Patrón International
Aristo & Roof Garden
The Aristo & Roof Garden at Zouk Club KL boasts a spacious balcony overlooking the club entrance and a more laidback rooftop garden that draws in the happy hour crowd surrounding the busy city central. As the night progresses, Aristo embraces nu-disco & house music, raising the bar for Malaysian nightlife.
Luna Bar
Luna Bar started the trend of rooftop bars in Kuala Lumpur and it remains one of the best - for good reason. Perched on the 34th floor of Pacific Regency Hotel Suites, Luna offers 360 degree views of the city, beats by a live DJ and a pool to dip your feet on a warm summer night.
Rootz
Inspired by the decadent Russian palaces of the 18th century, Rootz is located on the rooftop of Lot 10, right in the heart of the city. With its ornate decor and a dance floor that takes up half the space, Rootz is the ultimate scene for party goers who want a bit (perhaps a lot) of opulence.
Sky Bar
There’s nothing not to love about this rooftop space which recently landed the Best Hotel Bar title at the Best of Malaysia Awards 2011. Lounge by the poolside sofas while enjoying the intoxicating views above. Sip Patrón on the rocks while taking in the view of the Petronas' Twin Towers.
View Rooftop Bar
Designed for the well travelled and well heeled, the newest rooftop bar on this list is View. Situated over 30 floors up and set in the custom-built rooftop of GTower Hotel, this is the place to be and be seen.
The Aristo & Roof Garden at Zouk Club KL boasts a spacious balcony overlooking the club entrance and a more laidback rooftop garden that draws in the happy hour crowd surrounding the busy city central. As the night progresses, Aristo embraces nu-disco & house music, raising the bar for Malaysian nightlife.
Luna Bar
Luna Bar started the trend of rooftop bars in Kuala Lumpur and it remains one of the best - for good reason. Perched on the 34th floor of Pacific Regency Hotel Suites, Luna offers 360 degree views of the city, beats by a live DJ and a pool to dip your feet on a warm summer night.
Rootz
Inspired by the decadent Russian palaces of the 18th century, Rootz is located on the rooftop of Lot 10, right in the heart of the city. With its ornate decor and a dance floor that takes up half the space, Rootz is the ultimate scene for party goers who want a bit (perhaps a lot) of opulence.
Sky Bar
There’s nothing not to love about this rooftop space which recently landed the Best Hotel Bar title at the Best of Malaysia Awards 2011. Lounge by the poolside sofas while enjoying the intoxicating views above. Sip Patrón on the rocks while taking in the view of the Petronas' Twin Towers.
View Rooftop Bar
Designed for the well travelled and well heeled, the newest rooftop bar on this list is View. Situated over 30 floors up and set in the custom-built rooftop of GTower Hotel, this is the place to be and be seen.
Patrón Hacienda Chefs
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cooling time: 90 minutes
Makes: 14-16 truffles
Ingredients
- 12 (2 1/2-inch) crisp chocolate chip cookies (store bought or homemade)
- 2 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
- 3 tbsp. Patrón XO Cafe
- 2 tbsp. dark cocoa powder
- 1 cup (6 oz.) semi-sweet or dark chocolate morsels
Patrón Hacienda Chefs
Prep time: 10 minutes
Marinating time: 1 hour
Makes: 4 servings
Patrón Silver Lime Cilantro Marinade
- 1/2 cup Patrón Silver
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp. honey
- 2 tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro leaves
- 2 cloves fresh garlic, chopped
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 32 (about 1 lb.) large shrimp, uncooked, peeled and deveined
- 8 bamboo skewers
Patrón Hacienda Chefs
Prep time: 5 minutes
Marinating time: 1 hour
Makes: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh watermelon or seasonal melon, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1/4 cup Patrón Reposado
- 2 tbsp. queso fresco or cojita cheese, crumbled
- 2 tbsp. finely sliced fresh mint leaves
- 1/4 - 1/2 tsp. red chili flakes (season to taste)
- 1/4 tsp. salt Place melon cubes in medium serving bowl. Drizzle with Patrón Reposado; stir lightly. Cover and refrigerate, stirring occasionally, for one hour. Sprinkle marinated melon with cheese, fresh mint, chili flakes and salt; stir lightly. Serve immediately.
Patrón Hacienda Chefs
Prep time: 10 minutes
Marinating time: 3 to 4 hours
Makes: 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 1/4 cup Patrón Añejo
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 3 tbsp. soy sauce
- 2 cloves fresh garlic, chopped
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1 - 1/2 lbs. flank steak
- 2 oranges, peeled and cut into sections (optional) Patrón Añejo Orange Cumin Marinade Place orange juice, Patrón Añejo, olive oil, 1/4 cup green onions, soy sauce, garlic, cumin, and pepper in food processor or blender; process until smooth. Reserve 1/4 cup marinade; cover and refrigerate. Place steak and remaining marinade in large resealable plastic bag; turn bag to coat. Cover and refrigerate, turning occasionally, for 3 to 4 hours. Remove meat from marinade; discard marinade. Preheat grill to medium-high. Brush grill lightly with oil. Grill steak, turning occasionally and brushing with reserved marinade, until cooked to desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Remove from grill; let rest for 10 minutes. Slice steak thinly against the grain; drizzle with remaining reserved marinade. Garnish with remaining green onions and orange sections, if desired.
Condé Nast Traveler
Word to the wise: if you plan your arrival in Dubai during the day, lines through customs will be infinitely more forgiving. That’ll also leave more time for everything else. Then check in (they call it “fast-track”) at the luxurious Armani Hotel Dubai, located inside the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. I’ve mapped out a few must-sees for your extended Dubai weekend once you’re settled in…
Friday
For skiers, and I know you are one, the Northeast winter was a bit of a disappointment. Now I know that Dubai isn’t the first place you think of when you think of skiing, but you really must visit Ski Dubai, with the world’s longest indoor ski runs, to get in one last skiing session. And you can do this any time of the year! To make for a truly adrenaline-filled day, you can go cage snorkeling or scuba diving with sharks in the Dubai Aquarium’s nearly three million gallon diving tank—a very cool experience with plenty of bragging rights you can take home as a souvenir. Alternatively, shopaholics looking for retail adventure can head for the Dubai Mall, one of the largest and best of its kind anywhere.
Change into some of your new clothes and head to the top of Burj Khalifa for a sunset Patrón cocktail or two at the Atmosphere Lounge. The highest restaurant and bar in the world is located on the 122nd floor of Burj Khalifa and has stunning views of the Arabian Gulf, Downtown Dubai, and the planet’s tallest performing fountains. For real. Later, plan on dinner at Reflets Par Pierre Gagnaire for one of the best meals in Dubai. Afterwards head to what is easily one of Dubai’s top clubs, Armani/Prive. At evening’s end, there’s that gorgeous room at Armani Hotel that awaits you.
Saturday
Surf the dunes and have the sand-boarding experience of a lifetime! Continue your desert experience by taking a drive in a dune buggy. When you return to the city see the sights on a private tour and end the day enjoying a spa treatment at the hotel. A late gourmet dinner at the sumptuous Cavalli Club in Dubai’s Fairmont Hotel is recommended. Simply fabulous!
Sunday
After breakfast, take a seaplane tour above Dubai for bird’s eye views of Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, The World Islands, and Burj Al Arab. Be sure to pack a camera as the scenery is remarkable!
Lindsey Wallace for Condé Nast Traveler
Friday
For skiers, and I know you are one, the Northeast winter was a bit of a disappointment. Now I know that Dubai isn’t the first place you think of when you think of skiing, but you really must visit Ski Dubai, with the world’s longest indoor ski runs, to get in one last skiing session. And you can do this any time of the year! To make for a truly adrenaline-filled day, you can go cage snorkeling or scuba diving with sharks in the Dubai Aquarium’s nearly three million gallon diving tank—a very cool experience with plenty of bragging rights you can take home as a souvenir. Alternatively, shopaholics looking for retail adventure can head for the Dubai Mall, one of the largest and best of its kind anywhere.
Change into some of your new clothes and head to the top of Burj Khalifa for a sunset Patrón cocktail or two at the Atmosphere Lounge. The highest restaurant and bar in the world is located on the 122nd floor of Burj Khalifa and has stunning views of the Arabian Gulf, Downtown Dubai, and the planet’s tallest performing fountains. For real. Later, plan on dinner at Reflets Par Pierre Gagnaire for one of the best meals in Dubai. Afterwards head to what is easily one of Dubai’s top clubs, Armani/Prive. At evening’s end, there’s that gorgeous room at Armani Hotel that awaits you.
Saturday
Surf the dunes and have the sand-boarding experience of a lifetime! Continue your desert experience by taking a drive in a dune buggy. When you return to the city see the sights on a private tour and end the day enjoying a spa treatment at the hotel. A late gourmet dinner at the sumptuous Cavalli Club in Dubai’s Fairmont Hotel is recommended. Simply fabulous!
Sunday
After breakfast, take a seaplane tour above Dubai for bird’s eye views of Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, The World Islands, and Burj Al Arab. Be sure to pack a camera as the scenery is remarkable!
Lindsey Wallace for Condé Nast Traveler
Condé Nast Traveler
Have you heard about the brand new Niyama Resort in the Maldives? It’s located on the Southern Dhaalu Atoll and it is simply stunning! I just returned and while it’s all still fresh in my memory I want to recount for you my spectacular vacation here with some of the things you can plan into your itinerary when you go...
Friday
On arrival in the Maldives, take a 40-minute scenic seaplane flight to the shiny, new Niyama Resort. I stayed in its Water Studio, an overwater villa complete with its own private pool and a luxurious bath; the mini-bar even comes with its own popcorn machine! Spend the afternoon snorkeling and enjoying the villa’s main pool area. Dinner is in the overwater restaurant, Edge, accessible only by boat out in the lagoon; here you can enjoy the freshest catch of the day.
Take after-dinner cocktails in the world’s first underwater nightclub Subsix. (Yes, you heard that right!) Its glass walls look out to the Indian Ocean allowing you to see an assortment of exotic marine life swimming past. And the bartender expertly mixes his special Patrón concoctions making it very easy to spend lots of lingering time here! By now it’s late, so after a long day of travel and activities you must make one last stop before you retire at Niyama’s Lime Spa for a relaxing massage. It’s one of the very few spas open 24 hours a day. So while it’s still top of mind, treat yourself…because you can!
Saturday
After breakfast, head for a day on a private luxury 65-foot dhoni, a traditional Maldivian sailboat that comes equipped with a captain and crew. A dhoni has a sleeping area, a living room with a kitchenette, and a fully stocked fridge. Snorkel and dive in untouched locations; the scenery is simply unreal! Have a picnic lunch on a deserted sandbank and relax on a private stretch of beach. (It doesn’t get more remote than this.) Head back to Niyama and you’ll likely catch a glimpse of dolphins along the way. Watch the sunset at Fahrenheit, the rooftop bar. Enjoy dinner at Tribal, an open-air restaurant where cuisine from South America, Africa, and Asia is prepared in an outdoor kitchen over open flames. Back in the villa watch a movie of your choice and enjoy that butler-prepared popcorn I mentioned.
Sunday
What better way is there to celebrate Sunday than with a massive brunch! After that, head over to the Marine Biology lab to have a chat with the marine biologist to learn about everything that you saw earlier in the weekend. Hear about the coral restoration project that the resort is involved with, as it helps to ensure the lagoon stays healthy. Grab a seabob (water sled), hold your breath, and be propelled beneath the surface to check out the underwater world one last time! Fly back to the airport via a scenic seaplane flight. What could be a better way to spend a summer weekend?
Lindsey Wallace for Condé Nast Traveler
Friday
On arrival in the Maldives, take a 40-minute scenic seaplane flight to the shiny, new Niyama Resort. I stayed in its Water Studio, an overwater villa complete with its own private pool and a luxurious bath; the mini-bar even comes with its own popcorn machine! Spend the afternoon snorkeling and enjoying the villa’s main pool area. Dinner is in the overwater restaurant, Edge, accessible only by boat out in the lagoon; here you can enjoy the freshest catch of the day.
Take after-dinner cocktails in the world’s first underwater nightclub Subsix. (Yes, you heard that right!) Its glass walls look out to the Indian Ocean allowing you to see an assortment of exotic marine life swimming past. And the bartender expertly mixes his special Patrón concoctions making it very easy to spend lots of lingering time here! By now it’s late, so after a long day of travel and activities you must make one last stop before you retire at Niyama’s Lime Spa for a relaxing massage. It’s one of the very few spas open 24 hours a day. So while it’s still top of mind, treat yourself…because you can!
Saturday
After breakfast, head for a day on a private luxury 65-foot dhoni, a traditional Maldivian sailboat that comes equipped with a captain and crew. A dhoni has a sleeping area, a living room with a kitchenette, and a fully stocked fridge. Snorkel and dive in untouched locations; the scenery is simply unreal! Have a picnic lunch on a deserted sandbank and relax on a private stretch of beach. (It doesn’t get more remote than this.) Head back to Niyama and you’ll likely catch a glimpse of dolphins along the way. Watch the sunset at Fahrenheit, the rooftop bar. Enjoy dinner at Tribal, an open-air restaurant where cuisine from South America, Africa, and Asia is prepared in an outdoor kitchen over open flames. Back in the villa watch a movie of your choice and enjoy that butler-prepared popcorn I mentioned.
Sunday
What better way is there to celebrate Sunday than with a massive brunch! After that, head over to the Marine Biology lab to have a chat with the marine biologist to learn about everything that you saw earlier in the weekend. Hear about the coral restoration project that the resort is involved with, as it helps to ensure the lagoon stays healthy. Grab a seabob (water sled), hold your breath, and be propelled beneath the surface to check out the underwater world one last time! Fly back to the airport via a scenic seaplane flight. What could be a better way to spend a summer weekend?
Lindsey Wallace for Condé Nast Traveler
Condé Nast Traveler
I’ve just returned from the Eastern Caribbean and a terrific sightseeing vacation it was. I must tell you about St. Vincent & The Grenadines. I love these islands because they’re off the beaten track. Not too many places that you can still say that about. You can’t get there nonstop and you may have to work a little harder to get to the really special places. But take it from me it is so worth it. For instance, you can still find the “old” Caribbean here. And the Grenadines are all about the outdoors. With little temperature variation, these tropical islands are lush and have the quintessential palm-fringed beaches (there’s white and black sand) and crystal-clear water. No doubt about it, when people conjure up a beach paradise, I’m confident this is the place that will come to mind.
Just a little background I thought you’d like… Nine of the Grenadines’ 32 islands are inhabited (St. Vincent, Young Island, Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Union Island, Palm Island, Petit St. Vincent). And Kingstown, the capital, is known as “The City of Arches” with more than 400 to see. It also has the oldest botanical garden in the Western Hemisphere, and you can still see the original breadfruit trees that the infamous Captain Bligh brought to the island from the South Pacific in 1793. Now politically independent, St. Vincent is a former British and French colony with English the main language that’s mixed with a delightful form of Creole. And because I know that you’re such a big fan of the blockbuster series, here’s some movie trivia: much of the location shooting for “Pirates of the Caribbean” was done in St. Vincent!
First and foremost, though, the islands offer an amazing variety of things to do. Rainforest eco-adventures, scuba diving, and sailing are all part of the experience. And to help you plan a long summer weekend here, I thought I’d inspire you by making a few suggestions…
Friday
Be sure to plan a hike to La Soufrière, an active volcano. It soars to more than 4,000 feet and last erupted in 1979. It’s a full-day trek to the summit through the rainforest, and I guarantee you that your efforts will be rewarded with amazing views. After a busy day of hiking you’ll want to have a lovely dinner in one of the many charming restaurants and maybe sip a Patrón tequila cocktail or two while you take in some music in a local eatery or watering hole.
Saturday
If you don’t stay out too late on Friday, catch the early morning ferry to Bequia. It’s six square miles and the largest of the Grenadines. Back in the day, the island was the center of the Caribbean’s whaling industry and it has a long tradition of boat building. The ferry docks at Port Elizabeth on Admiralty Bay, which is just a stone’s throw from the scenic main area of town, complete with interesting shops and waterfront restaurants. You can get around Bequia by taxi or on foot. Or, you can rent a scooter and drive up Mount Pleasant to enjoy the beautiful views and visit the Hegg Turtle Sanctuary before taking the ferry back to Kingstown.
Sunday
Charter a boat and sail around the beautiful coast of St. Vincent and see the Falls of Baleine located on the north end of the island; they’re accessible only by boat. With water that drops 60 feet from Soufrière, plan a swim and snorkel in the rock pool at the foot of the falls. On the way back, try to fit in some dolphin and whale-watching. Alternatively, you can charter a boat to Tobago Cays, a group of five small, uninhabited islands, four of which are surrounded by a horseshoe reef, for a day of sailing and diving in Marine Park. Take it from me it’s a true snorkeler’s paradise!
Terry McCabe for Condé Nast Traveler
Just a little background I thought you’d like… Nine of the Grenadines’ 32 islands are inhabited (St. Vincent, Young Island, Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Union Island, Palm Island, Petit St. Vincent). And Kingstown, the capital, is known as “The City of Arches” with more than 400 to see. It also has the oldest botanical garden in the Western Hemisphere, and you can still see the original breadfruit trees that the infamous Captain Bligh brought to the island from the South Pacific in 1793. Now politically independent, St. Vincent is a former British and French colony with English the main language that’s mixed with a delightful form of Creole. And because I know that you’re such a big fan of the blockbuster series, here’s some movie trivia: much of the location shooting for “Pirates of the Caribbean” was done in St. Vincent!
First and foremost, though, the islands offer an amazing variety of things to do. Rainforest eco-adventures, scuba diving, and sailing are all part of the experience. And to help you plan a long summer weekend here, I thought I’d inspire you by making a few suggestions…
Friday
Be sure to plan a hike to La Soufrière, an active volcano. It soars to more than 4,000 feet and last erupted in 1979. It’s a full-day trek to the summit through the rainforest, and I guarantee you that your efforts will be rewarded with amazing views. After a busy day of hiking you’ll want to have a lovely dinner in one of the many charming restaurants and maybe sip a Patrón tequila cocktail or two while you take in some music in a local eatery or watering hole.
Saturday
If you don’t stay out too late on Friday, catch the early morning ferry to Bequia. It’s six square miles and the largest of the Grenadines. Back in the day, the island was the center of the Caribbean’s whaling industry and it has a long tradition of boat building. The ferry docks at Port Elizabeth on Admiralty Bay, which is just a stone’s throw from the scenic main area of town, complete with interesting shops and waterfront restaurants. You can get around Bequia by taxi or on foot. Or, you can rent a scooter and drive up Mount Pleasant to enjoy the beautiful views and visit the Hegg Turtle Sanctuary before taking the ferry back to Kingstown.
Sunday
Charter a boat and sail around the beautiful coast of St. Vincent and see the Falls of Baleine located on the north end of the island; they’re accessible only by boat. With water that drops 60 feet from Soufrière, plan a swim and snorkel in the rock pool at the foot of the falls. On the way back, try to fit in some dolphin and whale-watching. Alternatively, you can charter a boat to Tobago Cays, a group of five small, uninhabited islands, four of which are surrounded by a horseshoe reef, for a day of sailing and diving in Marine Park. Take it from me it’s a true snorkeler’s paradise!
Terry McCabe for Condé Nast Traveler