Gressoney is defined by its Walser heritage with wooden chalets, ancient traditions, and a slower, more contemplative pace. Split between Gressoney-Saint-Jean and Gressoney-La-Trinité, the village feels deeply rooted, offering a soulful contrast to flashier alpine resorts. This is Monterosa’s cultural anchor.
Champoluc is the most refined and cosmopolitan of the Monterosa villages, offering seamless access to expansive terrain while maintaining a composed, village-like charm. Elegant hotels, thoughtful après-ski, and a strong wellness culture make Champoluc the ideal base for travelers who want both performance and pause. It’s active without being aggressive, stylish without being showy.
Mr. Chow on 57th Street is one of New York’s most enduring and glamorous dining institutions. A restaurant where cuisine, culture, and performance converge in a setting that has defined luxury Chinese dining for decades. Opened in 1979, this flagship New York location followed the original London debut in 1968 and the Beverly Hills opening in 1974, establishing Mr. Chow as a global standard-bearer for refined Beijing cuisine presented with theatrical elegance.
From the moment you enter, the experience is unmistakable. The room hums with energy: crisp white interiors, sculptural details, a glamorous international crowd, and a sense that dinner here is meant to be experienced, not rushed. For more than half a century, Mr. Chow has honored the principles of traditional Chinese dining — food as a social ritual, shared communally, with harmony across flavor, texture, aroma, and presentation guiding every dish that reaches the table.
The menu is rooted in high Beijing cuisine, historically known as “The Emperor’s Kitchen,” drawing from centuries-old techniques refined during China’s imperial dynasties. At Mr. Chow, these foundations are paired with original creations by Michael Chow, developed alongside his master chefs using only the freshest, highest-quality ingredients. Signature dishes such as Chicken Satay, Ma Mignon, and Mr. Chow Noodles have become global icons, instantly recognizable and deeply satisfying.
A highlight of every evening is the hand-pulled noodle show. A nightly ritual since opening day and a reminder that dining at Mr. Chow is as much performance as it is culinary excellence. Equally revered is the Beijing Duck, widely regarded as one of the finest preparations outside of China, roasted with precision and presented with ceremony.
Service at Mr. Chow is confident, polished, and participatory. Captains guide the table through ordering, traditionally done by a single host, ensuring balance, variety, and flow. Many guests opt for the flexible prix-fixe menus, designed for sharing and showcasing the breadth of the kitchen. The experience unfolds with deliberate rhythm: the Champagne trolley to begin, the choreography of dishes throughout the meal, and a curated dessert presentation to close.
Dining at Mr. Chow is not just about what you eat. It’s about how you feel while you’re there. Elegant, celebratory, and unmistakably global, it remains one of New York’s most iconic nights out.
Sant Ambroeus is one of Milan’s most iconic dining rooms. A place where the city’s cultural, fashion, and business worlds have intersected for generations. Founded in 1936, Sant Ambroeus began as a refined pastry shop and café before evolving into a full restaurant, all while maintaining its role as a social anchor in Milanese life.
The atmosphere is unmistakably Milanese: elegant without pretension, polished yet animated. Crisp white tablecloths, mirrored walls, and a lively hum of conversation create a dining room that feels timeless and perpetually relevant. From early morning espresso to long lunches and classic dinners, Sant Ambroeus moves fluidly through the day, always at the center of the city’s rhythm.
The menu celebrates classic northern Italian cuisine, prepared with restraint and clarity. Expect beautifully executed risotti, delicate pastas, veal and fish dishes, and seasonal specialties that favor balance over excess. The pastry heritage remains integral. Desserts are exceptional, and the espresso ritual here is considered sacred by locals.
Sant Ambroeus is as much about who is there as what’s on the plate. Designers, editors, collectors, and longtime Milanese regulars fill the room, making it one of the city’s most reliable places for people-watching and unforced elegance. Service is brisk, professional, and distinctly Milanese — efficient, confident, and quietly accommodating.
Dal Bolognese is a pillar of Italian culinary tradition in Milan. It’s a restaurant that brings the soul, rigor, and timeless elegance of Emilian cuisine to the city’s historic center. Opening in Milan in 2005, Dal Bolognese carries forward more than 50 years of heritage from its storied Roman flagship near Piazza del Duomo, translating that legacy into a Milanese setting defined by quiet sophistication and consistency at the highest level.
The kitchen is anchored by a single guiding principle: tradition. The menu reads like a greatest-hits anthology of Emilian classics, executed with discipline and reverence. Handmade pastas are the backbone — tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini in brodo, lasagne verdi — each prepared exactly as they should be, without embellishment or reinterpretation. One of Dal Bolognese’s signatures, and a rarity even in Italy today, is its selection of boiled meats (bolliti misti), served with traditional accompaniments and sauces — a dish beloved by purists and increasingly difficult to find done properly.
The setting elevates the experience further. Housed within Palazzo Recalcati, just steps from the Duomo of Milan, the restaurant feels removed from the city’s bustle. Inside, the dining room is refined and classical, while the internal courtyard terrace offers a serene, elegant refuge — one of the most peaceful outdoor dining spaces in central Milan. It’s a place where lunches linger, conversations unfold unhurriedly, and the rituals of Italian dining are honored in full.
Service is formal yet warm, precise without being rigid. Dal Bolognese attracts a loyal following of Milanese regulars, Italian families, and international guests who understand that true luxury often lies in restraint, heritage, and flawless execution.
Ristorante Chiecco is one of Courmayeur’s most beloved mountain restaurants. A true alpine institution perched high above the village, where refined Italian cooking meets sweeping views of the Mont Blanc massif. Long treasured by locals, skiers, and well-traveled Italians in the know, Chiecco delivers an experience that feels authentic, generous, and deeply rooted in mountain tradition, yet polished enough to satisfy the most discerning palate.
The setting is quintessentially alpine. Warm wood interiors, stone accents, and picture windows create a cozy refuge from the snow, while the sun-drenched terrace offers one of the most beautiful dining panoramas in the Aosta Valley. On clear days, lunch stretches luxuriously as guests linger over wine and conversation, wrapped in sunshine with Mont Blanc looming majestically in the distance.
The cuisine celebrates the heart of Italian mountain cooking: honest, soulful, and impeccably prepared. Expect house-made pastas, rich ragùs, beautifully grilled meats, and seasonal specialties that reflect both Piedmontese and Valdostan traditions. Dishes are comforting yet elegant, designed to nourish after a morning on the slopes while still feeling worthy of a long, celebratory meal.
Service at Chiecco is warm, familial, and confident. Regulars are greeted like old friends, newcomers are welcomed with ease, and the rhythm of the room reflects the mountain itself – unhurried, convivial, and deeply satisfying. Whether arriving by skis for lunch or by car for a leisurely afternoon meal, Chiecco feels like a reward earned.
Ristorante Chiecco is not about trends or theatrics. It is about place, tradition, and the enduring pleasure of eating extraordinarily well in one of the most beautiful alpine settings in Europe.
Welcome to the January edition of Il Circolo, the private travel intelligence journal created exclusively for Best Day Every Day members. This is a space for those who approach travel and life with discernment, curiosity, and intention, understanding that where we go shapes how we live.
January invites a different kind of awareness. With the year newly open, this issue turns its focus to perspective, contrast, and momentum. The moments and places that quietly define what comes next. Inside, we spotlight winter at its most refined, from St. Moritz at the height of the season to global gatherings where sport, culture, and place converge. We explore how winter has become a stage rather than a pause, and where discerning travelers are choosing to be as the year unfolds.
You’ll find editor-curated recommendations spanning alpine retreat, creative dining, and international sport, alongside a deeper destination look at Zermatt, a village where restraint, clarity, and setting redefine luxury. A member’s winter moment in Palermo offers a warmer counterpoint, reminding us that timing is as important as place, while this month’s Circolo Challenge closes the issue with a thoughtful invitation to slow down and engage.
Il Circolo is more than a newsletter. It is a shared lens and a way of moving through the world with presence, perspective, and purpose. Thank you for beginning the year with us, and for choosing to live beautifully, one considered moment at a time.
— Il Circolo is exclusive to Best Day Every Day members.
Eden Rock is not simply the most iconic hotel in St. Barths. It is St. Barths. Perched dramatically on a rocky promontory between two flawless white-sand beaches in Baie de St. Jean, this legendary property has defined Caribbean glamour for decades, attracting royalty, rock stars, fashion icons, and discreet global tastemakers who value beauty, privacy, and impeccable service above all else.
Originally a private home, Eden Rock retains an intimate, residential feel despite its global renown. Every room, suite, and villa is individually designed, blending contemporary art, bold color, curated antiques, and floor-to-ceiling views of turquoise water. Some accommodations sit directly on the sand, others crown the rock itself, offering cinematic panoramas and a profound sense of seclusion. This is barefoot luxury at its most confident — refined, playful, and unmistakably chic.
At the heart of the property is Sand Bar, the hotel’s celebrated restaurant, where elevated French-Mediterranean cuisine meets effortless Caribbean ease. Days unfold to the rhythm of the sea: breakfast with your feet in the sand, long sun-soaked lunches, afternoons drifting between cabanas and warm water, and evenings glowing with candlelight and conversation.
Service at Eden Rock is legendary — intuitive, warm, and deeply personal. Guests are known by name, preferences are remembered, and every experience feels tailored rather than transactional. Whether arriving by yacht, private jet, or barefoot from the beach, you are welcomed into a world where luxury feels joyful, relaxed, and entirely your own.
Eden Rock is timeless yet alive, glamorous yet unpretentious. A place where life feels effortlessly elevated.
Petit Trois Aspen brings the soul of a classic Parisian bistro to the mountains, introducing Chef Ludo Lefebvre’s beloved French cooking to one of Aspen’s most discerning dining scenes. Rooted in Burgundy tradition and executed with modern confidence, Petit Trois is a celebration of French comfort cuisine elevated through impeccable technique, exceptional ingredients, and a deep respect for simplicity done beautifully well.
The concept began in Los Angeles with Petit Trois L’Original, an intimate, counter-style bistro inspired by the unfussy charm of neighborhood restaurants in Paris. That spirit carries through to Aspen: warm, convivial, and deeply personal. The atmosphere is welcoming and refined rather than formal. It’s the kind of place where food lovers linger, conversations flow easily, and every detail feels intentional without ever being precious.
Chef Ludo’s signature approach transforms humble classics into quietly opulent plates. The menu showcases iconic dishes that have earned cult status over the years: Burgundy escargot bathed in garlic and herbs, the legendary Omelette Petit Trois which is impossibly soft, filled with boursin, and finished with butter, and the celebrated Big Mec, widely regarded as one of the best burgers in America and a destination dish in its own right. These are recipes rooted in tradition, brought to life with precision, restraint, and unmistakable French soul.
Cocktails lean toward classic French aperitifs and spirits, offering a refined start or finish to an Aspen evening.
Petit Trois Aspen feels at once familiar and exciting: a transportive dining experience that brings the romance of France to the Rockies, perfectly suited for date nights, intimate gatherings, or a deeply satisfying solo meal.
Mt. Rubirosa brings the soul of Rubirosa Ristorante, one of New York’s most beloved Italian institutions, to Aspen, transporting guests straight to the Italian Rockies at the base of legendary Aspen Mountain. Set directly on the gondola plaza, this highly anticipated opening delivers a slopeside dining experience that feels both joyful and deeply rooted in tradition, blending old-school Italian comfort with Aspen’s alpine energy.
The atmosphere is warm, lively, and effortlessly sophisticated. Mt. Rubirosa is designed as a true culinary destination, thoughtfully divided into three distinct experiences: the welcoming Taverna for relaxed indoor dining, the heated outdoor Piazza for sun-splashed lunches and après-ski gatherings, and the intimate Salone, a private dining room ideal for celebrations, wine dinners, and special occasions. Together, they create a space that feels social yet intimate, spirited yet refined.
The menu is a greatest-hits celebration of Rubirosa’s Mulberry Street legacy. Expect the world-famous Tie-Dye Pizza, house-made pastas, the legendary Sunday sauce, and Italian-American classics prepared with care, consistency, and heart. These are dishes meant to be shared, comforting, craveable, and deeply satisfying after a day on the slopes or an evening in town.
The wine program leans Italian and celebratory, with bottles that invite lingering dinners and spontaneous toasts, while the cocktail list balances classic Italian aperitivo culture with mountain-friendly warmth. Whether you’re arriving in ski boots for lunch, settling in for a family dinner, or planning a polished night out, Mt. Rubirosa meets the moment with ease.
Comfortable and sophisticated at the same time, Mt. Rubirosa feels destined to become one of Aspen’s most memorable dining experiences. A place you’ll return to again and again during your time in the mountains.