YOUR LUXURY AFRICA
A Turkish delight
Walking past the Hagia Sophia on my way to dinner, it strikes me that Istanbul isn’t just a city, it’s a living presence, a mosaic of meaning. An avant-garde assortment of memories that mirror a deeply textured past. After two weeks here, I’ve come to feel this past as it lingers in the air, etched in stones worn smooth by centuries of belief. It’s also a place of layered stories, where the East doesn’t necessarily end, nor the West begin. In Istanbul, the past speaks in many languages, one of them, unexpectedly, through food. And you can hear it clearly in places like Sakhalin Istanbul.
Tucked into this city of beautiful contradictions, Sakhalin finds its home within the sleek contours of the Zorlu Centre, Istanbul’s nexus of luxury and modern living. At one of the city’s most exclusive addresses, Sakhalin offers more than just destination dining; it invites you to enter this dialogue. A space where flavours speak of tradition and innovation in equal measure.
Destination Art
Luxury hotels in Cape Town are no longer just places to rest and recharge, they’re cultural sanctuaries curating some of the world’s best bespoke art collections.
Over the last decade, Cape Town has forged a path for herself in the art world, officially becoming the nexus of contemporary African art. And while art and luxury have long been kindred spirits among aesthete-forward individuals, hotels are increasingly emerging as unexpected yet compelling canvasses for cultural expression.
By spotlighting South African artists, these bespoke establishments create an authentic connection to the country’s soul, transforming hotels into more than just places to stay. They invite guests to see South Africa through the eyes of its artists – past and present – unearthing hidden narratives.
Traces of place – inside the Structures exhibition
A crips winter morning finds me walking toward the Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation (JCAF), the cold sharp against my face. The old tram shed and electrical substation in Forest Town hums with quiet intent, setting the tone for what lies ahead. JCAF has never felt like a gallery to me; it’s more an ideas laboratory where art, research and technology mingle at an almost meditative pace. The exhibitions here are slow-burning contemplations, designed to be felt as much as understood; an invitation to encounter art, not simply consume it.
This visit finds JCAF in the middle chapter of its three-year Worldmaking series. Last year, Ecospheres explored the natural world, its ecosystems, fragility and our place within it. Next year, Futures will look forward, toward techno-realities and imagined landscapes. But for now the focus shifts from soil to scaffolding as it probes the built environment, its politics and poetry.
Luxury and indulgence, with a splattering of maritime heritage
Above the bustling V&A Waterfront lies a place like no other. Hidden beside the oft-forgotten Time Ball Tower, in the Portswood Precinct, and behind a colonnade of strategically planted trees, lies the Dock House Boutique Hotel. The villa-styled property offers five elegantly appointed luxury rooms plus one suite, and exudes a sense of sophistication that speaks to its rather distinctive heritage.
Built during the mid-19th century as the Port of Cape Town Harbour Engineers’ residence, many a distinguished soul has walked her passageways. At the time the Dock House was built, much was happening on South African shores; like the diamond rush of 1867 that saw a big hole emerge in Kimberley and the 1886 discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand. Throughout, the Port of Cape Town did service to keep commerce moving forward during an age of unprecedented discovery.
Where luxury travel meets the art of well-being
Nestled on the back slopes of Table Mountain, Future Found Sanctuary is more than a luxury retreat; it is a transformative experience where indulgence and holistic well-being intertwine. This exclusive mountain hideaway, set amidst lush, curated gardens, invites guests to disconnect from the world while reconnecting with nature, themselves and a deeper sense of balance.
A Retreat into Tranquility
Luxury at Future Found Sanctuary goes beyond exquisite accommodations. Here, space and privacy are priceless intangibles, offering guests a rare opportunity to truly disconnect from the world.
The property recently launched its latest accommodation offering, Forest Pods.