Photo Credit: The Berkeley Hotel

 

Martini Classic

The American Civil War ended in 1865. Confrontations gave way to cocktails. The then-new Martinez, gin and over-sweet vermouth, begat what’s today’s Classic Martini. The Berkeley Hotel’s Blue Bar does London’s classic. Hampshire-distilled Bombay Sapphire, 94° proof for USA, 80° here in UK. Irish Rock Oysters from Carlingford - or steak tartare crumpets topped with confit egg yolk, whatever, in a Lutyens-blue theatre from David Collins Studio.

 

Cannes Icons

Damien Hirst goes Martinez, the Cannes icon. Dotted around public areas are 27 pieces of his ten-year Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable project (what would Emmanuel Martinez, who opened his eponymous hotel in 1929, think?). Additionally, Le Martinez sports a Carita spa, an outdoor pool and an A-listers’ beach club, across the Croisette. ELF’s preferred suite, incidentally, is Mediterranean-facing #325. 

 

Signature Strut

On the beach food front, head for The Setai Miami Beach (New York strip’s a Beach Grill signature). Combat chills in the open-sided restaurant, or when strutting the adjacent beach-skirting boardwalk, with a hoodie from Art Basel Miami followers’ fav, Palm Angels. The Setai is the favourite, hangout and home, to America’s best, designers, entertainers, and media.  

 

The Place For Pizza

Summer signifies the outdoors. Sun-filled meals rather than hibernating hoodies. Oetker’s Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc launches Giovanni’s, named for Giovanni Rizzi, the 47-year veteran-to-know for cabana help. Exclusive to hotel guests, Giovanni’s suggests pizzas from 35-year old global champion Jérémy Viale. ‘Giancarlo’ zucchini cream and flowers, scamorza, pancetta, fior di latte. Add chilled Whispering Angel.  

 

Arizona Detox

Want five days’ Arizona detox? L’Auberge de Sedona, working with personal transformation consultant Donna Bond, shows what’s meaningful and how to grow, 23-27 July. Unlock entelechy, simply realising potential. Revel in Arizona’s clean air and magnificent countryside. L’Auberge’s Spa Cottages, handy for the spa, have four-poster beds, working fires and outdoor cedar wood showers.

 

Tropical Breakfast

Fancy an Indian Ocean breakfast in a treehouse? LUX* Le Morne, in southwest Mauritius, has it ready and waiting. Climb 35 wooden stairs around a local Badamier, sandalwood-type, tree to the exclusive dining perch.  Champagne and coconut water of course, and eggs and bacon if you must. Activate the appetite with a pre-prandial hike up the nearby Le Morne peak, a basalt monolith rising to 1,824ft.

 

Bacon Bits

Have a bit of Bacon – Francis Bacon, precisely. His ‘Three Studies for a Portrait of George Dyer’, estimate $50-70 million, is the first listing from EU-licensed Artex, regulated by the Liechtenstein Financial Market Authority. 70% of the lot is being offered in $100 shares.