“We should be an experience for guests to experiment with Portuguese products, Portuguese brands, and this means the coffee, the toilet paper, the wines, the amenities. This creates a kind of conversation and it's also storytelling for them to take home.”

We’re in great company with Sofia Brandão, Managing Director of AlmaLusa Hotels, a boutique collection of three soulful properties rooted in the heart of Portugal—from the grand historic squares of Lisbon's Baixa, to the ancient cobblestoned alleys of Alfama, to the sun-bleached tranquility of Comporta's coast.

Here, they have reimagined what it means to truly meet a place—not just stay in it—through heritage, Portuguese soul, and the warmth of genuine hospitality.

In this episode, Sofia reflects on ten years of building AlmaLusa with patience, purpose, and intention—reminding us that the most memorable stays are never about the room, but always about how a place makes you feel.

Top Takeaways

[1:55] Sofia didn't set out to run hotels—she set out to see the world, and somewhere along the way, the world checked her in.

[9:10] The Portuguese have always had history, food, and soul worth sharing with the world—and have spent centuries being far too humble to insist upon it.

[12:20] A decade in, AlmaLusa's quiet rule for growth has never changed—the right location, real heritage, and a neighborhood worth genuinely sharing with guests.

[15:40] After 25 years in Lisbon, Sofia is still getting lost in it—and she wouldn't have it any other way.

[18:15] Three properties, three entirely different heartbeats—from the vibrant historic square of Baixa Chiado to the poetic evening streets of Alfama to the unhurried, sun-stretched days of Comporta.

[21:15] At AlmaLusa, the history isn't hanging on the walls—in many cases, it is the walls.

[24:05] AlmaLusa has a simple vision—every product a guest touches should be Portuguese, and every one of those products should have something worth saying.

[26:20] In Portugal, the next meal is already being planned before the current one is over—and at AlmaLusa's restaurants, that spirit of gathering around the table is baked into every honest, ingredient-led dish.

[29:20] Alma means soul in Portuguese—and at AlmaLusa, that isn't a brand promise, it's the operating principle behind every greeting and every turndown note.

[34:10] Portugal will always be a small country—and Sofia believes that's exactly what makes it one of the most quietly extraordinary destinations in the world.

Notable Mentions

Six Sense Douro Valley

Pastel de Nata, Portuguese egg custard tart

Vinho Verde

Visit For Yourself

AlmaLusa Hotels Website | @almalusahotels | @almalusacomporta | @delfinarestaurants

% off with code FRIEND at checkout

“ I think that if travelers choose well where they go, they will always find rooted experiences and really personal experiences, because most of the wine world is like that. Wine is all about people, family, and stories. There's so much diversity with local producers. It's amazing because I promote many of my colleagues—I go to their places, they come to mine, I send my guests, I pick their wines for my wine list—and everyone has a story to tell.”

We’re in great company with Ana Lovaglio Balbo, Co-Founder of Susana Balbo Unique Stays, and the daughter of one of Argentina's most iconic winemaking legends—who has woven her family's four decades of passion for wine, art, and terroir into Susana Balbo Winemaker's House & Spa Suites—a hidden oasis in the vineyards of Mendoza, where luxury hospitality and winemaking heritage are inseparable.

From the vine to the suite, Ana has spent her career turning a winemaking legacy into a living, breathing hospitality experience—and she's only just getting started.

As Ana uncorks the story behind her family's remarkable journey, this conversation is a reminder that the most memorable hospitality is never about the accolades—it's about the people, the place, and the passion behind every pour.

Top Takeaways

[2:10] Growing up between the vineyard rows and the wine cellar, Ana's childhood was shaped not just by the land—but by the world that came to visit them.

[5:45] Hospitality came naturally to Ana—but it started, as so many good things do, with nourishing food and a table set for strangers.

[8:50] What does it look like when you lock down two visionary women with too much energy and not enough to do—and what happens to a city when they finally open the doors?

[14:45] Ana doesn't want you to feel at home — she wants you to feel like a welcomed guest in hers, guided through Mendoza by a local friend you didn't know you needed.

[17:30] A black door. A hidden garden. And the faint feeling that you've somehow slipped out of the world entirely—without ever leaving the city.

[20:45] Seven suites. Seven elements. One vine-rooted symbol—“el Árbol de la Vida”—where “vid”, the Spanish word for vine, breathes life into every corner of the experience, and quietly invites every guest to reflect on their own story while immersed in Ana’s.

[24:25] For Ana, two MICHELIN Keys, membership in Relais & Châteaux and the Virtuoso network, and a Silver Eco Label for sustainability were never the goal—they were simply what happens when you stop chasing accolades and start chasing excellence.

[27:50] At La Vida, expect to have your assumptions about Argentina gently, elegantly overturned — one white wine pairing at a time.

[31:30] From winemaking legends to the next generation of female talent, Ana's Winemaking Expeditions are a window into an Argentina most travelers never get to see.

[35:35] From concrete egg barrel bathtubs to grape seed scrubs, wellness at SB Winemaker's House & Spa Suites is less a spa menu and more a love letter to the vine.

[38:20] Waking up inside a high-altitude vineyard, face to face with the Andes—the Mountain Lodge in Valle de Uco is Ana's next chapter, and it's only just beginning.

Notable Mentions

Osadía de Crear & Espacio Crios

“Tila” herbal tea made from lime tree blossoms

Susana Balbo Limited Edition Blanco de Gualtallary

“ Medialunas” Argentinian croissant

Visit For Yourself

Susana Balbo Unique Stays Website | @susanabalbouniquestays

Susana Balbo Wines Website | @susanabalbowines

“Right now, I still use the same methods, the type of grapes, as my great-grandparents. The only thing that has changed is that now I am responsible for the Aceto Balsamico and my father has always trusted me to carry on in this tradition. Because for us, the balsamic vinegar is your family history in a bottle.”

We’re in great company with Mattia Montanari, the dedicated and determined founder and CEO of Opera|02, a certified organic winery, traditional vinegar cellar, and tastefully designed resort woven into the rolling hills of Modena’s vineyard landscape—where 3 generations of balsamic vinegar mastery meet contemporary hospitality, inviting guests to reconnect with the craft, culture, and terroir of Emilia-Romagna.

Mattia shares how growing up sneaking tastes of balsamic juice and getting his hands dirty in the family harvest shaped his vision to create an immersive experience where travelers could taste, sleep, and live inside his family's legacy.

In this episode, Mattia reveals that true innovation happens not by abandoning tradition, but by creating new ways for others to understand and appreciate it.

Top Takeaways

[2:00] Growing up in Modena, Mattia learned that craft creates connection—a lesson that would later inspire him to invite the world into his family's three-generation story.

[4:35] After traveling through the vineyards of Tuscany, Piedmont, and Napa Valley, Mattia envisioned bringing that same immersive wine-country hospitality back to Modena—but centered entirely around the time-honored craft and storytelling of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar.

[5:45] At Opera|02, Mattia honors his family's wisdom by preserving the exact recipes and processes his great-grandmother began—proving that tradition and innovation aren't opposing forces, but rather two sides of the same story.

[8:00] Leaving the roar of Motor Valley's Ferraris and Maseratis behind, guests wind up into the vineyard-lined hills to discover Opera|02—where the noise fades into silence, and the only thing that changes with each season is the view from your terrace.

[9:50] From sunrise in the vineyards to sunset in the acetaia, a day at Opera|02 is an invitation to taste, touch, and witness the slow alchemy that turns grapes into legacy.

[11:05] Each of the eight suites is a love letter to the land—named Grappa, Nocino, Prugna, Aceto, Saba, Duroni, Vino, Miele—where the colors and textures of each room mirror the very products that made Mattia’s family name.

[13:40] In the acetaia, each family member has their own barrel aging in the darkness—a tangible thread connecting Mattia to his brother, his parents, his grandparents—a tradition that asks, what legacy are you building that will outlive you?

[14:55] At the Bistrot, every plate holds seasonal ingredients within zero kilometers and is touched by aged balsamic—telling you exactly who Mattia's family is and what this corner of Emilia tastes like.

[16:30] Opera|02 invites guests into vineyard picnics with baskets of local cheese and bread, intimate dinners among three hundred barrels of aging balsamic, wine tastings that change with the seasons, and Lambrusco served in a can—proving that tradition doesn't mean stuffy.

Visit For Yourself
Opera|02 Website | Shop Opera|02 | @opera02resort

"Of course we're gonna have a menu that's constantly changing, we're following nature. And your ingredients when they're at their peak, your dish is gonna be at its peak. So why put something on a menu that maybe is out of season already two months ago. And that also challenges us to think outside the box, to be creative, which is something that we're taking back from Noma because the creativity there goes beyond what you may imagine.”

We’re in great company with Samantha Lamanna and Luca Invernizzi, the chefs and visionaries behind Tenuta Lamanna, who spent four formative years at Noma in Copenhagen before stepping away to pursue their own hospitality dream.

Now they are cultivating a soon-to-be agriturismo and restaurant nestled in the Tuscan countryside between mountains and sea, where rolling vineyards meet olive groves and family values take root. Here, they are building not just a place to stay and dine, but a deliberate return to what matters most—land, community, and the art of slowing down.

In this episode, Samantha and Luca invite us into their formative first year of learning to let the land lead, building a restaurant rooted in seasonality and creativity, and discovering that the greatest plans are the ones flexible enough to change with the seasons.

Top Takeaways

[2:25] Two different childhoods on opposite sides of the world, yet both shaped by family kitchens and the belief that food is where it all begins.

[5:10] At Noma, one of the world's most competitive and intentional kitchens, Samantha and Luca discovered a partnership that grew with the seasons—a foundation that would carry them through everything ahead.

[12:15] A family dream deferred by life's twists and turns for many years became a reality overnight when they least expected it.

[19:10] From minute-by-minute timelines in the Noma kitchen to learning that a farm moves even while you sleep—Samantha and Luca are discovering that the greatest lesson is not planning, it is listening to what nature asks of you each day.

[25:10] What you see and hear as a guest will shift with the seasons—olive harvests, winter hibernation, budding vines. But you are guaranteed one constant—integration into the daily rhythm of a working farm.

[29:25] Apartments with kitchens to cook on your own, a restaurant for shared meals, harvest seasons that welcome anyone willing to learn and teach—Tenuta Lamanna is building a place where you can escape the city, pass through, or stay rooted in community.

[32:40]  For Samantha and Luca, seasonality will dictate the menu, hyper-local ingredients will take center stage, and Noma's creative philosophy will continue to guide them. But do not expect Italian food—expect something born from their hands, their curiosity, and the land itself.

[37:30] Six family members, six different minds, each with their own expertise—wine tastings, olive oil courses, cooking classes, harvest experiences—all designed so guests can savor memories and carry a taste of Tenuta Lamanna home.

[40:15] Medieval piazzas, crystal lakes, mountain bike trails, farmers markets alive with passion—Samantha and Luca have become tourists in their own backyard, eager to share what they're discovering.

[45:15] At Tenuta Lamanna sustainability is not just philosophy, it is practice—nothing wasted because everything comes full circle, from kitchen to animals to land and back again.

Notable Mentions

Noma in Copenhagen, DK

Massa Marittima

Follonica

Lago dell'Accesa

South Italian Sugo

North Italian Polenta Taragna

Visit For Yourself

@tenutalamanna | @samantharosella | @lucaainve

“They make their own wine or olive oil. They have fruit trees. They are so willing to share, to make you taste, to invite you for lunch and dinner, to teach you something. It's a very generous, open approach that was very new for me. It should be normal and obvious, but it's not. It's no longer like this in big cities.”

We’re in great company with Giorgia Goggi, the Head Chef of Masseria Moroseta—who along with her friends turned family, became the stewards behind this modern farmhouse in Ostuni. Here they have curated an elegant but familiar environment, a place created for those seeking a peaceful atmosphere between nature, good food, design and beauty.

A white stone house standing proudly on a ridge overlooking the Adriatic Sea, surrounded by five hectares of organic olive groves, Masseria Moroseta embodies the essence of Puglia—a unique land, a clear sky, warm scents and simple flavors distilled into every detail.

In this episode, Giorgia shares how slowing down to the rhythm of seasons, trusting ingredient-driven creativity, and gathering around a table with strangers who become friends, reminds us why we fell in love with cooking, travel, and community in the first place.

Top Takeaways

[1:55] From childhood family meals to professional calling, Giorgia transformed her greatest passion into her life's work—finally finding the creative freedom to make her voice heard.

[5:00] In Puglia, Giorgia discovered what she didn't know was missing—a landscape where centuries-old olive trees, generous neighbors, and ingredients alive with flavor make creativity not just possible, but inevitable.

[10:10] Carlo Lanzini envisioned Masseria Moroseta as a classical Puglian farmhouse—a simple, purposeful design born from agriculture where every space served the land—then reimagined it for today with reverence for tradition and place.

[11:35] A day in the life of a Head Chef shifts with the seasons—winter's quietude, spring's renewal, summer's full energy—a rhythm that honors both the land's cycles and the creative space needed to truly innovate.

[15:35] With only six rooms and intentionally unscheduled days, guests naturally surrender their itineraries to discover what matters most—a leisurely breakfast, a nap in the afternoon sun, wine at sunset—the very rhythm that defines the Moroseta lifestyle.

[22:15] Each Puglian ingredient holds infinite possibilities ensuring Giorgia's work is never finished, always evolving.

[25:35] Through workshops, Giorgia steps away from behind the counter to sit as an equal among friends—rediscovering the joy that first drew her to cooking, while guests transform from strangers into a community bound by shared meals and stories.

[29:30] Rather than expanding rooms, Moroseta expanded possibilities—holiday villas for friends, boat tours along the Adriatic, restaurant collaborations—each experience another lens through which guests discover the richness of Puglia, always rooted in the same care and intention.

Notable Mentions

Studio Andrew Trotter

Tortellini en Brodo

Nocino Liqueur

Visit For Yourself

Masseria Moroseta Website | @masseriamoroseta

@morosetakitchen | @moroseta_homes | @moroseta_boats

“Everything got quiet and all that noise went away. And I remember being like, ‘Hang on to this, Anna, because you're so clear in this is what the plan is. Don't let the world's noise steal that from you.’ So it's been there in the back of my head while we've been pulling the hotels out of the sinking sand. When we're ready, we're gonna pivot and this is gonna be a place for healing.”

We're in great company with Anna Campbell, a passionate conservationist and wellness advocate who has transformed her late mother's vision into one of Kenya's most enchanting boutique hotel experiences, Mukima Manor—a sanctuary for wildlife and wellness—in one of the country's most breathtaking safari regions.

Anna shares how she's stewarding this century-old manor and accompanying 300 acres of rewilded land as both a love letter to her mother's legacy and a haven where guests can slow down, reconnect, and restore.

In this New Year's episode, we explore what it means to set intentions not through resolutions but through presence—grounding ourselves in nature's rhythms, opening up to strangers who become companions in adventure, and remembering that true wellness lives at the intersection of wild exploration and quiet healing.

Top Takeaways

[1:55] Anna's Kenyan childhood was beautifully untamed. Listen as she shares stories that instilled an innate respect for the land, a joy in recognizing that less truly is more.

[4:25] Remembering Anna’s mother Leslie as a force of nature—brave, creative, and surefooted in ways that seemed almost effortless, taking risks that others might have called bonkers.

[7:30] With such optimism and pride, Anna speaks of her mother and husband—honoring Leslie's creative legacy while relying on Shawn's unwavering strength, the kind of partnership that turns what could have been insurmountable challenges into a love letter to both past and future.

[15:35] The profound experience of caring for her mother sparked Anna's passion for health and wellness—turning heartbreak into healing by creating a sanctuary where others can restore themselves.

[19:25] Mukima Manor's mornings arrive with birdsong, cool mountain air, the crackle of leaves underfoot, and mist rising off the lake—a sensory wake-up call that reminds you why this rewilded sanctuary feels so alive.

[23:30] Living sustainably isn't a compromise, it's an alignment—a quiet luxury where guests consume only what's clean and kind, from chemical-free shampoos to carrots pulled straight from the garden, because wellness begins at the source.

[26:30]  Mukima Manor's adventures are yours to choose, tailored so no two days (or family members) need follow the same path.

[30:00] Wellness isn't just clean eating and meditation, it's beautifully multifaceted—which is exactly what Anna's upcoming retreats at Mukima Manor aim to celebrate.

[33:05] For those craving both beach and bush, Anna offers the best of Kenya—intimate hospitality that feels like staying with your most adventurous friend who knows all the hidden gems.

Visit For Yourself

Mukima Manor Website | @mukimamanorhouse

The Cabanas Lamu Website | @thecabanaslamu

“The idea behind Arctic Bath was born at Treehotel. And I think this is also an important part of the story. How new crazy things inspire other crazy people to do crazy things that nobody says is possible. We are not competing with each other, we are completing each other—working together and bringing people to each other. That's the way that we work with tourism in this area.”

We're in great company with Maarten Raes and Peter Engström, two of the original visionary partners behind Arctic Bath, a one-of-a-kind hotel, spa, and restaurant floating on the serene Lule River in Swedish Lapland, where frost-covered forests transform with the seasons and the Northern Lights dance above the Arctic landscape.

Here, they have reimagined what luxury means—not through excess, but through authenticity, nature, and slow travel. What makes Arctic Bath so extraordinary is the quiet conviction behind it—the grit it took to build something real, a team committed to genuine hospitality, and a philosophy that proves luxury is found in connection, not consumption.

In this winter episode, we discover how slowing down in the Arctic teaches us what truly matters—and why some of the most meaningful travel experiences happen when we stop rushing and start listening.

Top Takeaways

[9:50] The story behind Arctic Bath's iconic circular main building meant to mimic timber logs jamming in rapids—and how architect Bertil Harström designed it as a visual tribute to the Lule River's legacy.

[15:20] Amidst construction delays, a pandemic six weeks after opening, and countless late nights fixing things behind the scenes, Peter quietly delivered a serene sanctuary for their first season of worldly guests.

[19:10] The Michelin Key arrived not for the rooms, the architecture, or the food alone—but for the intangible thing guests keep trying to describe—the genuine warmth of a team that chose to create something real.

[21:45] Three ways to experience Arctic Bath: Land and Suite cabins offer spacious luxury, while floating Water rooms let you swim from your bed in summer and listen to the ice sing beneath you in winter.

[24:45] The sauna and cold plunge ritual—rooted in centuries of Nordic living—transforms guests and locals alike, awakening something so natural that no manufactured wellness experience at home can replicate.

[27:10] Each plate at Arctic Bath tells a story—of the river, the forest, the northern lights—translating the landscape into something guests can taste compliments of the relationships with local fishermen, farmers, and herders.

[29:40] A winter day unfolds: dogsledding or snowshoe hiking with locals, Sámi stories shared around an open fire, a luxurious Swedish spa experience—and if you're fortunate, the Northern Lights dancing above in the endless night sky.

[32:45] Arctic Bath's sustainability runs deeper than awards—it's woven into every choice, a commitment to nurturing the small businesses and community that make this place possible.

Notable Mentions

Nordic Collection

Treehotel in Swedish Lapland

Visit For Yourself

Arctic Bath Website | @arcticbath_sweden