After a three-week break in Lisbon, it’s a joy to return with this new edition. The highlight of my time away? An unforgettable culinary journey at Belcanto, Chef José Avillez’s two Michelin-starred restaurant. It was more than just a meal, it was a masterclass in Portuguese storytelling through flavour, memory, and elegance.
That idea of transformation, of turning the everyday into something extraordinary, runs through every story this week. Whether it’s a Beverly Hills mega-flagship, a €10K espresso machine, or a reimagined French bistro, what connects them all is intent, emotion, and elevated experience.
Let’s dive in.
- Maurice Ajanaku
🍽️ Belcanto by José Avillez: A Culinary Journey Through Portugal
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🏬 Louis Vuitton Announces Mega Flagship for Beverly Hills, Opening 2029
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☕ This $11,660 Espresso Machine from Aimé Leon Dore x La Marzocco Sold Out in a Day
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🚤 Wajer 55 Chase Boat: A New Benchmark in Luxury Day Boating
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🍷 A First Look Inside Josephine Marylebone, London’s French Bistro Gem
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💇 Kérastase Launches Immersive House of Gloss Pop-Up in Soho
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Located in the heart of Lisbon, Belcanto delivers a tasting experience where each dish unfolds like a chapter in Portugal’s story. From reimagined classics to dishes inspired by the sea, Chef José Avillez turns culinary heritage into high art.
Why it matters:
Transforms Portuguese tradition through modern technique
Evokes memory and place with every course
Reaffirms Lisbon as a global gastronomic destination
Opening in 2029, Louis Vuitton’s Gehry-designed flagship will span 45,000 sq ft, offering fashion, fine dining, a permanent exhibition space, and rooftop gardens, all on the corner of Rodeo and Beverly Drive.
Why it’s a game-changer:
Creates a full lifestyle experience anchored in architecture
Merges cultural engagement with retail innovation
Signals the next era of flagship strategy
With walnut, brass, and café culture baked into its design, this limited-edition Linea Micra espresso machine was handmade in Florence, and gone in under 24 hours.
Why it’s exciting:
Fuses fashion, function, and ritual in one object
Reflects growing appetite for design-led home luxury
Shows how limited drops can transform appliances into icons
Wajer Yachts reinvents its signature 55 model with new interiors, performance upgrades, and race car-inspired curves, designed for Mediterranean crossings, guest comfort, and self-captained freedom.
Why it stands out:
Combines form, function, and flawless engineering
Makes performance feel poetic and silent
Designed to host, explore, and impress in equal measure
The second outpost from Claude and Lucy Bosi brings Parisian romance and Lyonnais cuisine to Marylebone. Burgundy leather, antique mirrors, and a potato tasting menu set the tone.
Why it charms:
Feels personal, nostalgic, and deliberately unfussy
Celebrates French tradition with warmth and ease
Elevates comfort food into cultural memory
From scalp diagnostics to YSL makeup touch-ups, the House of Gloss in Soho reinvents product launches as lifestyle experiences, with design, workshops, and free treatments.
Why it’s clever:
Reframes beauty as experiential and educational
Merges luxury, wellness, and digital storytelling
Draws visitors in through utility, not just aspiration
This week’s stories are a reminder: luxury isn’t static, it evolves with our habits, rituals, and desires. Whether it’s an espresso machine, a boat, or a dining room, the best experiences are layered, intimate, and made to be remembered.
If you missed it earlier this year, I published The Ritual Advantage, a strategic playbook on how to design these kinds of moments.
Download the playbook →
And as always, if something here made you pause, let’s continue the conversation on LinkedIn.
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