Kim Ayling

Brighton, London

Deputy Editor at Elite Traveler

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elitetraveler.com

Articles

Odacité Debuts at Domaines des Etangs Auberge

3 days ago | elitetraveler.com | Kim Ayling

Contrary to first impressions, ‘clean’ beauty is a muddied world, rife with contradiction. But, sitting in front of Odacité founder Valerie Grandury as she talks through her exclusive partnership with Domaine des Etangs Auberge, the movement becomes a lot clearer.
The Ritz Restaurant's Executive Chef on Keeping an Icon Alive

4 days ago | elitetraveler.com | Kim Ayling

Amid London’s ever-evolving restaurant scene, from casual noodle joints to glitzy celeb hotspots, The Ritz Restaurant has retained the coveted ‘icon’ status since it opened in 1906. A recent recipient of its second Michelin star, eight years after receiving its first and over a century after opening, The Ritz Restaurant remains a testament to London’s enduring love of out-and-out unabashed luxury. Executive chef John Williams tells us how it has remained relevant over 100 years later.
Living Legends: Restaurants That Have Stood the Test of Time

4 days ago | elitetraveler.com | Kim Ayling

Trends come and go in restaurants. Micro-herbs were all the rage for a time; avocado is still a cornerstone; small plates continue to enjoy their time in the limelight; and supper clubs are making a breakthrough. But in a social media world, where fast-moving trends often dictate the masses (and ergo the reservations), some pillars remain.
Gabriel Kreuther to Host Chef Cedric Vongerichten for One Night Only

1 week ago | elitetraveler.com | Kim Ayling

In celebration of the diverse culinary inspirations that have made New York City the culinary heartland that it is, chef Gabriel Kreuther is continuing his Chef x Chef series and is hosting Cedric Vongerichten of Wayan and Ma•dé for a one-night-only four-hands dinner. Taking place on June 3, the one-off culinary experience will see the two celebrated chefs collaborate on a special menu that fuses classic French culinary styles with the bold flavors of Indonesia.
Dubai’s First Three-Michelin-starred Restaurants Revealed

1 week ago | elitetraveler.com | Kim Ayling

The 2025 Michelin Guide Dubai has been revealed – and with it comes the announcement of the city’s very first three-Michelin-starred restaurants. The launch of Dubai’s fourth Michelin guide takes the city’s total number of starred restaurants to 22. Taking the top award was FZN by Björn Frantzén, which opened in November 2024 in the flashy Atlantis The Palm hotel, and Trèsind Studio at St Regis Gardens, The Palm Jumeirah.
London's First All-suite Hotel

1 week ago | elitetraveler.com | Kim Ayling

If there is one thing London knows how to do well, it is hotels – and in recent years, visitors and locals alike have been treated to a bumper crop of all-new openings, as well as comprehensive refurbs of old favorites. Amid all this newness, one hotel offered something special: The Emory opened in July 2024 as London’s first all-suite hotel. Part of the Maybourne Group, and therefore born with Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley as siblings, a certain level of prestige preceded The Emory.
The Pineapple Weed Vesper Martini by Kitchen Table

2 weeks ago | elitetraveler.com | Kim Ayling

A wise person once told me to never order a Vesper Martini, at risk of sounding like a pretentious tool. It was good advice. Created by Ian Fleming in the ever-famous James Bond series, and named after the spy’s Casino Royal love interest Vesper Lynd, the unconventional martini recipe attempts to please all parties with a mix of both vodka and gin, instead of just one or the other. But despite Bond’s notoriously good tastes, martini purists love to argue against the presence of a Vesper.
Wild Hill Lodge: A Maasai Mara Hidden Gem

2 weeks ago | elitetraveler.com | Kim Ayling

It’s a bumpy Jeep ride up the side of Kileleoni Hill — a hill so steep that in the construction of Wild Hill, two vehicles carrying materials rolled on their way up, and every piece of glass arrived shattered on the first attempt. The view at the top is more than worth it, though: From the top of the highest hill in the Maasai Mara, Wild Hill gazes across one of the most mesmerizing landscapes in the world.
Arnaud Donckele & Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton Returns

2 weeks ago | elitetraveler.com | Kim Ayling

For a third year running, Louis Vuitton has ushered in the summer season with the opening of Arnaud Donckele & Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton – its ultra-chic Saint Tropez restaurant. And, for its latest iteration, the restaurant comes with a new accolade: a freshly awarded Michelin star, revealed in the 2025 guide. Armed with one of the highest culinary awards in the world, Arnaud Donckele & Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton continues to showcase the multi-faceted identity of the LV world.
Ara Vartarian on Creating Jewelry to Stir Emotion

2 weeks ago | elitetraveler.com | Kim Ayling

Bold, oversized and captivating, Ara Vartanian jewelry is made for the confident. Elite Traveler speaks to the founder of the São Paulo-based brand – who refreshingly still oversees the entire crafting process – to uncover his inspirations and find out how he wants to contribute to the wider jewelry world for years to come. In your own words, how would you describe the signature look and feel of Ara Vartanian jewelry? My work is instinctive.