Hostal de la Gavina

Every summer I spend three months in s´Agaró (Costa Brava) where I run my turistic business and I have a house.

When I am there, I love going to Hostal de La Gavina whether it be for breakfast in “ El jardin la Terraza”, for lunch in the “barco” bar-restaurant or dinner and drinks at night.

It is a place where I feel at home and where they treat me as a princess.

The restaurants are run by the gastronomic Director Romain Fornell, Michelin star Chef, who gives an exquisite French touch to our Mediterranean cuisine. This last summer, my favourite restaurant there, The Candlelight was closed because of Covid. However, I highly recommend it because it is gorgeous, classy and very romantic with piano music and with delicious food, for next summer.

I also enjoy the lunch at the salt water pool with amazing views over the Sant Pol Bay. It´s the perfect place to relax!

The Hostal La Gavina has served as a stage and vacation destination for many important people from cinema, culture and politics.

In the 50´s, some famous Hollywood films where shot, to name a few: “Pandora” (Ava Gadner), “Suddenly, last summer” (Elizabeth Taylor) and “Mr Arkadin” (Orson Welles).

After 80 years of history, it´s still a place where you can feel the peace, glamour and class.

Best of all, it´s a short walk from my house!

Hostal de la Gavina
S´Agaró (Costa Brava) 5* GL Resort.

A birthday the stuff dreams are made of at the Hotel Pera Palace and the Soho House Istanbul

This year I chose Turkey as my destination to spend January 13, my birthday, and I really made the most of my trip to enjoy a fantastic stay in Istanbul.

Hotel Pera Palace

This time I decided to lodge at the Pera Palace, the oldest hotel in Turkey, famous for being frequented by the renowned writer Ernest Hemingway when he visited Istanbul. I was lucky enough to actually stay in the same room that Greta Garbo had occupied years before. The Pera Palace is a building that oozes history, with incredible views of the Golden Horn.

And if the Pera Palace is the epitome of luxury and nostalgia, then the Orient Bar is up there with it. With a decor styled on the Orient Express, the Orient Bar is the venue of choice for Istanbul’s high-society meetings.

Birthday dinner at the Soho House Istanbul

I wanted to celebrate my birthday in style by dining out at the Soho House Istanbul, a stylish venue that serves international food with major influences of Asian cuisine.

The culinary delights of the Soho House Istanbul are complemented by this eatery’s painstaking decoration, which creates an ambience of luxury and glamour in which nevertheless diners feel like they are at home at all times. The Soho House is one of the best restaurants in Istanbul and a veritable must for fine-dining foodies.

Hotel Pera Palace
Meşrutiyet Caddesi No:52,
34430 Tepebaşı Beyoğlu/İstanbul
+90 212 377 40 00

Soho House Istambul
Evliya Çelebi, Meşrutiyet Cd. No:56,
34430 Beyoğlu/İstanbul,
+90 212 377 71 00

Istanbul, love at first sight

Last November, I was lucky enough to travel to Istanbul, and made the most of my time there to soak up the atmosphere of its magical streets, incredible heritage and some of the incredible luxuries this city has to offer.

As on other occasions, I chose to stay at the Hotel W Istanbul, which is located in the commercial district of Nisantasi, an area bustling with cafés, restaurants and numerous upmarket stores and exclusive boutiques. The Hotel W is always a magnificent option when visiting Istanbul since it hosts lively parties with the city’s best DJs on the turntables every night. The hotel also offers peace, quiet and relaxation thanks to a marvellous spa and the private gardens located inside the rooms.

Taking in Istanbul’s key tourist attractions

I made the most of my trip to Istanbul to do some of sightseeing and take in some of the most attractive places nestling in the city’s streets.

My route took me to the Golden Horn estuary area, one of Istanbul’s beauty spots. I visited the Galata Tower, where you get incredible views of the city, and crossed the Galata bridge into to the Eminönü neighbourhood, one of the oldest districts that looks out over the Golden Horn.

The Church of Saint Irene, Topkapi Palace, the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) were some of the must-see stopping-off points in my tour.

And as hardly could be otherwise, my love of shopping drew me to the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest and oldest markets, where I simply could not resist the temptation to pick up a few craft articles, some jewellery and some very special and different garments.

Travelling to Istanbul is always like a gift for me and the ideal chance to chill out and recharge my batteries.