SPIRITED ASIA

Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Ubud, Bali offers a deeply restorative retreat where the rhythms of the Ayung River, rainforest and Balinese tradition take precedence over everything else.

As Thailand's first premium single malt whisky arrives in Singapore, Prakaan is betting that the future of whisky may lie not only in Scotland's cool warehouses, but also in the heat and humidity of the tropics.

At BAR KAP, one of Singapore’s grandest surviving heritage mansions sheds its museum-like solemnity and becomes something far rarer — a living cocktail bar where history can beexperienced with a drink in hand.

For a cocktail that has survived well over a century, the Old Fashioned remains remarkably adaptable — and Monkey Shoulder's citywide Monkey Old Fashioned Month is proving just how much life the classic still has left in it.

In a Manila cocktail scene increasingly defined by bars looking inward rather than abroad for inspiration, Malagihay Cocktail Club turns Filipino nostalgia, hospitality and everyday flavours into a fun neighbourhood drinking experience.

With the opening of Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Chalong Bay Resort, Phuket's increasingly dynamic southern coast takes another step towards establishing itself as a destination beyond beaches and island-hopping alone.

From Malaysian regional specialities and seafood feasts to Italian classics and Peranakan-inspired brunches, Singapore's buffet scene is serving up far more than just quantity...

At Artesian Bar Jakarta, its new ‘SLOW ROOTS’ cocktail menu transforms Indonesian terroir into a seasonal drinking narrative where native botanicals, agricultural rhythms and sustainability shape every pour.

At Loca Niru, dining inside the storied House of Tan Yeok Nee is a transportive experience where Singapore’s surviving Teochew grandeur meets the precision of contemporary Japanese-French gastronomy.

As Singapore’s appetite for premium agave spirits grows beyond Margaritas and ill-advised shots, celebrity-backed Pantalones Tequila arrives betting that accessibility — rather than exclusivity — may be the future of luxury tequila.

The renewed Mandarin Oriental The Landmark, Hong Kong suggests a more focused positioning that prioritises smaller-scale luxury, highly personalised service while offering a stronger overlap between hospitality, dining and wellbeing.

For over a decade, Sake Festival Singapore has quietly helped transform sake from a niche curiosity into one of the city’s most nuanced drinking conversations — and its 11th edition brings the master brewers themselves back into focus.

As Penang’s reputation evolves beyond hawker stalls and heritage streets into a more layered lifestyle destination shaped by boutique hospitality and rising cocktail culture, the opening of Capri by Fraser, Penang reflects growing confidence in George Town’s next chapter.

Bouillon Gavroche at Mandarin Gallery makes a convincing case that French comfort food, served quickly and priced sensibly, may be a truer luxury.

Five years on, GastroBeats has evolved from a food-and-music festival into a fixture of Singapore’s cultural calendar — one that increasingly reflects how younger audiences choose to eat, socialise and experience the city.

With travel in Japan deepening beyond the familiar circuits of Tokyo and Kyoto, the opening of Mercure Tokyu Stay Hiroshima signals growing interest in one of the country’s most historically significant cities.

Rumari & Friends returns to Raffles Bali with another exciting culinary dialogue, this time between Bali and Bangkok where progressive Indonesian cuisine meets Michelin-starred French gastronomy shaped by Japanese precision.

Hamamatsu Marriott Hotel opens, bringing an international hospitality brand to Shizuoka Prefecture and signalling growing confidence in Japan’s overlooked regional cities at a time when travellers increasingly look beyond the country’s crowded tourism hotspots.

Singapore’s most interesting drinking experiences are increasingly unfolding beyond traditional prime time, with bars and hotel lounges reimagining happy hours, after-dark rituals and late-night programmes as destinations in their own right.

Fatigued by the high concept excess of Bangkok's cocktail scene? Toma y Toma on Sukhumvit 22 offers a refreshing counterpoint with playful Latin-inspired drinks, approachable pricing, and the easy comfort of a true neighbourhood bar.