The Latch

Impressively, the Presidential Suite at Le Meridien Melbourne is one of the largest accommodations among the brand’s hotels. I recently had the good fortune of spending the night in the suite myself, soaking in a bubble bath, ordering room service to eat at a full-size dining room table and peering through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows at the pool below. The suite is two bedrooms, with both bedrooms facing Parliament House.

Tucked away in the picturesque Southern Highlands, just an hour’s drive from Sydney, you’ll find the humble town of Bargo. It may fly under the radar for most, but its tranquil, leafy landscapes and genuine country charm make it a true hidden gem. It’s the kind of place where a weekend escape feels less like a holiday and more like coming home. Until my visit to Kalinya Estate, I’d never heard of Bargo — and neither had its owner, Amanda Barnes.

Thailand serves up adventure, luxury and gastronomic travel in a single destination. From White Lotus-level resort stays and activities that test your skills, to delicious street foods and picturesque cafes, you’re truly spoilt for choice. So when it comes to planning for your next trip, where do you actually start?

When was the last time you thought about the ice in your cocktail? Chances are you probably didn’t give it a second thought. But ice cubes in a drink matter a lot more than you think. “Ice is your best friend when making drinks,” Mael Jego, says head of bars at The Collective. “Without ice, the modern cocktail bar as we know it simply wouldn’t exist.” So why is ice so critical?

Welcome to The Latch Tastemakers, where we sit down with people who know a city’s scene like the back of their hand to ask their must-try restaurants, cafes and bars. Dive into our Tastemakers series and curate your ultimate hit-list, whether you’re exploring your own city or venturing somewhere new. One thing Catherine Zhang loves most about Australian desserts is the variety.

Tucked away next to Ubud’s bustling main streets, Hujan Locale reimagines authentic Indonesian cuisine as something elegantly familiar. You wouldn’t stumble on it — so you can be sure anyone who dines there knows a thing or two about good food. The brainchild of celebrated chef Will Meyrick, the talent behind Mama San Bali and Will Street Perth, Hujan Locale strikes the perfect balance between refined dining and vibrant street food.

Welcome to The Latch Tastemakers, where we sit down with people who know a city’s scene like the back of their hand to ask their must-try restaurants, cafes and bars. Dive into our Tastemakers series and curate your ultimate hit-list, whether you’re exploring your own city or venturing somewhere new. Dan Hong makes a big call: he says Korean and Chinese food in Sydney is the best you’ll find outside of the countries.

When you think of luxury in hospitality, your mind might immediately conjure images of lavish surroundings, opulent amenities and a hefty price tag. For years, the gold standard for a premium hotel was found in the tangible: marble lobbies, five-star restaurants and high-thread-count sheets. But this traditional definition of luxury is quickly changing. “A decade ago, ‘luxury’ was often defined by material abundance,” says Takanori Muroi, general manager at The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu.

Welcome to The Latch Tastemakers, where we sit down with people who know a city’s scene like the back of their hand to ask their must-try restaurants, cafes and bars. Dive into our Tastemakers series and curate your ultimate hit-list, whether you’re exploring your own city or venturing somewhere new. Potts Point is a place of survival, says Amber Doig, head chef at restaurant and bar in the area, The Butler, since 2016. The suburb has endured Sydney lockout laws and then pandemic restrictions.

For 12 years, Jamie Pang has travelled from his home in Malaysia to Australia to compete in the Gold Coast Marathon. He usually arrives a few days ahead of the race and stays a few days after, giving him time to explore the Gold Coast, catch up with friends and enjoy the cool, crisp air — a stark contrast to that at home. Pang calls these trips ‘runcations’. They appeal to him for a couple reasons — the main being that they’re an efficient use of his travel budget and annual leave.