Wallpaper 4

Photography: James Morgan, Romain Laprade

Byron Bay’s boho charms have been raised

a few notches with the unveiling of 99

new villas at the Elements of Byron resort,

located on the beautiful Belongil Beach. Set

among the property’s 50 acres of rainforest,

lakes and lagoons, the new additions

include an adults-only pool with swim-up

bar. Owner Peggy Flannery has overseen

the design to furnish the light-drenched

bungalows in understated neutral tones and

timber strips with pops of colour. Modern

Australian restaurant Graze offers the likes

of charred octopus with nduja and spanner

crab lasagne, while the hotel’s new solar-

powered steam train can putt you into town

for copious dining options. Lauren Ho

144 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay, New South

Wales, tel: 61.2 6639 1500, elementsofbyron.

com.au. Rates: from A$650 (£368)

Better known for its historic ruins and

commercial hub, Chengdu is probably

the last place anyone would expect to find

a café called The Budapest, much less

one inspired by Wes Anderson. But for

Melbourne studio Biasol, the Hollywood

auteur was the springboard for reimagining

an airy double-volume space in a humdrum

neighbourhood of low-rise, mixed-use

buildings. The geometric shapes so beloved

by Anderson feature in the arches

containing dark blue-green banquettes and

the ovaloid doors accented by brass fixtures

and hinges, while a small terrace of

curvaceous granite steps double as a perch

for people watching and casual seating. On

offer is an equally quirky menu of pastries,

hot chocolate and sodas. Daven Wu

No. 8, Annex 7, Erhuan East Road, Chengdu,

tel: 86.28 8447 2189

Bay watch

Set and match

The Palace Hotel first opened in 1952 to

coincide with the Helsinki Olympic Games.

SARC Architects and Note Design Studio

were recently tasked with revamping the

hotel’s tenth-floor restaurant, reconfiguring

Olli Borg’s original interiors, such as the

mahogany and elm panels in the ceiling and

the lobby area, and adding fresh earthy

colours, mustard terrazzo and customised

pink serving trolleys. The light-infused

space sets the stage for chefs Hans Välimäki

and Eero Vottonen to present their take

on modern Finnish cuisine, including

truffle-scented turbot, and Challans duck

breasts, nicely balanced with sour plums

and cabbage. Daven Wu

Eteläranta 10, Helsinki, tel: 35.8 96128 5400,

palacerestaurant.fi

Finn jewel

THE BUDAPEST CAFÉ, CHENGDU

ELEMENTS OF BYRON, BYRON BAY

PALACE, HELSINKI

164 ∑

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