Taste Travel: A Guide to Champagne

In the first of a new series of Belmond destination guides, food writer Caroline Craig takes us through what makes the French region of Champagne so special. For those ready to embark on their journey to the towns made famous by sparkling wine find everything you'll need to know here before exploring France further with Les Bateaux Belmond from Burgundy to Provence. Follow her tips to do like the French do – taking drinking bubbles and dining in style to the next level.

Read more - In the first of a new series of Belmond destination guides, food writer Caroline Craig takes us through what makes the French region of Champagne so special. For those ready to embark on their journey to the towns made famous by sparkling wine find everything you'll need to know here before exploring France further with Les Bateaux Belmond from Burgundy to Provence. Follow her tips to do like the French do – taking drinking bubbles and dining in style to the next level.
A guest rests her legs on a white roof terrace wall, body obscured by its curve, in a view that captures the blue sea beyond.

The Maroma Playlist

André VII’s deep house-meet-dark-electro might, at first, sound like a world dominated solely by underground sounds. But dig a little and you’ll find that the DJ’s inspirations are plural, from radiant pop music to relaxing tunes – something evidenced in his Maroma playlist.

Read more  - The Maroma Playlist
Artistic food image of an upright fork, prongs spearing a cube of cheese, topped with a fruit jelly, daisy flower, caper and gem.

What To Wear in France’s Waterways

Though it may be tempting to pack berets and stripes, we’re here to help you avoid a dreaded faux pas when travelling to France. Style expert Osman Ahmed leads us through the do’s and don’ts of dressing for a French river cruise as part of our ‘Location Dressing’ series.

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The Niterói Contemporary Art Museum stands on the eastern headland of Boa Viagem beach, like a recently landed UFO

An Art & Design Lover’s Guide to Rio de Janeiro

From the tiled steps of Escadaria Selarón to hillside ateliers and bay-front museums, Rio de Janeiro is a city where modernism, music and tropical landscape collide. Discover Darcie Imbert’s guide to the artistic metropolis, featuring iconic works by Oscar Niemeyer and Roberto Burle Marx.

Read more  - An Art & Design Lover’s Guide to Rio de Janeiro
1936 monochrome photo of a group of men and women in swimming suits basking on a rock with a Dalamation, by Herbert List.

The Novel That Defined Portofino

Portofino has been the backdrop for countless cultural moments, but one book from the 1920s is often credited with kickstarting the belle epoque of the Italian Riviera. Matthew Bell, contributing editor at Tatler, explores its enduring impact.

Read more  - The Novel That Defined Portofino
Baz Luhrmann, in black, and Catherine Martin in burgundy with glasses, look through designs in a busy art studio.

Celia, the British Pullman Carriage by Baz Luhrmann & Catherine Martin

Drawing inspiration from a broad sweep of theatrical history – from Shakespeare to Laurence Olivier – director Baz Luhrmann and cinematic designer Catherine Martin have created a dazzling new private dining carriage for the British Pullman. Here, we explore the story, process and craft behind the carriage Celia.

Read more  - Celia, the British Pullman Carriage by Baz Luhrmann & Catherine Martin
Wearing a brown casual suit, Thebe Magugu leans against a wavy wooden wall arch in the Mount Nelson Hotel suite he designed.

Interview: Meet Thebe Magugu

Thebe Magugu is one of South Africa’s most celebrated fashion designers and he’s now making his first foray into interior design at Belmond’s Cape Town landmark, Mount Nelson. We sat down with the prolific polymath to hear about the care and craft behind his suite design, as well as his vision for a new cultural institute to sit alongside it.

Read more  - Interview: Meet Thebe Magugu
A white shell-fragment bracelet with nacra mussel rests on a mother-of-pearl abalone shell, placed on a green surface.

What to Wear in the Mexican Caribbean

There is something about a tropical climate that instantly lifts your mood – so dress to match your serotonin levels. Style expert Osman Ahmed leads us through the do’s and don’ts of a tropical holiday to the Caribbean coast of Mexico, as part of our ‘Location Dressing’ series.

Read more  - What to Wear in the Mexican Caribbean
An intricate artwork made from individual ink brushstrokes in black, grey and shades of purple, by artist Wu Jian'an.

How 500 Brushstrokes Become One

“Human encounters are truly magical.” In an era shaped by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change, this reflection by Chinese artist Wu Jian’an feels quietly radical. It also serves as the emotional core of 500 Brushstrokes in Peru, his ambitious travelogue and participatory art project, soon to be exhibited at Art SG Singapore.

Read more  - How 500 Brushstrokes Become One
Elena Carozzi, with chignon-ed blond hair looks for pigments on an art shelf, seen from behind in her busy wallpaper studio.

The Artisans Reimagining Florence’s Finest Hotel

Italy’s ultimate retreat and Renaissance haven, Villa San Michele occupies a privileged perch on the hills overlooking Florence. Set within the original monastery and gardens, every space is designed to deepen the connection to Florence’s breathtaking landscape and rich culture. Discover the artisans reviving this Renaissance legend, reopening in Spring 2026 after a complete renovation.

Read more  - The Artisans Reimagining Florence’s Finest Hotel
An cob of grilled red corn sits between two charred bones, with marrow exposed, on a silver cooking tray, seen from above.

Recipe: Esquites with Marrow

A touch of decadence in a single-serving cup, these esquites with bone marrow are a reminder that Mexican street food doesn’t always need to be minimal or pure – it can also be fun, a little wild and exactly what you want when the day gets too serious.

Read more  - Recipe: Esquites with Marrow
A man in a red velvet jacket carries a huge red glass vase of big blooms and tall stems in shades of pink, seen from behind.

Belmond’s 2026 Culture Calendar

With our properties situated across some of the world’s most culturally rich destinations, our 2026 calendar highlights must-see music festivals, art fairs and luxury travel experiences around the globe.

Read more  - Belmond’s 2026 Culture Calendar
Looking down on a tray with an antique knife, egg, black truffe and vintage brooch at a table with a pickle fork and caper.

What to Wear on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

It’s the one place in the world where it’s impossible to be overdressed. Style expert Osman Ahmed reveals her top tips on what to wear on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train, as part of our ‘Location Dressing’ series.

Read more  - What to Wear on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Angled image of a ceramic pot, painted with leaves and red and blue flowers in a composition with stones and a flower stem.

Where Nature Blossoms into Art

Discover how artist Anna Deller-Yee reinterprets Belmond’s iconic gardens – from bergamot to jasmine – in a limited-edition festive candle and trinket tray celebrating global biodiversity.

Read more  - Where Nature Blossoms into Art
Filmmaker Wes Anderson sits at a French polished table in an art deco carriage and observes the world through the window

How Wes Anderson Redesigned Our Train

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Design

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A sketch shows a green-themed Britannic Explorer dining car with four tables with botanic-print chairs along the right side.

Inside the Britannic Explorer

As our new luxury sleeper train, the Britannic Explorer, joins the rails of England and Wales in summer 2025, Wallpaper* design director Hugo Macdonald meets the brains behind the uniquely British interiors.

Read more  - Inside the Britannic Explorer

Food & Drink

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Chef Dominique Crenn, in dark glasses and a flat cap, stands in a vegetable farm, holding up a bunch of fresh-pulled turnips.

Breaking Bread with Chef Dominique Crenn

Forget everything you thought you knew about dining on a boat. Meet Chef Dominique Crenn – of the 3 Michelin star Atelier Crenn – who is charting a new course for French river cruising on board Les Bateaux Belmond, her new culinary canvas.

Read more  - Breaking Bread with Chef Dominique Crenn
Oro Head Chef Vania Ghedini, with short dark hair, wearing a branded apron, smiles in a portrait taken in the hotel gardens.

Breaking Bread with Chef Vania Ghedini

Living and working in Venice means having a constant connection with the wonders of the sea that surrounds this city. For Vania Ghedini, Head Chef at Hotel Cipriani’s ORO Restaurant, it’s also the source of her inspiration in the kitchen.  

Read more  - Breaking Bread with Chef Vania Ghedini