The chilled-out playlist features everything from ambient jazz to funk, with live DJs often spinning for events. Artworks also dot its three onsite restaurants: Kosa, featuring impeccably-presented seasonal local cuisine; Mr. Maurice's Italian, whose specialties include wood-fired pizzas and rooftop cocktails; and Piopiko, an uber-stylish bar and taco lounge. Even the food is an artful affair at the Ace Hotel — including this matcha-dusted, vegan black sesame panna cotta at its stylish Kosa restaurant. Image: Kimberly Hughes While visitors are welcome to enjoy this veritable festival of art in the hotel's restaurant and common spaces, in-room features are of course available exclusively to overnight guests. These include soaking tubs, vinyl turntables, Tivoli radios and Gibson guitars; along with exclusively-designed fabrics, furniture inspired by Charlotte Perriand's work during her World War II-era Japan sojourn, and in-room artworks from Japan's Mingei folk artist movement. While such extravagance naturally comes with a price, off-season rates do run lower; and there are also special deals for Japan residents. Besides its design-oriented accolades, the hotel has additionally received recognition for its diversity-related efforts — including a 2025 Japan Travel Award for its consistent support of LGBTQ+ guests. Hotel Anteroom Kyoto: A contemporary stay with artistic flair Cafe by day and bar in the evening, this space also serves as a spot to gaze at creative art installations. Image: Kimberly Hughes Lying four kilometers due south, this hotel — in the midrange budget category — is significantly more compact in size than the Ace Hotel Kyoto, and offers an altogether different vibe; although no less of an artistic experience. Fronted by a rock garden, along with strategically-positioned lights that cast a soft glow after dark, this inn exudes style even before you first enter. Once a student dormitory, its interior has been renovated in the style of a smart boutique hotel, replete with clean neon-white signage and a spacious area for guest dining. There is also a separate café, open to the public, that turns into a chilled-out bar at nighttime (think Portishead over a dram of whisky). Artistic elements also abound here. There are two styles of rooms — concept and standard — with those in the concept category each showcasing the works of a specific artistic individual or entity; and interesting artworks even featuring in the standard rooms. The first-floor lobby also serves as a space to host exhibitions and events, along with pop-up shops selling artworks and various goods. Even walking down the hallway at the Hotel Anteroom Kyoto feels artsy. Image: Kimberly Hughes In one recent exhibition, titled 'The Box of Memories', the first-floor main space and wall corridor were lined with works that recounted the history of Kumagusuku — another local art hostel, with roots in the Setouchi Art Triennale event, which closed its doors earlier in 2025. All featured artists have a close connection to Kyoto, so between the deeply local exhibitions and the informational clearinghouse-style space filled with racks of pamphlets covering the city's artistic happenings, a stay at the Hotel Anteroom Kyoto affords an intimate window into Kyoto's artistic scene. Since the hotel also has locations in Naha, Okinawa and Seoul, Korea that feature a similar vibe, the next time you visit those cities you can take the opportunity to get artsy there, as well. Find more information on these art-oriented Kyoto hotels here: Ace Hotel Kyoto 245-2 Kurumayacho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto 604-8185, Japan Tel: 075 229 9000 Website: Ace Hotel Kyoto Hotel Anteroom Kyoto 7 Aketa-cho, Higashi-Kujo, Minami-ku, Kyoto, 601-8044 Japan Tel: 075 681 5656 Website: Hotel Anteroom Kyoto © Japan Today
