As always, eating at restaurants in one of the greatest food cities in the world, is simply a privilege and a blessing that I do not take for granted. Standards for food and service in this city are high, and it often feels like any place you go is vying for relevance and trying extra hard to impress. There are plenty of places that fall short, and they don’t last long, but this year’s list includes some relative newcomers that…
My Top Five restaurants for the world list this year, while not totally devoid of Michelin stars, has very few, mainly because there were some truly stand-out restaurants that really outshined others this year regardless of international accolades. Overall, this list is also probably the least expensive list of restaurants on ChiLuxe Travel, which simply means that we ate really well on our vacations this year without spending a ton. Here we go! 5. Luna Muna, Roatan, Honduras Luna Muna…
On a recent trip to New York City, we spent just about an entire day art museum hopping. To catch our breath after spending the morning at The Met, we decided to have lunch at Cafe Sabarsky, which is a few blocks north. The best part is that this cafe is also in a small art museum, The Neue Galerie, housing several pieces by one of my favorite artists – Gustav Klimt. On a Friday afternoon, just after 12pm, Cafe…
I am so thrilled to report that Chicago is back on the map as far as absolutely superb Italian-inspired restaurants go. After several disappointing meals at very popular spots like Il Carciofo and RPM Italian, I was starting to worry I’d never find good Italian food in the city again. Then, I had dinner at Daisies, which was a revelation, and I reviewed it here, and hope for amazing pasta in Chicago returned. Finally, most recently on Thanksgiving weekend, we…
Daisies restaurant in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood has been nabbing all sorts of accolades lately, and I was excited to check it out with my two cousins on a recent outing in October, 2025. I’ve been pretty disappointed with a lot of the more recent, Italian-inspired restaurant openings in Chicago, such as the over-hyped Il Carciofo, and I was really hoping for something special that I could recommend to my lovely readers. Luckily, Daisies totally delivered, and we were all…
On a recent trip to New York, and after our impeccable mostly vegetarian meal at Arpege in Paris last year (Arpege has since gone full vegan), I knew I had to try three-starred Michelin Eleven Madison Park’s vegan tasting menu. They have since added meat back into their menu, but vegan cooking is something that I would rarely attempt, and so it’s always extra special for me to go out to a place that is doing things that I could…
I was so excited to try Masala Y Maiz for my birthday dinner in Mexico City this August. The chefs were featured in Netflix’s documentary series Chef’s Table, and I was excited to try their fusion food. The story of overcoming corruption and graft in CDMX was inspiring, and I was feeling good about supporting their business. Unfortunately, our experience here was extraordinarily disappointing. While it is clear that the chef-owners of MyM care deeply about the wellbeing of their…
When I think about our dinner at Esquina Comun in Mexico City this past August, 2025, a smile always comes to my face. This was easily the best meal we had on our second visit to Mexico City, and I would not hesitate to recommend booking here. First, Esquina Comun has a very exclusive, secret vibe. There is no sign on the door, and you enter through what looks like an abandoned cafeteria. In the back, there is a spiral…
There have been about a thousand articles about Chicago’s most unique steakhouse, Asador Bastian, a steakhouse that has even made it’s way onto the World’s 101 best steak restaurant list (currently the highest rated steak restaurant in Chicago at number 13). Even I published my glowing review of our incredible dinner there just last year. What people don’t know, however, is that you can come here, even without a reservation, on most nights. Because of its popularity, Asador Bastian’s dining…
If you’re looking for the absolute best meal and dinner experience on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands, look no further than Coco Maya. I had read some reviews, and folks at the resort recommended this place, but I typically have relatively low expectations for restaurants at the top of popular “best-of” lists. Coco Maya is a huge exception to this rule, and you should not hesitate to book dinner here. You do need reservations, so make sure you take care…