THE GETAWAY

You get sleep outs and then you get sleep outs. We reckon that the ultra-luxurious, open-air sleeping platform at Royal Chundu lodge in Zambia, suspended above the trees and over the Zambezi River, must rate as one of the most exclusive bedrooms in the world.

The Royal Chundu Sleep Out Experience offers rapids rumbling beneath and an African sunrise and sunset all around — it’s the stuff dreams are made of. The ultimate romantic getaway comes complete with a private luxury picnic and coffee delivery in the morning. 

THE MEMBERS’ CLUB

It’s set to be the ultimate gathering place for the cool and the glamorous; the interesting and the interested. The Opera House opens at 15 Fredman Drive in Sandton, in the first half of 2019, and promises to be a truly world-class members’ club with extraordinary facilities. Think private cinema and sculpture garden; three restaurants and a library; a games room, a rooftop swimming pool, and a terrace bar. We’re interested, are you? 

THE DESIGNER ADDRESS

Catherine Gaeyla Fashion, hidden in plain sight in the suburbs of Hyde Park, is a two-storey, luxury fashion space that is curated for the discerning luxury shopper looking for a discreet shopping experience. The multibrand salon is a one-stop shop for all your favourite French and Italian brands, including Elie Saab, Ermanno Scervino, Giambattista Valli, Emilio Pucci, Kenzo, MSGM, and No. 21.

There’s also the added bonus of a personal stylist to help you select pieces for a special occasion or for your everyday wardrobe. “Luxury is not only about the high quality and exclusive products we offer, it’s a lifestyle where all of your senses are indulged in an exclusive experience, and this is the experience we want to give our clientele,” Gaeyla says. 

THE LEISUREWEAR

You know them: those super-chic European travellers who cruise around the Cote d’Azur in summer, looking — and we’re sure, feeling — as cool as can be in crisp, timeless linen. Well, we’ve got the scoop on how to get the laid-back Italian playboy look. The best linen leisurewear in the world, as worn by princesses and yacht lovers all over the Med, is available right here in South Africa, from the 100% Capri boutique at Delaire Graff wine estate. The story goes that Laurence Graff loved the Italian linen label so much, he decided to set up his own boutique and brought designer Antonino Aiello’s linen to our shores. 

THE GIFT

For a brand with a serious heritage, Montblanc certainly does tech well. And it stands to reason that one of the best-selling gifts in the Montblanc boutique is writing-related. Montblanc Augmented Paper is a smart notebook that transfers your notes written with a Montblanc StarWalker ballpoint pen (obviously) from a paper notebook into the digital format of your choice — simply with the touch of a button. The chic notebook looks like a stylish leather envelope and comes in a variety of colours, including classic Montblanc black, of course. This nifty bit of old world meets new world style is available only from Montblanc boutiques. 

THE FLORIST

Bloomfield Blooms
Bloomfield Blooms
Image: Supplied

The city’s newest and chicest little florist is tucked away behind a vintage wooden screen in one of those heaving ladies-who-lunch spots in Hyde Park, Joburg. Bloomfield Blooms, and its proprietor, Kate Argo, has set up shop in a cosy corner of Glenda’s in Hyde Park Square surrounded by green deciduous leaves and working off a farmhouse table festooned with blooms.

Argo puts together ethereal, modern posies for sale in the restaurant and for private clients. She says her style isn’t conscious, but is a natural reflection of herself. “I started styling with my favourite flowers, really just going with what I love,” she says. “I love very clean and uncluttered spaces and this transcended into my arrangements.” 

THE PUMPS

Dolce & Gabbana’s Rainbow Lace collection promises the perfect pair of shoes for every occasion — and every outfit. This special-edition range of heels, slippers, and pumps, which are each made with delicate Sicilian Taormina lace, are available in a full spectrum of enchanting rainbow hues, and are embellished with Swarovski crystals on the toe.

From red to white to indigo, the colourful and seductive statement shoes reveal and conceal — a Dolce & Gabbana signature. The heels come in two heights and all styles in the collection feature a comfortable leather insole with satin piping. Dress them up with a lace Dolce & Gabbana dress or down with denims and a T-shirt. Dolce & Gabbana, Sandton City, 011-326-7808

Dolce & Gabbana’s Rainbow Lace collection
Dolce & Gabbana’s Rainbow Lace collection
Image: Supplied

THE NEW MEN’S FRAGRANCE

It’s here: The house of Louis Vuitton is leading the pack by doing a private fragrance collection just for the boys. The new Louis Vuitton Men’s Private Collection features five luxurious scents, created by master perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud, andall housed in the signature Louis Vuitton bottle. There’s a fragrance for every type of man: from fresh to intensely oriental.
Louis Vuitton, Sandton City, 011-784-9854

Louis Vuitton Men’s Private Collection
Louis Vuitton Men’s Private Collection
Image: Supplied

THE WOMEN’S FRAGRANCE

We have to thank Trenery for revealing the wonderful world of Saint d’Ici natural fragrances to us. Its recent collaboration introduced the world to artisanal perfumer Marie Aoun, who started Saint d’Ici after being inspired by her love for gardening, botanicals and the ingredients from the African landscape, such as Omumbiri, fynbos, opoponax form Somalia, and sweet mandarin from South Africa.

She explains the natural fragrance creation process: “The way you build perfumes naturally is very different. With synthetic perfumes, you can have up to 300 ingredients because you have the ability to isolate each individual element of the scent. Natural perfumery is akin to alchemy, there’s a definitive art to the blending in pursuit of the metaphorical gold.” You had us at alchemy. 

Saint d'Ici fragrances
Saint d'Ici fragrances
Image: Supplied

THE SPA MAKEOVER

In celebration of World Wellness Day that took place on 9 June, Four Seasons Westcliff spa launched a pioneering spa treatment — one that certainly isn’t a once-off pamper. The Four Seasons Westcliff Wellness Program is designed to kick-start a healthy journey that is tailor-made for each individual. The Wellness Program will act as a health concierge, working with nutritionists and fitness experts to create detox weekends for guests to come to the spa and indulge in signature spa treatments and healthier meal options, so you never venture off your wellness path again. 

The Four Seasons Westcliff
The Four Seasons Westcliff
Image: Supplied

THE HEIRLOOM BED

It’s not the furniture piece we choose to update every day, so why not make your choice of bed, a long term one. We’ve found the place to make that investment: Griffiths and Griffiths, Africa’s best known creator of heritage furniture, was started 30 years ago to restore antique furniture.

Situated in Kramerville, Sandton, it is now the continent’s leading supplier of Regency and Georgian-inspired solid mahogany furniture. They also have the most extraordinary collection of heirloom beds – in every size that you could dream of. We’re loving this pale Mindi or White Cedar wood bed, that comes in King or Queen sized extra length. Griffiths and Griffiths also has a wide range of Simmons mattresses available so the whole bed business can be wrapped up in one go. 

Mindi or White Cedar wood bed from Griffiths and Griffiths
Mindi or White Cedar wood bed from Griffiths and Griffiths
Image: Supplied

THE BRAND MAN

Here’s one to watch: Rowan Leibbrandt is the founding owner of Truman & Orange and travels the world finding those boutique booze brands that get people talking. Don’t you love Malfy Gin? Leibbrandt’s the one to thank. He’s also given us Fortaleza Tequila, Don Papa Aged Rum, and Aviation American Gin — plus look out for the imminent launches of craft beer Mazzatti Birra Superiore, Mionetto Prosecco, and Bannerman’s Fine Scotch Whisky. “We sell brands with real provenance and authenticity, from interesting places that have a long-standing tradition of making high-quality drinks, but which are only being discovered now. That’s what people are interested in nowadays,” he says. Indeed. 

Rowan Leibbrandt, the founding owner of Truman & Orange
Rowan Leibbrandt, the founding owner of Truman & Orange
Image: Supplied

THE VENUE

KWV is one of South Africa’s iconic wine and spirit companies. Now it’s also home to one of the most beautiful event venues in the Cape: Mynhardt’s Kitchen at the KWV Cathedral Cellar. Chef Mynhardt Joubert is a longstanding KWV ambassador, and to mark the KWV’s centenary celebrations the estate has unveiled his new venue in the converted Cathedral Cellar. The space boasts a dramatic, barrel-vaulted roof; stained-glass windows; and imposing rows of giant, hand-carved wooden vats. It’s certain to become the most sought-after exclusive venue in the winelands. 

Mynhardt’s Kitchen at the KWV Cathedral Cellar
Mynhardt’s Kitchen at the KWV Cathedral Cellar
Image: Supplied

THE HIGH TEA

The concept of high tea was popularised hundreds of years ago in England, but fast-forward to contemporary South Africa, and Cape Town’s Truth coffee shop looks set to give the mid-afternoon ritual a whole new appeal.

At Truth, the combination of steampunk decor and artisan coffee has resulted in something of a cult following and the new Pol Roger High Tea looks set to add a whole new dimension to the experience. Pol Roger Champagne was the favourite of Winston Churchill, and the lavish Truth Champagne Pol Roger High Tea offers the option of either the famous Sir Winston Churchill 2004 vintage, or the fruitier Brut Reserve NV.

The luxurious spread includes savoury tarts, sweet pastries, a cheese course, and exquisite petit fours created by resident pâtissier Kamal Hamzaoui. Think teeny white-chocolate domes filled with champagne mousse and topped with gold leaf — this is a high tea fit for kings and queens. 

THE POCKET-SIZED RESTAURANT

In the samsaric way of trends, we are charging past the halfway mark of fanciful and overly complex dining, and epicureans are showing a hunger for stripped down, more functional eating experiences. It is this hunger that has led to the resounding success of hole-in-the-wall, pocket-sized restaurants such as Marrow on Loop Street in Cape Town.

Marrow is an idea born from a trip to Japan and later cemented by a trip to Wolfgat in Paternoster. After tasting chef Kobus van der Merwe’s beautifully developed green broth, owners Dennis Williams, Jeanne Marais, Michael de Klerk and Anthony Gird decided to open Cape Town’s first broth bar.

Marrow Broth Bowl
Marrow Broth Bowl
Image: Supplied

In addition to being the smallest restaurant in the city, Marrow’s success recipe lies in the broth’s incredible health benefits, as well as its sheer versatility of flavour. Patrons can choose from four broths, ranging from a simple bone broth to more unusual combinations, such as lentils with flaked almonds; chorizo; and even one with fresh orange segments. The minimalist decor is accented by green-grey tiles and leaves the food, and its delicate plating, the star of the show. 

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