News
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Off the beaten track: Cambodia, Finland, ScotlandIn our series about hidden gems for travellers, Falstaff looks at three destinations where you can avoid the crowds. -
The Japanese beef with a thirty-year waitlistThe Extreme Croquettes made with Kobe beef became popular after going viral in 2016 and now have a waiting time of around thirty-two years. -
Indonesia rows back on ‘cohabitating’ lawMinister insists tourists ‘exempt’ from changes. -
Singapore proves the hub of cultivated meatSingapore enjoys its status of becoming the first market to approve the commercialisation of a cultivated protein. -
White truffle auctioned for record €184,000A bidder from Hong Kong paid a record price of more than €180,000 for the 700 gram tuber at an auction in Italy. -
Pyramid Valley releases 2020 Botanicals CollectionThe boutique New Zealand producer in North Canterbury stuns with striking wines. -
Hong Kong to give away 500,000 free airline tickets next yearHong Kong will try to entice tourists back to the Asian city by giving away half a million free airline tickets in the wake of the Covid-19... -
Armagh Shiraz - 50 years of the Armagh Vineyard in Clare ValleyThe release of the 2018 vintage of Jim Barry’s The Armagh Shiraz marks the 50th anniversary of the planting of Shiraz vines in this singular... -
Kumeu River releases 2021 vintageNew Zealand’s Chardonnay legend Kumeu River presents its latest vintage – along with a sparkling wine, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. -
The 2019 vintage in New Zealand’s Gimblett GravelsThis sub-region of Hawke’s Bay on New Zealand’s North Island continues forging its path with red wines that have as much elegance as they... -
Japan gears up for 'Wagyu Olympics' in OctoberZenkyo, known as the Wagyu Olympics, will take place from 6-10 October 2022 in Japan’s Kagoshima prefecture, on the island of Kyushu. -
IHG signs Holiday Inn's first urban beachfront resort in IndonesiaOpening in 2024, the Holiday Inn resort will be the first white sand beach resort in Greater Jakarta. -
Hawke’s Bay hails 2020 vintage with a slew of stellar ChardonnaysThis New Zealand region has become known for its rich red wines but decided to highlight the 2020 vintage with a selection of Chardonnays. -
Bangkok hotel sets Guinness World Record with largest Negroni cocktailA new five-star hotel in Bangkok has set a Guinness World Record for the largest Negroni that contained over 630 litres of cocktail. -
Japan to fully reopen to tourists in OctoberJapan is aiming to remove its daily arrival cap and fully reopen the country to international tourism by the end of October. -
Hilton signs six new luxury hotels in Asia-PacificHilton has announced plans to open six new hotels in Asia-Pacific over the next four years, expanding its collection of luxury properties... -
Japan urges young people to drink more alcohol to boost the economyJapan is trying to promote alcohol consumption among young people in response to a decline in alcohol tax revenue. -
First cruise ship visits NZ since Covid pandemicAuckland welcomed P&O's Pacific Explorer with its 2,000 passengers, marking the first time a cruise ship has visited New Zealand since the... -
Qantas asks executives to work as baggage handlersAustralia's flagship carrier is seeking to draft in its executives to temporarily become baggage handlers as it seeks to plug an acute... -
Michelin Guide Singapore Promotes Two Restaurants to Two StarsTwo new restaurants have joined five others holding two Michelin stars in Singapore, according to the newly released 2022 Michelin Guide. -
World’s Most Famous Beach ClubsTikTok viewers select their favourite beach clubs from around the world. -
Singapore Airlines Adds more Flights to Destinations in Asia, North America and EuropeIn response to the strong demand for air travel, Singapore’s flag carrier airline will increase its services to Japan, India, Los Angeles... -
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon: Honing Regional StyleFalstaff takes a closer look at the Western Australian region, where sustainable farming practices make its elegant Cabernet Sauvignons even... -
Sideways Blog 2022: Rex Pickett’s Road Trip – Part 2In the second part of his travelogue, our author has made it down to Central Otago – Pinot heaven. Could it be the setting for his new... -
Villa Maria Debuts Attorney Pinot Noir for 60th AnniversaryThe New Zealand estate celebrates its 60th anniversary with the release of a limited edition Pinot Noir from a single vineyard in the Wairau... -
Sideways Blog 2022: Rex Pickett’s Road Trip – Part 1Rex Pickett reports from his New Zealand road trip, where he is writing his fourth 'Sideways' novel after a 10-year hiatus. He has just... -
Hans Herzog Releases New Zealand's First BlaufränkischHans Herzog Estate, known for its eclectic array of grape varieties, has debuted a Blaufränkisch 2019, the first release of the Austrian... -
Crisp White Wines Uncovered in Australia's SouthwestGreat Southern & Margaret River in Australia's southwest corner are home to some bracing Rieslings, and some vibrant expressions of... -
Paw-Some Day Trip: Special Ride for Dogs on Japanese Bullet TrainTwenty-one furry friends travelled on a special Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo to the resort of Karuizawa with their owners. For the... -
Australia's Riverina Shines with Mediterranean Grape VarietiesThe largest wine producing region in New South Wales is known for its volumes of Shiraz and Chardonnay but with its Italian heritage and... -
Trade Fair Vinexpo Asia Ditches Hong Kong for SingaporeThe major wine and spirit exhibition Vinexpo Asia move to Singapore in May 2023 from its previous location in Hong Kong. -
Japan to Test Tourism Post-Covid from MayJapan will start allowing 'test tourism' in the form of limited package tours from this month as a way of gathering information prior to a... -
Must-Try Gourmet Dim Sum Restaurants in Hong KongDim sum literally means ‘touch the heart’ in Chinese. Here are our top dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong that will also touch your tastebuds.... -
Tyrrell’s Releases Latest Winemaker’s SelectionThe name for this iconic Australian winery’s Winemaker’s Selection series was coined in the 1960s to mark out top casks that were to be... -
Qantas Details Ultra-Long-Haul Flights to New York & LondonQantas plans non-stop, ultra-long-haul flights from Australian cities to New York & London, starting in 2025. The aircraft will have... -
Celebrating 50 Years of Australian ChardonnayThe Australian wine industry is this year celebrating 50 years of Chardonnay: a wine style that revolutionised how this grape variety is... -
Five of the Hottest Taiwan Tea BarsTaiwan's colonial past has given it a very colourful tea history. Now a new generation of tea bars has opened – here are five you must... -
India's Open Skies Bring Flood of Enquiries to Luxury RetreatsIndia resumed scheduled international flights on March 27 after a two-year ban due to Covid-19. Luxury retreats in particular are expecting... -
Taiwan’s Top Five Wine BarsTaiwan's wine culture is as rich and vibrant as its cuisine. The island is now not only making its own wines but also offers plenty of great... -
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Marks 30th AnniversaryThe Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, a two-week ode to indulgence which starts on March 25, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. -
KFC’s Gold Dusted Drumsticks Are Australia’s Latest Food CrazeKFC Australia is unveiling a fancy 11-course dinner including gold dusted drumsticks. The A$75 tasting menu is only available between April... -
Christie's to Auction Wines from Billionaire Joseph LauThe "Iconic Wines from Joseph Lau" will be offered at auction on 13 April in Hong Kong. It comprises 89 lots with an estimated total value... -
Tokyo National Museum to Celebrate Its 150th Anniversary2022 marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of the oldest museum in Japan. Special exhibitions and events will be held over the year... -
Four Seasons to Make Melbourne DebutMelbourne's first Four Seasons hotel will be set in Australia's tallest tower, which will have the tallest vertical garden in the world.... -
McDonald's Launches Coriander Sundae in ChinaMcDonald's has caused a stir with their latest limited-edition McFlurry. The sundae comes with vanilla ice cream, coriander sauce and a... -
Barossa Shiraz: Power with PoiseThe modern breed of Barossa Shiraz is challenging the South Australian region's reputation for just producing powerful, rich and... -
Five Great Wine-Themed Drives: Tasmania, AustraliaGet behind the wheel in the Australian island of Tasmania in the third of our series of five wine-themed road trips. -
New Zealand Wineries Hope for Bigger 2022 HarvestNew Zealand has begun its 2022 grape harvest, with New Zealand Winegrowers hoping for a significantly larger crop than the diminished 2021... -
New Zealand Pinot Noir: Tasting the PlaceFew countries have made such strides with Pinot Noir as New Zealand. In a wine industry that in its current form is barely 30 years old,... -
Top Ryokan Stays in JapanRyokans, or traditional Japanese inns, offer a unique place to stay. Here are four of our favourite addresses. -
Taiwan Buys 20,400 Bottles of Rum Rejected by ChinaA state-owned Taiwanese company has purchased more than 20,000 bottles of Lithuanian rum originally bound for China. -
Thailand to Impose 300 Baht Tourist Fee from AprilFrom April, all foreign tourists arriving in Thailand will be charged an entry fee of 300 baht or €8. -
Tasmanian Chardonnay: So Cool It’s HotThink you know all about Australian Chardonnay? Well, be sure not to overlook Tasmania, home to a small but very distinguished collection of... -
Western Australia Tries to Woo Tourists as Safe DestinationThe Australian state will spend A$185 million marketing itself as a "safe destination" – when it loosens its strict border controls. -
Brewery Tips 7,000 Litres of Beer Down the DrainIt's enough to make any beer lover weep – a New Zealand brewery is disposing of thousands of litres of beer after going bust. -
Wine-focused Restaurant Opens in Hong KongBacchus restaurant could have one of the most comprehensive wine lists in Hong Kong. -
Australian Gardener's Fruit Tree Claims World RecordAn Iraqi-born gardener with green fingers has claimed a Guinness World Record for his backyard fruit tree. -
Hong Kong's First Dedicated CBD Bar Opens UpHong Kong’s first dedicated CBD bar, Unbothered, has opened its doors in the nightlife district of Lan Kwai Fong. -
Wanted: Hospo Staff Enticed to Australia with Flights, Visas & VouchersAn acute shortage of hospitality workers in Australia has led some companies to offer paid flights, accommodation and help with visas. -
Japanese Restaurant Giant Rolls Out Robo-Cat WaitersJapanese restaurant operator Skylark is introducing an innovative solution to plug labour shortages – robot-style waiters. -
China Reveals Its First National ParksChina's first group of national parks, which cover a total of 230,000 sq km, will focus on preserving pandas and other wild animals. -
Thailand Plans Tourist Tax in 2022Thailand is to introduce a 500 baht per person tourism fee next year. -
Indonesia's Bali to Reopen to Tourists in mid-OctoberIndonesia will gradually reopen to international tourists from October 14. -
New Group for Women in the Wine Industry Set Up in AustraliaWomen and Revolution has been set up in Australia to support women working across the wine industry. -
Thailand Delays Opening to International TouristsThailand delays reopening major cities to international visitors again as the country's tourism industry reels from the Covid pandemic. ... -
Australia Looks to Reopen Borders By ChristmasAustralia plans to reopen its borders by Christmas, loosening some of the strictest controls in the world. -
Universal Studios Opens First Theme Park in ChinaUniversal Studios plans to open the $7-billion Chinese theme park in Beijing this September. -
India Goa’s First Alcohol Museum Dedicated to FeniGoa’s All About Alcohol Museum, which is home to hundreds of artefacts related to the traditional liquor feni, illustrates the long history... -
Are these the most exclusive Villas in the Maldives?White sandy beaches, shimmering turquoise waters and a dreamlike island landscape. Falstaff takes a glimpse inside some of some of the most... -
Shane Osborn Opens Third Restaurant in Hong KongNetflix star and chef Shane Osborn has opened a third Hong Kong restaurant, Moxie. -
Cramele Recaș: The Orange Wine Asia Goes Crazy ForOrange wine has been niche, but one Romanian winery is changing that - especially in Asia. -
China Develops High-Speed Train Capable of Travelling at 600kphThe new high-speed train, capable of travelling at a maximum speed of 600kph/373mph, will reduce travel time between Beijing and Shanghai to... -
Australian Passengers Could Soon Be Allowed to Take Pets in the Cabin of PlanesAustralian Federal rules banning pets in flight cabins will be relaxed this year. Airlines will decide whether pets are allowed to sit with... -
Thailand: Phuket Reopens to Vaccinated International TravellersOn 1 July 2021, Thailand’s popular island opened to the first foreign tourists, through a programme called Phuket Sandbox -
Holiday Hotspots for Indians in Times of a PandemicAfter months of stringent travel restrictions for people from India, several countries have opened their doors to Indian visitors with fewer... -
Henschke Releases 2016 Hill of Grace ShirazHenschke’s single vineyard wines Hill of Grace and Mount Edelstone are icons of Australian winemaking.