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An In Depth Conversation Beyond Sparkle, Toward Substance There was a particular positivity in the room today as the Fashion Association hosted Beyond the Jewel, a panel that looked past sparkle and shine to the ideas that give jewelry its voice. As part of a panel of experts leading the conversation sat HRH Princess Nourah Alfaisal alongside Melanie Grant, a writer and curator in the field of fine jewellry, and Sophie Stevens, Head of Jewellry for the Middle East at Christie's. The conversation opened with a simple idea. Jewelry is not only an accessory. It is memory set in metal and stone. HRH Princess Nourah Alfaisal spoke about the discipline behind beauty. She described the quiet rigor of research, sketching, prototyping, and the respectful sourcing that comes before a jewel reaches the light. Her message resonated with aspiring designers in the audience. Creativity is not luck but a practice. From there the panel moved through the journey of a bringing a piece to market and its challenges. Concept to material to maker. HRH Princess Nourah spoke about the cultural library that designers draw from in Saudi Arabi; motifs found in culture and the warmth of family heirlooms. Ms Stevens highlighted modern design and how contempoary design can sit alongside traditional hand work without losing soul. Everyone agreed that innovation and heritage can be good partners when they are guided by intention. This is where the Fashion Association stepped in to frame the bigger picture. The Association’s mission is to grow a strong, skilled, and connected fashion ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. It does this by nurturing talent across the chain. Designers. Product developers. Pattern cutters. Merchandisers. Photographers. Stylists. The Association develops programs that bridge education and industry. It brings mentors to the classroom and takes students into studios and factories. It offers workshops on design fundamentals and production standards. It convenes panels and roundtables that introduce local creators to regional and international experts. It helps brands understand market entry, sourcing pathways, and export readiness. It advocates for ethical practice and promotes sustainability literacy so that new labels start with the right habits. Beyond community building, the Association works to showcase Saudi creativity on respected stages. It supports collective presentations and curated showrooms. It creates research and insight reports that help brands make better decisions. It opens doors to partnerships that match Saudi talent with manufacturers, retailers, and cultural institutions. Step by step, this work turns individual ambition into a network that can compete and collaborate with confidence. As the panel drew to a close, the conversation returned to the idea that gives the event its name. Beyond the jewel lies the maker. Beyond the maker lies the community that taught and supported them. Beyond the community lies a culture that continues to evolve with pride. HRH Princess Nourah Alfaisal left the room with a gentle challenge. Make beautiful things that last. Let your technique be your signature. Let your voice be visible in every detail. Today felt like a clear snapshot of where Saudi fashion is heading. Thoughtful. Skilled. Rooted in heritage and ready for the world. The Fashion Association continues to set the stage for that future, one conversation and one program at a time. If you are building a brand, or if you are simply curious about the craft, keep an eye on what the Association is doing next. The work is steady. The momentum is real. And the story is only getting brighter.

A Serene Sanctuary Blooms in Diriyah The first thing you notice is the quiet. Cool air meets the scent of oud and the city drops away. Bab Samhan has opened Nafel Al Wadi Spa, a new sanctuary in the heart of Diriyah, and it feels exactly right for a place that lives by heritage and hospitality in equal measure. The name takes its cue from the nafel wildflower that blooms in the valley after rain. Renewal is the message. Renewal is the promise. Inside, the design reads as an earthen retreat. Organic linens are hand dyed in tones drawn from pomegranate and acacia. Light settles softly on plaster and stone. Everything signals calm with purpose. There are dedicated treatment rooms for ladies and for gentlemen, traditional hammam spaces, steam and sauna, serene changing areas, and relaxation lounges that invite you to stretch a moment between treatments. Wellness extends beyond the therapy rooms with a state of the art gym, group fitness classes, and a temperature controlled indoor pool watched by a lifeguard, plus a Jacuzzi pool for an easy reset. The menu carries two names that matter to spa lovers. AMRA brings results driven luxury with rare ingredients and a sense of ceremony. Omorovicza brings mineral rich rituals that feel both modern and rooted in craft. Expect to see Revitalizing Moor Mud work, illuminating facials, hydrating therapies and a regal Queen Ritual that draws on the brand’s gold collection. For something you will talk about later, book the signature 24 carat gold plated hot stone massage, which uses controlled heat from gold plated stones to unwind deep tension and lift circulation. Hours are generous for real life. Treatments run daily from one in the afternoon until ten at night. Wet areas, gym, and pool open from six in the morning and remain available until ten in the evening. That means you can move from an early swim to a mid morning meeting, then return for an unhurried ritual after sunset. The opening lands as a cultural note as much as a hospitality one. Diriyah is becoming a global destination for architecture, dining, and storytelling. A true luxury spa belongs in that conversation. As General Manager Fabrice Ducry puts it, the new spa is designed as a sanctuary where guests restore energy, balance, and vitality, a living symbol of renewal at the heart of Diriyah. What we loved in our first walk through was the way the space balances discretion with welcome. Couples arrive quietly and disappear into treatment rooms. Friends meet in the lounge after a class and talk in low tones. A solo traveler takes the last minutes of daylight by the pool before moving into an evening ritual. The mood is unforced and human, which is what makes experiences like this linger. For readers planning a visit, the easiest path is to choose a rhythm and let the team shape it. Begin with the wet circuit to soften the day. Take a mineral based facial for glow and resilience as the air grows drier. Finish with the gold stone massage if your week sits in your shoulders. Or build a wellness morning with a class, a swim, and a short ritual that sends you back into Diriyah feeling lighter. The spa team can tailor every element, from pressure to pace to the scent that follows you out the door. Bab Samhan has always read as a house that honors place while speaking a global language. Nafel Al Wadi Spa deepens that voice. It gives the district a room for restoration and gives travelers a reason to stay one more night. In a city that moves fast, this is a beautiful place to pause.

Zuma and LPM Toast Riyadh With Craft and Clarity Some collaborations feel inevitable the moment you hear them. Zuma Riyadh, home to contemporary Japanese izakaya energy, joins LPM Riyadh, the French house loved for its elegant ease. The result is a single glass with a clear point of view. It is called Tsukimi Fleur and it is the signature of an October worth circling on the calendar. The story began with an exclusive bar takeover at Zuma Riyadh, a night that drew a crowd of tastemakers and curious regulars. Bartenders from both restaurants worked shoulder to shoulder, trading techniques, swapping garnishes, and grinning like musicians who have found the right tempo together. There was a quiet debut inside the theatre of service too. A bespoke ice program arrived in the city, crystal clear blocks shaped with purpose so that melt becomes part of the recipe rather than an accident. It was a small detail that said a lot. Riyadh is ready for craft at this level. Tsukimi Fleur is a celebration of balance and a nod to two homes at once. Tsukimi evokes the Japanese moon viewing tradition. Fleur speaks the language of French grace. In the glass those ideas meet as something bright and precise. The recipe keeps faith with the zero alcohol promise while delivering a layered experience. Tanqueray zero brings botanical structure. Monin elderflower lends perfume and softness. Yuma adds citrus lift. Jasmine tea soda ties everything together with fine bubbles and a floral finish that lingers. The sip is refreshing and composed. It arrives looking like a small work of design and drinks like a conversation between two kitchens that trust their craft. You can find Tsukimi Fleur throughout October 2025 in two homes. Order it at LPM Riyadh where it slips easily into a lunch that becomes a late afternoon. Order it at Zuma Riyadh in the vibrant lounge, at the bar, or in the sprawling main restaurant that moves across two floors. Each setting frames the drink differently. At LPM it reads as Riviera poise tuned for the city. At Zuma it reads as Tokyo energy distilled and focused. In both rooms it feels like a well judged welcome to the season. What sets this collaboration apart is intention. There is no rush to shout. The teams at Zuma and LPM are speaking in the language of detail. Glassware that flatters without fuss. Ice that holds its line. Garnish that hints rather than hides. A service sequence that lets a guest enjoy the moment whether they are pairing Tsukimi Fleur with a plate or simply taking a pause between conversations. It is hospitality that understands rhythm. The Riyadh dining scene has been building toward nights like this. Chefs trade ideas across kitchens. Guests move freely between genres. A Japanese izakaya room and a French fine dining room now share a signature and it feels natural, even inevitable. It suggests a city that welcomes collaboration and expects excellence. It also shows how a zero alcohol program can be inventive without compromise. The choice is not a limit. It is a canvas. For those who collect the details, the Tsukimi Fleur is priced at 53 SAR and is available until October 31. The teams recommend booking ahead. At Zuma, reserve via +966 920 014 597 or the site if you prefer to plan in a couple of taps. At LPM, ask your host to time the pour with your first plate or your last course. Either way, the point is not to rush. Let the glass arrive. Notice the aroma. Take the first sip and see how the jasmine settles. If you are choosing a moment, consider three. A midday stop at LPM when the dining room glows and the city seems to slow outside. An early evening at Zuma when the lounge hums and the two floor vista feels alive. A late night corner when conversation turns reflective and a clear headed ritual makes sense. The drink meets each of these moods with the same quiet confidence. The larger picture is simple. Riyadh keeps finding new ways to bring its restaurants into dialogue. This collaboration is not a headline for headline’s sake. It is a thoughtful exchange between two kitchens that know who they are and respect one another’s strengths. It offers guests a signature that belongs to both houses and to the city. It also sets a tone for future crossovers, more playful, more thoughtful, and more open to precision. October does not last long, but memory does. Tsukimi Fleur captures a season where Japanese artistry meets French savoir faire and the city raises a glass to the idea that craft can be clear, modern, and shared. Order one, take your time, and let Riyadh show you how far its taste has traveled. Offering: Tsukimi Fleur Availability: Through October 31 Price: 53 SAR Reservations for Zuma Riyadh: +966 920 014 597 or visit zumarestaurant.com/riyadh

The Art of Cooking, the Luxury of Time There are months that feel like a gift and this October at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi is one of them. The island has set the table for a run of experiences that turn dining into discovery. It is the kind of programming that reminds you why people travel for taste. The resort describes October as a canvas for exceptional experiences, a moment when guests engage directly with culinary visionaries whose craft turns a meal into cultural exploration. It is a generous promise and the calendar more than delivers. Chef Dave Pynt returns to The Ledge From October 13 to 19, Michelin starred chef and restaurateur Dave Pynt takes the helm at The Ledge, the wood fire concept he created exclusively for the resort. If you know Burnt Ends in Singapore, you know the language he speaks, smoke that kisses rather than overwhelms, slow roasting with a patience that lets flavor bloom, and a sculptural choreography of grills and embers. The Ledge is built for this voice with a custom four ton dual cavity oven and elevation grills powered by sustainable Jarrah wood. By day the poolside feels lazy in the best way. By night the horizon fades to ink and the kitchen glows. Two evenings anchor the residency. October 15 brings The Ledge Team Takeover with Chef Dave, a convivial sequence of plates where Pynt’s signatures meet the creativity of The Ledge brigade, each course paced with thoughtful pairings from the culinary team. October 18 belongs to Fire and Finesse by the Beach, a barefoot celebration at Mirror Pool Beach with a bespoke wood fired menu of refined snacks, new ideas, and elevated classics served in that elegant Waldorf style that makes a party feel effortless. Japanese culinary artistry at Zuma Maldives The month opens with a different kind of mastery. From October 1 to 7, Zuma Maldives presents a spotlight on contemporary Japanese cuisine with a series of immersive evenings that honor centuries of craft and technique. Guests will encounter rare and meticulous expressions of the kitchen, guided by storytelling that brings regional traditions to life. The program moves in three chapters.Enkai Night Brunch on October 1 sets a lively pace with robata favorites, sushi, and interactive tastings that demystify technique while keeping the mood light.Ginza Night on October 4 shifts to an elegant seated dinner where premium courses meet narratives from the culinary team, the kind of evening that leaves you with new language for what you are tasting. Osaka Night on October 7 celebrates street side flavors and craftsmanship with takoyaki, sushi, and robata, plus personalized calligraphy keepsakes and guided tastings that make a beautiful souvenir of learning. Why this matters Resorts often promise culinary seasons. Few assemble lineups that feel this considered. Chef Pynt’s return reads as a love letter to the element of fire. Zuma’s Japanese journey reads as a master class in patience and precision. Together they turn a beautiful island into a classroom and a stage. Lunch becomes a lesson. Evening becomes a memory. If you go, bring curiosity and time. Let a slow lunch roll into a golden hour walk. Reserve the beach evening and arrive early enough to watch the sky change. Save a seat at Zuma for the night that speaks to you, then ask questions. The teams here know their craft and take pleasure in sharing it. October does not last forever. On an island like this, that is exactly what makes it special.

A bright new Saturday ritual in the heart of the DQ Weekend mornings in the Diplomatic Quarter have a special light. It filters through palm fronds and lands softly on limestone. Into this calm comes a new reason to gather. The Lighthouse has launched a brunch at 1364 and it already feels like a weekly ritual waiting to happen. The mood is easy from the door. Sun on the terrace. DJ music, buzz from the open kitchen. The Lighthouse team moves with that practiced warmth the brand is known for, the kind that remembers a face and offers a second coffee before you ask. It is the sort of welcome that makes you slow your pace and settle in. The menu reads like a conversation between comfort and curiosity. Think tender baby chicken, braised short ribs, bright greens, and breads that arrive still warm. Salads lean into herbs and flavors. There is always a plate you want to split and a plate you secretly want to keep to yourself. Design is part of the pleasure here. The Lighthouse has always treated space as part of the experience and the 1364 address gives that approach a beautiful stage. Natural materials keep the room grounded. Shelves carry a curated mix of lifestyle pieces that catch the eye between courses. It is the kind of setting that makes conversation unhurried and photographs well without anyone trying. Brunch is a social sport in Riyadh and this one plays to the strengths of the DQ. Families find room to spread out. Couples lean into a slow morning. Friends meet after a run or a gallery visit and stay longer than planned. Service keeps the pace relaxed while the kitchen moves with quiet precision. You feel looked after without fuss. What makes this launch stand out is intention. The Lighthouse is not chasing a trend. It is offering a morning table that respects time. Plates are generous without being heavy. Flavors are layered without feeling complicated. There is a rhythm to the service that lets you pause between courses or push ahead if the day calls. The team is present and personable which matters more than any headline dish. Plan for the terrace when the weather is kind. The DQ breeze does its work and the city feels softer from this corner. Inside, the energy builds as the room fills, yet it never tips into noise. Conversation is the soundtrack. Cups meet saucers. Someone laughs at a story that only lands because everyone finally has time to sit still. If you are the type who maps weekends like a treasure hunt, add this to your route. Start with a coffee and a sweet bite. Move to a savory plate that anchors the morning. Finish with something shared so the table ends on a note of generosity. It is a simple formula that makes for a very good day. Reservations are wise. The DQ crowd loves a new habit and this one has all the signs of a keeper. Ask the team for timing and any seasonal specials. They will point you to the best seat, and the kind of detail that turns a first visit into the first of many. The Lighthouse at 1364 is giving Riyadh a brunch that feels like it belongs here. Calm. Considered. Bright with flavor and easy to love. A place to gather and a reason to linger. Exactly what a weekend morning should be.

An Evening of Care, Courage, and Community We arrived at HARNN Heritage Spa just as the light softened over the gardens, and the room felt warm before anyone spoke. Candles glowed, roses in soft pinks framed the welcome. It was a Pink October gathering with one clear intention, to support the work of the Zahra Breast Cancer Association and the Breast Cancer Research Center, and to leave everyone just a little more informed and a lot more connected. HARNN’s Riyadh home inside InterContinental Durrat Al Riyadh is known as a sanctuary. You feel it in the hush of the corridors and in the way the team steers you gently toward calm. It is also the Middle East’s first HARNN Heritage Spa, a Thai wellness brand that treats ritual as craft, which made the setting feel both elegant and sincere for a night about health and hope. The program opened with a simple message from the hosts, wellness is not a luxury when it comes to early detection. A specialist physician then took the floor and turned that idea into practical guidance. She walked us through signs to notice, how to approach regular screening, and what to expect from modern treatments. Her tone was steady and reassuring. Knowledge is power. Early detection saves lives. Heads nodded, questions landed. The most moving moment came from a survivor who shared her story with grace. She spoke about the first appointment, the waiting, the way family and community carry you through, her struggle going through chemotherapy during the pandemic, and the strange mix of vulnerability and strength that arrives when you let people help. The room held its breath together, then softened into applause that felt like a promise, we will talk to our sisters and our friends, and we will not delay that first check. Zahra’s work gave the evening its backbone. The association has been a national force for awareness and support since 2007 under the leadership of Princess Haifa Al Faisal. Its mission reaches across education, early detection, training, patient support, and research. In plain language that means seminars, screening drives, counselor training, and a network that helps women navigate the hardest days with dignity and information. Events like this one do more than raise a ribbon. They connect a luxurious space to a public good in a way that feels natural to the city. HARNN has welcomed Pink October moments before, and the combination of attentive hospitality and clear messaging proved powerful again. Guests left with screening reminders in their phones and a list of next steps that felt achievable. The night closed with a gentle invitation. Book your screening. Share information. Check on a friend who has been putting it off. Support the organizations that make the path clearer for women and families across the Kingdom. It felt right to step back into the evening air with a little more knowledge and a lot more resolve. HARNN gave the city a beautiful room. Zahra and the Breast Cancer Research Center filled it with purpose. Together they turned awareness into momentum, which is the real work of Pink October.

Pure Truffle Theater For a City That Expects the Best Last night Spago welcomed a collaboration with Ramelli for a one night only black truffle dinner at Via Riyadh, and the room felt electric before the first course even touched the table. Lights were ambient, the open windowned kitchen murmured, and the aroma of fresh truffle drifted across the dining room in a way that made conversation soften and smiles appear. Executive Chef Daniel Irvine and Saudi guest chef Mohammed Albasha of The Ritz Carlton led the evening together, a confident duet that gave the menu polish and a local heartbeat. Spago is an award winning restaurant created by celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck. Born in Los Angeles and credited with shaping modern California cuisine, the brand blends seasonality, an open kitchen spirit, and relaxed glamour. Its Riyadh home sits in VIA Riyadh, where the service culture matches the kitchen’s precision. Spago in the Kingdom is part of the vision of Cool Inc, a Saudi founded hospitality group that partners with world class chefs and also develops homegrown concepts. The result is an international name expressed with local fluency, which is exactly how the evening felt. We began with a quartet of amuse bouches that read like small love letters to the mushroom. A forest mushroom and truffle cheesecake arrived first, savory and silky, set over black olive soil with a whisper of onion ash. A crisp chicken katsu followed with daikon and red endive, brightened by a black truffle juice ponzu that balanced richness with lift. The kunafa tuna tartare brought a playful Saudi touch, fine akami dressed with avocado and habbat al barakah, the kunafa adding crunch and memory in the same bite. A final mushroom and truffle chip scattered with local mixed nuts and parmesan gave a gentle, nutty finish. Four small plates, four reasons to settle in and trust the kitchen. The appetizers pushed the story forward. Musaka and truffled burrata paired roasted vegetables and rustic bread with an Arabian style dressing that made the burrata taste even creamier. Lobster agnolotti came in a truffled lobster bisque that was deep and fragrant, the kind of sauce that quiets a table for a moment. Then a plate of crispy potato and lumi arrived, simple on the surface, clever in texture and seasoning, a bright pause before the mains. Two main courses carried the center of the night. The pan roasted quail breast was cooked with precision and paired with its confit leg, compressed pear, a truffle remoulade, sautéed Brussels sprouts, an egg yolk jam that gave a golden gloss, and a natural pan sauce that tied everything together. It was elegant and generous at once. The second plate grounded the evening in place. Hasawi rice and short rib came with crisped grains, a smoked tomato essence, pickled shallot and coriander relish, fried shallots, and a light Thai spiced jus. The rice carried the perfume of the pan and the beef fell to the fork, a conversation between global technique and local comfort. Dessert felt like a soft curtain call. An apple and pecan nut tart tatin arrived warm and glossy with labneh and truffle honey ice cream, a little olive oil and a pinch of sea salt to keep it honest. Then a Spago signature truffle macaroon gift box appeared, the kind of sweet that makes you promise to return. Spago’s bar played its part beautifully. We sipped a bright Italian Sour built on Lyre’s Italian Spritz with passion fruit, pineapple and lime, which paired well with the seafood. Sunkiss Summer mixed cold brew with orange, orgeat and lime and turned out to be a clever match for the short rib. Other tables leaned into Double Happiness with pineapple, passion fruit, orgeat and coconut, and we watched more than one Moonlight Sunset glide by in a glowing shade of blood orange and lychee. The room seemed to be having fun with the names and the flavors, and so were we. What made the night special was the way the two chefs shared the stage. Daniel Irvine kept the pacing calm and precise, the Spago style you feel in the timing, the heat, the finish on the sauce. Chef Mohammed Albasha threaded the evening with Saudi notes that felt natural and proud, from the kunafa crunch on the tartare to the Hasawi rice that anchored the short rib. Together they delivered an experience that was luxurious without stiffness, a dinner that moved with rhythm and warmth. For one evening the truffle did not dominate as a headline, it supported a story about a city that loves food and a team that understands how to host. We left with the taste of apple still lingering and the sense that Spago and Cool Inc had given Riyadh a little piece of theatre that will be remembered by everyone who found a seat.

Octola Private Wilderness sets a new bar for clean air luxury, and why that matters now Luxury travel is changing. Guests want beauty and comfort, they also want proof that a place protects what makes it special. In Finnish Lapland, inside the Arctic Circle, Octola Private Wilderness has quietly moved the conversation forward. The estate has installed research grade monitoring of ultrafine air particles on its private grounds, a level of measurement usually reserved for universities and government stations. The result is continuous, transparent data on the purity of the Arctic air, long regarded as some of the cleanest on Earth, now shown on instruments rather than only described in poetic terms. This is not a marketing flourish, it is the continuation of Octola’s founding idea, that the air and nature of Lapland are restorative in a way you can feel in your lungs and in your nervous system. “Our surroundings have always offered a rare purity, now we have the data to prove it,” says founder Janne Honkanen. Guests come to reconnect with nature in its purest form, and the property is measuring the smallest particles, the ones that are most harmful, in order to affirm the quality of the environment they are breathing. From Promise To Accountability The step sounds technical, it reads as hospitality with conscience. By monitoring and sharing air quality data, Octola creates a new level of accountability for a private estate. It reinforces guest care, and it gives shape to a wider shift we see across high luxury retreats, where wellness claims meet scientific validation, and where owners show stewardship with data, not only with words. Octola’s location also makes it a living field station. The estate collaborates with leading researchers who work in the region, including Northern Lights scientists such as Dr. Esa Turunen. With aurora visible on more than two hundred nights each year, the property offers a rare setting where guests experience spectacle while scientists pursue long term observation. It is a model that feels right for this moment, experience for the guest, insight for the planet. Octola II, Opening This Winter The initiative will extend to Octola II, opening December 2025, and to the broader Octola Collection. The private wilderness already spans more than 1,730 acres on the Arctic Circle, fully off grid, with near constant silence and a sense of natural calm that slows you before you even notice. Octola II deepens that promise with a five bedroom lodge that includes an in house spa and three saunas, a children’s playroom, a gym, staff rooms, and a dedicated aurora viewing area with glass ceilings and walls. The Supersuite Villa adds two large ensuite bedrooms, each with its own sauna, bath, and outdoor hot tub. In winter the sky paints itself for hours, in summer the Midnight Sun turns the night into a soft, surreal glow. Respiro Octola, Wellness Shaped By The Air Itself As an extension of its environmental work, the property is launching Respiro Octola, a wellness program rooted in the purity of the Arctic environment. The concept is simple and powerful, breathe some of the cleanest air on Earth, pair it with guided breathwork, sauna rituals, yoga, ice swimming, and natural treatments that heighten awareness and restore balance. The program is bespoke, shaped to the individual rather than the calendar, with practices known to reduce stress and build resilience. The science is encouraging. Previous studies cited by Octola reference findings from the World Health Organization and Värriö Research Station at the University of Helsinki, indicating that a week in Lapland’s clean air environment can measurably add to life expectancy, with the magnitude varying by home city and baseline pollution. As Professor Mikko Sipilä of the University of Helsinki notes, air pollution reduces global average life expectancy by about two years, and in the most polluted regions by far more. Clean air supports respiratory recovery and can contribute to longer, healthier lives. Octola turns that idea into a stay you can feel. What This Signals For Luxury Travel The market is speaking clearly. High net worth travelers do not only want rare settings, they want reassurance, transparency, and a sense that their presence supports the place rather than drains it. Clean air data is not a typical amenity, it is a signal of intent. We expect more estates to follow with water monitoring, biodiversity counts, and seasonal impact reporting that can be shown to guests in simple, human terms. Octola calls this a living promise to the Arctic, and that phrasing matters. The purity that guests describe as healing is not a fixed asset, it is a resource that requires care. Measuring it is the first step, sharing it is the second, evolving operations around it is the third. For travelers choosing where to invest their time and attention, this is the new language of trust. Need to know Where : Octola Private Wilderness, Finnish Lapland, inside the Arctic Circle What is new : Research grade ultrafine particle monitoring on the private estate, with data shared as part of the guest experience, integration planned across the full Octola Collection including Octola II opening December 2025 Why it matters : A measurable standard for air purity, deeper collaboration with scientists, a wellness program that treats clean air as a primary asset, and a model for sustainability in the luxury sector Octola has always sold silence, sky, and space. Now it adds something timely, proof. In a market where sustainability and wellness increasingly define value, that proof reads like a luxury of its own.

A postcard from Provence, addressed to Riyadh The EDIT team was invited to spend an afternoon at Café L’Occitane in the Diplomatic Quarter, and it felt like stepping into a postcard from Provence. Honeyed light on lemon yellow walls, fresh blooms on the tables, a soft drift of citrus and herbs in the air, the room eased us into a slower rhythm before the first menu page was even opened. The team’s welcome was warm and unhurried, the kind of service that notices what you need and arrives a moment before you ask. The setting sits inside 1364 Mall, a bright corner of the DQ where the café brings the spirit of the South of France to Riyadh. We began with the steak frites, a classic that the kitchen treats with respect. A well seared striploin arrived glistening under a knob of herb butter, the fibers relaxed and tender, the plate finished with a glossy house glazed sauce and a generous tumble of crisp fries. It tasted familiar in the right way, elegant and confident, a French café staple with a polished edge. Bowls of gnocchi followed and changed the pace completely. Pillow soft potato dumplings shared the dish with Certified Angus short rib that had been slow cooked until it yielded at the touch of a fork, all glossed with brown butter, pan juices, and a quiet lick of balsamic. It read like comfort, yet it felt composed, the kind of savory you linger over while the conversation pauses. Someone at the table ordered the raclette burger and smiles moved around the room. A turmeric brioche held a juicy patty with baby spinach, sun blushed tomatoes, and glazed onions, then the server poured a molten curtain of raclette at the table, a little piece of theatre that never feels forced here. The bun kept its integrity, the cheese settled into a mellow nuttiness, and the whole bite landed rich and balanced. For pasta, the choice was the black truffle tagliatelle. Handmade ribbons were tossed in a parmesan emulsion, the sauce clinging rather than pooling, a veil of shaved truffle giving the dish its perfume without overwhelming it. It is a plate that respects simplicity and lets texture do the talking, silken and aromatic in equal measure. Then came the part of the menu that every table around us seemed to be waiting for, the mocktails. Café L’Occitane treats them like little fragrance stories told in glass, and the presentation is lavish in a way that suits the brand’s sensorial soul. We began with Bubble Sky, a vivid blue pour built on a cold infusion of orange blossom and butterfly pea with a whisper of mandarin essential oil, bright and airy and made for photographs. Bicycle of the Sun arrived like a Provençal daydream, pineapple and lemon lifted with vanilla and the gentle floral note of immortelle. Nuage de Provence landed last, cloud soft and comforting, almond milk and elderflower under a cushion of almond coconut foam. Each one felt more like a moment than a drink, layered and theatrical without losing balance. If you want something playful, order Magic Box and watch the table light up. Raspberry purée and mango meet coconut water under a matcha foam, and the surprise is a side of macarons that turns the sip into a tiny patisserie scene. It is joy in a coupe and it earns the second round easily. Between courses, the room did its quiet work. Light shifted across the banquettes, the clink of cups and low conversation made a soft soundtrack, and plates arrived hot and polished. Coffee is treated with care, from classic espresso to artisan lattes scented with honey, rose, or lavender. Tea service is curated and tidy, a calm counterpoint to the color and ceremony of the mocktails. Café L’Occitane does not chase novelty. It offers grace. Provençal flavors move through familiar forms, service feels human, and the experience invites you to stay a little longer. Come for a long lunch, begin with steak frites, share the gnocchi, say yes to the truffle ribbons, and leave space for a fragrance inspired mocktail that brings the afternoon to a gentle close. It is an easy recommendation, and a lovely addition to the city’s rhythm.

A scented afternoon worth lingering over Fairmont Riyadh has opened a limited season BYREDO Afternoon Tea inside The Savoy Lounge, turning an everyday ritual into a soft, multisensory escape. The service runs daily from 2:00 to 6:00 pm through October 2 to December 31, 2025, and is priced at SAR 250 per person. Guests are welcomed with a fragrance led menu and a display of BYREDO icons in the lounge. The menu reads like a scent story told on porcelain. Savory bites include Beet Rose, Tomato and Prawn Soul, and Smoked Salmon Whisper, followed by desserts such as Vanilla crème brûlée with fresh basil, Strawberry mousse with violet and jasmine tea, and Lemon saffron macaron. A trio of BYREDO teas anchors the experience, from a honeyed chamomile blend to brighter citrus notes and an amber toned infusion with cinnamon and vanilla. The setting is The Savoy Lounge, a calm, social space that the hotel champions for elegant afternoon service. Why this collaboration makes sense BYREDO was founded in Stockholm in 2006 by Ben Gorham, and built its name on translating memory and emotion into objects and experiences. That idea of sensorial storytelling is the brand’s signature, now expressed through fragrance, beauty, leather goods, and design. In 2022, beauty group Puig took a majority stake, supporting BYREDO’s global expansion while keeping the creative core intact. An afternoon tea that invites guests to taste and smell a narrative aligns perfectly with that ethos. Fairmont is a luxury hospitality brand within Accor, known for placing ritual and place making at the center of service. Afternoon tea is part of that DNA, from The Savoy in London to contemporary lounges across the portfolio. Bringing a fragrance house into the ritual feels natural for a brand that treats tea as theatre, with pacing, lighting, and service calibrated to encourage guests to slow down. In Riyadh, the fit is especially strong. The city’s audience embraces discovery, craft, and beautiful settings that photograph well without losing their soul. Fairmont Riyadh sits in Business Gate, a convenient hub for both residents and visitors, which makes The Savoy Lounge an easy choice for mid afternoon meetups, quiet celebrations, and content friendly moments. Practical details Dates and time: October 2 to December 31, 2025, daily 2:00–6:00 pm Price: SAR 250 per person Where: The Savoy Lounge, Fairmont Riyadh Reservations: call +966 11 826 2626 and request The Savoy Lounge afternoon tea

Ahmed Seddiqi opens on Tahlia Street One of Riyadh’s most fashionable boulevards has a new landmark. Ahmed Seddiqi, the Gulf’s storied curator of fine watchmaking and jewelry, has opened a flagship boutique on Tahlia Street, welcoming collectors, connoisseurs, and the simply curious into a space designed for discovery. The boutique is the company’s first in Saudi Arabia, and its first stand alone outside the United Arab Emirates, a milestone that speaks to the brand’s growing regional footprint. The address matters. Officially known as Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Street, Tahlia is Riyadh’s prime urban destination, a corridor of retail, cafés, and evening energy that turns a stroll into an event. Opening here places Seddiqi at the heart of the city’s style conversation. Inside, the experience is calm and crafted. The boutique spans roughly 4,400 square feet and showcases more than twenty five watch and jewelry houses, presented with the brand’s signature hospitality, including private rooms for appointments and collector consultations. It feels like time has been given room to breathe, and that is the point. For those new to the name, Ahmed Seddiqi has shaped watch culture in the region since 1950, building a portfolio of more than eighty brands across fifty plus locations and nurturing community through initiatives such as Dubai Watch Week. The Riyadh opening connects the capital directly to that ecosystem, with access to expertise that spans sales, curation, and after sales care. Riyadh is a natural step for the house. The city’s appetite for considered luxury is rising, audiences are knowledgeable, and the retail scene rewards brands that pair craftsmanship with meaningful service. A flagship on Tahlia meets that moment with confidence.

La dolce vita, under Riyadh skies The heat breaks and the evenings soften. Azzurro Terrace at The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh has opened for the season, turning alfresco dinners into long, unhurried nights under the city sky. The first evening captured the mood perfectly. A live DJ set the pace as guests arrived, an Italian soprano moved through the tables and serenaded guests mid course, and a light hearted Italian language mini lesson turned neighbors into new friends. It felt like a little piazza moment in Riyadh, the kind you talk about on the ride home and remember the next day when you are thinking about dessert. Azzurro has always been about authenticity delivered with grace. The kitchen is rooted in Italy, from the spirit of Venice to the craft of Sardinia, with seasonal menus that favor tradition and a modern touch. Expect fresh pastas, elegant secondi, and classics that let good ingredients do the talking. On many nights you will see Chef Lorenzo’s signatures leave the pass and head straight to the terrace, where the glow of the lanterns makes everything taste a little brighter. Part of the charm here is the setting. By day, Azzurro looks toward the hotel’s serene pool. By night, the terrace becomes a stage for conversation, music, and that easy rhythm that makes dinner feel like a mini holiday. It is refined, but never stiff, with service that remembers your favorite olive oil and the way you like your espresso. When to go and how to book Azzurro serves lunch and dinner daily, with typical hours from 12:30 to 3:30 and from 7:00 to midnight. Reserve by calling +966 11 802 8333  or by using the hotel’s Book a Table  link. Ask for a terrace table when you call. If you are planning an evening on the terrace, arrive early for sunset and stay for the setting. Start with something bright from the antipasti, share a pasta, and leave room for a classic dolce.