Gourmet Traveller

Along the sun-washed banks of the Douro River, the spa at Octant Douro offers a quietly luxurious retreat where nature sets the rhythm. Tucked within the hillside terraces of Castelo de Paiva, the setting feels suspended between water and sky, with views that seem to follow guests from treatment rooms to garden paths and outdoor decks. The atmosphere is minimalistic yet warm, allowing the serenity of the valley to take centre stage.

High in the foothills of Himachal Pradesh, Naar has emerged as one of India’s most compelling new destination restaurants, set against sweeping views of valleys framed by the Western Himalayas. Located within Amaya, an intimate boutique retreat near the village of Darwa, the restaurant is enveloped by pine forests, wild grasses, and crisp mountain air, a serene natural canvas that informs every aspect of its philosophy.

Tucked into the emerald folds of Batangas just two hours south of Manila, The Farm at San Benito has long held its place as the Philippines’ quiet temple of holistic healing. Stepping onto its 52 hectares feels like exhaling after holding your breath for far too long, palms swaying above tranquil lagoons, peacocks wandering freely across sunlit paths, and the soft hum of nature offering a rhythm far gentler than the one we carry from city life.

In a city defined by reinvention, few comebacks feel as momentous as the return of the Waldorf Astoria New York. Following an eight-year, US$2 billion restoration, the legendary Park Avenue hotel has reopened its doors, its grandeur intact, its spirit refreshed, and its place in New York society reaffirmed.