THE SPRING ISSUE
Urbanite
SPIRITED TRADITIONS
It is a story of love and rivalry—as dense as the history of fortuitous circumstance and as dramatic as the earthquakes, shipwrecks, and charlatans that trace its evolution. It is the story of Japanese whisky, and it is a tale of perfection. To fully trace the origins of how this Western spirit made its way […]
RÉMY MARTIN’S ROYAL ENDEAVOR
Cognac might be the most misunderstood spirit. It’s appeal, rooted in history, implies some degree of Francophilia, along with a highly sophisticated palette. Undoubtedly, it’s an area of intense connoisseurship. To that end, many of the world’s most rare and costly liquors are aged cognacs. There’s no doubt that stereotypes cling to cognac like socks […]
DESIGN SOPHISTICATION
SEVVA, pronounced ‘savor,’ is not a Chinese word but is an Indian Sanskrit one meaning “to contribute.” SEVVA will deliver a unique, auspicious beginning and high-end, sophisticated restaurant experience. The vision came from the well known style icon Bonnie Gokson and was designed by Calvin Tsao of Tsao & McKown Architects in New York (awarded […]
FALL SOIRÉE
On October 26th, San Francisco’s most beautiful party goers, hippest trendsetters and art aficionados gathered at 111 Minna Gallery for SOMA’s Fall Soirée. Against the backdrop of multi-media art installations, the guests mingled, sipped on delicious Stoli cocktails and danced to the beat of the DJ’s. Photography by Rieko Whitfield
A NIGHT AT YOSHI’S
On an evening in late September, a swarm of over 200 of San Francisco’s finest trendsetters, tastemakers and hipsters flocked to the legendary Yoshi’s — the city’s premier Japanese restaurant and jazz club — to celebrate SOMA’s Fall Fashion Issue. The beautiful crowd enjoyed the music and delicious Stoli martinis while mingling with their peers […]
SILENCIO
Silencio, the latest opening on the Parisian club scene, was a legend before even existing. Unveiled last month on the historical rue Montmartre, the club borrows its name from the iconic venue dear to many a heart thanks to director David Lynch’s film Mulholland Drive. In the 2001 picture, the theater plays a central role […]
BREWING IT RIGHT
If you’re a coffee enthusiast, you have boundless café options at your disposal. After carefully researching the most exciting spots to sip in of New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, we’ve found the following to be assuredly worth your while. DEMITASSE 135 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, California, cafedemitasse.com Follow your nose to […]
BUDDAKAN
As an interior designer who specializes in restaurants in New York City, I am constantly visiting some of the most revered restaurants in the world. The other night I decided to dine at one of my preferred eateries and experience the décor of one of my favorite designers Christian Liaigre. Liaigre is known for his […]
Maison Moschino
“What happens when you step inside a dream? Or rather, what happens when you dream inside a dream?” This is the question that the Maison Moschino hotel in Milan poses to you. Don’t let the outer façade of this former railway station fool you; the inside is adorned like a fantasy, Moschino style. With 65 […]
Of Monkeys and Madmen
Photography by Jena Cumbo Despite its contemporary feel and “It Bar” status, the Monkey Bar has actually existed, in various incarnations, for decades. In the thirties, as the Second World War loomed large, a new boîte opened in the lobby of the luxurious Elysée Hotel on East 54th St in midtown Manhattan and immediately became […]
Masonic Temple
Encased in £4 million worth of spectacularly crafted marble and mahogany, the Masonic Temple inside London’s Hyatt Andaz Hotel is one of the grandest in the world. Built in 1912 by architect Charles Barry, Jr., in what was then the Great Eastern Hotel, the temple possesses an air of the ‘unexpected,’ telling many stories from […]
Frank Cisneros
After all, Frank Cisneros does know a thing or two about how to mix a fine drink. Though known to most for his virtuosic skills within the Brooklyn cocktail scene, Cisneros’ interests in classic boozy beverages harkens back to his good old days as a West Coaster. While living in Washington state, Cisneros’ fondness for […]
Seth Beale
San Francisco hot-spot Bar Agricole, located in the Soma District, has an acclaimed bartending program that creates a family-like atmosphere in this cutthroat industry, says Seth Beale, master mixologist and member of the Bar Agricole family. Beale’s journey into mixology all started in Columbus, Ohio, where he was born and raised. While in college for […]
Imperial No. Nine
Imperial No. Nine, located at the Mondrian SoHo Hotel, is definitely not a place one can easily pass by without becoming immediately curious. Intrigued and guided by my senses, I stepped into Executive Chef Sam Talbot’s restaurant; the recent Top Chef reality-TV celebrity has made a leap from Montauk to SoHo. The restaurant accommodates 150 […]
Into the Abyss
48 Hours in Berlin It’s 6p.m. on Saturday and my boss, a 50 yr-old Canadian art dealer, has turned on the techno music, filling the gallery with deafening electro-beats. This announces his plan for the evening: it’s his ritual warm-up before heading to Berghain, Berlin’s most hedonistic nightclub. I’ll probably wind up there too, but […]
Berlin Street Food Classics
What the hot dog stand is to New York, the Imbiss is to Berlin. Housed in little huts on the sidewalk, Imbissbuden sell cheap to-go snacks for only a few euros. Since they began, Imbiss have been meeting points for all walks of life: young, old, rich, poor, academics, proletarians, creatives, yuppies and club kids. […]
Henne
In a city where the only constant is that everything is constantly changing, you have to respect an establishment that has not only survived 100 years, but remains so busy that reservations are always strongly recommended. Is it the food or the romance of how the bar-turned-restaurant’s history intertwines with the city of Berlin that […]
CHIPPS
It’s 8 p.m. on a Thursday night when my partner and I step into CHIPPS on Jägerstraße. The first thing that catches our eye is the restaurant’s centerpiece: a large open kitchen with an attached salad bar filled with fresh ingredients. We are quickly seated at a wooden table next to one of the panoramic […]
.HBC
There is a certain mayhem to .HBC, the eclectic, multi-story, hybrid art, cinema and dining space located in Berlin’s Alexanderplatz. In keeping with Berlin’s fetish for recycling and the barely-renovated chic of its bars, this former East Berlin Hungarian Cultural Center remains office-esque. Hipsters in high heels cannot click-clack across the old carpet and lino […]
Erik Lorincz
Taking after his illustrious bartending predecessors such as Ada Coleman, creator of the “Hanky-Panky,” and Harry Craddock, creator of the “White Lady,” the 31-year-old, Slovakia-born Erik Lorincz took the reins as the head bartender of the world-renown American Bar for the October 10, 2010 reopening of The Savoy, the iconic London hotel, after its three […]
Huli Pau!
Delicious recipes from Hilton Waikoloa Village restaurant KPC Scouring the globe for mixologists harboring the most exotic and intriguing cocktail recipes in their repertoire, SOMA stumbled upon this Big Island jewel. You won’t have to fly across oceans to feel transported. Just a sip from this tantalizing treat conjures warm, tropical breezes and sand beneath […]
Urbanite: Park Avenue
Park Avenue Changes With The Seasons As an interior designer, I love to visit new hotels, lounges and, of course, dine in restaurants that make my jaw drop. The suspense of the unknown design is exhilarating, to say the least. The feel of the tabletops, the colors and schemes are part of the best restaurants this […]
November Drink Recipes
Stoli Pomegranate Fizz 2 oz Stoli Pomegranik 1/2 oz fresh Lemon 1/2 oz Simple Syrup 1/2 oz cream Mint and fresh Pomegranate seeds Whiskey Smash 2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon 1/2 oz Xante Pear Brandy 1 oz Blood Orange 3 Blackberries 1/4 oz fresh Lemon Mint Sprig Dash of Clover Honey Recipes by Blake Landis […]
Ozumo
Obsession with Perfection Somehow, a girl named Linda from Commack, New York, is responsible for all this. This, being the burgeoning empire of Japanese cuisine, décor, atmosphere and drink that are the very essence that is Ozumo. The posh Japanese lounge and restaurant, originally founded in 2001 on Steuart Street in San Francisco, is the […]
