An architectural gem in old Barcelona, 4 Gats is an iconic restaurant and bar that began as a basement café and haunt of the city’s intelligentsia and artistic set, including Pablo Picasso. Indeed, the bar became a preferred meeting place for the leading figures associated with the Modernisme movement from the moment it opened in 1897 and until it closed in 1903. The bar was re-established in 1989 at a new location but with care and attention to restore its infamous art nouveau interior and aesthetic. The dining room has managed to recreate the ambience and vibe for which its originator was so famous and, today, has earned a reputation as being a must-visit for accomplished Catalan cuisine.
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HÔTEL GEORGE V
The Grand Dame of Parisian hotels, the Hôtel George V is an art deco masterpiece that first opened in 1928. The hotel was established to provide first-class accommodation and facilities to well-heeled travellers, particularly European nobility embarking on their Grand Tours and wealthy American transatlantic liner passengers visiting the city. The five-star hotel was commissioned and built to an extremely high specification, beyond the norm for hotels of the age, due to the very exacting standards and precise demands of its American owner. The hotel is a beacon on the Parisian landscape, hosting many society events and being an extremely popular destination for luxury weddings. The hotel’s grand dining room, Le Cinq, is an internationally acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurant (having as many as three stars at one point). The opulent hotel offers a range of bedrooms and suites to their discerning clientele, complemented by an array of facilities and amenities, including a spa, swimming pools, wellness centre, multiple eateries and bars, meeting rooms and a full concierge service. The hotel is a flagship in the prestigious Four Seasons portfolio, having transferred from the Forte group in 1997. The hotel has played host to a glittering list of world-famous superstars, world leaders and royalty, cementing its status as one of the world’s pre-eminent grand hotels.
HAIGH’S CHOCOLATES: AUSTRALIA’S MOST LUXURIOUS CHOCOLATES
Haigh’s Chocolates is a luxury Australian chocolatier founded in 1915 by Alfred Haigh. The company is known for its high-quality chocolates, which are made with ethically sourced ingredients. Haigh’s Chocolates has won numerous awards for its chocolates, and it is a popular choice for gifts and special occasions. Haigh’s is a bean to bar manufacturer that offers a range of products from handmade truffles to full slab bars.
CHARBONNEL ET WALKER: THE ULTIMATE TRUFFLES FROM A CELEBRATED CHOCOLATIER
Charbonnel et Walker is a British luxury chocolatier founded in 1875. It is the oldest luxury chocolatier in the United Kingdom and is known for its high-quality, handcrafted chocolates. Charbonnel traces its illustrious history back to a partnership between a Mr Walker of London and a Mme Charbonnel of Paris. Mme Charbonnel trained at the famous Maison Boissier before establishing her business in London where her fine chocolates quickly became popular with British society, ultimately attaining a Royal Warrant as purveyors to HM Queen Elizabeth II. The firm’s standing has remained to this day and they are still highly regarded for their delicious chocolate truffles including such classics as Marc de Champagne and lavender creams.
LUXURY CHOCOLATE & CHOCOLATIER BRANDS
Few things in this world are as universally loved and as guaranteed to bring pleasure as the consumption of chocolate. The health benefits may be questionable, but certainly it is known that chocolate can trigger the release of endorphins resulting in a feeling of happiness and elation. Long enjoyed by ancient Inca and Aztec cultures in South and Central America, Europeans developed a ferocious appetite for chocolate and a proliferation of chocolatiers were established across Europe and further afield.
FITZGABRIELS 