Lifestyle and Adventure

Featuring The ultimate indoor outdoor living luxury

Mud, musty tents, cold weather, cooking on rusty gas stoves, sweaty sleeping bags...needless to say, camping has never held much appeal here at The Sybarite. Until that is, we became acquainted with the Autonomous Tent -  a stunning semi-permanent structure designed by fabulous architects such as Patricia DiMario and Harry Gesner (whose famous Cooper Wave House design inspired the Sydney Opera House). The exquisitely-designed yet sustainable solar powered tent (although to call it a tent is akin to calling champagne a fizzy drink - a major understatement) can be enjoyed anywhere, all year round without detriment to our planet's ecosystems. The tent comes in two sizes: $100,000 for the smaller, 700-square-foot Cocoon version and $200,000 for the 1,000-square-foot, two bedroom Tipi. The latter is more able to withstand heavy winds and snow, owing to it being constructed from either sturdy steel/aluminium tubes or laminated beams that are made out of hi-tech, rot, and mildew-resistant fabrics.

Featuring Best Clay Pigeon Shooting Schools in the UK: Top 5...

Experience Bordeaux’s booming gourmet scene

The Unesco Heritage French city of Bordeaux maybe best known for its pedestrianised boulevards and restored neoclassical architecture, but it’s also a great destination for gourmands.Sybarites looking to sample Bordeaux’s exceptional dining scene would do well to check into Located in the heart of the city, opposite the majestic Bordeaux Opera House, this haute hotel boasts no fewer than five wine concierges - all of whom can  provide guests with exclusive access to some of Bordeaux’s most prestigious vineyards, which are traditionally closed to the public. But it’s not all about oenophiles…. Cocktail lovers will be in seventh heaven too thanks to the hotel’s Night Beach Rooftop Bar. Boasting 360 degree postcard perfect views over the city rooftops, the bar offers an array of carefully curated signature cocktails (and appetisers) served with a side of music. Don’t miss the Harvey Wallbanger cocktail - although it arguably looks more like a delectable dessert than a drink. Made with the local (gluten free) French vodka, Pyla Vodka, (which is filtered through oceanic sand of Pyla dune of Arcachon Bay, 45 minutes away from Bordeaux), it’s summer in a glass.

Featuring Last night a DJ saved my life

Turn your disc-jockey dreams into reality on a DJ Dispensary retreat “You ruin your life by tolerating it. At the end of the day you should be excited to be alive. When you settle for anything less than what you innately desire, you destroy the possibility that lives inside of you, and in that way you cheat both yourself and the world of your potential. The next Michelangelo could be sitting behind a Macbook right now writing an invoice for paperclips, because it pays the bills, or because it is comfortable, or because he can tolerate it. Do not let this happen to you.” So scribbled Bianca Sparacino in her first published work, How To Ruin Your Life Without Realising You Are. Here at Sybarite HQ we know we’re not the next Michelango but as teens we indulged in fantasies about working as a DJ, before stepping on the career treadmill and giving up on our dreams.

Featuring Exploring Edinburgh: Gear up for Fringe Festival with...

The renowned annual arts festival from 5-29 August 2016. However, while the world's largest arts festival will dominate the headlines in August, there’s plenty of other things that the beautiful city has on offer. Here’s The Sybarite's low-down on the 10 essential Edinburgh experiences. How many can you tick off?

Hot Dish - an interview with Velocity founder Zia Yusuf

It was a particularly patience-testing restaurant experience which saw former Goldman Sachs man, Zia Yusuf, and his childhood friend Alex Macdonald forced to wait 45 minutes for the bill - that led the Londoners to create Velocity. The smartphone app which - despite only having launched in January 2014 - has already changed the way we dine out. In a nutshell, Velocity lets you find a restaurant, reserve a table and pay the bill, all from your smartphone, granting us a little bit more of what is arguably the biggest luxury there is in 2016: time. Yusuf - a magnificent mix of boldness and guts - is clearly passionate about the project and has his eyes on America. “We’re launching in several hundred restaurants across numerous cities in America ,so it’s all systems go! I am very excited by the take up of great restaurants - we’ve only really got great restaurants. And that creates expectation. Customers know that they can have a world class experience regardless of price point. It’s about a world class meal. We actually founded the company on the principle that human interest is the bedrock of hospitality. What we have set out to do, is to use technology to make even the most mundane parts of hospitality - like paying for the bill - memorable. We’re not about discounts; we’re about allowing customers to have a very personalised experience and get treated like a local regular.”

Featuring The definition of a 21st century business Club – 12 Hay Hill

Between work, meetings, office drinks, visits to the gym and time with friends, we’ve become more reliant than ever on venues that can combine all of these under one roof. One of London’s most exclusive business clubs is 12 Hay Hill in Mayfair. The Sybarite caught up with Chief Executive Simon Robinson to find out more about the club and its offering. Importantly, 12 Hay Hill is not restricted to one service, it functions in many different ways but without sacrificing quality or style. Simon explained “what’s interesting about 12 HayHill is that we are different. There are many, many institutions in London – and in Mayfair particularly – you have hotels, restaurants, bars, and office blocks. What is inspirational about us is that we are a hybrid of them all, and in essence we are a wonderful place to work. That is where it starts from, for me.”

Health is the Ultimate Luxury: Meet Clajah Bricce

Growing up in London surrounded by the buzz of a hard-working city that never sleeps, Clajah found herself particularly inspired by her aunt, whose demanding schedule made keeping healthy an absolute must. As a singer working with the likes of Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder, Clajah’s aunt was constantly on the go, and she relied heavily on her fitness to be able to do her job. Even at such a young age, Clajah says she “wanted to be just like [her]” and really understood how important working out and eating well was for peace of mind, as well as body. Unsurprisingly, Clajah went on to study Biology, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at university, further equipping herself with the necessary knowledge to make her business idea a very healthy reality. She loved the variety and complexity of the clients she took on “working with children and families, celebrities, sports figures and high powered executives”, all with a range of different health objectives. She now has more than 20 years of experience in the international health sector.

Where to celebrate Chinese New Year in London

In short, it is two weeks of constant eating, merriment and customary rituals. 2016 is said to be the ‘Year of the Monkey’, specifically the 'Fire Monkey'. Zodiac observers will expect “an element of vitality, a little bit more power and energy” in the year ahead. For those born under the Monkey sign, the upcoming year is expected bring more “focus” and a lot more “attention to detail” in all that they do. Although Asian in origin, the festive period has become universally acknowledged and celebrated, meaning you won’t miss out, no matter where you are in the world. Here's our top ‘picks’ of the best ways in which to celebrate in London:

Featuring Sneak Peak: The Oscars ‘Swag Bag’ is here

The fabulous people, couture outfits, high-profile events and celebrity gossip are already making it into the media. Next on our radar is possibly the most famous awards ceremony in the world. The 88th Academy Awards is set to take place on the 28th of this month and will be hosted by comedian and actor Chris Rock. Arguably the souvenir every guest would like to get their hands on is the highly renowned golden statue. However, seeing as our acting skills aren’t quite up to scratch, we've decided to turn our attention to the next best thing - the Oscar-worthy goodie bag. No A-List celebrity will go home empty handed as each will receive one of these ‘swag bags’, the ultimate metaphor for the surreal nature of the Hollywood lifestyle - this year rumoured to be worth a staggering $200,000. So what could possibly be in such a goodie bag to result in such an amount you wonder? It’s a far cry from a balloon and a slice of cake, but then again this is Hollywood, and here’s a sneak peak…

Dreaming of the Maldives? Feel inspired by these two...

This private island is your definition of an escape, of your ‘nowhere-to-be-found’ and where you can be indulgent with discretion. The Cheval Blanc Randheli was conceived by its architect Jean-Michel Gathy and invites you to “experience French Art de Recevoir”- or in other words the art of hospitality. Unlike other villas of the sort, Cheval Blanc is a completely secluded lagoon offering a rare experience for its discerning guests. If you ever considered holidaying on your own private island and haven’t done so yet, you might wish to consider Cheval Blanc Randheli Owner’s Villa. Stretching over 8000 sqm and only accessible by private berth and jetty, Owner’s Villa is a four-bedroom luxury abode with a 25 m outdoor pool, Jacuzzi, crystal clear beaches, lush gardens, and a spa to match.

Sybarite Life: Hofit Golan frolics in the Maldives

She was joined with friend and model Mathilde Gøhler, designer and actor Mariano Di Vaio and composer Remee S. Jackman - we've seen her swimming in crystal clear water and leisurely strolling down the beach, looking fabulous in different bikini styles. Take a look for yourself.