Michael McCarthy

Washington, D.C.

Editor-in-Chief at Modern Luxury DC

Editor-in-Chief at Modern Luxury Aspen

Editor-in-Chief at Boston Common Magazine

Editor-in-Chief at Modern Luxury Interiors Boston

Articles

Exciting New San Francisco Restaurant Openings of 2025

4 days ago | modernluxury.com | Michael McCarthy |Michael Mccarthy

Tyler Florence’s new Wayfare Tavern offers dazzling dishes and decor. Photo by Jason Perry MeskiDraymond Green is making moves outside of the court with his new Ethiopian-Dominican hot spot, Meski. He’s partnered with restaurateur Guma Fassil and chef Nelson German to create a new nightlife experience full of Afro beats and Latin flavors.
A New Culinary Experience in Sonoma

5 days ago | modernluxury.com | Michael McCarthy |Michael Mccarthy

The culinary team’s new menu features a range of incredible dishes. Chef Jennifer Murphy-Ellamar, formerly executive chef of operations at Caesars Palace, brings with her the experience of overseeing multiple award-winning restaurants. Her culinary foundation includes time spent with titans of the industry—Joël Robuchon, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Michael Mina. Most recently, she earned acclaim at the helm of Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen.
Tyler Florence Reimagines Wayfare Tavern in San Francisco

5 days ago | modernluxury.com | Michael McCarthy |Michael Mccarthy

Tyler Florence never does anything halfway. Ask him to grill a steak, and he will create a menagerie of smoke, temperature and finely cut beef that feels like a revelation each time. He’s the same way about setting. When we got together for an interview last year, Florence noted that every night in one of his restaurants is a show. This explains the new Wayfare Tavern, which recently reopened at the corner of SF’s Pine and Battery Streets after anchoring nearby Sacramento Street for 14 years.
Best Local Luxury Beauty Awards 2023: Top Winners

2 weeks ago | modernluxury.com | Michael McCarthy |Michael Mccarthy

PEARL SPA & SAUNAExpect a dedicated team of therapists committed to helping clients achieve peace of mind in a serene environment, offering treatments tailored to individual needs and desires. Combining the best Korean beauty traditions with American relaxation techniques, this unique two-story women’s spa in the heart of SF offers a blissfully tranquil retreat for the mind, body and soul.
A Sustainable Future Unveiled

2 weeks ago | modernluxury.com | Michael McCarthy |Michael Mccarthy

For the 2025 edition of NYCxDESIGN, Johnnie Walker Blue Label presented OUT OF THE BLUE: Glass, Craft and the Future, an exclusive weeklong exhibition at the Cristina Grajales Gallery in Tribeca. The event celebrated the brand’s storied past while boldly envisioning its sustainable, design-forward future. At the heart of the exhibition was the debut of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra—a limited-edition, groundbreaking release that marked a new chapter for the brand.
Unforgettable Irish Whiskey Experience at Dunluce Lodge

3 weeks ago | modernluxury.com | Michael McCarthy

History and tradition—coupled with nature—are everything to the storied brand. The 46-year-old single malt release is special, of course. It’s unique for all the reasons you’d expect (at $12,500 per bottle, only 300 bottles exist, each held in handcrafted hexagonal presentation boxes), but also because it represents the brand’s bold statement to the whiskey-loving world: Never forget we’ve been doing this longer than anyone, and Irish whiskey is pretty damn great.
Experience The Dalmore Luminary Series at Venice Biennale

3 weeks ago | modernluxury.com | Michael McCarthy |Michael Mccarthy

I love it when worlds collide. And when those worlds are exceptional Scotch whisky and visionary architecture, all the better. This convergence happened in the most awe-inspiring way in Venice at the architectural biennale during the highly anticipated unveiling of the third chapter of The Dalmore Luminary Series. I was lucky enough to be there. It’s a night I won’t soon forget. This year, the esteemed distillery partnered with Ben Dobbin of the globally renowned architectural firm Foster + Partners.
Top Picks Near Washington, DC

3 weeks ago | modernluxury.com | Michael McCarthy |Michael Mccarthy

Creative cocktails are part of the Silver Lyan’s DNA at the Riggs Hotel. BEST HOTEL BAR SILVER LYAN, RIGGS HOTELLocated in a gorgeous and sexy subterranean space, this crimson cocktail lair is the first U.S. venture by acclaimed British mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana, Mr. Lyan. Set within a former bank vault, the lounge’s design features crimson velvet, exposed concrete and vintage trophies, creating an intimate speakeasy ambiance.
Explore DC's New Culinary Hotspots

3 weeks ago | modernluxury.com | Michael McCarthy |Michael Mccarthy

Knafeh. The journey culminates in a fire-lit dining room where the hearth table still commands the stage—its flickering glow a nod to the heart of Albi’s cooking. The design features original, hand-embroidered works from Jordan Nassar (@jordannassar), the celebrated Palestinian-American artist whose pieces reside in the Whitney and ICA Boston. The result is a space that speaks fluently in the language of warmth, memory and craft.
Discover Unique Travel Gems with Upon Return

3 weeks ago | modernluxury.com | Michael McCarthy |Michael Mccarthy

You base each recommendation on multiple sources and personal visits. How do you balance instinct with research? Our research model is extensive and pressure-tested across every category we cover—from restaurants and hotels to markets, shops, bars, galleries and even coffee shops. I cast a very wide net: local experts, trusted publications, word of mouth and people who know their city better than anyone. But hours of research only get you so far. The place has to hold up in person.