Every man should own at least one great suit. That sartorial commandment has been passed down for generations, but many of us have never had a custom suit made, and may wonder what to keep in mind when investing in a bespoke suit or tuxedo. Enter Alan David Custom. The family-run suitmaker has been creating fine American-made suits, tuxes and shirts since 1913. Located on Madison Avenue in midtown Manhattan, the dapper outfitters craft each individual piece with meticulous attention to detail, creating bespoke garments designed to fit flawlessly and enhance your silhouette with elegance and comfort. Here, ten essential suit-buying tips from ADC owner Alan Horowitz and his team of expert stylists.

 1. Never Get Measured By Your Salesperson

“Measuring and selling are two completely different skills, so always get measured by a tailor. You wouldn’t let the person giving you a test drive also run your credit score. It’s the same idea here.”

2. Ask For A Basted Fitting

“A basted fitting is what really differentiates a true bespoke from made-to-measure or made-to-order. Without a basted fitting, a suit can’t really be called a full custom. After a client’s measurements have been taken, a unique paper pattern is created. It’s from this pattern that the garment is carefully hand cut, assembled and temporarily hand stitched with white basting thread. At this point, the basted garment is ready for fitting.”

3. Buy From Well-Reviewed Suitmakers With Experience

“Do some research and look at online reviews before making a decision. Track record definitely matters, whether it’s years of experience or praised reviews. “

4. Your Suit Should Both Fit And Flatter You

“A custom garment shouldn’t just be about measurements, it should also enhance your body. Even if a suit technically fits, a trim cut on a heavyset build or a loose cut on a slimmer man won’t be flattering.”

5. Get A Second Pair Of Trousers

“Jackets last much longer than trousers as they wear much quicker. So a second pair of trousers can ensure your suit lasts much longer.”

6. Be Aware Of Button Stance

“If the top button is too high, it can accentuate the belly, and if it’s too low it can tend to look rather old-fashioned and unflattering. It should sit at the fullest part of the stomach.”

7. Sleeve Pitch Matters

“Everyone’s arm position is going to be slightly different so if the sleeve pitch doesn’t match, it’ll cause wrinkles near the bicep. If you’re looking at it from the side view, the sleeve line should fall cleanly from the shoulder to the cuff.”

8. Choose Tuxedo Fabric Wisely

“A tuxedo should never use the same cloth as a basic black suit, so you want to look for barathea weaves or blends with mohair for more structure, drape, and reduced wrinkling. Fabrics with mohair are great for tuxedos, they give a bit of a sheen but really hold the crease very well. But no more than 20% mohair, otherwise it’s too shiny.”

9. Consider Fabric Durability

“Not all fabrics that are good for trousers are also good for jackets. For example, faile cloth lacks body and volume for a jacket, but holds up well to the rigors of the trousers.”

10. Match Your Suit To The Occasion

“Your suit needs to match its purpose—whether it’s work, a wedding, or another special occasion.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alan David Custom (@alandavidcustomsuits)

Montauk, that enduring Hamptons hotspot on the eastern tip of Long Island, has long lured New Yorkers eager for a beachy respite from big city summers. Montauk’s scenic sands and bluffs first made it an artsy haven for Edward Albee, Peter Beard and Andy Warhol, who bought a compound here in 1972 which hosted the likes of Mick Jagger and Jackie Onassis, kickstarting the hamlet’s boho-chic era. 

But while the wealthy old guard still has a presence—Ralph Lauren, Robert De Niro and Jimmy Buffet have all owned Montauk estates—the summer incarnation is more akin to Manhattan’s young and restless West Village scene than the low-key artistic enclave of yore. Finance bros, nepo babies and well-heeled summer renters far outnumber locals when it comes to the crowds flocking to DJ-driven nightlife and pricey restaurants. And if you haven’t already secured that coveted invite to your friend’s beach house, you may want to book a stay at a luxury Montauk hotel in a prime location.

The 158-room Gurney’s Montauk Seawater Spa & Resort—an East End icon that’s perhaps the most prominent hotel in the area—recently received an expansive summer glow-up, while the sceney Surf Lodge unveiled a collaboration with Parisian fashion label Casablanca for redesigned cabanas and branded surfboards. Here, three more boutique Montauk hotels that are getting seriously stylish revamps this summer. 

Marram Montauk

Marram Montauk is a striking 96-room oceanfront retreat distinguished by lush thickets of native beach grass and named after the spiky tufts found in neighboring Shadmoor State Park. The laid-back luxury hotel’s exterior is clad in hand-trimmed cedar that has weathered nicely since its 2020 opening, and the surf cottage-style rooms feature naturally-cooling cement floors, sustainably-sourced rugs, and private patios—but no TVs. 

The food here is a priority, spanning from early partnerships with famed Manhattan Italian eatery Il Buco to daily service at Marram’s Mostrador cafe. With a rotating seasonal menu focused on peak produce, local seafood, and fresh pastries, this counter-serve gem is a worthy lunch or dinner option even if you’re not staying here. 

Marram offers surfing lessons from the family-run Engstrom Surf school, beach yoga classes, guided nature walks, creative workshops using found driftwood and seashells, and chartered catamaran trips. The hotel is celebrating its fifth anniversary with the launch of five new cabanas overlooking the oceanfront pool, a private gallery curated by musician and artist Sean Spellman, an educational marine program with Swarovski Optik, and complimentary use of a 1,050-horsepower Lucid Air electric car for guests who book a Balcony or Garden Suite. Room rates range from $499 to $2,499 per night. 

Ruschmeyers

Bridgeton, the hospitality firm behind Marram Montauk and Journey East Hampton, has relaunched this former 1950s-era fish camp near Fort Pond. The 19-cabin Ruschmeyers fully embraces an adult summer camp aesthetic with s’mores-ready fire pits, hammocks, cornhole boards and picnic tables dotting the lawn. 

The cabins were refreshed by Bridgeton Studio with the help of Brian Smith (Scribner’s Catskill Lodge) and Whitney Clark (Marram Montauk) and feature Bauhaus-inspired tubular steel lounge chairs, Isamu Noguchi lanterns, Donald Judd-style desks, sail flags over beds dressed in Parachute linens, and retro Sangean radios. The Grill at Ruschmeyers, led by chef Jordan Heissenberger, serves up shareable plates of charred lamb ribs, raw bar towers and lobster-topped pastas in a woodsy dining room or, better yet, on the lawn that serves as the hotel’s focal point.

The relaxed vibe turns up at the lounge after hours, courtesy of a collaboration with downtown Manhattan nightlife operatives GOSPËL. But since Ruschmeyers’ pool isn’t set to open until next summer, you’ll have to take a dip at the semi-secluded Navy Beach nearby to unlock the full summer camp experience. Room rates range from $299 to $1,299 per night. 

OffShore Montauk 

The 43-room OffShore Montauk arose from the site of the former Sands Motel in late June. This revamped oceanfront getaway is just a short walk from downtown Montauk and features freshly-renovated rooms and luxury ocean view suites adorned with prints from local artists and photographers along with HigherDOSE and Therabody spa products.

There’s also a “resort-style” pool, a spa with an infrared sauna and cold plunge, and a high-end gym, along with similarly upscale room rates of up to $1,200 per night. “We designed OffShore Montauk as a tribute to the history of Montauk—an escape where guests can curate their own experience whether it’s unwinding by the beach, enjoying a restful reset, or sharing memorable moments with friends and family,” said Marley Dominguez, owner of Enduring Hospitality, which oversees the property. 

A rooftop restaurant and bar is planned for next summer, and OffShore has already been the site of a private party for canned cocktail brand Saint Spritz, launched by JoJo Fletcher of The Bachelor, and hosted VIPs including Bijou Phillips, Ella Travolta, Isabelle Ferrer and Keleigh Teller. Room rates range from $750 to $1,200 per night. 

You don’t have to be a nomad to enjoy luxurious hospitality at The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad the high-end chain’s newest Manhattan destination was notably voted one of the top two hotels in the city by Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards last year. The 50-story hotel opened just two years ago, adding a new 500-foot structure in a part of town where it towers over surrounding neighborhoods providing some of the best unobstructed views the city has to offer—clear to the Statue of Liberty to the south, and to the north the Empire State Building and beyond. Its 219 guestrooms, 31 suites and 16 residences feature contemporary design comfort with thick plush mattress beds upon which to sip coffee in the morning as you admire the urban panorama outside. 

Big spenders can opt for a stunning $20,000-a-night suite on the hotel’s 37th floor. The 2,100-square-foot open floor plan lounge and dining area feature floor to ceiling windows with breathtaking skyline views. The media room leads into the bedroom and bath with an oversized tub for lounging while you soak in the sprawling city below. But that’s not even the best part. That honor is reserved for Michelin star Chef José Andrés whose second story eatery, The Bazaar, offers sublime Spanish-Japanese fusion cuisine. Small plates call for multiple orders so start with Wagyu Air Bread—Japanese beef with manchego cheese espuma topped with caramelized onion jam. Next, you can’t go wrong with the Scallop Crudo—tomato ponzu, tomato oil and sea lettuce. Top it off with Mochi Valenciano including Mandarin semifreddo, vanilla yuzu mochi and matcha cream. If you’re in the mood for something less extravagant try Andrés’ lobby restaurant, Zaytinya, which offers an innovative mezze (small dish) menu inspired by Turkish, Greek and Lebanese cuisines served up in a street-level modern setting. 

Of course, drinks are on the house at NoMad, not figuratively but literally. The top floor is occupied by the spectacular cocktail bar Nubeluz featuring signature concoctions (try the Melon Cloud), and premium bottle service as well as delectable light bites and snackss like grilled cheese with mustard, lobster roll and potato chips with labneh and salmon roe are just a few of the menu’s primo offerings. If you’re a Club Level guest, you can access the 36th-floor lounge for mimosas and bloody marys from morning to cocktail hour with an impressive food spread including soup, salad, snacks and candy.

Before diving headlong into your madcap Manhattan weekend you’ll want to reboot with a trip to the spa and services here are second to none. The long menu of options include a CBD Relief Massage blending organic CBD and coconut oil customized to your own personal aches and pains using cayenne, clove, ginger and arnica. It won’t get you high, and neither will the Himalayan Salt Stone Massage employing Himalayan stones and a moderate to deep pressure for relief and relaxation.

NoMad is short for North of Madison Square Park, where you take in the greenery before strolling over to the Museum of Sex, which showcases the history and evolution of copulation through immersive exhibitions in collaboration with artists and scholars. Check out the “Super Funland: Journey into the Erotic Carnival” offering interactive games and rides to enlighten and titillate.  NoMad’s central location offers easy access to landmarks like the Empire State Building, just a couple blocks north, Times Square a half mile away, with Chelsea Market and The High Line to the west. A short subway ride away are sites like the Freedom Tower, The Met, MoMA and Central Park. And if you don’t have time to do it all, plan to come back. And if you do have time to do it all, then you’re probably a New Yorker.

Register here for the Maxim Icon competition through April 29, 2025!

We’re offering aspiring models an unparalleled opportunity to make their mark. A sweet grand prize of $50,000 raises stakes significantly, but that’s not all—the winner’s Maxim photos will be showcased on Times Square billboards during New York Fashion Week in September. Imagine seeing yourself towering above the crowds at America’s most prestigious fashion event. This isn’t just a prize; it’s a statement.

The media buzz alone will be priceless. As the Maxim Icon, you’ll have the chance to capture unforgettable moments—snapping selfies and creating video content with your images lighting up one of the world’s most famous destinations. It’s exposure on a global scale.

The Maxim Icon competition employs the same proven and exciting format as the Maxim Cover Girl competition. Early rounds will be driven by public voting, putting the power in the hands of your future fans. The final two rounds? They’ll be judged by a panel of industry professionals who know what it takes to be iconic.

Ready to seize this once-in-a-lifetime chance? Entering is easy. Visit covergirl.maxim.com, create your profile and step into the spotlight. We’ve built a dynamic platform designed to launch models of all experience levels into stardom, and this is just the beginning. Stay tuned as we roll out more competitions aimed at discovering and celebrating fresh talent.

Know someone who has that undeniable spark? Whether you’re a seasoned model, an aspiring talent or you have a friend who deserves the limelight, spread the word. Every model who reaches the final round will win $5,000 and participate in a professional Maxim photoshoot—prizes that recognize dedication and potential.

But it’s not just about the competitions—we need you to help decide who will become the next Maxim Icon. Voters can sign-up here to help us on our search for the next modeling Icon. This is more than a competition; it’s a community. Join us as we follow the journey of incredible models vying for the title. Stay connected to learn more about the top performers and, of course, to find out who will ultimately claim the crown. Click to follow us on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

The stage is set, the spotlight is waiting—are you ready to become our next Icon? Register for the Maxim Icon competition here!

From fine watches to coveted classic cars, luxury markets are expanding across the board. That trend will continue through at least the end of this decade as the projected number of millionaires worldwide is expected to surge an unprecedented 44 percent by 2027, according to one analysis. The luxury hospitality segment is no exception, which is why the diligent tracking of the best and newest five-star getaways by LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence is more vital than ever.

The UK-based members-only organization caters to affluent travelers, providing detailed reports on hotels, restaurants, spas and nightlife. LTI makes a point of informing its audience that they are not in the travel business—they don’t sell vacation packages, host booking engines, or even advertise. Membership fees are its only source of revenue. Among LTI’s signature efforts is an annual compilation of the world’s best new luxury hotels, 15 of which made the list this year. London, Côte d’Azur and Saudi Arabia each landed on the list with two properties each.

Check out LTI’s picks and descriptions of 2024’s best new hotels below.

15. Arev, St. Tropez

Arev combines timeless luxury with bold design and warm, impeccable service. This boutique property impresses with 50 lavish rooms and suites, authentic cuisine in The Strand Restaurant, exquisite cocktails at Q’s Bar, and the small but perfect Arev Spa.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Arev Saint Tropez (@arev.sttropez)

14. Hôtel du Couvent, Nice

After a decade-long transformation from an abandoned nunnery, Le Couvent is an engaging property, offering a characterful oasis in the heart of Nice’s Vieille Ville.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hôtel du Couvent (@hotelducouvent)

13. The Dunlin, South Carolina

A new property from the highly regarded Auberge Resorts Collection, this coastal escape is set within the exclusive waterfront community of Kiawah River and offers 72 cottage-style guest rooms and suites plus 19 villas.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Dunlin, Auberge Resorts Collection (@dunlinauberge)

12. Nujuma, Saudi Arabia

The first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Middle East. Set on Ummahat Island in the serene cerulean waters of The Red Sea, this private island sanctuary is in the incredible Blue Hole cluster of islands, famed for its thriving coral reefs and jaw-dropping nighttime celestial displays.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Condé Nast Johansens (@condenastjohansens)

11. The Surrey, New York

This landmark Upper East Side hotel has re-opened following a total and superb makeover by Corinthia, creating an ultra-luxury boutique gem, complete with a hot destination restaurant by Casa Tua of Miami Beach fame.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel (@thesurreynyc)

10. Four Seasons, Mallorca

Another iconic property, Hotel Formentor, is now fully restored and enhanced by Four Seasons. This 100-acre private estate is enchanting and oozes European sophistication.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor (@fsrmallorca)

9. Raffles, Jaipur

The ultimate tranquil palace retreat in India’s Golden Triangle of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra—indeed, it has a touch of the Taj Mahal in its gleaming white beauty.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Raffles Jaipur (@raffles_jaipur)

8. Shebara, Saudi Arabia

The Red Sea’s latest and most impressive resort to date, this futuristic ultra-luxury haven certainly has wow factor at every turn.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shebara (@shebara)

7. Bijal, Turkey

This impressive resort from Gürok Group, creators of the renowned Joali and Joali Being resorts in the Maldives, offers guests 19 luxury private villas ranging from intimate one-bedroom retreats to expansive four-bedroom corner villas, each equipped with private pools.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BIJAL Resorts (@bijalresorts)

6. The Potlach Club, Bahamas

A legendary property brought back to life following a seven-year renovation. Twelve acres of lush tropical gardens and pink sand beach, with just eleven suites, cottages and villas. Some are fully restored historic buildings dating back to mid-century, others are new but beautifully designed and positioned in the verdant landscape. All have a private veranda or terrace, and some have gardens and gazebos.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Potlatch Club (@thepotlatchclub)

5. Royal Mansour, Casablanca

Set in an iconic monument from the 1950s, Casablanca’s new luxury hotel embodies a vibrant journey through a timeless golden age. The effervescence of the lounges, the monumental lighting of the lobby and the superb signature restaurants: everything sparkles with an elegant and warm energy.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ROYAL MANSOUR CASABLANCA HOTEL (@royalmansourcasablanca)

4. The Emory, London

London’s first all-suite ultra-luxury hotel certainly impresses. This super discreet property is the latest addition to the Maybourne Hotel Group’s prestigious portfolio, which includes Claridge’s, The Connaught, and The Berkeley.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Emory (@theemorylondon)

3. Soneva Secret, Maldives

The first resort in the Makunudhoo Atoll, Soneva Secret, offers 14 overwater and island villas, each having a dedicated team of three, including a Barefoot Guardian, Barefoot Assistant and dedicated chef, to ensure your stay is fully personalized. It may well now be the most expensive resort in the Maldives, but you most certainly get your money’s worth.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Soneva (@soneva)

2. Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

Mandarin Oriental has created the ultimate boutique ultra-luxury property in Mayfair. It’s very discreet and offers guests a spectacular spa, an excellent destination restaurant in Akira Black, and two Abar options (one on the rooftop with views over Mayfair).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by JEREMY AUSTIN (@jeremyaustiin)

1. Cheval Blanc, Seychelles

Curled around the Anse Intendance beach on Mahé Island in the Seychelles, LVMH, the world leader in luxury, has created Maison Cheval Blanc, which is truly exceptional. Situated in the perfect idyllic setting, this “Maison” embodies a unique “art de vivre” in one of the world’s most beautiful destinations. With 52 villas that offer stunning, uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean, we appreciate how this property stands out for its harmony with the lush nature of the Seychelles. The villas meld spacious volumes, contemporary lines and local inspirations, creating a perfect balance. The culinary offering features five restaurant concepts, while the Spa Cheval Blanc by Guerlain, offers unique treatments inspired by the island’s nature wonders, combining expertise and well-being.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cheval Blanc Seychelles (@chevalblancseychellesmahe)

At the stroke of midnight every evening this June, the electronic billboards that douse New York’s Times Square in everlasting light will display the scintillating mirage of a futuristic World’s Fair. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @marcobrambillastudio

London-based filmmaker and artist Marco Brambilla’s latest digital collage, Approximations of Utopia, is christening the summer season of Midnight Moment, a project replacing ads with art on 92 billboards across Times Square for a burst each night. Brambilla debuted a Star Trek-inspired Times Square projection in 2013, but this time he’s honoring World’s Fairs.

Brambilla has been making digital collages for 16 years, but he started using AI to parse scores of film samples while making King Size, a trippy animation memorializing Elvis that debuted on The Sphere in Las Vegas.

He kept using the contentious tech to create Heaven’s Gate (2021)—another maximalist pop culture collage whose glamor evokes the seven levels of purgatory. Heaven’s Gate debuted at Miami’s Perez Art Museum and went on to become part of U2’s Sphere set. 

For Approximations of Utopia, however, Brambilla actually harnessed AI to help produce the visuals—all based on archival imagery from six World’s Fairs, starting with the 1958 edition in Brussels through the 2010 edition in Shanghai. Brambilla’s interest coincides with the 60th anniversary the most recent New York World’s Fair, which produced legendary innovations like the Unisphere—once the largest sphere in the world.

It still sits proudly in Queens, has a smaller twin in Columbus Circle, and appears at the start of his latest animation. Other noteworthy callouts in the piece include a pioneering urban housing concept titled “Habitat” from the 1967 Montreal World’s Fair and the looming “Tower of the Sun” from Osaka’s 1970 edition.

“The journey through these dynamic collages of the past leads the viewer to a yet unrealized Expo in the works, unbound from geography or time,” a press release explains.

World’s Fairs might feel like relics of a bygone era, but they’re not. Smithsonian Magazine recently wrote that while America has moved on from the phenomenon, World’s Fairs have evolved from showcases of “the spoils of colonialism” to platforms used by host nations to brand themselves as international thought leaders. 

Approximations of Utopia is an evolution of the menacing allure that Heaven’s Gate encapsulates—and a foil to its cautionary tale. And while Brambilla told Courtney Love that making Heaven’s Gate left him feeling depleted, he told Maxim, “I felt decidedly optimistic in bringing [Approximations of Utopia] to life. It depicts a future of progress and harmony.” 

Brambilla’s no stranger to the big time, but partnering with Midnight Moment splashes his latest endeavor’s much-needed message across the bona fide center of Western civilization. “I lived in New York City most of my life, so I have been more times than I can remember,” he mused regarding Times Square. “It reflects the energy of the city itself, dynamic and always in flux.” 

Eventually, Brambilla will make four works total in this series. Chapter one, Approximations of Utopia, will stream replete with sound starting at 11:57 p.m. and concluding at 12 a.m. all month long.

A 50,000-square-foot New York City sauna sanctuary is operating as a veritable United Nations of sweat, bringing together Eastern European, Nordic, Turkish, Moroccan, South American and Japanese traditions under one roof for a truly unique luxury spa experience. 

The aptly-named World Spa is a sleek, three-floor facility that sprouted from a former parking lot on a gritty stretch of Midwood, Brooklyn. It notably features what the founders say is one of America’s banyas—Russian-style saunas in which water is poured over scorching rocks to create steam. 

Word Spa’s signature 3,000-square-foot Grand Banya was constructed using coveted Kelo wood harvested from polar pine trees and features state-of-the-art heaters filled with pricy Jadeite stones. The dimly-lit sweat chamber, designed to toast up to 50 spa-goers with temperatures soaring to 194 degrees, further sets the mood by piping in soothing New Age music that you might expect to hear during a massage in the spa’s treatment rooms. 

“It’s like the Rolls-Royce of banyas,” declares World Spa co-founder Leonid Khanin of his sweltering crown jewel. “To build a banya that big and powerful is very hard. And it’s not just the size—it’s the combination of all those features and finishes that make it special.”

The Brooklyn wellness mecca heats up the standard spa experience with a myriad of other internationally-themed rooms providing health benefits including stress reduction and detoxification, in addition to the pure transportive pleasure of a good sweat session.

In World Spa’s Grand Banya and Event Sauna, on-staff “Sauna Masters” regularly host communal Aufguss rituals—named after the German word for “infusion.” After banging a gong and inviting everyone in the spa to meet in a sauna, guests are handed baseball-sized ices to stave off the heat. The sauna masters gleefully twirl towels over their heads to crank the temperature even higher and spread the scent of aromatic oils while offering platza treatments to the swimsuit-clad crowd. 

For the uninitiated, a platza entails getting briskly thwacked with a bundle of leafy wet birch and oak branches called a venik. Getting smacked with the fragrant, broom-like bundles not only feels invigorating, it can improve blood flow and naturally remove toxins and skin-dulling residues.

Other signature World Spa rooms include the Clay & Hay Sauna, an adobe-walled structure inspired by sweat lodges in South and Central America; a woodsy Aroma Sauna redolent with scents of juniper, cedar and oak; a Moroccan Hammam covered in colorful, handmade imported tiles; and a Turkish Hammam lined with Carrara Blanco marble and boasting a “belly stone” spewing steam, scents and therapeutic colored light.

There’s also a gorgeous rock-walled Himalayan Salt Room designed with healthful salt inhalation therapy in mind; an Infrared Sauna made with curved Alder wood seating that uses light therapy instead of heat; and a Snow Room complete with a faux cliffside and a machine churning out fake snow to cool off flushed sauna refugees. 

The Snow Room is meant to pair with the spa’s sweat-inducing treatments, as are the cold plunge pools and rainfall showers that dispense blasts of icy water to complete the traditional hot-and-cold cycle. Guests can also dip into a salt water hydrotherapy pool or enjoy a jacuzzi across from a glass-enclosed DaVinci gas fireplace. Hot-and-cold Onsen salt water pools inspired by Japanese hot springs are located nearby under a massive mural of Mount Fuji.

World Spa’s hands-on wellness treatments follow a similarly international theme, featuring private massages, platzas, facials and body wrap specials that encompass Russian, Swedish, Moroccan, Himalayan Hot Stone, Japanese, and CBD oil-infused options. The facility also launched a variety of vitamin IV therapy treatments last month. 

World Spa Managing Director Lenny Vays says his team spent two years traveling the globe and planning room designs and treatments before the facility opened in December of 2022. 

“We’re trying to be as authentic as possible,” Vays explains. “It’s Eastern Europe, Nordic, Central Asian, Turkish, before landing in Japan. All with different scents, sounds and experiences. It’s a combination of about seven different cultures represented.”

The pool lounge serves an expansive menu of post-schvitzing snacks, spanning sushi, salads, tacos, pastas, shrimp cocktail, oysters and caviar dip, along with heartier fare like beef stroganoff, borscht and potato dumplings. Beverages include fresh juices and smoothies along with an array of cocktails, beer and wine from a 747-bottle cellar. 

There’s also a members-only Birch & Oak club that offers an elevated menu and luxe specials like pairing Louis XIII Remy Martin cognac, Black Sturgeon caviar and VIP spa access for $550 per person. But even the regular World Spa experience feels exclusive. Admissions are scheduled ahead of time, and the sprawling space wasn’t crowded during a recent weekday visit. 

If you’re just looking to spend several hours happily luxuriating in saunas, steam rooms and pools, admission starts at just $95 per person, not including treatments or food and beverages. For more information, visit World Spa’s site here.

New York’s Catskills have long been a magnet for city dwellers seeking an escape from the urban grind. The region’s stunning scenery and quiet country living have lured restless Gothamites for decades, and more recently, fueled a boom in stylish upstate hotels. 

Catskills fans happily drive two to three hours north of the city for getaways that may include skiing at Hunter, Windham and Belleayre Mountains; fly-fishing, kayaking and tubing in the Upper Delaware River; hiking waterfalls and scenic overlooks; and scouring the area’s vintage shops for eclectic finds.

The local hospitality scene has become increasingly competitive, with top properties elevating their offerings with upgraded amenities and activities. Catskills hotels often channel a rustic mountain lodge vibe with cozy fireplaces, outdoor saunas, forage-to-table eateries, and decor that references the woodsy Cabincore aesthetic. They also savvily capitalize on their surrounding natural beauty to amplify guest experiences.

Here are three reliably cool Catskills hotels that are worth checking into during your next trip to upstate New York.

Urban Cowboy Lodge

The Urban Cowboy Lodge launched in 2018 on 68 acres in Big Indian, NY, nestled in the shadow of the Catskills Mountains. Hotel developer Phil Hospod teamed with Urban Cowboy founders Lyon Porter and Jersey Banks to transform the property’s circa-1898 main lodge and 26 uniquely-designed guest rooms, 21 of which are suites fitted with the brand’s signature clawfoot bathtubs. 

Those centerpiece tubs are buttressed with other distinctive decorative touches around the property, including antler chandeliers, bear-patterned blankets, custom handprinted wallpaper, vintage furnishings, and even witchy stick art that climbs some of the walls.  

Every guest room includes a private deck, Pendleton bathrobes, a fully-stocked minibar and Wright mattresses with luxury bedding. Many suites additionally feature pot belly stoves, outdoor Japanese cedar soaking tubs and gorgeous copper clawfoot tubs.

All guest rooms across the property’s five buildings are brimming with exhaustively-sourced decor that Porter and Banks found during road trips through the Catskills, the Adirondacks and the Smoky Mountains. 

Porter, who was a minor league ice hockey player and real estate agent before saddling up with Urban Cowboy, says he first became enamored with the upstate lifestyle while playing hockey in the Adirondacks. 

“I really wanted to take inspiration from those old Gilded Age lodges and camps that were up north,” Lyon says. “I hand-picked every single found object, all through the Catskills and the Adirondacks and the rest of the country, filling up large vans and dragging my partner Jersey Banks all over to fill this place up.” 

Lyon admits that he has “been accused of being a maximalist” while explaining how Urban Cowboy Lodge’s wild and woodsy look came together. 

“Mixing different Pendleton patterns and hand-painted wallpapers and vintage pieces and that inspiration of a Gilded Age lodge—basically all the properties we do are a reflection of our lives at the moment. We wanted a really special nature retreat, and so we built our own dream lodge.”

The bathtubs are replete with artisanal bar soaps—a lavender, eucalyptus and cedar combo is a collab between Brooklyn craft studio Species By The Thousands and Urban Cowboy— along with bubble baths, natural sponges and, yes, little yellow rubber duckies to further drive home the tub-forward theme.  

“That’s part of our irreverent spirit,” Lyon says. “So many hotel and hospitality companies take themselves so seriously. We all use the word ‘luxury,’ the word ‘lifestyle.’ But if you’re not having fun, why are you doing it? The rubber duckie is just kind of like, childlike playfulness and not taking it too seriously. We hope you’re having fun, playing in the bath and having a great time.”

Daniel Weiner, the chef at the Dining Room at the main lodge—a striking spot with 18-foot ceilings, a fireplace, deejay booth and a riot of bold patterns—recently revamped the menu with locally-focused dishes that reference the Catskills’ Jewish heritage. 

Standouts include Rockland Bakery Challah bread served with schmaltz butter and pickled cipollini onions; Steelhead Trout with beluga lentils, turnips and charred leeks; and Long Island Duck Breast with arrope, a sweet and sour condiment made from apricots, raisins, and cardamom that was popularized by the Jewish cuisine of the Iberian peninsula.

The Parlor Bar serves local beers and ciders, wine, spirits and cocktails, and offers a “Bubbles or Bourbon” welcome drink for guests. The hotel’s 24-hour Canteen specializes in a variety of grab-and-go snacks along with vintage collectibles.

Urban Cowboy Lodge is now offering an “Unplug & Play” package for guests who want to disconnect from the digital world. The deal requires participants to swap their phones—which are secured in a lock box—for a Polaroid camera to snap vacation pics the old-fashioned way. 

“There’s no cell phone service, and we’ve joked that it’s our biggest amenity,” Lyon says. “But it really is. You can drive two hours from Midtown, and it’s not on a main road, and you can see the Milky Way and not have cell service and have a cocktail by the fire. It’s a nature escape from New York.”

Participating guests are given a printed map of nearby hiking trails and a list of hotel activities, like a sweat session in a hand-built Estonian sauna, possibly paired with a cold plunge in the Esopus Creek that slices through the property. Ax throwing, hiking, yoga and tarot card readings are among other on-site diversions. Guests who successfully unplug get free Urban Cowboy merch and a 15% discount on a future booking. 

The hotel is just a short drive to Belleayre Mountain and Slide Mountain, the tallest peak in the Catskills. There’s also the charming nearby towns of Phoenicia and Livingston Manor, with a variety of restaurants, microbreweries, antique shops, swimming holes and fly-fishing destinations. 

Far from riding off into the sunset, Urban Cowboy is looking to keep growing its brand around the country. The hotel group already operates Urban Cowboys in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and East Nashville—as well as Nashville’s kitschy Dive Motel—and is next looking to open a “Gilded Age Victorian Mansion” in Denver.

Scribner’s Catskills Lodge

Conveniently located near the foot of Hunter Mountain, Scribner’s Catskills Lodge opened in 2016 as an updated take on a 1960s-era motor lodge. The 20–acre property comprises a 38-room main lodge, the 85-seat Prospect Restaurant & Bar, and newly-launched domed cabins known as The Rounds. 

Situated on the northern tip of the property and surrounded by woodlands, each 12-sided Round is designed for guests to experience a panoramic view of the outdoors. 

All six cabins and five suites in The Rounds feature a mix of modern and vintage styling, including sunken living rooms with circular sofas, oculus skylights, fireplaces, daybeds, reading nooks and retro corded phones sourced from eBay. Japanese cedar soaking tubs and wilderness-facing Adirondack chairs invite guests to step outside and relax.

The mountain hut-inspired Rounds’ twelve-sided design is meant to be a nod to guests’ daily rituals. “Each side contains a different program for the day,” says Leigh Salem of Brooklyn creative firm Post Company, which designed the Rounds and Scribner’s main lodge. “So one holds a stove, one holds a bed, one holds a bathroom. It became an organizational structure for all the components that we wanted to put within the experience of staying in the Rounds.”  

The Rounds also features a standalone Apex Lodge—complete with a bar carved from a 4,000-pound block of bluestone—that offers a communal space to unwind, with a gas fireplace, kitchen, food pantry and wellness area.

Scribner’s outdoor offerings notably include a pleasingly toasty barrel sauna with mountain views, as well as a pool, Glice skating rink and an organic garden that grows veggies for the on-site restaurant.

The Library in the main lodge—just steps from a large paper lantern dangling over the front desk—is anchored by indoor and outdoor chimineas, a pool table, and shelves artfully lined with old books and magazines, pennants, assorted bric-a-brac, diffusers from local candle shops, and antique snowshoes casually propped against walls. 

The overall impression is impressively cozy and exactingly-curated—a bookish nook where Wes Anderson might hang out after hitting the slopes. 

The guest rooms come in several iterations, but typically feature Terracotta bathroom tiles and rainfall showers, Frette bed linens, complimentary s’mores kits, Snooz white noise machines, and yet more Pendleton blankets, along with the same style of throwback corded phones found in The Rounds.

Prospect, the on-site restaurant, boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with mountain views in the dining room, a big circular bar, cast-iron stoves, and a large cedar deck with Adirondack chairs and a fire pit. Highlights of the Hudson Valley-centric menu include smoked trout rillettes with shallot-honey jam and trout roe on crostini, a smoked half-chicken and a six-ounce brisket burger.

The hotel’s parent company, Escape Hospitality, also operates Fellow Mountain Cafe, a casual Catskills eatery that serves breakfast and lunch just up the road.

Eastwind Oliverea Valley

Launched in 2023, Eastwind Oliverea Valley is the latest rustic retreat from Eastwind Hotels, the upstate specialists that previously opened the Eastwind Windham in 2018 and the Eastwind Lake Placid in 2022. Like the Urban Cowboy Lodge, Eastwind Oliverea Valley is set amid the Catskills Mountains in Big Indian, and it’s the first Eastwind built from the ground-up. 

The property’s 27 free-standing cabins and suites—set amid a wooded valley with a stream cutting through it—include wooden A-Frames and 400-square-foot tiny houses. There are 12 luxury hotel rooms in a main lodge, and a secondary building that houses the restaurant, lounge and check-in desk. 

Guests can luxuriate in two Scandinavian-style saunas offering dry and infrared heat; gather around a vintage red Malm fireplace; borrow a mountain bike to ride along a nature path; and hike the two-and-a-half mile McKenley Hollow trail, which connects to the Balsam and Haynes Mountain trails. In warmer months, expect guests to lounge in hammocks, strike sunrise yoga poses and take dips in the pool.

Eastwind Hotels’ married co-founders Bjorn Boyer and Julija Stoliarova also offer specialized guest activities and classes every weekend. “Anything from tarot card readings, candle-making workshops, whiskey classes, foraging walks, to watercolor painting classes,” Boyer says. “They’re really fun. Every weekend is a little something different.”

The property’s most popular months are July through October—along with the January and February ski season due to its proximity to Belleayre Mountain—and they’re seeing more guests visiting the remote hideaway from outside New York. 

“Previously it was kind of the hip crowd, all Brooklyn, Brooklyn, Brooklyn,” Boyer says. “And now over the last couple years, that has spread to the New York suburbs, Philadelphia, Washington. It’s just kind of broadened the landscape for the traveler that’s coming here.”

Eastwind Oliverea Valley was built on a site known as McKenley Farm when it was owned by Dr. William H. McKenley until the 1920s. It later became a meeting spot for the Appalachian Mountain Club, and the Shangri La at Mountain Gate Hotel after that.

The property’s Après-ski interiors are overseen by Stoliarova—the Eastwind brand’s design director—and deftly mix mid-century vintage and Scandinavian design for maximum Hygge appeal. 

“I always keep minimalistic design in mind,” says Stoliarova. “Since this location was built from the ground up, I wanted to make sure our spaces are warm and inviting. A lot of decor and furnishings I pulled from vintage, second-hand and thrift stores in New York and New Jersey. 

“I love flea markets and online vintage stores, and have a few sources on Instagram that are owned by women. When I designed [Eastwind] Lake Placid, I concentrated a lot on woman-owned businesses.” 

Stoliarova and Boyer partnered with chef Daniel Cipriani for Dandelion, the Eastwind Oliverea Valley’s “forage-to-table” restaurant with a seasonal menu that changes every month. The acclaimed eatery is the first outside New York City from Cipriani, who previously helmed Sea Wolf, Gemelli and The Ledge in Brooklyn.

Peter Luger Steak House is doubling down on carnivorous delicacies at a new location in Las Vegas—the venerable Brooklyn meat mecca’s first U.S. restaurant outside New York.

Aside from dishing out Luger classics like butter-basted sliced porterhouse and “extra thick”-cut bacon, the 8,700-square-foot Caesars Las Vegas eatery boasts a hidden dry-aging room that’s filled with “well over a million dollars worth of meat,” says Daniel Turtel, Vice President of Peter Luger Steakhouse. 

That high-rolling figure encompasses more than 3,000 USDA prime cuts being aged at any given time, including rib steak, strip loin, sirloin, and lamb loin. Lugers—which also operates restaurants in Great Neck, N.Y. and Tokyo in addition to the Williamsburg, Brooklyn flagship launched in 1887—is employing cutting-edge measures to deal with the dry desert weather of its Sin City outpost. 

The restaurant’s subterranean steak locker is overseen by a dedicated six-person-team that monitors humidity, moisture and air flow with the help of the latest meat-measuring apps. 

“In Brooklyn, you’re basically doing  everything we can all year to take all the humidity out of the room,” Turtel says. “In Vegas, it’s exactly the opposite. You’ve got this desert around you and you’re faced with the problem of, ‘How do we humidify this room a little bit?’

“If it’s totally dry, you don’t give bacteria or mold or fungus the environment that they need to live and thrive. We’re super careful about temperature, humidity and air flow. They’re all things we’re monitoring very closely.”

Designed by Jeffrey Beers International, the Vegas steakhouse channels the Brooklyn original with exposed brick, wood paneling and beams, oak floors and tabletops, and big bronze chandeliers. The casino-adjacent space—which formerly housed Rao’s, another off-shoot of a legendary New York power dining spot—has an airy, triple-height ceiling and an octagonal main room. 

The overall aesthetic is more refined than Brooklyn’s Bavarian beer hall vibe. It’s also significantly larger, seating more than 300 guests across the main dining room, bar, and assorted private nooks with sliding doors.

Food-wise, Peter Luger Las Vegas has added several new menu items, most notably a chilled shellfish tower stacked with Maine lobster, King Crab, jumbo shrimp and oysters. A dover sole entree and a loaded baked potato are also making their debuts here.

At a private tasting before the grand opening earlier this month, Luger’s signature porterhouse and lunch-only burgers (made with prime chuck roast and dry-aged trimmings) were showcased along with impressively meaty jumbo lump crab cakes, a chopped salad of house-cured bacon, Old Bay-brined tiger shrimp, Spanish white onions and hothouse tomatoes, and some reliably tasty sides, including German Fried Potatoes, creamed spinach and sautéed cremini mushrooms. 

Those savory standards were followed up with cheesecake, apple strudel, and hot fudge sundaes, all served with generous dollops of “Schlag”, Luger’s homemade whipped cream, typically spooned over desserts or plopped into cups of after-dinner drip coffee.

Fans of Lugers—and there are many—can be assured that enjoying a solid steakhouse experience at the new Vegas restaurant is a decidedly safe bet. It’s likely the best place to dine at Caesars (unless you’re craving Japanese, in which case the casino’s Nobu branch would be the best move). 

The buzzy opening comes after Peter Luger’s Brooklyn lost its Michelin star in 2022, in a purge that also afflicted fellow New York City culinary heavyweights Carbone and Marea. That came just three years after a famously scathing New York Times review of Luger’s that sent shockwaves across Gotham’s steak-gobbling cognoscenti. 

Turtel—whose great-grandfather Sol Forman bought the steakhouse at auction after Peter Luger’s death and ran it for half a century before he died in 2001—concedes that a few adjustments were made in the wake of such high-profile criticism, but adds that the brand is more concerned with catering to Luger loyalists.

“Look, we’re a restaurant that’s existed since 1887,” Turtel says. “The truth is, we exist for the customers and not the critics. It would have been much more distressing, if, for instance, our long standing customers canceled their Luger’s accounts and reservations, and obviously that didn’t happen. After the Times review, we actually got a crazy bump in business because everyone wanted to come in and show support. And that was awesome.” 

Turtel says that while Peter Luger Steak Houses haven’t made any changes to their “core beef program”, they have fiddled with other menu items. “The things that we tweaked were minor,” he explains. “Like, ‘Oh, can we upgrade our salads?’ Sure. You’re at a restaurant that’s been open for a long time and it’s really easy to get complacent. So of course you pay attention to those things.

“I guess the short answer is, ‘Yes we take these things very seriously.’ But you’re not going to be the darling of critics forever. Our customers are incredible and as long as they’re happy, we’re happy.”

Mario Carbone’s Major Food Group hospitality brand continues to burn hotter than the signature spicy rigatoni at his wildly popular Carbone restaurants.

Founded with fellow chef Rich Torrisi and entrepreneur Jeff Zalaznick in 2011, MFG has grown from an intimate downtown Manhattan eatery, Torrisi Italian Specialties, into an ever-expanding global luxury powerhouse that’s set to span restaurants, members-only clubs, hotels and even private residences.

Major Food Group famously boasts an empire of eateries in New York, Miami, Dallas, Boston, Las Vegas and beyond, courtesy of enduringly trendy tentpoles Carbone, Sadelle’s, Torrisi, ZZ’s Club, The Grill, Contessa, Dirty French and Parm. 

The in-demand restaurant brand has branched out from its early elevated red-sauce concepts with elite venues including The Crown Club at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, a planned luxury condo building in Miami, and a Carbone/ZZ’s hybrid destination in New York’s Hudson Yards.

I recently caught up with Mario Carbone to talk about future plans, advice for hospitality entrepreneurs, and the ideal meal from his favorite MFG spots.

From New York’s original Carbone to Miami’s Contessa and Dirty French Steakhouse, your restaurants all have a distinctive look. Is there a unifying design theme or philosophy for Major Food Group?

I would say that the unifying thought is telling a complete story and what that means to us. We’re obviously very passionate about each and every restaurant that we build, and we love to get gritty in the details. Something I say often is, “the closest parallel to what we do is theater.”

Your goal in theater is to build a very believable set for the story that you’re telling. You create a script, you make costumes, and you put on the exact same show at the exact same time every single night for a different audience. We trade in theater and I think that’s something that’s palpable to our customers and a big reason why we have the fanbase that we do at this point.

You’re about to open the seventh Carbone–this time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. How many Carbones would you like there to be around the world?

I don’t think we think in terms of numbers. It’s more about when an opportunity comes up, is there something exciting about this? For various reasons we need to answer that question. But there was never even a second in mind after the first Carbone.

The goal was to do the one that’s in front of you, do the best you can and good things will come from it. I don’t think we have a number in mind that we want to get to or what we want to stop at. But thankfully we’re still a young company and great opportunities still come our way.

You’re launching both a ZZ’s private club and a Carbone inside New York’s Hudson Yards later this year. Can you describe the concept of this location?

In Hudson Yards, the restaurant on the ground floor will be the ZZ’s Club that we first built in Miami’s Design District. And then as you scale the grand staircase, on the top floor will be what we’re calling Carbone Privato. This is something that warranted a bespoke moment.

Carbone just turned 10, and I really was antsy to just update the product a little bit, and this is the perfect opportunity to do that. So it’s going to be a one-of-one Carbone. All of the traditional dishes of the restaurant will be there, but I’ve also spent a great amount of time working on the details that surround that particular play and give it sort of a fresh look. So that’s very exciting.

Major Food Group is also building The Villa, a 58-story residential tower in Miami, to follow up the Crown Club at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and the food and beverage program for Boston’s Newbury Hotel. Are there more plans for private residences, members clubs and hotels?

Absolutely. Within the space of hospitality, there’s multiple avenues that we’re growing in. The members’ club model is something we now have our own version of, and so yes, absolutely that’s something we’re excited about. Forever our calling card was the traditional brick and mortar restaurant. And now we are really excited about applying our brand of hospitality to all these other sub-sectors.

What happens when we take our brand of hospitality and we apply it to a hotel? Where are we catering to someone’s needs from the moment they wake up to the moment they go to sleep? How does it apply to branded residences? How would I design their kitchen, what do I like in my kitchen? It’s a whole new set of challenges and we love that stuff. So branded residences, hotels, members clubs, restaurants, consumer packaged goods. All these arenas we’re present in, and we plan on growing, for sure.

What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in the restaurant business?

You have to focus all your time and effort on the product. Good things will happen from producing something that is excellent. But if you don’t have something excellent on your hands, then you’re not gonna get any of that positive momentum that happens after that. The goal wasn’t to create this exclusive restaurant on Thompson Street, with the original Carbone. The goal was to make an incredible restaurant that was a new iteration of this Italian-American thing that we grew up with.

When you make something great, good things happen. You can’t start with trying to get likes on Instagram or stars from Michelin. Those are by-products of the product. You just have to make something great. If you follow trends, you’re a prisoner of them. You have to have the knowledge and the wherewithal to just trust your gut.

Are you making something that you truly believe in or are you making something where you’re just trying to make a buck? Because invariably that trend is going to fall out of fashion and you’re going to be left with something you’re not that happy with. So make something you really believe in and don’t follow trends.

What’s your absolute perfect meal from across Major Food Group’s restaurants?

When I sit down for a meal with friends, I generally like to start with at least one cocktail. My favorite cocktails in the company right now are at Torrisi. I love that sort of Campari-based, Italian, bitter, Negroni aperitivo hour. I think we do that incredibly well at Torrisi, and so I’d have their Negroni Sbagliato.

Then I like to start a meal on the lighter side with raw bar and crudo. That leads me to the ZZ’s brand, where we do beautiful sliced raw fish, shellfish on ice, raw fish on toast, carpaccio. We have a myriad of ways to eat raw and clean.

Pasta-wise, I would go with Carbone as my pasta of choice with Contessa being a close second. I generally like to eat around the rigatoni because I’ve had it more times than I can count. So I would pepper in the Orecchiette Vito and all sorts of other things from the pasta category at Carbone.

Then entrée-wise, maybe a bigger slab of red meat from Dirty French Steakhouse. I would go with côte de beouf or a lamb saddle, those are two of my favorite cuts. Again, this is a decadent evening. And then, probably when I’m pretty close to exploding, just a scoop of stracciatella gelato from Contessa.

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2023 issue of Maxim magazine.