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What's On
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- What's On
6 destination beach clubs to plan your summer around
Out of office, into the edit… This summer's essentials: a stretch of sand, great food, something cold to sip, and music that makes you forget your phone is at 1%. From new openings and pop-ups to all-time coastal favourites, here's where to spend the day – and maybe the night – if you're hitting these destinations this season. COYA Beach, St-Tropez New for summer 2025, COYA drops its first beach club on Pampelonne. The vibe? Barefoot with style – sun-faded wood, hand-thrown ceramics, and terracotta everywhere. The menu highlights sea bass ceviche, lamb cutlets, and lobster with white gazpacho. Pisco gets its own dedicated bar. The soundtrack moves from mellow to movement as the sun shifts. Daybeds, DJs, and that golden St-Tropez light – that's the all-day scene. Open daily, beach from 11am to 7pm, restaurant from 12pm to 5.30pm, Route de Bonne Terrasse, Pampelonne Beach, 83350 Ramatuelle, France. @coyasainttropez Gigi, Bodrum After winning hearts in Dubai, Paris, and Saint-Tropez, Gigi Rigolatto lands at Mandarin Oriental Bodrum this June. Think long, leisurely lunches, sunset drinks, and that laid-back vibe you'd jump on a plane for – now with sea views and private beach access. The menu sticks to rich Italian classics, while the Bellini Bar keeps the energy buzzing between aperitivo and dance floor. There's even a boutique onsite with Gigi's signature beachwear and accessories. Designed by Franco-Mexican architect Hugo Toro, the space reflects Italian style with French lifestyle touches – perfectly tailored for the Turkish coast. Gigi Rigolatto, Mandarin Oriental Bodrum, Gölköy, 314 Sokak No.10, Muğla, Turkey, Open seasonally summer 2025. @gigi_restaurant_bodrum Jacquemus Beach Club, Monte-Carlo Jacquemus, the brand known for mixing playful spirit with effortless elegance, just made its most sun-soaked move yet. Taking over Monte-Carlo Beach, the label's signature energy hits the Mediterranean with a splash of banana yellow and graphic black-and-white stripes – turning the classic Riviera scene into a chic playground. From runway to shoreline, Jacquemus is no stranger to turning heads. Now, its beach club concept is already stealing the spotlight, offering a stylish escape where fashion and leisure collide. The Pool Café steps up its game with monochrome vibes that feel more like a statement than décor, while two pop-up boutiques bring Jacquemus' beachwear and accessories right to the coast. Rooted in its French heritage, the brand's aesthetic meshes perfectly with Monte-Carlo's luxe laid-back lifestyle. Behind the scenes, the hotel balances sustainability with sophistication – think Michelin-star dining, new padel courts, and a revamped Olympic pool – making this the Riviera's ultimate summer destination. Jacquemus Beach Club, Monte-Carlo Beach, Avenue Princesse Grace, Monaco . The takeover runs through October 7, 2025. @montecarlobeach Verde Beach, Sardinia Verde Beach, known for its stylish beach clubs in Paris, Saint-Tropez, and Dubai (with New York and Miami coming soon), is opening a new spot on Sardinia's famous Emerald Coast. Accessible only by boat, this secluded cove offers a mix of natural beauty and refined design, where marble, macramé, nautical ropes, and teak wood create a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere. Chef Kanchana Ranasinghe's menu is a new take on Mediterranean classics with Riviera influences – think truffle pizza, lobster pacheri, yellowtail carpaccio, and Wagyu ribeye, all perfectly paired with fine wines and champagnes. As the day goes on, international DJs bring the energy, turning laid-back afternoons into vibrant nights. Verde Beach Sardinia, Oltu Quato, Emerald Coast, Sardinia, opening July 1, daily from 11am to 8pm. @ Amante, Ibiza An oldie, but still iconic. Amante remains one of Ibiza's most beloved beach clubs – and for good reason. Set along the cliffs of Sol d'en Serra and overlooking a quiet cove, its stunning sea views and cinematic calm remind you exactly why you booked the flight in the first place. The vibe? It's laid-back luxury – a serene escape from the island's party pulse. Think cliffside dining, crystal-clear waters, and a Mediterranean-led menu that leans into Ibizan seafood. Standout dishes like lobster rice and chargrilled giant prawns bring just the right touch of Spanish flair. Cocktails land as photogenic as the setting, especially when golden hour rolls in. Amante, Cala Sol d'en Serra Calle Afueras, s/n, 07849 Cala Llonga, Balearic Islands, Spain. @amanteibiza Luna Beach Club, Nyanyi If you're going to Bali this summer, make space for Luna. Set high above the coastline in Nyanyi, it's one of the newest spots drawing a creative crowd. The space is all curves and bamboo, with a sculptural design that catches light and wind in unexpected ways. By day, it's about long lunches, ocean dips, and a waterslide that drops straight into a hidden bar. As the sun shifts, so does the energy – DJs pick up the pace, the terrace fills, and the ocean turns gold. It's part beach club, part art piece, and already a reason people are rewriting their Bali maps. Luna Beach Club, Jl. Kayangan, Beraban, Kec. Kediri, Kabupaten Tabanan, Bali 82121, Indonesia, open daily from 10am until late. @lunabeachclubbali Images: Instagram
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Travelling to Bodrum This Summer? The Gigi Rigolatto Pop-up at the Mandarin Oriental is a Must-visit
The restaurant boasts Hugo Toro–designed interiors, seasonal flavours, and a boutique offering everything from jewellery to resortwear As far as summer rendezvous go, few hold the same sun-kissed charm as the Aegean coast. Add a little Italian flair, a Bellini or two, and a terrace that is made for golden-hour selfies, and you've got yourself a season to remember. Just in time for peak travel, Gigi Rigolatto, the name behind the locations in Saint-Tropez, Paris, and Dubai, has landed in Bodrum, with a pop-up at Mandarin Oriental. Opened this June, Gigi Rigolatto Bodrum is the latest chapter in a story that celebrates joie de vivre with elegance. A long-term collaboration between RIKAS Hospitality Group, Paris Society, and the iconic Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum, this marks the prelude to a permanent location debuting in 2026. Set within the resort's private enclave, the beachside venue offers panoramic views across the Aegean Sea from its 140-seat terrace. Guests can expect everything Gigi is known for at its locations across the world, including refined Italian dining and golden sunsets. The menu draws inspiration from both the hills of Tuscany and the coastal warmth of Puglia, with seasonal dishes served alongside the signature Bellini Bar. However, Gigi is more than its food offerings. Designed by acclaimed architect Hugo Toro, the space blends historical Italian charm with a touch of Mediterranean flare. The adjoining boutique concept store offers a curated selection of swimwear, jewellery, homeware, and beauty finds. With its secluded bay, immaculate service, and a backdrop that's fit for a postcard, the Gigi pop-up at Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum is your chance to completely immerse into the la dolce vita lifestyle this summer.
Telegraph
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
I visited the world's first Orient Express hotel
Rome's luxury hotel boom began in the aftermath of the pandemic, but in 2025 it might just be reaching its crescendo. This Jubilee year is a huge one for the Italian capital generally of course, even more so since the inauguration of the new Pope Leo XIV. The Eternal City is firmly back on the gilded map decades after its mid-20th-century heyday, so it's little surprise that luxury rail operator Orient Express chose it for the location of its first hotel. The brand has spent four years renovating the landmark Grand Hotel de La Minerva, set in a 17th-century palazzo steps from the Pantheon. This grand dame in the heart of the city's centro storico had long been a favorite among Romans – despite its rather time-worn air in more recent years – and its conversion from local staple to the flagship property of a company known for high luxury was a delicate one. Luckily (and maybe surprisingly), the commission for the new Orient Express La Minerva was entrusted to 35-year-old French-Mexican artist and architect Hugo Toro. This was the Paris-based creative's first hotel project. 'La Minerva is an institution that is super close to the heart of the Romans, so I didn't want to destroy it,' he told me as we explored the hotel together just days after it opened. 'I wanted to awaken this sleeping beauty.' Toro has given the hotel a 21st-century glow-up that sets a visionary example of how to evoke the style and spirit of a heritage brand with sophistication and subtlety. I walked through the doors half expecting choo-choo artwork and railway-themed objets, but instead found a thoughtful homage to the Orient Express legacy that remains firmly anchored in the Eternal City. Meticulously curated public spaces blend the Art Deco flavour of vintage Orient Express trains with a distinctive personality that is the fruit of Toro's granular attention to detail. He designed and curated every aspect of the décor, from the rugs – inspired by the view of the sky through the Pantheon's oculus – to the travertine friezes lining the lounge bar (which he carved himself). 'This one was at my place, but it was perfect for here,' he murmured, running his hands over a small sculpture as we passed by the concierge desk. It does indeed look as if it was created for this very nook. Reception has been reworked to accommodate seated check-in, with the area dedicated to the veritable battalion of concierge staff just opposite. Glossy wood and sinuous lines keep the image of a Golden Age train car just in your peripheral vision – what Toro explained to me as 'translating the idea of travelling, even though we are static.' A glass and iron ceiling topping the once mildly claustrophobic central courtyard lends a winter garden vibe to the lounge and bar, helped along by lush greenery. Later I settled into a Toro-designed armchair here to sip a signature champagne cocktail that sparkled with gold dust under the gaze of a towering marble Minerva statue (one of the few relics salvaged from the previous hotel). The 93 rooms and suites are each uniquely laid out to fit the Renaissance building and sport the same clever references as public areas. Artisan headboards have been painted to reflect the Roman sky based on the specific orientation of the room, hand-crafted night stands close like miniature travel trunks to hide away messy phone cords, custom marble bathroom sinks are carved like Rome's shell-shaped Baroque fountains. The luxury isn't limited to bespoke design, of course. Linens are sourced from Rivolta Carmignani, a historic Milanese manufacturer that once provided the silks for the Orient Express trains, and guests will find high-end hairdryers and straighteners, steamers, indulgent bath products and dreamily plush robes. Each guest is assigned a personal 'conductor' upon check-in, who is available 24 hours a day via a dedicated WhatsApp number. This type of white-glove service is a specialty of Filip Boyden, Head of Hospitality for Orient Express Hotels Italy. He was happy to report that the newly opened hotel had retained about 30 members of the previous staff, ideal for a smooth transition. The staff did seem to already have their sea legs just a few days after opening: my text request for tickets to the Edvard Munch exhibition running in Rome was dealt with in minutes and honey for my herbal tea appeared in my room magically after I mentioned a lingering cough. I dined on what is probably Orient Express La Minerva's most stand-out feature – its 360-degree rooftop terrace, now home to the Gigi Rigolatto Roma restaurant. Romans have been gathering here for special celebrations and romantic meals overlooking the Pantheon's dome for generations, and its restyling has opened up the view even more. The menu of shared and small plates highlights seafood – Rome's proximity to the sea is often overlooked – and ingredients are sourced from local and artisan producers. Each morning, the table-service breakfast features a range of healthy and indulgent international and Italian options while live harp music ushers in the day. A few of the hotel's features are still being completed. A train carriage-themed speakeasy is in the works, as well as a Turkish hammam-inspired spa. Saying goodbye to Toro before he returned to his Paris studio the following day, we discussed the plush patterned fabric (inspired, I was told, by the seagulls that roost on the Pantheon's dome each night) covering the new seating in the indoor and outdoor rooftop dining rooms. 'This was the first Orient Express hotel in the world,' he mused, 'so it had to make a statement.' And the statement is this: with its head-turning style and high-touch service, the Orient Express La Minerva sets a new bar for Rome's luxury revival.
Scottish Sun
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
The historic train station bar where you get a free drink every day at 5:05pm
A HIDDEN bar in a historic train station gives away free drinks at 5:05pm every single day. Nested in the heart of London is Booking Office 1869 - a bar hidden away in King's Cross St Pancras Station. 4 Booking Office 1869 is located in King's Cross St Pancras Station Credit: Alamy 4 The bar has a lavish interior, with tall ceilings and towering palm trees Credit: Booking Office 1869 4 Each day at 5:05pm guests can get a free drink Credit: Booking Office 1869 The bar is located within St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London, which opened back in 2021. The former St. Pancras ticket office was renovated with palm tree, gold interiors and leopard print chairs. In addition to the lavish interior, the bar and restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and even has a late license, with resident DJs performing during the weekend. French designer, Hugo Toro, has also created a Victorian-style Winter Garden at the venue. But the bar also offers a rather unusual quirk. Each day at 5:05pm, visitors can have a free drink. According to a TikTok video posted by @thecuriouspixie: "A bill rings, a flame ignites and a bartender will perform a full rum punch ritual." This happens at 5:05pm because the hotel originally opened on May 5, 1873, but the booking office opened in 1869 - which is where the name comes from. Guests can also explore original train tickets when at the bar. One TikTok user commented on the post: "Amazing! I live a short walk from St. Pancras Station. This is one of my favorite spots things about living in Central London. Historic Glasgow pub known for its cheap pints & famous customers sold "There is a never ending list of experiences to discover!" Another added: "Such a beautiful bar." A third user quipped: "Thank you for the tip. I shall be visiting!" Another destination to explore is Europe's highest rooftop bar, which is also in the UK and is like 'stepping into another world'. Plus, a man has been to hundreds of London pubs and the capital's hardest-to-find boozer is also a Hollywood star. 4 The tradition comes from the original opening dates of the hotel and ticket office Credit: Alamy
The Irish Sun
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
The historic train station bar where you get a free drink every day at 5:05pm
A HIDDEN bar in a historic train station gives away free drinks at 5:05pm every single day. Nested in the heart of London is Booking Office 1869 - a bar hidden away in King's Cross St Pancras Station. Advertisement 4 Booking Office 1869 is located in King's Cross St Pancras Station Credit: Alamy 4 The bar has a lavish interior, with tall ceilings and towering palm trees Credit: Booking Office 1869 4 Each day at 5:05pm guests can get a free drink Credit: Booking Office 1869 The bar is located within St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London, which opened back in 2021. The former St. Pancras ticket office was renovated with palm tree, gold interiors and leopard print chairs. In addition to the lavish interior, the bar and restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and even has a late license, with resident DJs performing during the weekend. French designer, Hugo Toro, has also created a Victorian-style Winter Garden at the venue. Advertisement Read more on bars But the bar also offers a rather unusual quirk. Each day at 5:05pm, visitors can have a free drink. According to a TikTok video posted by @thecuriouspixie: "A bill rings, a flame ignites and a bartender will perform a full rum punch ritual." This happens at 5:05pm because the hotel originally opened on May 5, 1873, but the booking office opened in 1869 - which is where the name comes from. Advertisement Most read in News Travel Guests can also explore original train tickets when at the bar. One TikTok user commented on the post: "Amazing! I live a short walk from St. Pancras Station. This is one of my favorite spots things about living in Central London. Historic Glasgow pub known for its cheap pints & famous customers sold "There is a never ending list of experiences to discover!" Another added: "Such a beautiful bar." Advertisement A third user quipped: "Thank you for the tip. I shall be visiting!" Another destination to explore is Plus, a man has been to 4 The tradition comes from the original opening dates of the hotel and ticket office Credit: Alamy Advertisement
