Author: House & Hotel Magazine

Octant Evora opens its Enoteca Contributed by Jens Hoffmann The Octant Évora hotel introduces a one-of-a-kind experience in the Alentejo region of Portugal with the opening of its Enoteca, celebrating the best of local wine production, featuring nearly 140 producers and over 300 wine selections. Wow. That sounds amazing. The hotel is located near the historic city of Évora in Portugal’s Alentejo region. A redesigned space is dedicated to honoring the rich winemaking heritage of the area. This unique venue is now open to offer…Continue Reading “Hotels we love: The Octant Evora hotel in Alentejo” →

Hong Kong is magic. Contributed by feature reporter Jens Hoffmann The city stimulates your senses: the shimmering skyscrapers stretching endlessly upward, the air, the sun, the street food, the market stalls. A big wow. I love to be here. But Hong Kong can exhaust even experienced travellers like us. So lets find the right hideaway. Everyone knows that I am a Mandarin fan. The Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong is amazing, it offers tranquillity in the heart of the city for more than 70 years. A…Continue Reading “Hotels we love: Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong” →

The 2025 MICHELIN Guide selection in Vietnam Vietnam’s Culinary Ascent with 9 One Star, 2 Green Star, and 63 Bib Gourmand features a record 181 establishments: 9 One MICHELIN Star (1 new, 1 promoted), 2 MICHELIN Green Star (1 new), 63 Bib Gourmand (9 new), and 109 MICHELIN Selected (14 new) Contributed by Jens Hoffmann Michelin officially unveiled the 2025 restaurant selection of the MICHELIN Guide Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh City | Da Nang at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort. The 2025 edition…Continue Reading “2025 MICHELIN Stars in Vietnam – Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang” →

Contributed by feature reporter Jens Hoffmann A foodtrip brought us to Bangkok. We checked in at the Mandarin Oriental. BKK is like a puzzle and the Mandarin is a destination in itself. It host royal guests and international visitors – their favourite spot to see and be seen. Somerset Maugham used his hotel room as a hospital when he came down with malaria. John Le Carré wrote much of “The Honourable Schoolboy” in one of the suites. And Noël Coward would spend hours gazing down…Continue Reading “Hotels we love: Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok” →

Lovely stay Contributed by Jens Hoffmann I am in love with the rhythm and music of this city. Nearly two decades after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans remains smaller in population, but richer than ever in cultural treasures. Forced to justify its very existence, the city doubled down on venerating its charming customs and neighborhood gems. Today, there are new ways to engage with the city’s history, arts scene and natural beauty, including the Lafitte Greenway, a biking and pedestrian path linking the French Quarter to…Continue Reading “Waldorf Astoria The Roosevelt in New Orleans” →

Canada rules Contributed by Jens Hoffmann Every season is the perfect time for a trip to Canada. We tasted Ottawa & Vancouver. After all, these Canada cities definitely belongs on your bucket list. Winter, with its storms and rains and the Niagara are great. Yes. But we love warmer weather and food. Canadas pride itself is not just on its language but also on the quality of its food. Poutine could be called the national dish, a strange mixture of French fries, cheese curds and…Continue Reading “Countries we love: Canada” →

BYD makes its official debut in the European market, in the Cypriot market BYD was introduced by Alpan Group, a member of the Sfakianakis Group and the official distributor for Cyprus. The initial line-up includes impressive SEAL, SEAL U DM-i, and SEALION 7 — as well as ATTO 3. Alpan Group is further strengthening its role by entering the automotive market dynamically, aiming to play a central role in the green transition and the era of electromobility in Cyprus. The Shenzhen-based firm says revenue rose…Continue Reading “BYD goes Europe” →

Contributed by influencer Jens Hoffmann Photos: Annamaria Kirsch-Veszeli As a guest on Moby Lines ferries, passengers can expect exclusive culinary experiences. Pure Italian cuisine – the chef pampers passengers with modern creations and timeless Italian classics. We enjoyed Italian cuisine and the elegant food selection on board of Moby Lines With Moby Lines, the journey begins at the port. For us, it started from Livorno. A childhood memory for me, as I spent my childhood on Elba and we always traveled to the holiday island…Continue Reading “Listening to the Sea – Culinary delights with Moby Lines ferries” →

From the series ‘Cities we love’ Contributed by feature reporter Jens Hoffmann I enjoyed the Palace Noordeinde, embraced by cobbled shopping streets, with a choice of things to do. Lets say – arrive and relax – be happy in the Blow up Art X city. I start my art and culture trip with a visit to Museum Panorama Mesdag including the temporary exhibition Mesmerized. From 29 March 2025, the enchanting images of photographer Scarlett Hooft Graafland (1973) will be on display at Museum Panorama Mesdag….Continue Reading “Blow Up Art X Cultural The Hague” →

Kalimera Hydra Contributed by Jens Hoffmann The distinctive neo-classical stone mansions of Hydra Town rise above the picture-pretty port, where cafés and donkeys await their next expedition along cobbled lanes. Hydra is twice the size of neighbouring island “Spetses” but has an even smaller population of around 4,000 people. So nice to here on Hydra in the region Attica. The beautiful eco island with many claims to fame. Just covering about 50 square kilometres it  has one of the most picturesque harbours in the Aegean, astonishingly for…Continue Reading “Islands we love: Hydra” →

Contributed by feature reporter Jens Hoffmann Bangkok can be as bewildering as it is bewitching. There are few things to do to make the most of Thailand’s exuberant capital, filling your days with luxury feelings, massages, street food, impressive temples and lively bars. Bangkok was “the Venice of the east” for a reason. Built upon water, its river and canals (khlongs) formed the thoroughfares until roads were constructed in 1851. Its so beautiful. We checked in at the lovely Sofitel SO in Bangkok. The Sofitel…Continue Reading “Hotels we love: Sofitel SO in Bangkok” →

Rio de Janeiro captivates visitors with its lush nature, historical beauty, paradisiacal beaches, and the contagious energy of the locals. Rio also stands out for its food scene with Brazilian tradition and haute cuisine’s boldness. Visionary chefs turn local ingredients into masterpieces, blending tropical flavours with global techniques. From the freshness of the sea to the richness of the land, every dish tells a story. We’ve selected six Michelin-starred restaurants. Each offers a distinct approach, but they all share a commitment to excellence and creativity….Continue Reading “Michelin Star restaurants in Rio de Janeiro” →