The latest in dining and culture news around the world

Explore the latest culinary experiences, cultural immersions and events around the world.

Celebrating Manolo Blahnik in London

In celebration of the Marie Antoinette Style exhibition at the V&A, The Berkeley in Knightsbridge is partnering with legendary shoe designer Manolo Blahnik to offer an exclusive “Cakes & Cocktails fit for a Queen” experience. Guests can enjoy a curated selection of couture cocktails and refined mocktails inspired by the last queen of France and Manolo’s favourite flavours, including Manolo’s Martini, La Reine Privée, the Versailles Spritz, and La Dauphine’s Garden. Available from Friday 19 September 2025 in The Snug at The Berkeley Bar, the experience is bookable Monday to Sunday at 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm, with each private timeslot accommodating up to six guests.

15 years of Three Blue Ducks

Australia

This September, Three Blue Ducks celebrates 15 years of honest, seasonal cooking, ethical hospitality and community connection. From their first Bronte café in 2010, the Ducks have grown to five venues along Australia’s east coast, all driven by a belief in good food made with care, shared with purpose, and mindful of the environment. To mark the milestone, they’ve announced their next venture: a farm-to-plate restaurant, bakery and produce store on Annie Cannon-Brookes’ working farm in Burradoo, NSW, opening in late 2025/early 2026. The farm will supply much of the produce and proteins served on-site, with visitors also able to purchase fresh goods to take home. Throughout September, Three Blue Ducks venues will offer $15 specials such as oysters, lobster rolls, cocktails and Taittinger Champagne, plus 15% off online (excluding vouchers). The celebrations also feature a limited-edition coffee with long-term partner Single O, showcasing an Ethiopian washed coffee from Keffa, and a merchandise collaboration with Byron Bay artist Anjuna Hartlieb.

A big Greek restaurant for Bondi

Australia

Etheus, the latest venture from House Made Hospitality, opened on Friday 8 August, taking over the former Promenade dining room at Bondi Pavilion. Just steps from Bondi Beach, the beachside Greek restaurant is helmed by Executive Chef Chris Benedet and Head Chef Stav Stavrou, delivering a fire-fuelled menu inspired by traditional Greek cooking. Dishes include tirokafteri whipped with blistered red peppers, slow-cooked beef stifado baked in terracotta, and prawn saganaki finished with ouzo. The drinks list, curated by Head of Wine Ahmad Fahda, balances coastal Mediterranean and Australian styles, with a focus on boutique, small-batch producers. Guests can enjoy ten Greek wines by the bottle, four by the glass, alongside boutique Mediterranean drops, split frozen daiquiris, and warm rakomelo to finish. With its low music, bold flavours, and sun-soaked location, Etheus is where Greek tradition meets Bondi heat.

A new restaurant for Raffles

Singapore

Known for his creative and memory-driven culinary philosophy, Taiwanese-born and French-trained chef André Chiang will be opening a restaurant in late 2025 within Raffles Hotel Singapore’s neo-Renaissance Main Building. This follows Chiang’s completion of the hotel’s fourth writer’s residency, a program introduced in 2019 to deepen Raffles’ long literary legacy, where the acclaimed chef wrote Fragments of Time, a book reflecting on Singapore and Raffles Hotel’s complex culinary heritage.

“I call Singapore the home of ‘grownup André’ and it’s exciting to reconnect with the Singapore audience,” says Chiang of his upcoming establishment. Chiang is no stranger to the island state’s fine-dining scene, having previously operated Jaan par André at Swissôtel The Stamford from 2008 ’til 2010, and helming his eponymous two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Singapore between 2010 and 2018.

Mondrian makes a splash

Australia

June 2025 saw the eagerly awaited debut of Mondrian Gold Coast, perched on the sun-kissed shores of Burleigh Heads. The hotel’s signature restaurants up the ante on the Coast’s beachfront dining scene, serving traditional Italian fare and fresh seafood – often accompanied by vibrant live performances. Whether it’s a morning espresso or a sunset aperitivo, LiTO seamlessly blends Mediterranean and Australian elements to deliver refined coastal flavours and seasonal bites that embody the warmth of an Italian summer. Infused with a rustic woodfire aroma, Haven is a flavourful escape distinguished by ocean-to-plate offerings, salty sea breezes and live music. Whichever you choose, it’s all gold standard.

The sky is the limit

Thailand

While its Sky Bar sister – famously featured in The Hangover Part II – resides just three floors above, Pink Bar by lebua at State Tower offers equally captivating views of Bangkok’s skyline with a dash of rose-tinted 1950s glamour. With five private glass Juliet balconies, a bronze and gold champagne table centrepiece, and a curated menu of champagne cocktails, blanc de blancs and rosé, guests may very well find themselves tickled pink. And should you be inclined to continue the evening (bubbles tend to have that effect), the double Michelin-starred Chef’s Table is just a few steps away.

Shangri-La The Shard, London

The United Kingdom

Shangri-La The Shard London has partnered with Papa Salt Coastal Gin, co-founded by Margot Robbie, to launch ‘A Summer Above’, a limited-edition afternoon tea inspired by Australia’s sun-drenched coast. Running from 1 June to 31 September 2025, the experience features vibrant patisserie and cocktails crafted with Papa Salt Gin, served 35 floors above the city. Highlights include creative pastries like Ocean Jewel and Coral Bloom, plus signature gin cocktails such as Yuzu Drift and Lychee Breeze Martini. The menu is curated by Executive Pastry Chef Piero Sottile, celebrating seaside elegance and summer flavours. Bookings can be done via the website.

The Culinary Discovery Route

Norway

Leading Scandinavian sustainable travel group Up Norway has launched The Culinary Discovery Route, an experiential 14-day journey for foodies. Catering to just six people, the tour immerses guests in the region’s natural beauty while delving deep into the gastronomic landscape. Expect world-class dining at both Michelin-starred establishments and charming eateries, plus hands-on culinary experiences such as sea foraging in the fjords, private cooking classes with a Bocuse d’Or World Champion, sustainable fishing, guided food tours, farm visits and scenic explorations of Bergen, Beckerwyc, Rosendal and Stavanger. Groups priced from USD$97,000