New, Thrilling Bar Experiences in Southeast Asia (Update June 2022)
By Lifestyle+Travel
If you are into creative drinks, design-forward venues, or one-of-a-kind tasting experiences, check out these recently-opened bars offering surprises that could be one of the highlights of your travel.
Club Soda Bali, Indonesia
Images by Club Soda Bali
The ‘postmodern happiness portal’ has recently been launched in Berawa, curated by the founders of award-winning Restaurant Locavore in Ubud. Here, you can indulge in creative concoctions while surrounded by art installation and energetic beats.
What to expect: Innovative cocktails, mocktails, as well as natural wines that will never cease to amaze, as well as Asian and Japanese-inspired bites – all of which are crafted using local Indonesian ingredients.
Hours: Open Tuesday-Sunday, 17:00 onwards
More details: locavorenext.com/family/club-soda
Villa Frantzén Cocktail Bar, Bangkok, Thailand
Images by Villa Frantzén
The cosy Nordic barn is situated in the very heart of Bangkok, serving up fascinating modern Nordic cocktail with Asian influences. The bar is led by Gabriel Valdés, who was the mastermind behind Pharmarium, a unique bar experience in Stockholm.
What to expect: Smooth cocktails boasting pure taste of natural ingredients that reflect the Scandinavian landscape. Don’t be fooled by the drinks’ plain looks – you will definitely be stunned.
Hours: Open daily, 17:00 until midnight
More details: villafrantzen.com
COCOA XO at Centara Grand at CentralWorld, Bangkok, Thailand
Image by Centara Grand at CentralWorld
Centara Grand at CentralWorld has recently introduced its new, unique tasting experience in an alfresco setting, COCOA XO, Bangkok’s first cacao pod, on the 57th floor, in collaboration with Martell Cognac and artisanal French Chocolatier Cacao Barry.
What to expect: A marvelous world of decadence featuring premium chocolate and cognac, a chocolate fountain, bespoke choctails by talented mixologists, among others, overlooking stunning Bangkok skyline.
Hours: Open daily, 16:00-00:30
More details: www.cocoaxobangkok.com
Metropole Underground at Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Image by Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh’s first subterranean bar, Metropole Underground, takes inspiration from the metro system of the early 20th Century Paris, seamlessly blending European with Khmer influences.
What to expect: Speakeasy-style cocktails to be savoured in a chic surrounding, together with lively DJ beats.
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 18:00-01:00
More details: www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/cambodia/hyatt-regency-phnom-penh/pnhrp/dining
By Lifestyle+Travel
Glion: The New Code of Luxury Education
In a world where luxury is increasingly defined not by what one owns but by what one feels, a quiet revolution is reshaping education at the highest level. For Thailand's globally minded personas, institutions such as Glion Institute of Higher Education are emerging as gateways into a new kind of influence—one built on experience, intuition and cultural fluency. Where Experience Becomes the Ultimate Currency The shift is unmistakable. Today's luxury consumer is no longer won over by perfection alone—what matters is individuality: how a moment is crafted, and how deeply it resonates long after it has passed. Set high above Lake Geneva with uninterrupted views of the Swiss Alps, Glion offers something far more immersive than a conventional education. It is, in many ways, a finishing school for the modern global tastemaker—an institution that understands that the most enduring luxury is not a product but a feeling. As Managing Director Philippe Vignon explains, “What is going to make the difference for the sophisticated consumer is the ability to deliver a meaningful experience… there is no such thing as a standardised service delivery.” This philosophy is woven into every dimension of Glion's approach. Students are not simply schooled in the mechanics of hotel or brand management; they are trained to interpret human emotion, to anticipate desire, and to compose seamless, deeply personalised journeys. Increasingly, this includes understanding how artificial intelligence can enhance—rather than eclipse—the irreplaceable human touch. For Thailand, long celebrated for its innate and gracious hospitality, this evolution feels particularly resonant. The next chapter is not about learning service from scratch, but about refining it into something globally distinctive. Life at Altitude To study at Glion is to inhabit a world where lifestyle and learning are inseparable. The Swiss campuses, suspended above Lake Geneva with the Alps as a permanent backdrop, are designed to reflect the standards of a boutique luxury property—elegant, precise and quietly intimate. Students wake to crisp mountain air and panoramic views before moving through days that weave together lectures, fitness and hands-on training. By evening, they may find themselves observing—or actively participating in—fine dining service at Maison Décotterd, the Michelin-starred restaurant located on campus. Beyond Switzerland, the school's geography opens doors to Europe's cultural capitals. Milan, Paris and the French Riviera become natural extensions of the classroom, reinforcing a sensibility that is as global in its reach as it is refined in its tastes. A Boutique Philosophy Unlike the vast anonymity of larger institutions, Glion maintains a deliberately intimate scale. Classrooms rarely exceed 25 students of multi nationalities, fostering a quality of personal attention that is increasingly rare—and increasingly valued. "We remain very much a family-size boutique institution," Vignon notes, emphasising the importance of nurturing each individual. This extends well beyond academic results to encompass emotional wellbeing and personal development—dimensions so often overlooked by more traditional systems. The result is a close-knit international community in which students live and learn together, forming bonds that frequently endure a lifetime. It is here that the idea of luxury acquires a deeper dimension: not exclusivity for its own sake, but access to
By Lifestyle+Travel
Where to Celebrate Easter 2026 Festivities Across Asia
Easter has evolved into a showcase of artisanal pastry, jazz-soaked brunches, and high-design family escapes across Asia’s most iconic cities. Whether you are looking for a weekend staycation or a world-class pastry collaboration, these properties are setting the standard for spring celebrations. Sky-High Easter Breakfast at INNSiDE by Melia Bangkok Sukhumvit The Kites Eatery is elevating the breakfast experience—quite literally. On Easter Sunday, the usual spread makes way for a dedicated Easter corner. Expect a whimsical array of chocolate eggs, themed desserts, and the scent of freshly-baked Danishes and croissants wafting through the floor-to-ceiling windows backdropped by sweeping panoramic views of Bangkok’s skyline. T: + 66 (0) 2 340 5499 E: innside.sukhumvit@melia.com The Jazzy Brunch at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok The Living Room at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit hosts a soulful, jazz-infused afternoon where a sensory-heavy affair with premium seafood and seasonal small plates meet the polished rhythms of the Jazziam Band. Bathed in natural light and sophisticated energy, it’s the ideal choice for those who want their festive Easter brunch to feel more like a private lounge performance than a standard holiday meal. T: + 66 (0) 2 649 8888 E: BKKLC-Dining@marriott.com W: sheratongrandesukhumvit.info/SundayJazzyBrunch Heritage and Hand-Painted Traditions at The Anam Mui Ne Steeped in Indochine charm, The Anam Mui Ne is reviving the simple joys of the season. On April 5, the breakfast buffet at The Indochine Restaurant transforms into a nostalgic workshop where guests can dye hard-boiled eggs and enjoy "Grandma’s Hot Chocolate" from a live station. The property’s sister site, The Anam Cam Ranh, will also be getting into the spirit with a curated selection of Easter-shaped pastries and interactive children's programming. T: + 84 252 6284 868 E: info.mn@theanam.com W: theanam.com Elegant Champagne Brunch Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor In Siem Reap, the legendary Raffles has teamed up with Siso, a local boutique bakery renowned for its Japanese-French fusion. This partnership brings a refined edge to the Easter Sunday Champagne brunch at Cafe d’Angkor. Expect a parade of high-concept desserts, including lemon yuzu eclairs and spiced carrot-pineapple tarts. For USD60++ (plus an optional USD35++ for unlimited champagne), it’s a masterclass in artisanal baking within a historic colonial setting. T: + 855 63 963 888 E: bookus.siemreap@raffles.com W: raffles.com/siem-reap Designer Delicacies at Regent Hong Kong From 18 April to 21 April 2025, discover the ultimate destination for gastronomic pleasures with special menus at Lai Ching Heen, Harbourside, Nobu Hong Kong and The Steak House. The talk of the town is also Executive Pastry Chef Andy Yeung’s "EGGSTER" cake. This architectural dessert blends Hokkaido Fromage Blanc with the sharp sweetness of rhubarb and pink guava. For those looking to impress at home, these bespoke cakes and artisanal Easter treats can be secured via the hotel’s eShop. T: + 852 2313 2313. E: dining.regenthk@ihg.com W: hongkong.regenthotels.com Italian and Japanese Easter Feast at The Hari Hong Kong In Wan Chai, The Hari is offering a sophisticated dual-concept celebration from April 3–6. At Lucciola, the focus remains on Italian heritage with handmade pastas and succulent roast baby goat, while Zoku offers a modern Japanese perspective on the holiday. Beyond the free-flow brunch, the
By LIFESTYLE+TRAVEL
The Global Countdown: Four Definitive Stages
As the year’s final hours approach, the world’s great metropolises transform into vast, illuminated theaters of celebration. Clocking from the early pyrotechnics of the Southern Hemisphere to the midnight neon of the West, these four destinations remain the essential stages for a global New Year. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ Sydney: The First Spark Sydney holds the prestige of being among the first to ignite the global festivities. The harbor becomes a shimmering arena as world-renowned pyrotechnics cascade from the Harbour Bridge, reflecting off the iconic sails of the Opera House in a masterclass of maritime scale. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ Bangkok: The River of Light Along the Chao Phraya, Bangkok’s historic waterway serves as a majestic backdrop for the countdown. From the city’s soaring rooftop lounges to the traditional riverfront, the skyline erupts in a synchronized dance of light that blends ancient temple silhouettes with a high-octane festive energy. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ London: A Thames-Side Tradition When Big Ben strikes twelve, the South Bank becomes the focal point of European celebration. The London Eye frames a breathtaking display of color reflected in the dark waters of the Thames, while the city’s historic streets and grand ballrooms hum with timeless British charm. ━━━━━━━━━━━━👇━━━━━━━━━━━━ New York: The World’s Crossroads Few experiences rival the kinetic electricity of Times Square. As the crystal ball descends, a blizzard of confetti falls upon a global crowd in a moment of collective optimism. It remains the quintessential urban ritual—a high-energy finale at the center of the world.