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Golf: Member of the Bordes

Most of Europe’s elite golf courses are clustered in the British Isles and, to a lesser extent, the Iberian Peninsula. Like its joie-de-vivre-centric counterpart Italy, France has always been an underachiever when it comes to this particular leisure pursuit. But the Gallic golfing landscape is not without its gems, most …

Armani Hotel Dubai

Like the surrounding desert, Armani Hotel Dubai derives much of its appeal from its general absence of things. Fashion designer Giorgio Armani, known for his minimalist style, has all but eschewed color, ornamentation, and natural light for his inaugural hotel, creating a low-lit oasis within a metropolis of dazzling abundance. …

The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles

When the Staples Center opened in downtown Los Angeles in 1999, ticket holders for the venue’s sporting and entertainment extravaganzas had to venture far afield for a good pre- or post-event meal. Just over a decade later, the area near the arena abounds with eateries, movie theaters, and more as …

Travel: On the Rise

In 1911, Crans-Montana distinguished itself as a ski destination by hosting the first major downhill racing event in the sport’s history. But it was sun, rather than snow, that first attracted visitors to this resort town in the Swiss Alps.
At the turn of the 20th century, health-conscious tourists and …

Bar Boulud, London

Daniel Boulud—the French-born chef who built his culinary career and restaurant empire in New York—this May opened Bar Boulud, London, at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel. The wine-themed modern tavern, Boulud’s first restaurant in Europe, puts a British spin on the best of the chef’s casual New York eateries, …

Nyungwe Forest Lodge

Set on a rolling tea plantation on the fringe of Nyungwe National Park, Nyungwe Forest Lodge opened its doors in March as the first true luxury resort in Rwanda.
The 24-room property, which is tucked deep in the mountains a few hours’ drive from the bustling capital of Kigali, underscores …

Blood Horse

Few entertainments can match the pomp that Thoroughbred racing affords its spectators, as Jack Smith observes in this month’s article on the Maker’s Mark Mile (see "Spirit of 46," page 141). Yet the sport of kings has not always been a pastime in which monarchs could indulge with impunity. As …