SPIRITED ASIA

As luxury travel shifts from five-star excess towards privileged access, deeper connections and purpose-led journeys, Charlotte Travel Singapore's Louen Tang explains what today's most seasoned travellers really want.

Perched above the treetops of Jimbaran Bay, Rumari at Raffles Bali pairs one of the island's most spectacular dining settings with a thoughtful omakase experience that exalts Indonesian ingredients through Chef Gaetan Biesuz's refined 80/20 philosophy of provenance.

Tokyo Confidential's delightfully bonkers new Konbini Confidential menu transforms Japan's beloved convenience store culture into cocktails that sound every bit as inventive, nostalgic and addictive as the late-night snacks that inspired them.

Vietnam's cool-climate highlands have quietly welcomed a significant new address with the opening of Grand Mercure Dalat Resort, a heritage-inspired retreat that invites travellers to look beyond the country's familiar coastal circuit.

Some of Asia's best cocktail bars are swapping skyscrapers for sea breezes with Cempedak Sunset Takeovers, a series of guest shifts at Cempedak Private Island.

From bottomless steak frites and wine-led omakase to over-the-top pizzas and cocktails inspired by barbecue, these are Singapore's most delicious excuses to forget moderation for a while.

At ASIN, Chef Ace Tan shows how his vision for the future of Asian fine dining lies not in borrowing from Europe, but in rediscovering the shared culinary heritage, techniques and flavours that have long connected the region

Cinema, jazz and a touch of Hong Kong nostalgia collide in the latest seasonal cocktail menu at The Opposites helmed by award-winning industry veterans Antonio Lai and Samuel Kwok.

The new Glengoyne Oak Masters' Series proves that changing the wood need not change the soul of a whisky, with rare Japanese Mizunara and virgin American oak revealing fresh dimensions of the Highland distillery's famously elegant spirit.

As luxury travellers increasingly trade packed itineraries for slower, more meaningful journeys, Gourmet Trails' new China collection invites them to discover the country's rich regional cuisines, wellness traditions and cultural heritage at a more considered pace.

The Malt Affair Vol. X returns to Singapore on 5 September with 400+ whiskies, global collectors, rare drams and a celebration of whisky community.

Singapore's sake scene takes an adventurous turn this July as SAKERAMA debuts with more than 100 craft sakes that challenge traditional notions of Japan's iconic rice brew through innovation, experimentation and global collaboration.

The new La Liste Hotels 2026 rankings suggest that the future of global luxury hospitality is increasingly being written in Asia, where heritage, heartfelt service and a deep sense of place have become the region's defining competitive advantage.

Food Capital's returning Thailand Flavourscape Buffet invites diners on a flavour-packed journey to discover the diverse regional cuisines that make Thailand one of Southeast Asia's richest culinary destinations.

WE Hotel Toya, Dusit Collection combines Thai hospitality with Kengo Kuma-designed architecture and private open-air bathing at Lake Tōya for travellers looking for a different way to experience Hokkaido.

The Peranakan Club is less a conventional restaurant than an exuberant celebration of Baba-Nyonya culture, where heritage is embraced with infectious enthusiasm and the food challenges long-held assumptions about what Peranakan cuisine should taste like.

Singapore's historic Chinatown welcomes a different kind of hotel with the opening of lyf Chinatown Singapore, a heritage-inspired social living property that prioritises community, culture and neighbourhood immersion over classic luxury.

At Lakeview Palace in Wynn Palace Macau, Executive Chef Kevin Zhu's newly reimagined menu finds common ground between two of China's greatest regional culinary traditions.

From Ichiro's Malt to Dragon Whisky, discover how The Orientalist Spirits is redefining world whisky through Asia's diverse distilling traditions.

With the opening of The BARAI Hua Hin, Thailand's original royal beach retreat gains a new luxury wellness destination as Hyatt's first Unbound Collection property in the country transforms one of Hua Hin's most celebrated spas into a boutique beachfront resort.