David Chang – Photo credit

At minimum, casino food is no longer utilitarian fuel to mindlessly expend on violent mood swings at the blackjack table. Like the casinos themselves – sorry, leisure and entertainment precincts – the food has aspirations. Star chefs get more face time and marquee exposure than table games and performers. Indeed, go on the Star or Crown website and it is difficult to even find evidence that either is in the casino business at all. Slots and poker may make up the lion’s share of profits but management wants you to know that the hottest chef in New York City is in the house.

Momofuku Seiōbo
The Star, 80 Pyrmont Street, Level G

That chef is David Chang of course. The portly purveyor of upmarket pork buns got his start at a narrow noodle bar on the East Side in 2004 and soon became the talk of Manhattan. Chang’s inventive and playful takes on ramen, cereal milk and rice, yes, humble rice, have won him accolades from diners and the culinary establishment. One of Time’s 100 Most Influential People for 2010, Seiōbo is Chang’s first Momofuku foray outside of Manhattan.

Where to stay: Astral Towers at The Star

The Atlantic
The Riverside at Crown

Donovan Cooke is back in Melbourne. The Yorkshire-born chef behind the legendary Ondine and former Michel Roux and Marco Pierre White apprentice now has the budget, staff and tools to indulge his culinary creativity. Alas, the “ocean to plate” aim of The Atlantic is rather straightforward but impressive nonetheless. Unimaginably fresh seafood in brawny, masculine, casino-style portions, with prices to match.

Where to stay: Crown Metropol Southbank Melbourne

Osteria Balla
The Star, 80 Pyrmont Street, Level G Harbourside

Osteria Balla’s tony, breezy waterfront locale on Pyrmont Bay is arguably the best amuse-bouche in all of Sydney. This is Stefano Manfredi’s kick at the casino restaurant can. Happily, the chef’s return to Sydney finds him in the same culinary spirit and ethos as back in the day at Restaurant Manfredi. As a result, expect unfussy Med takes on good, seasonal ingredients. We’re just not sure about the iPad wine list.

Where to stay: Astral Residences at The Star Sydney

Sydney City Guide

Bistro Guillaume
The Riverside at Crown

Brontosaurus-T-bones and jumbo prawns may be all well and good for some but in order for casinos to step it up in the restaurant department, they need to focus on refinement. Enter Bistro Guillaume. Many a chef and restaurateur desires to recreate the plebian civility of the Parisian neighbourhood bistro but few pull it off. Either the décor is gimmicky or the menu a total miss – or both. Thankfully owner Guillaume Brahimi and chef Graeme McLaughlin, late of The Fat Duck, get most of the important details right.

Where to stay: Crown Towers Hotel Melbourne

Melbourne City Guide

Hout Bay a.k.a. Dungeons – Photo credit

7. Elands Bay, West Coast/Cape Peninsula

A scenic three hours up the coast from Cape Town, Elands Bay unfurls a killer left point break in summer. Rustic charm and a good rep for the West Coast.

Where to stay: Protea North Wharf Hotel Cape Town

6. North Beach, Wild Coast/KwaZulu-Natal

North Beach is home of the big surf in Durban. South African pro surfer Jordy Smith puts on a contest for the groms here every year.

Where to stay: Southern Sun North Beach Hotel

5. The Hoek, West Coast/Cape Peninsula

Strictly for surfers with battle scars and years of experience, the Hoek is a quasi-legend in Cape Town. Set in a clandestine corner below Chapman’s Peak, the spot dishes barrels and gnarly six foot swells at low tide.

Where to stay: Camps Bay Retreat Hotel Cape Town

Cape Town City Guide

4. Shark Rock Pier, Eastern Cape

Built to mitigate erosion on Hobie Beach, Shark Rock Pier is a premier surf spot in Port Elizabeth. Crowds tend to gather at the end of the pier to admire longboarders navigate the massive, hollow tubes that tumble in from south to east.

Where to stay: Protea Marine Hotel Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth City Guide

3. Dungeons, West Coast/Cape Peninsula

The Dungeons, some 18 km south of Cape Town, is the ominous sobriquet for Hout Bay. With swells 30 feet high accessible only by water craft, this is one of the top monster wave hubs on the planet. Definitely not for the novice.

Where to stay: Villa Montebello Guest House Hout Bay

2. New Pier, Wild Coast/KwaZulu-Natal

Jordy Smith is a born and bred New Pier boy. Any questions? Surf the very same waters as the best in the business do in the Mr. Price Pro.

Where to stay: Garden Court Marine Parade Durban

Durban City Guide

1. Jeffreys Bay, Eastern Cape

Talk about home wave advantage: Mr. Smith won the Billabong Pro final at J-Bay in 2011. Home of epic supertubes, Jeffreys lures hot shots from all over the world. You need skills to surf here.

Where to stay: The Kelway Hotel Port Elizabeth

South Africa Guide

The Henry James Art Hotel, Hobart – Photo credit

The Limes Hotel Brisbane
142 Constance Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD

Fortitude Valley, the premier nightlife and entertainment ward of Brisbane, is a mini-hive of boutique hotel chic. The Limes first broke the mold in the city and feels more like SoHo (or Soho for that matter).

Emporium Hotel Brisbane
1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD

A mere 5 minute walk from the Limes, the Emporium Hotel is the hot new flavour of the month in Brisbane.

Brisbane City Guide

Qualia Resort
20 Whitsundays Boulevard, Hamilton Island, Whitsundays, QLD

The gateway to the Great Barrier Reef was long delinquent in the boutique hotel department. That problem was quickly remedied when the ultra-fab Qualia Resort opened on Hamilton Island.

Whitsundays Guide

The Observatory Hotel
89-113 Kent Street, Sydney, NSW

A world-class alpha city should be a magnet for fashionable, design-forward hoteliers and, happily, Sydney is no exception. The Observatory is a quiet haven in the Rocks with a sumptuous indoor pool.

Establishment Hotel
5 Bridge Lane, Sydney, NSW

The sleek, immaculate Establishment is a most adult hotel steps from Circular Quay.

The Kirketon
The Wharf at Woolloomooloo, 6 Cowper Wharf Road, Sydney NSW

The Kirketon was part of the initial surge of tony properties to pretty up Sydney’s once-moribund hotel scene. Surprisingly affordable, despite a recent makeover.

Medusa Hotel
267 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW

Another artsy jet-set Darlo darling, the Medusa is a stunning Victorian townhouse convert.

Ravesi’s On Bondi
118 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW

Ravesi’s, in the bosom of Bondi, keeps it minimalist with a tidy twelve smartly-appointed rooms.

Sydney City Guide

Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa
Lilianfels Avenue, Echo Point, Katoomba, Blue Mountains, NSW

The best way to take in a UNESCO World Heritage Site like the Greater Blue Mountains Area? Stay a couple of nights at the elegant Lilianfels Resort.

Blue Mountains Guide

The Diamant
15 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra, ACT

When some of the best architectural talent in Australia revived a derelict 1920s landmark in Canberra to create the Diamant, they also resuscitated the capital’s stuffy hotel scene.

Canberra City Guide

The Hatton
65 Park Street, South Yarra, Melbourne, VIC

South Yarra, Melbourne’s most exalted suburb, is no stranger to boutique bliss. The Hatton, a tasteful Italianate mansion refurb, is a standout.

The Lyall Hotel & Spa
14 Murphy Street, South Yarra, Melbourne, VIC

A 10 minute stroll from the Hatton takes you to the Lyall – a dap repurposed apartment block.

Melbourne City Guide

Chateau Yering
42 Melba Highway Yering, Yarra Valley, VIC

One of the best hotels in Melbourne is not in the city at all. Chateau Yering is 55 km northeast of the city in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir country.

Yarra Valley Guide

The Henry James Art Hotel
25 Hunter Street, Hobart, TAS

Hobart has a trove of old buildings just aching for spiffy upgrades. The Henry James turned the trick on a charming early 19th century jam factory.

Hobart City Guide

Saffire Freycinet Coles Bay Hotel
2352 Coles Bay Road, Coles Bay, TAS

Boutique hotel or über-luxe lodge? Either way, the Saffire Freycinet defies description. The hotel is a beacon of contemporary architecture discreetly tucked amid one of the most jaw-dropping spots in Tasmania.

Hotel Richmond
128 Rundle Mall, Adelaide, SA

Art Deco gets a stylish modern twist at the Richmond in Adelaide.

Adelaide City Guide

The Richardson Hotel and Spa Perth
32 Richardson Street, West Perth, WA

Unless you absolutely must stay in downtown Perth for some reason, go west to the swanky Richardson Hotel and Spa.

The Outram
32 Outram Street, West Perth, WA

A taste of la Rive Gauche in Perth? Why not? The branché Outram is another fine reason to rest in West Perth.

Perth City Guide

Cape Lodge Yallingup
Caves Road, Yallingup, Margaret River Wine Region, WA

Explore boutique wineries by day and enjoy the comforts of the most exquisite boutique hotel in Margaret River by night.

Margaret River Wine Region Guide

Longitude 131°
Yulara Drive, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, NT

Longitude 131° at Uluru (Ayers Rock) bills itself as a “luxury wilderness camp” and may be the most outré and avant-garde hotel in Australia. All in all, not a bad way to admire one of the most iconic and sacred landmarks on the planet.

Ayers Rock Guide

Thank you in advance,

Melvin P., Clerkenwell

Photo credit

On the whole Melvin, if you compare the logistics of Heathrow/Luton/City Airport (all three offer service to Paris-Charles de Gaule and/or Orly) or Channel Tunnel Eurostar, it is more or less a wash. Some like the speed of air travel (which only becomes apparent after take-off, of course) while others like the relative calm and comfort of rail.

To facilitate your decision, you need to devise a matrix. The Channel Tunnel option is easy to quantify. You know that you will depart from St Pancras station, for example, and arrive at Gare du Nord. A cursory look at costs and timetables on the Eurostar site produces a round-trip standard fare of £179.00 if you depart Friday afternoon and return Sunday night. Total trip time is in the vicinity of 140 minutes. Not too shabby, all in all.

What if you catch a plane, however? To source out the inherent costs and details requires a little more diligence, if you want to compete with the fare price of Eurostar. Still, I was able to drum up a round-trip (Friday departure, Sunday return) British Airways flight for £175.00, no problem. Very decent for a 75 minute flight between the two capitals.

Of course, it is never quite that simple when you factor in the ride to Heathrow, ride in to Paris from Charles de Gaulle or Orly, security, check-in, check-out, one-hour time-zone difference and so on. You have to compare all that with the time it takes to get to the railway station, check-in on Eurostar et al. If you go with a discount airline, remember the strict luggage rules. In contrast, Eurostar has no such edicts when it comes to carry-ons and bags (within reason).

Now I see that you live in Clerkenwell, Melvin. Since St Pancras is some 3 km from a Clerkenwell icon – St John Bar and Restaurant – I can only assume the tube trip from Farringdom to King’s Cross St Pancras is not a problem for you. Nor, alternatively, the 8 minute cab ride. For me, this tips the scales in favour of the Channel Tunnel. Plus, who wants to navigate the morass of airports when you can watch the countryside of Kent and Normandy whizz by with a glass of Chablis in hand? So much more elegant and, indeed, about as fast as a plane ride when you figure the inherent security lines and traffic to and from airports. Gare du Nord, conversely, is in Paris.

Another option, of course, is to bus and ferry it. A more rudimentary form of transport, perhaps, but very affordable and, indeed, rather scenic as well. Like the Channel Tunnel – and rather unlike air travel – the ferry is also low impact.

Where to stay (for convenience):

Hotel De La Gare Du Nord

Holiday Inn Paris – Gare De L’Est

Where to stay (when money is no object):

Bristol Hotel Paris

Paris City Guide

Photo credit

Truth be told, winter still provides a phenomenal occasion to commune with, well, idyllic communes on the coast. With that, take a look at our top winter beach escapes in France.

Île de Porquerolles, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

Plage de Notre-Dame on Porquerolles island opens up to a sublime Côte d’Azur nature refuge. Like Saint-Tropez, the Îles d’Hyères, of which Porquerolles is a part, belong to the Var department. The inherent Conservatoire botanique national méditerranéen de Porquerolles resides within the Parc National de Port-Cros and the town of Hyères – the most historic resort on the Riviera – is a wonderful base.

Where to stay: Du Portalet Hotel Hyeres les Palmiers

Hyères City Guide

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

Legendary Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a fine getaway anytime of year. A peninsula position next to Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Villefranche-sur-Mer protects the tony Alpes-Maritimes department commune from the worst winter weather. Moreover, Nice offers a pre-eminent platform to take it all in.

Where to stay: Hotel La Perouse Nice

Nice City Guide

Bormes-les-Mimosas, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

When the First Lady of France frolics on a beach in the south of France, future holidaymakers – and clandestine photographers – stand up (or crouch) and take notice. Enter beautiful Bormes-les-Mimosas, a Mediterranean fave of Carla Bruni and the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg, who own the best property in the Var department gem. Unless you can score a room with a view at the Grand Duke’s villa, save a few Euros and stay in Toulon or Hyères.

Where to stay: Holiday Inn Garden Court Toulon City Centre

Toulon City Guide

St-Florent, Corsica

A separate category altogether, we can safely include Corsica as a supreme winter beach escape because, technically, it is one of the 27 régions of France. The island is a complete destination with a multitude of landscape scenery and pursuits for every whim and desire on offer. Plage de Saleccia, close to St-Florent, is a major discovery for beach lovers.

Where to stay: Adonis Saint Florent Citadelle Resort

Porto-Pollo, Serra-Di-Ferro, Corsica

Porto-Pollo needs no intro for Mediterranean beach aficionados. This is the place to be in Corsica if you crave la plage, come winter or summer. The incomparable capital of Corsica, Ajaccio, serves as a capable jump-off to the rest of the island.

Where to stay: Napoleon Hotel Ajaccio

Corsica Guide

Saint-Tropez, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

Good news. No obnoxious yacht-marooned starlets primping and preening for the paparazzi off Tahiti Beach. Outside of the silly season, Saint-Tropez charms (along with the entire Var department in fact). Plage de Pampelonne is a lovely, lonely shore this time of year.

Where to stay: Les Residences Du Soleil Hotel La Calanque Cavalaire-Sur-Mer

Saint-Tropez City Guide

Emma K., Sydney

Photo credit

While far be it from me to advise your parental units to relinquish their custodial instincts, you can confidently tell mum and dad to breathe easy in this particular case. Indeed, there are some parts of Thailand that warrant a degree of caution (Cambodia and Malaysia border provinces) but, happily for you and your sister, it is business as usual for the likes of Bangkok, Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Koh Samui.

But what about the floods you ask? I have two answers for you; one anecdotal and one authoratative. A good mate of mine who works in Shanghai just came back from a two week holiday in Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui. I just spoke with him about the trip and the word “flood” did not come up in the conversation until the 15 minute mark. As he told me, people tend to lump all of Thailand in together when, truth be told, the floodplain of the Chao Phraya River and Mekong River basin, while extensive, has some limits. Was the 2011 monsoon season catastrophic? Without question. The floods hit close to 13 million people, with a World Bank estimate of 45 billion USD in damage.

It is crucial, however, to put the disaster into proper context. The effect on central Bangkok, for one, was largely benign from a superficial standpoint, with floodwaters diverted away from the capital. With that, on to our authoratative evidence. This just in from the Tourism Authority of Thailand: Five of the nineteen provinces safe from the flood crisis and ready to welcome tourists this winter.

If your parents demand a less partial source of comfort, look no further than the excellent travel advisory site from the Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. On the subject of the floods in Thailand, the site is, in our opinion, overcautious (which, much like your parents, is what you want from a government department): While now less severe, flooding continues to affect extensive parts of central Thailand and major urban areas on the floodplain of the Chao Phraya River, including some areas of Bangkok. Flooding is likely to persist in some areas throughout December 2011.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom puts it simply: Flood waters are now receding in most areas.

And what about the U.S. State Department, an entity known to be slightly alarmist at the best of times? Most tourist destinations, such as Phuket and Chiang Mai, are unaffected by the current flooding. Bangkok’s main international airport, Suvarnabhumi, is operating normally. Floodwaters are being diverted away from central Bangkok to flow through and around the eastern portions of Bangkok Metropolitan area as they drain to the sea.

The best part about the State Department advisory from your vantage point? It dates back to November 16. Conditions have vastly improved over the last month.

One last optimistic tidbit. The main flood evacuation centre in Bangkok will close next week. To paraphrase Deputy Bangkok Governor Taya Teepsuwan: “Since the flood has receded in most areas in Bangkok and affected people have been able to return home, the shelter is no longer necessary.”

So go. Go to Thailand with a sense of confidence and security. Whether in Bangkok or Koh Samui, you and your sister will be blissfully unaware. Floods … what floods? Leave the inflatable raft at home; bring plenty of sunblock.

Bangkok City Guide

- “An Open Letter to NYC”, Beastie Boys

Native sons Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock express it best. New York City is made up of five – count ‘em – five boroughs. Anyone who fails, as a result, to venture outside of Manhattan, let alone Times Square and Midtown, must either be mad or on business.

Brooklyn Museum – Photo credit

Prospect Park, Brooklyn

Frederick Law Olmsted was as prolific with a pencil and a shovel as the Big Apple’s legendary hip hop trio is on wax. The epic landscape architect left his mark, with and without partner Calvert Vaux, on a ton of urban parks across North America, from the Emerald Necklace in Boston to Mont Royal in Montreal. Prospect Park in Brooklyn is one of his best (we even prefer it to Central Park).

Where to stay: Best Western Plus Prospect Park Hotel

Brooklyn City Guide

B.A.M., Brooklyn
30 Lafayette Avenue

Whenever we open The New Yorker we immediately flip to see what’s on at B.A.M. The Brooklyn Academy of Music is a cultural lodestar in the city and a champion of the avant garde and progressive. We love it all, from BAMcafé to BAMcinématek.

Where to stay: Holiday Inn Express Brooklyn Downtown

Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn
200 Eastern Parkway

One of the best museums in America, let alone New York City, the Brooklyn Museum is a foremost national landmark and grand Beaux Arts masterpiece. Take your time – the museum has over 1.5 million works of art.

Where to stay: Aloft New York Brooklyn Hotel

Brooklyn Restaurant and Bar Scene

No need to go on and on about how ultra-cool and hip the food scene is in Brooklyn. Everyone knows. From pop-ups to bbq, farm to table to speakeasy bars, deli to old-time soda jerks, this is the borough. Our top recommendations: Applewood, al di là, ici, Frankies Spuntino, Rye and Dick and Jane’s.

Where to stay: New York Marriott At The Brooklyn Bridge

Bronx Zoo
2300 Southern Boulevard

A New York City classic, the Bronx Zoo is the premier metropolitan zoo in North America. The numbers tell the story: more than 4,000 animals on 107 hectares of land.

Where to stay: Howard Johnson Express Inn Bronx

Pelham Bay Park

The Bronx has a lot of green space to explore, from Van Cortlandt Park to Woodlawn Cemetery. Pelham Bay Park, however, is the star. At more than three times the size of Central Park, the wildlife sanctuary unfurls innumerable landmarks and feels a world away from the Hub, South Bronx.

Where to stay: Ramada Hotel Bronx

Yankee Stadium
East 161st Street

The House that Steinbrenner Built is, in many respects, the most impressive ballpark in America. If the Yankees happen to be on a homestand, do whatever you can to score tickets to the USD $1.5 billion mega-marvel.

Where to stay: Days Inn Bronx Yankee Stadium

Staten Island Pizza

The best slice in New York is far, far from Midtown and, in the opinion of purists, far from Manhattan as well. Staten Island has some of the most venerable pizza ovens in the city. A good list includes Nunzio’s, Joe and Pat’s, Denino’s and Brother’s. Just take the ferry.

Where to stay: Hilton Garden Inn New York / Staten Island

Queens Museum of Art
Flushing Meadows Corona Park

When you visit the excellent Museum of Art in Queens you get a nifty two-in-one, thanks to Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Where to stay: Holiday Inn Express Laguardia

Flushing Dim Sum

Sorry but Chinatown in Manhattan is not the place for dim sum in Gotham. Flushing, Queens, a paragon of ethnic pluralism even for New York City, is where to go. Best bets include Jade and East Ocean Palace. Try Golden Palace for Dongbei cai cuisine.

Where to stay: Comfort Inn Flushing

New York City Guide

National Wine Centre, Adelaide – Photo credit

10. JamFactory
19 Morphett Street

Adelaide punches way above its weight in the art museum and gallery department and, subsequently, it takes a good week to sort through them all. We just love the funky and eclectic JamFactory, however. Proof positive that shop class is soulcraft, the contemporary design studio is a triumphant marriage of creativity, function and form.

http://www.jamfactory.com.au/

9. Adelaide Hills

A mere 30 minutes from Adelaide’s CBD, the Hills unfurls a breezy cluster of vineyards and and quaint villages. The roadside stalls dotted throughout make for a gourmet leisurely drive.

http://www.southaustralia.com/regions/adelaide-hills.aspx

8. Gilles Street Market

Open two Sundays per month, Gilles Street Market is ground zero for fashion-forward trendsetters in the South Australia capital. Think a more earthy version of Portobello Road in London or Paddington in Sydney.

http://www.gillesstreetmarket.com.au/

7. Bradman Collection Museum
Adelaide Oval, War Memorial Drive, North Adelaide

Sir Donald George Bradman was, and still is, an icon of cricket who managed to transcend his sport even as he dominated it. The late batsman’s birthplace in Cootamundra, New South Wales is a museum but the ultimate memorial to “The Don”, in our humble esteem, is the Bradman Collection Museum at Adelaide Oval.

http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/

6. South Australian Maritime Museum
126 Lipson Street, Port Adelaide

Nautical history gets the grand Victorian treatment at this stunning depot of artefacts and memorabilia at Port Adelaide.

http://www.history.sa.gov.au/maritime/collections/portadelaide_nautical.htm

5. Jetty Road
Glenelg

Glenelg, foremost beach suburb of Adelaide, is a must – even if you have to squeeze it into an already jam-packed itinerary. Make a point to stroll down Jetty Road, where classic trams and convivial restaurants provide bountiful charm. As they say, you can’t beat a day at the Bay.

http://jettyroadglenelg.com/

4. Adelaide Showground Farmers Market
Goodwood

If, like us, you swoon over fresh, regional and seasonal produce, the Adelaide Showground Farmers Market is the place to be. Take a masterclass in the demo kitchen, kibbitz and mingle with producers and, best of all, sample the wares.

http://asfm.org.au/

3. Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute
253 Grenfell Street

The Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute is a sublime bulwark of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, culture, history and heritage.

2. Gouger Street

Taste your way ’round the globe on Gouger Street. The vital artery is chockablock with quality restaurants and cafés and marks the entrance to Chinatown.

1. National Wine Centre of Australia
corner Botanic and Hackney Roads

Clearly, this is the way to adulate fine wine. From the interactive Wine Discovery Journey to incomparable views of the Botanic Gardens courtesy the Concourse Café, the National Wine Centre is a singular Adelaide attraction.

http://www.wineaustralia.com.au/

The Raffles – Photo credit

5. Marina Bay Sands

Singapore’s skyline will never be the same thanks to the arresting sight of the 200-metre high Marina Bay Sands, nestled along the Marina Bay waterfront. The Sands SkyPark offers luscious green gardens, a fabulous infinity pool, and top-notch restaurants. Head to Ku De Ta to sample drinks especially prepared by an in-house team of mixologists. But the best part of the experience is the heart-stopping 360-degree view of the vibrant city from the al fresco observation deck.

Marina Bay Sands Singapore

4. InterContinental Hotel Singapore

The InterContinental Hotel is the only hotel in Singapore with an ornate Peranakan design. A strategic location, combined with first-class facilities, makes it a top choice among business and leisure travellers. Over 400 rooms and lavish suites are equipped with state-of-the-art amenities that clearly reflect the hotel’s incomparable class. A must-try is the Man Fu Yuan Chinese restaurant that provides the ultimate dining experience to fastidious guests.

InterContinental Hotel Singapore

3. Capella Singapore Hotel

A 10-minute drive from the CBD brings you to the Capella Singapore Hotel, one of the cushiest spots in the city-state. The hilltop Sentosa Island hotel provides guests with unimaginable opulence amid an enviable backdrop. Guests can enjoy swimming pools, golf courses, a fitness centre, spa and spectacular garden villas. Rooms come standard with iPod docks, flat screens, high-tech light panels and free Wi-Fi.

Capella Singapore Hotel

2. Raffles Hotel Singapore

The Raffles Singapore is a classic and one of the most inimitable symbols of Singapore. The hotel still delivers all that Gilded Age, colonial era charm but with modern-day flourishes for the contemporary jetset. It is a charming landmark that embodies both exceptional elegance and luxury. Stylish fixtures and teak floors accent rooms and the iconic Long Bar duly slings cocktails for guests and tourists alike.

Raffles Hotel Singapore

1. Indra Maya Villas Bintan Island

For the ultimate private escape, weary, moneyed Singaporeans take a 45-minute fast catamaran ride to the Riau archipelago of Indonesia. The destination: the plush resorts of Bintan Island. The Indra Maya Villas, in particular, draws a discerning crowd, ever-appreciative of luxe extras like private pools and terraces that look out over the South China Sea. Take it in and stroll to the Calypso Bar for a sunset beverage and a toast to your good fortune.

Indra Maya Villas Bintan Island

Singapore City Guide

Eastwood Granny Smith Festival – Photo credit

Ashfield
distance from the City: 11 km

Ashfield, the “Little Shanghai” of Sydney, holds a Carnival of Cultures in late March.

Where to eat: Xin Jiang Noodle Restaurant
Where to stay: Best Western Ashfields Philip Lodge Motel

Auburn
distance from the City: 23 km

Auburn has a significant Turkic/Hazara community, so go and get your kebab on.

Where to eat: Darband Restaurant
Where to stay: Best Western Lidcombe Motor Inn Lidcombe

Bankstown
distance from the City: 21 km

Bankstown has a Vietnamese and Lebanese tinge, with superb public parks and a hive of activity in Bankstown Plaza.

Where to eat: Jasmin Lebanese Restaurant Bankstown
Where to stay: Rydges Hotel Bankstown

Blacktown
distance from the City: 36 km

A notable Filipino community is one of many in hyper-eclectic Blacktown.

Where to eat: J and J Filipino Club and Restaurant
Where to stay: Waldorf Furnished Apartments Blacktown

Brighton-Le-Sands
distance from the City: 16 km

“Little Greece by the Bay” is a bouzouki and meze bar bonanza.

Where to eat: Kamari
Where to stay: Novotel Hotel Sydney Brighton Beach

Bondi
distance from the City: 8 km

The suburb of Bondi – not Bondi Beach – has a small Jewish community most evident on shabbat at Central Synagogue on Bon Accord.

Where to eat: Katzy’s
Where to stay: Swiss Grand Resort & Spa Bondi Beach

Cabramatta
distance from the City: 40.5 km

Parts of Cabra feel like Southeast Asia, with prominent discourse in Vietnamese, Thai, Lao and Khmer.

Where to eat: Pho Minh

Campsie
distance from the City: 14 km

If you fancy kimchi and bulgogi, Campsie is a suburb with genuine Korean flavour.

Where to eat: Se Joung

Chatswood
distance from the City: 11 km

Put together, descendants from mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea make up more than 10% of the population of Chatswood.

Where to eat: Kam Fook
Where to stay: Punthill North Shore Hotel Sydney

Dee Why
distance from the City: 20 km

Dee Why? Because the beach suburb is the pulse point of the Tibetan community in Australia.

Where to eat: LaMesa
Where to stay: Travelodge Manly Warringah

Earlwood
distance from the City: 12 km

A Hellenic side makes Earlwood taverna nirvana.

Where to eat: Pericles

Eastwood
distance from the City: 22 km

Telltale hints of Cantonese and Mandarin echo in the birthplace of the Granny Smith apple.

Where to eat: Yummy Buns

Fairfield
distance from the City: 31 km

Fairfield is a rich stew of Assyrian, Iraqi, Vietnamese and many more ethnic ingredients. Over 60% of the ‘burb’s populace was born abroad.

Where to eat: Aldhiaffah Al-Iraqi Restaurant

Greystanes
distance from the City: 29 km

The October Festa in Greystanes is a singular celebration of Maltese culture.

Where to eat: Fully Tabooly Kebab Stop

Homebush
distance from the City: 14 km

The heady aromas of South Asia come to the fore in this suburb close to Sydney Markets and Sydney Olympic Park.

Where to eat: Thousand Spices
Where to stay: Hotel Ibis Sydney Olympic Park

Hurstville
distance from the City: 18 km

Add a dash of the Balkans and a splash of Hong Kong and you have Hurstville.

Where to eat: The Great Balkan Cuisine (Kogarah)

Kingsford
distance from the City: 7 km

Indonesia, Malaysia, Latin America and usual suspects China, Hong Kong and Greece crayon the Kingsford suburbscape.

Where to eat: Ayam Goreng 99
Where to stay: Avoca Lodge Sydney

Sydney City Guide