Lifestyle and Adventure
A Luxury Guide to Making the Most of Shanghai Disneyland
Disneyland may not immediately sound like the definition of luxury, but there is no denying that this world-renowned theme park holds a special place for families from every walk of life. From celebrities such as Kourtney Kardashian, who has shared glimpses inside her frequent Disneyland visits, to families finally ticking a long-awaited trip off their wish list, or even friends making it their mission to celebrate a unique birthday, Disney has an extraordinary ability to appeal to everyone.
For families travelling through Asia, however, deciding between Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai Disneyland can feel surprisingly overwhelming. Each offers a very different experience, and Shanghai, as the largest Disney park in Asia, deserves to be understood in its own right.
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Andaz Shanghai ITC: A Contemporary City Stay in the Heart...
28th August 2026
Shanghai is a city where location can make a significant difference to your stay, particularly when you're hoping to spend your time exploring rather than travelling back and forth between the hotel and the places you want to see. The recently opened Andaz Shanghai ITC, the second Andaz outpost in the city, is situated within Shanghai's commercial hub, making it a convenient base for business travellers as well as families and couples wanting to be close to the action. With 267 design-focused rooms incorporating strong local Shanghainese influences, the hotel manages to feel distinctly urban while still offering guests a sense of escape once they retreat back into their room. During our two-night stay, we experienced one of the hotel's twin-bed room layouts, which proved to be particularly well suited to our family of four.
Why IFC Residence Is Shanghai's Best Luxury Stay for...
25th August 2026
Each apartment has been carefully designed to feel less like temporary accommodation and more like a beautifully appointed home. Fully equipped kitchens complete with a dishwasher and laundry facilities allow guests to settle into daily life with ease, while generous living spaces, elegant bedrooms, modern finishes and attentive concierge service provide all the luxuries one would expect from a five-star hotel. It is this seamless blend of independence and hospitality that makes IFC Residence particularly special.
Greenland: Navigating the final frontier with HX Expeditions
24th August 2026
Greenland has frequently been the subject of many headlines lately. But more often than not, geopolitical reasons have dominated over stories concerning the island’s natural beauty. The island, which is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, boasts striking Arctic landscapes, a dynamic Inuit culture, and rare wildlife-watching opportunities. As there are generally no roads connecting the towns in Greenland, the best way to explore this final frontier is by cruising with the likes of HX Expeditions.
Meet Claire Watson-Armstrong, the Charismatic Châtelaine...
17th August 2026
As a teen, Claire Thorburn had already - unbeknown to her - ‘met’ her future mother-in-law over the phone. “I had a holiday job in the village shop and I took a call from a lady asking for two clean eggs,” she recalls. “I was a bit confused, and explained that we only sold eggs in boxes of six or twelve. She said that either six or twelve would be fine.” The caller was Lady Armstrong, the then-châtelaine of Bamburgh Castle, a 12th century Norman Keep, which overlooks a glorious stretch of Northumbrian beach. When the fifteen-year-old Claire went to her boss to relay the details of the order, she remembers, he exclaimed, “Ye daft tatty, she means Kleenex - tissues, not eggs!”
What’s On Our Radar This Month: August 2026
10th August 2026
Ask anyone who lives in London, and they’ll surely tell you there is no shortage of exciting openings, launches and events taking place each month - the trouble is usually hearing about them. From hot, new restaurant openings to the latest beauty drops, consider The Sybarite your luxury barometer when it comes to noteworthy newcomers each and every month. Below, find our curated list of launches and openings to add to your calendar this August.
Rural Renewal: Why Louma Country Hotel Makes For a...
7th August 2026
Social media has the capacity to bring people together, foster global interaction, and act as a source of entertainment. But there’s a murky underside that’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. From misinformation and addiction to ‘doomscrolling’, multiple platforms and apps have been shown to negatively impact our mental health and wellbeing.
Sediba Sa Rona: A New Lesson on Luxury Botswana Safaris
4th August 2026
I arrived in Botswana hoping to see elephants. Hoping is a stretch – it was the reason I was so intent on visiting the country. Not to sound ungrateful, but not one or two from a distance, either. I wanted to see a herd in their natural habitat. I won’t hold the suspense: I did indeed see them, exactly how I had hoped (manifested). But, as it turned out, Botswana had more than that rare sighting in store for me.
Meet The Belgravia Expert, Cally Squires
28th August 2024
Back then, she was in Law School, and was sitting in Jonny Long’s chair at luxury salon Lockonego when she casually mentioned how much she enjoyed editing her old school newspaper. That conversation reminded her of how much she loved journalism, and all it took was a few texts from Jonny to his contacts, and she was on her way to gaining work experience under editorial dynamos Emma Tucker at The Times and Natasha Pearlman at News of the World. “I was so inspired by these two women, I promptly quit my training contract with a Magic Circle firm to take up a minimum-wage internship at The Financial Times. Both my former mentors now live in New York. Emma is the editor of the Wall Street Journal and Natasha is editor of Glamour magazine, so not too shabby as role models go!” she says. Nowadays, Cally is the editor of Belgravia Magazine, a publication she has been involved with for over 5 years. The community-focussed magazine covers the lives, events, and goings-on of the unique characters and businesses who call the upscale West London neighbourhood home. Whether it’s interviewing iconic chef Claude Bosi, checking into the most glamorous hotel suites in the name of journalism, or hosting the annual Belgravia Awards, Cally can always be counted on to be at the heart of the action on all things Belgravia. In addition to her day job, Cally has found herself donning another hat—that of an amateur property developer. “As an architect, my husband Felix is great at the bigger picture vision and I’m allowed to pipe up when it comes to the interiors details. His own style is very natural, pared back, and sculptural, much like a restaurant he designed on Portobello Road called Gold, where we had our first date. Luckily we are aligned aesthetically, if anything it’s my taste that leans more to the monastic than his,” she shares. The couple has worked on both a mews house and a flat in Ladbroke Grove, which they have now sold, and are looking for a plot of land for their next build project, a remote, off-grid barn conversion. The Sybarite contributor Ina Yulo Stuve speaks with Cally to find out more about her new life a as a country bumpkin and hear her top tips from her little black book of Belgravia.
Featuring 14 Most Exclusive Private Members' Clubs in London
15th August 2024
In Brief The Sybarite’s 2026 guide features the best 14 private members’ clubs in London including Albert’s, The Conduit Club, 5 Hertford Street, The RAC, and more The Conduit Club was founded in 2018 and hosts workshops and art exhibitions. Annual Membership fee: £2,100. 5 Hertford Street was founded in 2012 and is popular for live entertainment and nightlife. Membership fee is not disclosed. The RAC was founded in 1897 and features Britain's most historically significant automobiles. Annual membership fee: £732.
Meet The Equine Expert — Georgina Springall of Operation...
1st August 2024
Deep in London’s lush Richmond Park sits Holly Lodge, the epicentre of Operation Centaur’s member’s riding club and equine-assisted psychotherapy programme. “When you connect with a horse, you don’t just connect with an animal, you also connect with a disavowed part of yourself. Horses are great to get you moving on from places where we get stuck – to help us understand what we need to let go, or the range of decisions available to us,” explains Operation Centaur’s founder Dr. Andreas Liefooghe. The psychotherapy programme goes hand-in-hand with the membership club, where riders are assigned a share horse that they’re able to build a solid connection with through weekly rides. The team of horses vary in personality, ensuring each member is matched with one that fits their abilities and riding style. If you’re up for a challenge, ex-racehorse Mr. Monochrome is always up for an adventure, whilst former hunter Nelson provides is a solid happy hacker. Members can also choose to canter along the park’s bridle paths or tune into the more technical aspects of riding in the yard’s school.
7 Out of the Box Date Ideas for the Adventurous Couple
23rd August 2023
In an era where the traditional cinema and local Chinese restaurant routine falls short for date night, both women and men yearn for their partners to transcend the ordinary in demonstrating affection. Considering the complexities of modern dating culture, such desires are entirely justifiable. To cater to these aspirations contributor Cherelle Mukoko has found an array of inventive date ideas that are sure to captivate your partner's heart.
Luxury City Breaks: How To Spend Three Days In Sydney
22nd August 2023
Sydney, Australia's vibrant cosmopolitan gem, is a city that effortlessly combines natural beauty and cultural richness. For those seeking an extraordinary weekend escape, Sydney offers a Rolodex of memorable experiences. From exquisite dining and slick hotels, to breathtaking scenery and adventures, this three-day guide will take you on a journey through the best of Sydney's luxury offering.
The Worlds Most Luxurious Golf Courses
22nd August 2023
Golf, a sport cherished by enthusiasts worldwide, combines athleticism with relaxation amidst breathtaking natural landscapes. While the game itself holds immense appeal, there are a select few golf courses that transcend the ordinary. In this article, we explore the crème de la crème of luxury golf courses, where extravagance meets the fairway, offering an unmatched experience for golf aficionados.
Featuring Luxury Scotland: The best 5 star hotels of 2022
25th August 2022
Diageo has opened its eight-story, immersive Johnnie Walker Princes Street complex as part of a £185m investment to re-build Scotch whisky. Diageo has opened another new whisky visitor centre on the Isle of Skye. The Talisker Distillery, situated on the shores of Loch Harport in the village of Carbost on the Minginish peninsula, was founded in 1830 but Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill. The Scotch whisky industry attracts over 2m visitors a year, allowing ample opportunities to stay in some of the finest luxury hotels in the UK and Europe.
Featuring Churchills luxury port house escape
10th August 2022
For three days in September, Churchill's is offering tourists the opportunity to get under the skin of the local fruit and trend grapes in the company's traditional granite "Lagares", which date back to 1852. Quinta da Gricha, the company's flagship vineyard, is inviting visitors for its annual 'vindima' on 10, 11 and 25 September. The day begins with a grape picking challenge with Churchill's viticultural team, and a tasting follows the shift on the terraces.
Review of Hotel Review | Castello dal Pozzo
22nd August 2019
Situated on the banks of the spectacular Lake Maggiore, Castello dal Pozzo is a five-star luxury hotel with a storied past. The castle has been in the Dal Pozzo family for six generations, and they have gone to great lengths to turn their beloved home into one of the top destinations in the region. The familial atmosphere and excellent service were evident from the moment we entered the driveway. We were warmly welcomed by the staff, who took our car into the private garage, our bags inside, and gave us a quick tour. They were more than happy to suggest restaurants and bars for us to visit and made the necessary reservations for us to secure tables in the area’s most popular spots. The luxury residence’s 45 rooms are spread out across the 18th-century palace, the renovated stables, and the castle itself. Original antiques, art, and family heirloom pieces adorn the walls and peek out of corners of the hotel’s hallways, and add to its allure. We stayed in one of the Junior Suites, which had wooden flooring and a living area with a coffee table, armchairs, and work desk. The canopy bed exuded old world charm whilst the marble bathroom with both a bath and stand-alone rain shower was a welcome contemporary touch.
Featuring The Best Concierge Doctor Service in London
3rd August 2017
Whilst typing up the consultation notes from my last patient in Harley Street, I receive a phone call from a sixty-year-old gentleman, on business in the UK from the USA for two days. He’s staying at arguably the most luxurious hotel in the capital and has been vomiting the moment he disembarked from his private jet the previous day...
Featuring Beautiful Contradictions: Luxury for the Culture Aficionado
25th August 2015
Sipping a cocktail on one of the many rooftop bars in the ancient district of Beyoğlu, Istanbul, it is safe to say your impression is both one of contradictions, and one-of-a-kind synthesis. As our conception of luxury moves further away from objects towards experiences, how we synthesise these unique contradictions in culture – scale and intimacy, spectacle and conversation – become unforgettable moments. Our desire for unique experiences is stronger than ever. Equal parts invigorating and dizzying, Istanbul has an abundance of them. Rest assured, your head will be spinning with (Turkish) delight once back on the plane, but undoubtedly, it’s worth every moment. For the one in the know, the historic capital offers a contemporary haven for the culture-seeking, discerning individual. Why not check into the newly designed Soho House Istanbul: a 19th-century Genoese palazzo complete with frescoed walls and Corinthian columns. With 87 rooms and two rooftop pools overlooking the Bosphorus, an aromatic Turkish coffee from its award-winning Cecconi’s restaurant will certainly rejuvenate you for the day ahead, if it’s Turkish-tiled rainforest showers haven’t already.
Featuring Chateau de Vallery, a destination without boundaries
23rd August 2015
Look no further, as The Sybarite thinks it’s found the ideal gem of a Chateau, where freedom and space is everything. You will often find, that on your search for the ideal Chateau, most will have time restrictions in how long you can dance and drink the night away, if not the capacity to accommodate guests overnight. It seems that there is always that “win or lose” situation when venue hunting for your wedding celebration – either you host your guests for a reception at a fancy restaurant by which it then becomes the dance floor for evening festivities only to manage to say farewell (if one is sober enough by then) to everyone and realize that it went by all too quickly, there was not substantial time to ask how everyone was. Most celebrations might happen that way and most couples might prefer it that way too, but if you’re one of those couples who have big families and intend to invite many guests (especially guests flying in from abroad) but prefer to have time for intimate gatherings and conversations, than why not consider renting out an entire Chateau that is exclusive to you and your guests only, for 1 or 2 nights?