New York City may have invented (and re-invented) the speakeasy, but Sydney has perfected it. SYDNEY – There is no place in the world where the Prohibition-era cocktail scene has prospered more than New York City. Beginning with Milk & Honey, Employees Only, and Pegu Club in the early 2000s, the concept has been carbon-copied over and over again to varying degrees of success. I found a rea

LOS ANGELES – The first two years I lived in L.A., I moved seven and a half times. (Including an extended house-sitting situation in West Hollywood. If the postman knows your name, it counts) Then I heard that the best way to find a place to hang your hat is to live in the neighborhood where you want to spend your weekends. I settled in Silver Lake and never looked back. If you did the same, your Sundays would go a little something li

The best restaurant in Venice Beach is arguably Axe. For so many reasons. LOS ANGELES – When Axe closed for nearly a year due to a kitchen fire, a quiet wailing could be heard around Venice Beach on Sunday mornings as locals mourned the temporary loss of their hallowed nine-grain pancake. (Or maybe it was just a seagull lost on Abbot Kinney?) Patiently we waited for chef Joanna Moore̵

NEW YORK CITY – Around here, we have high hopes for the opening of NoMad, the restaurant and hotel that opened about 30 seconds ago in Manhattan. At the helm: Daniel Humm and Will Guidara, the chef and general manager at Eleven Madison Park, which means everyone else has great expectations, too. Well soon be bringing you more from the hotel, the first US project from Hôtel Costes designer Jacques Garcia. In the meantim

Al Moro is this American expats favorite restaurant in Rome. For the food, for the scene, for the feeling.ROME – Perhaps because I grew up with a Roman nonna who spent most of her time convincing her nipotine americane that Rome is the only city in the world worth living in due to its millennia of history, I spend most of my days searching for a Rome of the 21st century, one wherein electric buses take me to cutting-edg

Hometown: West Windsor, New Jersey. Now living in Rome.Occupation: Food and travel writer.Favorite destinations: NYC, London, Palermo, Puglia, Istanbul, Naples.Dying to visit: Iran and Libya.Bizarre travel rituals: It takes me hours to pack for a trip, regardless of how short or long. I spend the whole night before packing for a trip, typically from 1-4 a.m., generally being inefficient and failing to learn from experience. I always forget

This is the first installment of tea drinking tips, historical bits, etiquette, and advice from Jennie Ripps of The Teaologist, the NYC-based company that creates custom tea blends and cocktails for restaurants, hotels, and events like Sundance and the Super Bowl. My interest in tea was piqued over six years ago, when I began to realize the rich and unique health benefits and flavors that different brews offered. I am c

Hometown: Three: Beirut. Houston. New York City.Occupation: Writer and editor.Favorite destinations: Tokyo, New Orleans, Saigon, Istanbul, London, Budapest, Berkeley, Fire Island, Cairo.Dying to visit: India, Australia, Peru. Bizarre travel rituals: Terminal-hopping to find an airport branch of a local restaurant. Nothing like eating in the actual city, but less grim than the Chilis near the departure gate.In-flight relaxatio

A respite from the sensory overload of downtown Manhattan. In the form of chocolate on ice.NYC – As sure as the sun sets in the west, I hit a low point while traversing the big city. It happens mid-afternoon, maybe around 3 or 4 p.m., definitely after lunch and before dinner. It occurs in the midst of a magical day of high-impact culture: boutiques, walking, museums. My blood sugar drops and my legs wont work again until I t

Hometown: Grew up in Baltimore, but NYC is my hometown.Occupation: Co-founder of CollegeHumor and BustedTees.Favorite destinations: Costa Brava, Riviera Maya, Amagansett, and New Orleans.Dying to visit: Bhutan. (Editors note: He went! And wrote about it for us.)Bizare travel rituals: I try REALLY hard to never check a bag.In-flight relaxation regime: An airplane is the only place I allow myself to read US Weekly.Always in carry-on

Hometown: Born and raised in Chicago, spent a decade in San Francisco, now Brooklyn is home. Occupation: Writer and editor.Favorite destinations: Telluride, Marin County, Barcelona, London, Venice, Berlin, Bali, Sayulita (Mexico), all of Thailand. Dying to visit: Alaska, New Orleans, Vancouver, Tanzania, Japan, New Zealand, Brazil, Chile, Turkey.Bizarre travel rituals: I pack enough fancy food on the plane to feed a small gourmet

The illustrious restaurant Eleven Madison Park debuted its new, New York-themed menu this weekend. Heres a preview.NEW YORK CITY – For Eleven Madison Park, it wasnt enough to be considered one of the best restaurants not only in New York City but in the whole world. Nope. Chef Daniel Humm and general manager Will Guidara decided it was time to take the menu that won them seven perfect stars (four from The New York Times, three fr

Hometown: NYC.Occupation: Publishing strategist and food writer.Favorite destinations: France, Argentina, and back home, now that I live in London.Dying to visit: Marrakech.Bizarre travel rituals: I send myself a postcard from everywhere I go, so I can always remember really being there.In-flight relaxation regime: I take off my shoes and put on socks. Then I curl up, and watch a movie Ive already seen. I feel planes are a place for re

Hometown: New York.Occupation: Co-founder of 3 Fl. Oz. Favorite destinations: Uruguay, Positano, Vietnam, and Sayulita.Dying to visit: The Ice Hotel in Sweden, Maldives, Zanzibar.Bizarre travel rituals: I always pack socks, regardless of my destination. You never know when youll need them.In-flight relaxation regime: Trashy magazines and catching up on bad TV.Always in carry-on: Towelettes, toothbrush, socks, headphones, iPad, and

Hometown: Gothenburg, Sweden.
Occupation: Chef.

Favorite destinations: Tokyo, Smoegen, Jamaica, NYC.

Dying to visit: Peru to find the best ceviche.

Bizarre travel rituals: This isnt that bizarre, but I make sure to pack everything into one duffle so I dont have to check any bags. If Im traveling someplace for under four days, I make sure its all in one case. It saves hours, and Im in the business of making the most of my time. 

In-

Hometown: London/Loro Piceno.Occupation: Producer and purveyor of fine olive oils.Favorite destinations: I find myself drawn on the one hand to big cities: Paris, New York, Stockholm, Rome, Barcelona, Toronto. And on the other to tiny islands: Malta, Sicily, Bali, Sardinia, Tasmania. The former because of the amazing and diverse food that lurks there, the latter for the scuba diving.Dying to visit: The ocean floor, round

Hometown: Annadale, Virginia.Occupation: Creative director.Favorite destination: India, San Miguel de Allende, Cape Cod.Dying to visit: Japan.Bizarre travel rituals: Constantly thinking I lost my iPhone. In-flight relaxation regime: Chilling with the benzodiazepine family.Always in carry-on: Two sets of headphones. Concierge or DIY: DIY.See it all or take it easy: Take it easy. Drive or be driven: Be driven. We

Hometown: Manhattan, by way of Darien, Connecticut.Occupation: Right Hand of Real-Life Superhero Tracy Anderson.Favorite destinations: Havana, Austin, Prague, San Sebastian, and the lavender fields of France.Dying to visit: Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Montenegro, Bhutan.Bizarre travel rituals: Always removing at least three articles of clothing from my suitcase before heading out the door.In-flight relaxation regime: Taking one hour of peace

Hometown: Hudson Valley, New York.Occupation: Writer.Favorite destinations: Moscow, Pulau Pangkor, and wherever Im going next.Dying to visit: Marfa, Texas, and Argentina.Bizarre travel rituals: Is it bizarre to hold your travel companions hand while simultaneously nudging him off of the armrest? I thought everyone did that.In-flight relaxation regime: Bourbon mixed with a little Fleetwood Mac.Always in carry-on: A long scarf, sunglasses, an

Hometown: Pacific Palisades. Born and raised in Las Vegas.Occupation: Boutique owner and designer.Favorite destinations: Cabo San Luca, Paris, and Aspen. Dying to visit: Morroco and Tuscany.In-flight relaxation regime: Catching up on sleep and magazines (Elle, US Weekly and InStyle).Always in carry-on: Ilia lip conditioner, Purell.Concierge or DIY? Of course, concierge. See it all or take it easy? Depends on where I am going. Coul