^{_{Image courtesy of Stephanie Stamatis}}

Veggiemight

Veggie need not be boring. The Dolder Grand, high above Zurich, adds outdoor blooms - Summer only, naturally. Salivate over Heiko Neider’s edible art, above (if it’s raining, there’s a new seven-seat omakase table in one of the Norman Foster-designed suites). Stay over, say in the Messina Suite, named for Fellini’s wife. Time to tour the hotel’s 130+ art works. Dali, Dubuffet, Miro, Moore, Pisarro, Warhol - and Jani Leinonen’s pieces include brown corrugated card announcing ‘Paris Hilton + Lindsay Lohan stole all my stuff’.

Four Seasons Touring

There’s Japanese too, top floor next to the 35-foot indoor stainless-steel pool, at Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, Geneva. Luxuriate before a Four Seasons stay-drive (ELF says fly-drive is so yawn-yawn). Four Seasons partners with Luigi Orlandini’s Reggio Emilia-based Canossa Events on a 12-18 June special, Geneva to Megève, via Gruyère, Annecy and Mont Blanc. Drive away, details and support minutely managed.

Chanel Crush

No fashionista wants to shop enmasse. Chanel is doing so well its current stores risk becoming overcrowded – so expect additional high-spend boutiques. Just right to grab a Chanel 19 bag, all of 10.1 inches long (tweed or whatever but most stylish is baby-blue lambskin, with three chains in different coloured golds).

Fashionably Travelled

Talking of brands, Etihad Airways flies Giorgio Armani’s Armani Casa blankets and tableware. Competitor Qatar Airways’ Doha lounges have Dior spas, Louis Vuitton cafés (before leaving town, take the tenth-floor David Collins-designed Royal Suite at Mandarin Oriental Doha). Qatar’s Racing & Equestrian Club sponsors England’s Glorious Goodwood Festival, 1-5 August 2023.

Whisky Defender

Land Rover is 75. To celebrate, there’s a hand-built Classic Defender Works V8 Islay limited edition, 30-vehicles, with whisky-cask woodwork from Kilchoman Distillery, on Islay. Distillery owner Kathy Wilks, whose father pioneered Land Rover, is producing 639 bottles of ‘639’ whisky (Rover’s Series IIa, registration 639, previewed Land Rover’s 1947 launch).

Chameleon Cars

Can cars change colour? BMW thinks so. BMW iVision Dee - Digital Emotional Experience – was shown by BMW Chairman Oliver Zipse at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show CES in Las Vegas. Among other features, iVision Dee apparently uses E Ink to change a vehicle’s colour, chameleon style.

Singapore Slinging

Singapore Slings are red, thanks to Cherry Herring-flavoured gin. Drink at source, Raffles Singapore. Raffles is as modern-heritage as Hermès - its Elizabeth Taylor Suite, #207, has typical polished wood walls, softened by Alexandra Champalimaud’s floral panels. It’s fabulous fun (a hat boutique’s a speakeasy front for a private club).