Conde Nast Traveler

YOU COULD FILL a not-so-small library with books published in the last few years that explore what the so-called attention economy has done to our brains and relationships, most recently Chris Hayes’s The Sirens’ Call. I’m not advocating giving up social media or our smartphones, as some have suggested, but many of us might wish to reconsider our relationship with these platforms and devices. I know I do. Travel is certainly caught up in this endless competition for attention (we decide where to go after gorging on other people’s fabulous posts, then spend our trips thinking about what we’ll post ourselves), but I also think it can help. I’m not just talking about those digital detoxes in which you hand over your phone upon arrival, though those have merit. I…

WITH A LONG HISTORY as Japan’s mercantile heart and major port of call, Osaka is dense and delightfully in your face. Now, as it gears up to host World Expo 2025 this month and welcome more travelers than ever before, the neon-lit metropolis has been reinventing itself. It has launched several ambitious urban renewal projects—like the Grand Green Osaka, a 22-acre mixed-use development that is transforming a freight terminal into verdant public spaces—to draw leisure seekers beyond the usual tourist haunts. The city has also lured some of hospitality’s most luxurious names: The Four Seasons arrived last August, and the Waldorf Astoria opens its first hotel in Japan this month. Star chefs from Japan and abroad are shaking up the dining scene with inventive gastronomy, though delicious casual eats from…

IF IT’S GOT a few playful ruffes, a bold botanical print, and an easy-breezy vibe, there’s a good chance the garment you’re admiring is from Zimmermann. The Australian brand, founded in 1991 by sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann, is still faithful to its original philosophy of feminine silhouettes, ingenious color combinations, and that laid-back Bondi Beach state of mind—something the duo know well. “There’s nothing better than being on a beautiful boat on Sydney Harbour in the sun,” says Nicky. Here she and Simone share their must-do recommendations in their hometown, including where to grab a meal with a view, go for a dip, and, of course, sip a classic flat white when you need to get your caffeine fix. LIFE’S A BEACH With a waterfront as beautiful as Sydney’s,…

THE MENU AT Meza Malonga, a chic fine-dining spot in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, doubles as a geography syllabus. “The philosophy is about promoting African ingredients,” says chef Dieuveil Malonga as he presents a jar of Ivorian button mushrooms alongside a hibiscus-and-beetroot-dusted beef tartare. A Burundian tree-tomato sorbet, obscured under cascades of dry ice, has a whiff of Egyptian black lemon. “Today we are receiving people from different places around the globe to learn and discover the African flavor,” he says. By the end of nine courses, the palate has mapped the continent. Born in Congo and raised in Germany and France, Malonga journeyed through 46 of Africa’s 54 countries on research trips before opening Meza Malonga in Kigali in 2020. In May he’ll open his second location, two…

WHEN NEW YORK–BASED interior designer Athena Calderone realized her 50th birthday and 25th wedding anniversary would coincide last year, she knew the double milestone called for a party. So she and her husband, Victor, a DJ and music producer, planned a two-pronged, nineday trip to Italy. They began with an intimate vow renewal in Umbria and then let the festivities roll in Rome with 50 of their closest friends. “That city holds this rich historic legacy, and I feel like our love does too,” Calderone says. Here she shares the locals-only spots that drove the itinerary and the “opulent and over-the-top” hotel where guests danced till dawn. WARM GLOW In Umbria the couple stayed at Castiglione Ugolino, part of the Tenuta di Murlo estate just north of Perugia. “Our vowrenewal ceremony…

WITH MORE AND MORE travelers growing savvy to the charms of Portugal over the last decade—not to mention the many expats chasing the dream of a “golden visa”—Lisbon has never been more popular. And yet the capital remains steadfastly itself, convivial and easygoing but also unabashedly stylish. This is thanks to artistic vanguards both old and new. Long-standing national shops and markets have endured for centuries without losing their creative shine; in turn, they’re inspiring a new generation of forward-thinking artisans and designers who are fusing modern aesthetic principles with Portuguese heritage and reinvigorating historic spaces in the city while they’re at it. It’s never been easier to bring a piece of Lisbon home. HERITAGE AT HOME The lifestyle brand A Vida Portuguesa and the cultural association Portugal Manual opened Depozito…