Asia and Asian hotels never cease to amaze us with their excellent taste and huge investments in fantastic new properties.
I attach my top picks of Hotels and Restaurants, for 2011.
Please find some to time to visit and enjoy them…
Cheers
Savas kazantzides
Travel Connoisseur
HOTELS
SINGAPORE – Singapore
What happens when you take a mega hotel in Singapore, and flip it upside down? Over 600 ft. in the air, swimming in the 490 ft. infinity pool under palm trees, you’ll get your answer. (Hint: The Marina Bay)
The largest dropper of jaws in all of Singapore, Marina Bay Sands is nothing if not imposing, with its three massive towers, and gravity defying Skypark thrust up among the heavens. It’s as though “impossible” was the architect’s driving theme.

At the Lotus-shaped museum, the world’s finest exhibitions are on display for those interested in history. Feel like gambling on a better future? Then there’s no better place than the Casino, where, if you’re really lucky, you might dash off with the mystery car jackpot. Take a Sampan ride or applaud a play before rising up above reality at the Skypark. Over 200 varieties of greenery frame the vertigo-inducing pool looking out over the city. Bob your head to live Deejays, and grab a bite and a cocktail at Justin Quek’s Sky on 57.

The dining scene here is so huge; the hotel even offers a dedicated Restaurant Concierge to its guests. In no particular order, epicurean options include Wolfgang Puck’s Cut, Daniel Boulud’s DB Bistro Moderne, Guy Savoy, Hide Yamamato, Mario Batali’s Pizzeria And Osteria Mozza, Rise, The Nest, Tong Dim Noodle Bar, Sweetspot, and many more. Six bars and nightclubs also hum with grooves from all over the globe.
Oh yes, and then there’s the hotel itself. 2,561 rooms come in 18 different varieties, ranging from beautiful to fall-on-your-face astonishing.
CHINA – Shanghai
Where did Shanghai go over the past 10 years? Well, it went up … way up. Right near the top is The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong: a flashy bit of new Shanghai on the top of a 58-story tower.
Sometimes, perception beats reality hands down. For anyone that wants to make an impression on friends or business contacts, getting a perch up on the luxury crow’s nest that is The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong will likely raise your perceived stats by a number of notches. “You’re staying where? Impressive,” is what they’ll say. Consider it your cue to be humble.
At 58 stories tall, the building in which The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong resides is intimidating from below. Rocket up to one of 285 rooms on floors 39 to 51 and find plush beds, iPod docks, and views that will certainly drop your jaw.
The huge spa is the ideal place to end any day, with a stunning pool in the sky, 10 treatment rooms, a fitness center, and Jacuzzi.
The way-up-high theme continues in the realm of dining, beginning at the very top with Flair, a tapas and raw bar on the roof. Just one floor down, Cantonese cuisine sizzles and tempts at Jin Xian. Two floors down, Scena does Italian worthy of the old country, and on the ground floor, Aroma keeps it all anchored with coffees and light snacks. From bottom to top, or vice versa, a culinary tour at The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong is well worth the vertical adventure.
THAILAND – Bangkok
The new jewel of the Kempinski family, adds grandeur air in the hotelier scene of Bangkok
This luxurious property is ideally located for shoppers, being directly behind the popular Siam Paragon shopping mall. It offers comfortable accommodate right in the heart of the vibrant city. Providing a selection of 303 well-appointed guest rooms, each room features a spacious balcony and complimentary wireless Internet access.
For a rejuvenating experience, the Spa offers a variety of treatments and massages for all guests to take advantage of. Not only is it a choice appealing for the leisure travelers but business travelers as well, with meeting rooms nicely presented and well-equipped. As for dining, on-site restaurants present European and contemporary Thai cuisine. Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok ensures a convenient stay due to its location and high quality services.
TAIWAN – Taipei
I bet not many of you have been to Taiwan. Well, now you have an excellent reason to visit this thrilling country because of the new, Art Deco-Inspired Jewel Amongst Taipei’s 5-Star Hotels.
Opened in May 2010, Palais de Chine Hotel is a sophisticated oasis of artistic beauty and culture. The striking décor of this Taipei five-star hotel offers an instant escape into a world of Parisian decadence, where plush fabrics, imported furniture, and antique pieces transform the 286 guestrooms into works of art.
Inspire the palate at an array of exquisite restaurants, ranging from Western and Chinese cuisine to a French-inspired teahouse. Host memorable events within our conference and banqueting facilities, where the Grand Hall and four boardrooms serve as ideal venues for any occasion. Offering internationally recognized service with a personal touch, this Taipei 5-star hotel is poised to become the leading destination for the privileged traveler.
MACAU – Macau
Take in Macau – Asia’s answer to Vegas – from 38 floors up in Taipa’s tallest building. The Peter Remédios-designed ALTIRA Macau includes miniature bamboo gardens, fine art, and its own casino.
A stylish and contemporary hotel, ALTIRA Macau is the tallest building on Taipa Island – but that’s not the only reason it stands out. The hotel’s combination of comfort, elegance, and personalized service make it a favorite of world travelers.
Its spacious, contemporary rooms feature a lounge area, walk-in wardrobe, wifi, and panoramic views from floor-to-ceiling windows. The ambient bathrooms include a circular stone-crafted bath and Japanese-style shower.
Indulge in Japanese or Cantonese-inspired dining in one of the four indoor or outdoor restaurants, or sip a selection of fine wines from high above the city in 38 Lounge.
ALTIRA’s true gem is its two-level spa, featuring twelve treatment rooms and an exclusive VIP area. With wide-ranging contemporary therapies, a fitness center, a glass-encased infinity poor, steam rooms, saunas, and an ice fountain, it’s sure to invigorate your senses.
RESTAURANTS
CAMBODIA – Phnom Penh
Cambodia is world famous for the incredible Angkor Wat, but few know that the capital Phnom Penh started recently to show its cosmopolitan appeal with a few new excellent additions.
Topaz, with its backdrop of Khmer temples and tree-lined Norodom Boulevard, amidst a spectacular Phnom Penh sunset, is hard to beat.
The service is refined and unobstrusive – the furnishings and décor comfortable, the aim always to provide a consistent superior dining experience.
But the heart of Topaz is clearly the masterful interpretation of French traditional cuisine under the watchful eyes of Executive Chef Alain Darc.
HONG KONG – Hong Kong
Greed is a virtue at any Michael White restaurant. After all, the New York-based chef, who’s not exactly a tiny man himself, is a firm advocate of heavy, indulgent food. A signature app at his two Michelin-starred Manhattan eatery Marea pairs sea urchin with lard and a few flecks of sea salt; his few-month-old Osteria Morini draws in adoring foodies with handcrafted pastas blanketed in truffle butter or duck liver cream sauce. And at White’s first venture in Hong Kong – a collaborative effort with local restaurant group Dining Concepts – the ethos of hearty, Italian eating translates into a brilliant menu that reads like a song.
Occupying a gorgeous waterfront site right by the ferry pier, Al Molo channels the sort of Beaux-Arts aesthetics that defines so much of Manhattan’s cityscape. Plank ceilings, exposed brick walls and long marble countertops come courtesy of NY-based design firm Avroko and Hong Kong’s Zanghellini Holt. Open cooking stations run down both sides of the dining room, flanked by a well-stocked bar that leads out to a casual alfresco seating area by the harbour.
THAILAND – Pattaya
Chic, smart and stylish, daring to be distinguishably different, the hottest new concept in dining has hit Pattaya – Mantra Restaurant and Bar – features various mouthwatering Asian and Mediterranean cuisine in a stylish modern setting.

In an interior designed to transport the senses to a haven of relaxation and indulgence, sleek glass architecture marries with artifacts from throughout the Orient. The restaurant boasts 180 seats on two levels and dramatic towering shelves create a focal point with an artfully placed eclectic collection of treasures.
Exotic combinations from the menu, offer diners a host of sublime taste sensations. In each of the open kitchens, the chefs take centre stage, expertly preparing the cuisine in a well-orchestrated display of their craft. Highlights include tandoori, fresh from the oven and sushi that is prepared as you watch at the sushi bar. An extensive walk-in wine cellar ensures that , Mantra truly is a gourmet experience.
CHINA – Shanghai
Shanghai’s dining reflects its position as China’s most cosmopolitan city. The Bund area offers restaurants like the French fusion Jean Georges and the international Laris which compare with any in the world.
Traditional carved dark wooden details and a gabled ceilings give the impression of dining in some mystical mountain retreat while the expansive rooftop deck and outdoor bar bring you back sharply to shanghai with the iconic Pudong skyline peeking over the top of adjacent buildings.
Lost Heaven specializes in the tribal cuisine of China’s Yunnan Province. It has all the makings of a proper date restaurant with its exotic cuisine, enchanted decor, atmospheric music and dim, flickering candlelight.
Cocktails are probably one of the best in town.
MALAYSIA – Kuala Lumpur
Elegance is the watchword in what is fast turning into KL’s most popular wine bar. It’s a laid back yet refined venue with attractive Chinese style décor and knowledgeable staff. The wine list is an appealingly lengthy thing with over 20 choices by the glass and they have one of those funky enomatic wine devices, the first in Kuala Lumpur. The bistro serves decent international fare (think steamed Wagyu with ponzu sauce, duck confit with fig compote, an array of scrummy desserts). An excellent place to relax with a chilled glass of wine away from the heat and noise of the city.






































