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Do This Or That: Over-The-Top Scotch Experiences

Macallan 64

There’s upscale scotch and then there’s Macallan 64. The last of the single malt scotch fetched a cool $460,000 at auction last year, but those wanting a taste aren’t completely out of luck: The only remaining shot of the 64-year-old scotch was capped and shipped by Macallan to Montage Beverly Hills. The distillery partnered with the hotel’s bar Ten Pound, a clubby little space laden with Hollywood VIPs. (Ten Pound is the only official Macallan partner bar in the United States; the other two are in Macau and Moscow).

The shot is $64,000 and proceeds will be donated to charity. But make no mistake — if you order the Macallan 64, you’ll get the full star treatment. The mini bottle, sealed for authenticity, will be presented tableside and you’ll have a choice of four different ice cubes made with imported water from the very river running outside Macallan’s distillery in Scotland.

Can’t fathom shelling out that kind of dough for booze? Then hit up one of these spots in the Beverly Hills area for an alternative (but still luxe) scotch drinking experience:

Seven Grand. This downtown L.A. bar has an upscale hunting lodge feel and often stocks rare, one-time releases. Belly up to the bar for the Macallan 55 Year ($1,200) or a Glenlivet 1972 Cellar Collection ($140).

The Lobby Lounge at L’Ermitage Beverly Hills. Known as the Writer’s Bar to locals, this popular spot caters to its traditional, high-end clientele with big names like Macallan 12 Year ($55) and Johnnie Walker Blue ($50).

The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel. Opt for a green leather booth or a more secluded table in the area behind the lounge and order the Macallan 57 Year ($2,800 per two ounces). Soak up the exclusivity while you swirl, sip and savor.

 Photo courtesy of Montage Beverly Hills

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Spas

Spa Services For Men Multiply

 

Ladies, make room at the manicure station. Four- and Five-Star spas are seeing more and more men coming in for some primo pampering. To accommodate them, 45 percent more spas have begun offering man-specific services and packages, according to the International SPA Association. Check out these chap-centric spots:

The Kahala Spa’s Men’s Suite

The Kahala Spa in Honolulu. This Four-Star spa is decked out with a Gentlemen’s suite that has big, comfy chairs and tropical views. Guys can sit back and enjoy a 45-minute hot shave or an Athletic Rebound signature treatment, which combines firm pressure, reflexology, aromatherapy and a series of muscle stretches to help keep athletic types feeling fine.

The Relaxation Room at the Elysian Spa

The Elysian Spa in Chicago. When this Four-Star spa opened in 2009, it built a Men’s Atelier. Inside the custom clubhouse, fellas can get traditional shaves, facials, manicures, pedicures, or a cut and wax. The atelier is also a popular spot for a groom and his groomsmen to receive rubdowns and order in their favorite grub before the ceremony.

The Men’s Locker Room at Wynn

The Spa at Wynn and
The Spa at Encore in Las Vegas. Broad shoulders will get worked out with the Four Hands massage (yep, that’s one treatment with two therapists). But it’s Vegas, so why not double down? Lads can clean up with a haircut and hot-lather shave at Wynn’s barbershop. For even more relaxation, men should go for the Thai oil treatment, (guys get stretched out and deeply massaged) or the Gentlemen’s Pedicure (feet are soaked, exfoliated, moisturized and massaged).

Photos courtesy of The Kahala Resort & Hotel; The Elysian; and Wynn Las Vegas

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Hotels

Mr. C Hotel Brings European Charm to Beverly Hills

The newest hotel from the Cipriani family has settled into Beverly Hills. And this time, it’s fourth-generation Ciprianis — twentysomething brothers Ignazio and Maggio — who are calling the shots. Their luxury hotel Mr. C is the first West Coast property from the family, who owns restaurants and clubs around the world. Mr. C follows the Ciprianis’ classic style, focusing on simplicity, sophistication and unparalleled service — but with a modern spin on the design.

Designer Marcello Pozzi helped bring Ignazio and Maggio’s vision to life. Listening carefully to the brothers’ ideas, Pozzi came up with Mr. C’s signature style, which he says “exudes a sophisticated yet understated elegance that complements the exclusivity of Beverly Hills and the ease of Los Angeles.” So while you’ll find subtle touches reminiscent of the family’s famed Harry’s Bar in Venice, the hotel’s design introduces the siblings’ own distinguished style.

Take the sleek guest rooms, outfitted with leather sofas in white, brown or red; glossy rosewood paneling; and rosewood and chrome furniture that was custom made in Italy. These furnishings are matched with yacht teak flooring and iconic design pieces, including dressers that look like luggage trunks. The bright details all stand in contrast to the cream walls and stark-white linens.

Hanging on the walls are black-and-white photographs of Italian celebrities in their daily life. The idea is to capture their emotions and immortalize them as “regular people.” Taken from the private collection of the late Italian photojournalist Giuseppe Palmas, these snapshots can’t be found anywhere else. The elegant aesthetic pervades the rest of the hotel as well. Hand-blown Murano crystal chandeliers and Roman travertine and marble flooring all work together to accentuate Mr. C’s European charm. You might get an old Hollywood vibe at Mr. C, but that isn’t the intention. Rather, it’s an allusion to Europe in the ’40s and ’50s, which seems to connect the family’s Old World roots and the hotel’s New World surroundings.

Photos courtesy of Mr. C

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Hotels

Charlie Palmer To Open New Hotel In San Francisco

Chef Charlie Palmer is at it again. This time, he’s headed to the foodie mecca of San Francisco, but not to open up another eatery. Palmer and City Core are taking over The Crescent to turn the 80-guestroom Union Square property into a chef-driven boutique hotel. Palmer will oversee every detail — from the amenities to the design choices.

No stranger to the hotel industry, Palmer is the owner of the 10-year-old Hotel Healdsburg, home of the upscale Dry Creek Kitchen restaurant. He is also working on the Charlie Palmer Hotel in Las Vegas, another Palmer-City Core effort that is still in development. The Crescent will be his third hotel project. Of course, what Palmer is really known for are his restaurants; The Crescent’s as-yet-unnamed dining spot will make No. 12. Dry Creek Kitchen is Palmer’s only Bay Area restaurant, and his newest addition promises to be different from his other 11 concepts. Though the chef is keeping mum on the details until the new year. We do know that Palmer’s emphasis on wine will carry over to the new spot, and there will be a list of fresh, innovative cocktails. Like his other restaurants, farm-fresh, local, seasonal ingredients will be used, and there will be a focus on service with the goal of creating a cohesive and welcoming experience. “Charlie has always been a big fan of San Francisco,” says Palmer’s spokesperson. “He is excited to be a part of their thriving culinary community.”

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Spas

Spa Treatments To Beat Jet Lag

Adjusting to a different time zone can sometimes mean resetting your internal clock, which is not always simple. After schlepping your baggage through the airport, the only thing you’ll want to do when you arrive at your hotel is plop down on the bed. Unfortunately, jet lag can cause insomnia, which explains the tossing and turning. The good news is that there are a few things you can do to return to proper sleep cycles. On top of drinking plenty of water, check out these spa treatments that helped us get some shut-eye and put the spring back in our step:

Restore your rhythm. The 75-minute Jet-Lag Remedy from Auriga Spa (a Singapore spa that specializes in restoring the body’s equilibrium and rhythm) starts with a full-body massage that improves circulation, easing your body back to feeling balanced. You’ll have to open your eyes briefly post-treatment to receive about 10 to 15 drops of the Organic Pharmacy’s Sleep Tincture (typically diluted in water). This natural elixir—made with sleep-inducing herbs such as passionflower, oats, skullcap and valerian—is formulated to push your body back to its normal sleep cycle.

Get a well-rested glow. After a long flight, checking yourself out in the mirror is probably the last thing you want to do. Thankfully, the St. Regis Refresh at St. Regis, NYC will get you happily peeking at yourself again in no time. This hour-long facial buffs off the old skin with gentle poly-hydroxy acids, revealing new, glowing skin. From there, you’ll firm up your face with a collagen mask that packs in maximum hydration and smooth it out with a form of Vitamin C. Walk out of the treatment room with your head held high, looking like you’ve slept for nine hours (even if you’ve only slept for four).

Fight fatigue with this rubdown. With the two-hour Travel Therapy treatment at the Hotel Beverly Hills Spa by La Prairie, you get the works: a massage and a facial. The hour-long Swedish massage, which improves energy flow and fights fatigue, uses broad sweeping strokes to enhance circulation and flexibility. Post rubdown, you’ll combat traveling dehydration with La Prairie’s signature facial. It includes a deep cleanse, exfoliation, massage, firming eye treatment and a hydrating mask.

Photo courtesy of iStock

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Destinations, Hotels

Top NYC Hotels With Views Of The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a quintessential New York City experience. While the energy from the crowds on the streets can be pulsating, the experience can also be overwhelming (not to mention cold). But watching the parade from a hotel means you can spot all the floats, balloons and live performances from the comfort (and warmth) of your room, without jostling the crowd for a primo view. We recommend these three luxe spots along the parade route:

Trump International Hotel & Tower New York

Trump International Hotel & Tower. The Celebrate Thanksgiving at Trump package sets you up with 10-foot windows to catch views of Central Park and the parade. And here’s a bit of recent trivia: The parade was re-created for the new movie Tower Heist, which was filmed just outside the hotel.

Mandarin Oriental, New York

Mandarin Oriental. The I Love a Parade package includes a stay in a room or suite that features floor-to-ceiling windows and views of Central Park (but more importantly, the parade). This package also offers exclusive access to a parade party in the Mandarin Ballroom, which stands 280 feet above the city and enjoys stellar views of the action below. Guests can head to the party for kid-centric activities like face painting, origami and cookie decorating.

W Hotel Times Square

W Hotel Times Square. The sophisticated set can head to this ultra hip hotel on Broadway. You’ll want to book a corner room somewhere between the 32nd to 57th floors, where you’ll get panoramic views of the parade as it hits Times Square. Sit back with a mug of piping hot chocolate (included with your stay) and watch the pomp and pageantry below.

 

Photos courtesy of Trump International Hotel & Tower New York; Mandarin Oriental, New York; and THINK PR

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