Kate Weir

Brighton, London

Senior Associate Editor at Mr & Mrs Smith

Writer of words for @SmithHotels. Opinions all my own.

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Articles

10 of the best hotels in Florence for every travel need

1 month ago | mrandmrssmith.com | Kate Weir

It seems impossible to visit Florence and feel ‘meh’ about the city. A pitstop that largely contributed to the ‘grand’ in the Grand Tour, the wellspring of the Renaissance and a trove of art and architecture so enamouring it paralysed French writer Stendhal with its beauty (his namesake psychological phenomenon is also known as ‘Florence syndrome’) — it tends to make visitors fall head over heels.
Forever finds: our pick of sustainable souvenirs

1 month ago | mrandmrssmith.com | Kate Weir

With travellers seeking out more authentic, immersive experiences, it seems that more and more are opting to take only photos and memories back home with them. Perhaps it’s due to dwindling baggage allowances, but there are still some souvenirs worth holding the space for: those that speak of hours of crafting and care, those keeping local artisans in business, those that are true, built-for-life heirloom pieces. Some even — rather than being made en masse — crafted by your very own hands.
10 of the best hotels in Porto for every travel need

1 month ago | mrandmrssmith.com | Kate Weir

Porto might be Portugal’s second city (after Lisbon), but it makes for a first-rate weekend break. Its high-frequency topography is lined with lavishly Azulejo-tiled buildings, gets you woozy on white-to-tawny ports, rings with mournful Fado songs and spills over into the Douro Valley wine region. The best hotels in Porto reflect its characterful nature; our pick of spa hotels, family apartments and beachside hideaways offer an intro to the city as smooth as its signature drink.
B excellent to each other: saluting sustainable hotels

2 months ago | mrandmrssmith.com | Kate Weir

Saving the world looks different these days. It’s galloping out into Chile’s sierras on horseback with a gaucho, laying down tracks with indie darlings in a secret recording studio in Cabo, diving into bioluminescent waters in Cambodia, and many more thrilling pursuits beyond sorting rubbish into bins. How do you do your bit? By booking a B Corp hotel.
The ultimate Clerkenwell neighbourhood guide

2 months ago | mrandmrssmith.com | Kate Weir

By London standards, Clerkenwell is relatively low-key. It’s lighter on postcard sights and leaves hipster swagger to Shoreditch next door, and people actually live around its serene Georgian garden squares (a word of warning: you’ll never be more tempted to buy a townhouse). But its laidback feel masks centuries of political dynamism, dining revolutions and historic intrigue, which you can discover without those pesky tourist hordes.
Yes, chef: destination-dining hero Venissa's Chiara Pavan

Mar 26, 2025 | mrandmrssmith.com | Kate Weir

Let us introduce you to the world’s most exciting hotel chefs as we guide you through the gourmet getaway spots we’re hungering for…WHO’S IN THE KITCHEN? It’s unsurprising that Veronese chef Chiara Pavan specialised in philosophy of science at university — she’s a talent whose approach to dining is methodical and innovative, and she’s working where she’s needed most.
Stay Golden: California’s hoteliers look to the future

Mar 21, 2025 | mrandmrssmith.com | Kate Weir

In January this year, California’s usual placid scenes of close-up-ready beaches and vine-clad hinterland were replaced with those tragically more infernal. But amid the devastation of the voracious wildfires — which tore through 57,000 acres and killed 29 people — there were tales of hope and humanity, many of which came from California’s top hotels, who provided shelter for those displaced and rallied around to raise donations.
10 of the best hotels in Mallorca for every travel need

Mar 19, 2025 | mrandmrssmith.com | Kate Weir

Mallorca is a bijou Balearic island that takes an hour to drive across, but it contains multitudes, from cosmopolitan capital Palma and rugged serras, to windmill-dotted countryside and soft-sand beaches. It’s hard to narrow down where or how many head-turning destinations to hit, so we’ve chosen 10 of the best hotels in Mallorca for trips of all kinds.
Yes, chef: Holm's Nicholas Balfe

Feb 19, 2025 | mrandmrssmith.com | Kate Weir

Let us introduce you to the world’s most exciting hotel chefs as we guide you through the gourmet getaway spots we’re hungering for…WHO’S IN THE KITCHEN? Nicholas Balfe, a chef whose journey has taken him from the vibrant urbanity of South London to a laidback bucolic scene at Holm hotel in Somerset, becoming finely attuned to shifts in seasonal flavours and more connected to surrounding nature along the way — thus operating more sustainably too.
Short-hop Easter breaks from the UK

Feb 12, 2025 | mrandmrssmith.com | Kate Weir

Perhaps you’re trying to beat those early booking parents at their own game, don’t want to spend swathes of the school break on long flights, or simply want to bag an Easter holiday that’s hassle-free — whatever your spring plans, we’ve sourced short-haul breaks in Europe and beyond that cut down on the faff and maximise the fun.