The following is an excerpt from The Agency Magazine’s Fall/Winter Issue.
Read the full article here.
Overloaded with information? We’ve narrowed everything down for you.
When it comes to the most exciting and exquisite hotels, bars, and restaurants in Hong Kong, New York City, Mexico City, Paris, and Madrid, we have your quick-hit guide to some of the world’s most happening spots.
1. Hong Kong
Hong Kong has an unmistakable energy, and its clamorous streets and alleys are very much part of its appeal. All the better when blended with a touch of serene elegance from its many world-class hotels and fine-dining restaurants. The dim sum, no doubt, is essential.
Peninsula Hong Kong: Book your stay at the impeccable 1928 Hong Kong icon and arrive in style from the airport in one of more than a dozen Rolls-Royce Phantoms or Bentley Bentaygas—each in Peninsula Green, of course. Don’t miss a meal at Spring Moon, known for its legendary, Michelin-starred dim sum. When it’s time to depart, reserve a helicopter and exit through the 30th-floor China Clipper lounge, enjoying a scenic trip over the harbor.
Bar Leone: Lorenzo Antinori’s Bar Leone oozes hospitality, ensuring guests feel at home from the moment they step inside. It’s no surprise that it has skyrocketed up every reputable list of the world’s best bars. Italian-centric cocktails play on the classics and are creative yet approachable, but the “if you know, you know” move? Ordering the focaccia mortadella sandwich.
Duddell’s: This is a Hong Kong institution. Led by chef Chan Yau-Leung and with a prime Central location, the renowned favorite offers refined Cantonese fare and a classic weekend dim sum brunch. It’s a can’t-miss that also happens to highlight art exhibitions in addition to its cuisine.
Ho Lee Fook: This contemporary dim sum restaurant blends Cantonese traditions with forward-looking culinary adaptations. That’s largely thanks to the talents of Hong Kong–born head chef ArChan Chan, who offers her own fresh spin rooted in well-honed technique.
Penicillin: Following up on the success of an acclaimed bar such as The Old Man is no easy task. For Agung Prabowo, he decided to go big by emphasizing sustainability down to its nitty-gritty foundation via an intensive fermentation program, utilizing discarded ingredients from local restaurants and redistilling spirits into house originals. —Jake Emen
2. New York City
This city needs little introduction. As a global capital of culture, design, and gastronomy, it offers high-end experiences that evolve at such a dizzying pace, even locals never tire of what’s next. From legendary hotels to buzzworthy new restaurants, these are the latest and greatest to put on your list.
Mandarin Oriental, New York: Perched high above Columbus Circle with breathtaking views of Central Park and the Hudson River, the Mandarin Oriental offers an elegant sanctuary in the heart of Manhattan. Guests can retreat to one of 244 refined rooms and suites, enjoy inventive cocktails at The Bar—a newly reimagined speakeasy inspired by the Silk Road and featuring signatures like the pandan- and coconut-infused Siam Sunset—and savor seasonal dishes at MO Lounge, where weekly menus highlight peak ingredients from local purveyors.
Chateau Royale: From the team behind Libertine comes this glamorous two-story French restaurant and cocktail bar in Greenwich Village. Set in a restored carriage house, Chateau Royale channels the grandeur of New York’s golden dining era, offering a cinematic space, timeless French classics, and an atmosphere that feels both nostalgic and new.
The Dynamo Room: From Sunday Hospitality (the group behind Café Chelsea, Sunday in Brooklyn, and Rule of Thirds) comes this Midtown steak house and grill that’s already turning heads. Elevated yet playful, The Dynamo Room reimagines the great American steak house for a new era of downtown-meets-Midtown dining.
Hotel Chelsea: A cultural landmark reinvented and now part of Leading Hotels of the World, Hotel Chelsea continues to evolve with new offerings for guests and locals alike. Its latest addition, Teruko, is a subterranean sushi restaurant showcasing refined Japanese staples in an intimate setting. Upstairs, the hotel’s spa has launched an innovative artist-in-residency program, debuting with renowned esthetician Athena Hewett, founder of botanical skincare brand Monastery. Guests can book her exclusive Founder’s Facial, a sensorial treatment blending ritual, advanced technique, and natural formulations for a one-of-a-kind wellness experience.
Koju: Tucked inside the Ace Hotel Brooklyn, Koju is a modern omakase destination from LDV Hospitality. This intimate counter experience blends tradition and innovation, highlighting pristine seasonal ingredients through artful courses that evolve with the chef’s creative vision.
—Laura Corrigan O’Connell
To see highlights for Mexico City, Paris, and Madrid, visit The Agency Magazine.
