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News / condé nast traveller announces gold list 2023.

An annual list of the world’s best hotels, resorts and cruises

Condé Nast Traveller announced the winners of the Gold List 2023 , an annual list of the world’s best hotels, resorts and cruises, expertly curated by Condé Nast Traveller’s global editorial team. The full list of winners can be found online at cntraveler.com , cntraveller.com , traveler.es and celebrated in the January/February issues of CNT U.S., U.K and Spain.

For the second time, the Gold List 2023 features a singular global list curated by the editors of Condé Nast Traveller's editions from around the world. The list is made up of travel getaways ranging from the Amansara in Cambodia, Babylonstoren, a farmstead situated in the Western Cape, to 1 Hotel South Beach in Miami and The Mark Hotel in New York City. In addition to recognizing outstanding hotels and resorts, select markets will also feature cruises. The list is curated by Condé Nast Traveller’s award-winning editorial team under Global Editorial Director Divia Thani and Deputy Global Editorial Director Jesse Ashlock, and provides inspiration for discerning travellers on where to stay as they look ahead into the next year.

The Global Gold List 2023

• La Mamounia Marrakech, Morocco
• Babylonstoren Simondium, South Africa
• Singita Kwitonda Lodge Musanze, Rwanda
• Jabali Ridge Ruaha, Tanzania
• The Datai Langkawi Malaysia
• Ceylon Tea Trails Hatton, Sri Lanka
• Oberoi Udaivilas Udaipur, India
• The Leela Palace Bengaluru India
• Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand
• Hoshinoya Kyoto Japan
• Raffles Singapore
• The Chedi Muscat Oman
• One&Only Royal Mirage Dubai, UAE
• Nihi Sumba Indonesia
• Amansara Siem Reap, Cambodia
• The Upper House Hong Kong
• Six Senses Punakha Bhutan
• The Jaffa Tel Aviv, Israel
• Lake Hawea Station New Zealand
• PumpHouse Point Tasmania, Australia
• Ocean House Rhode Island, USA
• The Mark New York, USA
• Malibu Beach Inn California, USA
• 1 Hotel South Beach Florida, USA
• Commodore Perry Estate Texas, USA
• Halekulani Hotel Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
• Cheval Blanc St-Barth St Barts, Caribbean
• Jumby Bay Island Antigua
• Clayoquot Wilderness Resort Vancouver Island, Canada
• Hotel Esencia Xpu-Ha, Mexico
• Tierra Patagonia Chile
• Uxua Casa Bahia, Brazil
• Jardin Escondido Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Kinloch Lodge Isle of Skye, UK
• The Savoy London, UK
• The Goring London, UK
• The Newt in Somerset, UK
• Marbella Club Málaga, Spain
• Santo Mauro Madrid, Spain
• El Palace Barcelona Spain
• Belmond Cipriani Hotel Venice, Italy
• Belmond Caruso Hotel Ravello, Italy
• Grand Hotel Tremezzo Como, Italy
• Villa Igiea Palermo, Italy
• São Lourenço do Barrocal Alentejo, Portugal
• Hôtel de Crillon Paris, France
• Le Meurice Paris, France
• Hôtel du Palais Biarritz, France
• Beau-Rivage Palace Lausanne, Switzerland
• Deplar Farm Iceland
• Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam The Netherlands
• Four Seasons Sultanahmet Istanbul, Turkey
• Santa Marina Mykonos, Greece
• Kyrimai Mani, Greece
• The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort South Carolina, USA
• NoMad Las Vegas USA
• Jumeirah Al Qasr Dubai, UAE

During 2022, Condé Nast Traveller celebrated landmark anniversaries for the brand around the globe, including 35 years in the U.S., 25 years in the U.K., 15 years in Spain and 12 years in India.

The Gold List 2023 can be found online today at cntraveler.com , cntraveller.com , traveler.es and on newsstands in the U.S., U.K. and Spain in December 2022 through early 2023.

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New restaurants in Mumbai in 2024

By Condé Nast Traveller

A wave of new restaurants is slowly redefining Mumbai's dining scene with innovative flavours and unique dining experiences. From mediterranean cuisines and cosy plant-based cafés to Hawaiian-themed cocktail bars and bold Mexican flavours, here are new restaurants to try in Mumbai 2024.

New restaurants in Mumbai in May

The bread bar, chembur.

Ice cream lovers in Mumbai will know of chef Rachi Gupta’s Gelato Bar, which has outlets in Bandra and Chembur and serves up silky gelatos sandwiched between crunchy cookies and brioche buns. The Bread Bar is Gupta’s first baby and was born during the pandemic-induced lockdowns. Gupta, a trained pastry chef, has always loved breads and baking, and would sell homemade sourdoughs and breads from her home kitchen in Chembur, where she grew up. In 2021, she opened a small storefront and professional kitchen, but loyal customers wanted more. Now, Gupta has expanded the space into a thoughtfully designed café that serves pizzas, pastas, open toasts, desserts, and of course, fresh breads. The orange and yellow-hued café in Chembur is warm and welcoming, with impressive design elements like framed digital art that reimagines Gupta’s baguette as a bullet train, and stacked sliced bread as a stairway. An expansive mural on one side features all of Gupta’s best bakes in a vibrant illustrated scene—all illustrations are by Mumbai-based studio Honest Illustrations. We especially enjoyed the hand-rolled fettuccine in the house-made pesto sauce, which is coarse and fresh unlike smooth store-bought pesto; the hummus and mushroom open toast with a sprinkle of za’atar; and the light pepperoni pizza with an airy sourdough base and a beautiful San Marzano tomato sauce. On your way out, grab a fresh loaf of bread and a tote bag or coffee cup to take home. The Bread Bar, Unit No. 2, Shah Industrial Estate, Deonar, Chembur, Mumbai; Instagram

Otra, Kala Ghoda

The team behind Americano has opened a brand new restaurant in Kala Ghoda that pays homage to Chef Alex Sanchez’s Puerto Rican heritage. Sanchez and partner Mallyeka Watsa have been helped by chef Alex Leonard to put together a menu at Otra that marries Puerto Rican flavours with local tastes. The new restaurant is located in Kala Ghoda, a stone’s throw away from Sanchez’s first restaurant, Americano, which serves pizza, pasta and more. A whole section is devoted to tostadas, with crispy corn tortillas topped with everything from grilled carrots to hamachi tartare. For those seeking bright, summer-friendly flavours, the red snapper aguachile is a must-order. There are also Swiss chard empanadas, chips and guac, the pork belly ‘pernil’ and gueritos con camarones. The cocktail menu features no vodka or whisky cocktails, with Bar Chef Darren Crawford hoping to introduce tipplers to pisco, rum, mezcal and tequila libations. The Azteca slushy is ideal for the weather and features tequila, pineapple, lime, and in-house poblano chilli liquor and green Chartreuse, a French herbal liqueur. -Aatish Nath Otra, 105 Mumbai Samachar Marg, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai; Instagram

Benne, Bandra

By Arundhati Ail

By Tora Agarwala

If you’re in Mumbai and interested in food and restaurants, you have probably already come across Benne Bombay on your Instagram feed. Cofounders Shriya Narayanan and Akhil wanted to bring traditional Bengaluru dosas to Mumbai, and Benne does just that. The cosy restaurant on 16th Road serves a tight menu of benne (which means butter in Kannada) dosas, idlis, vadas and filter coffee, along with an ever-changing Bengaluru special section. The founders introduced time slots for guests to book on the opening weekend, which promptly sold out within a few minutes. Currently, the restaurant is operational for four days a week from 5pm. Bandra folks: there’s also a vegan filter coffee on the menu to go with your crisp but soft dosas. Benne. Shop no. 1, plot 85, TPS 3, Louis Bell Building, 16th Road, opposite Shree Sagar, Bandra West, Mumbai; Instagram

Waikiki, Andheri east

This new cocktail bar is a Hawaiian-themed space in the heart of Mumbai. The ambience mimics a dense tropical jungle with lots of foliage, dramatic art installations and dim lights. Executive chef David Cagle brings together ingredients from Hawaii, Mumbai and other parts of the world to create a menu that features Hawaiian-style soups, salads and barbecued meats and seafood. There’s a teppanyaki section with vegetarian and meat options, Hawaiian sliders featuring coconut marinated chicken, spicy butterfish, prawns and lamb kebabs, all sandwiched between soft milk buns. The cocktail menu, curated by mixologists Karl Fernandes and Deepak Koranga, includes signature drinks like the Powhiri Picante which blends a granola rum with a yuzu highball; the Hawaiian Sunset, a hibiscus Paloma served on tap; and a tropical martini with notes of banana and guava. Waikiki, Silver Monument, 90 Feet Road, Mumbai, Sakinaka, Mumbai; Instagram

The Cravin’ Pantry, Fort

Folks in Fort might be familiar with Cravin’ by Andy, a home kitchen by chef Anandita that delivered fresh, healthy bakes in the neighbourhood. That little business is now a full-fledged café in Horniman Circle. The new plant-forward café serves falafel bowls, a spicy carrot harissa with gluten-free za’atar chips, vegetable tartines on toasted slices of house-made sourdough, a Southeast Asian bowl called the Market Curry featuring gluten-free soba noodles and vegetables in a coconut milk curry, a pesto cauliflower gnocchi, salads, breakfast waffles and more. Wash it all down with an iced coffee or an iced matcha latte. The Cravin’ Pantry, ground floor, Bansi Lal Building, 15-A, Homi Modi St, opposite Bombay House, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai; Instagram

Luuma House, Juhu

The newest addition to Juhu’s culinary scene is Luuma House, a casual dining space serving European, Asian, Indian and Mediterranean cuisines. The expansive space is designed in earth tones, with warm fabrics, statement walls and palm fronds offering a breezy atmosphere. The food menu includes everything from sushi, chilli oil noodles and pho to caprese salads, tacos, chicken wings and pastas. There’s a matcha-flavoured tiramisu on the dessert menu, along with an indulgent sundae featuring cookie ice cream, chocolate brownie, a strawberry balsamic jam and a crispy waffle chip. Luuma House, Plot 47, Gulmohar Road, Juhu, Mumbai, Juhu, Mumbai; Instagram

New restaurants in Mumbai in April

Mokai, bandra.

In the bustle of Bandra’s Chapel Road, as rickshaws and cars swerve to avoid one another—and pedestrians—on the narrow streets, Mokai is hard to miss. Its bright pink and blue exterior walls are inspired by The Great Wave off Kanagawa, an iconic 1831 woodblock print by Japanese artist Hokusai, and is interspersed with motifs of a Moka pot with coffee splashing out like waves. Arched doors and windows beckon you into the warm space, where muted tones like beige and brown complement pops of brighter pink and purple. The latter colour imitates that of ube or purple yam, which is commonly used in a range of Southeast Asian desserts and savoury dishes. Mokai is an Asian-inspired café, and the menu reflects this as much as the design. Founder and first-time restaurateur Kareena Khatwani has curated the menu to include her childhood favourites from cafés and streetside eateries in China and Singapore , where she grew up. So, the menu is peppered with quick eats like a crispy, golden honey butter toast, a Convenience Store Egg Sando and a fruit and cream sando inspired by the packed sandwiches at Japanese konbini, Hong Kong’s street-style steamed wontons, and Newton Food Centre Chicken Rice inspired by the hawker’s market in Singapore. The congee topped with miso butter and shiitake mushrooms is a hearty, comforting dish that we can imagine would be well-suited for Mumbai’s monsoons. There are also a range of Asian-inspired breakfast items, such as Turkish eggs with chilli oil, miso eggs Benedict, a shakshuka with a miso tomato jam, and an avo toast with truffle edamame hummus. The coffee program is in collaboration with Singapore’s Common Man Coffee Roasters and features interesting flavour combinations like Milo-infused coffee and a Coconut Malai Cold Brew made with coconuts from Indonesia. We recommend trying the Taro Boba—the taro is sourced from Taiwan and the blueberry-flavoured pearls burst on your tongue as you sip, and the Kyoto Cold Brew—a 20-hour cold brew with a touch of condensed milk. Both are perfect coolers for the summer, and you can pick them up on-the-go from the adorable window in one corner of the restaurant, designed for joggers and commuters looking for a quick pick-me-up. Mokai, Newton House- 54,Chapel road, Bandra (W); Instagram

Santa Maria, Bandra

The last time a sandwich shop opened in Bandra, it brought snaking queues to a small Bandra village and Instagram virality that spread far beyond Mumbai. Now, in the same Bandra village, bang opposite that 2023 opening, another sandwich shop is showing the promise of similar reactions. Santa Maria in Ranwar is helmed by Diego Miranda and Glenice D’Sa, who also run Bambai Nazariya, a café in Lokhandwala that employs trans and non-binary youth. This is a restaurant that embodies Bandra in its design and menu—covers of Don Bosco’s Madonna pasted on the ceilings, frilly cafe curtains at the windows, chequered table cloths with menus sealed under the glass and sandwiches inspired by local heroes. There’s a (Can't Help) Falling in Love croissant sandwich featuring crispy bacon, peanut butter, maple and banana named after local Elvis impersonator Siddharth Meghani and the Markie’s Mortadella featuring buff and pork Mortadella with pesto and burrata, named after Bandra-based paralympic athlete Mark Dharmani, who became the first Indian to win gold at the World Dwarf Games in 2023. All the meats are smoked at a centre in Pali by Bandra cold cuts master Alcino Lobo. The highlights for us when we visited the packed restaurant on a Thursday night were the Ranwar Square, a focaccia sandwich loaded generously with chicken salami, buff and pork mortadella, pork pepperoni and bacon, and the Nelson’s Choriz featuring a very homestyle Goan choriz in a buttery old-school-Bandra-bakery-like croissant (less crumbly flakes, more buttery softness). Currently, the menu features a handful of salads, four varieties of chunky fries and a choice between Pallonji soda and ice tea, apart from the sandwiches—we would love to see more experimentations with breads (if the fluffy focaccias are anything to go by, they’re sure to be lovely), more beverage options and a couple of fresh, summery sides to balance out the carbs and offer some respite from the city’s sweltering heat. Santa Maria, Shop 87-A3, Palm View, Ranwar, Waroda Road, Near Hill Road, Bandra West, Mumbai; Instagram

Avatara, Santacruz

Mumbai’s new restaurant, Avatara , creates art on a plate with vegetables beyond the usual suspects. Think: turnips, parsnips and drumsticks. Avatara is a Dubai import—the restaurant helmed by Uttarakhand-bred chef Rahul Rana opened in the Emirates in early 2022, and within just a year, bagged a Michelin star. It is the first pure vegetarian modern Indian restaurant that features on Dubai’s list of Michelin-starred big hitters. The 14-course menu, similar to the Dubai outpost, features some of the most unassuming produce. There’s no trace of paneer and mushroom at Avatara. Instead, there are galouti kebabs made with turnip, a crispy fried okra is packed with thecha masala, alu vadi is spun off as a crisp taco made of taro leaves that cradle generously spiced taro roots, and sol kadhi is poured onto a pretty rose made of green apple petals. The piquant tambda rassa masala from Kolhapur is tweaked and used as a rice flavouring in a main course here, and its fieriness is dialled back with a parsnip broth. The menu also draws influences from Ladakhi food, with a jackfruit momo that holds the unctuousness of meat served in a bed of tangy thukpa made of seabuckthorn. The final course retains an element of surprise, with a mini appam served with an aamras bomb. Rana borrows a principle or two from Sattwik cooking, so don’t be surprised when you find out there's no trace of onion and garlic in the food. Shradha Shahani Avatara, 7th Floor, Krishna Curve, Junction Of Linking Road, &, Juhu Tara Rd, opp. Juhu Garden, Santacruz West, Mumbai; Instagram

Carnival by Trèsind, Santacruz

Take the elevator up to the seventh floor of Krishna Curve Building, standing at the junction of Mumbai’s Linking and Juhu Tara roads and the doors will open to a marble foyer leading to Avatara—the recently opened vegetarian concept from Dubai, operated by the same hospitality group, Passion F&B—and Carnival by Trèsind , a restaurant also originally from Dubai. Upon crossing the threshold, the ‘carnival’ kicks off. Six bartenders nod in unison with their neon-toned headgear, merging with a decor underscored by myriad masquerade masks washing the walls; flashes of rose gold-hued metal trees and Ferrari-red furnishings catch my gaze across the deep shadows of the 120-cover operation’s tenebrous lighting. The ambience is undoubtedly gaudy, but entertainingly so—design-wise, they didn’t overegg the pudding, but rather decided to whip up a meringue. The signature cocktail list is inspired by carnivals around the world. The Candyflip is inspired by Germany's Cologne Carnival and is a simple but well-done mix of fresh grapefruit juice and beer, with a dash of Campari and thyme; the limoncello is beautifully bright and citrus-forward; the coffee liqueur wafts nuanced notes of Madagascar vanilla all while letting you taste the quality of coffee made with Blue Tokai beans; and the in-house triple sec and creme de cacao is superlative, with a MilkyBar aftertaste that kicks you back to primary school. Try the Champaran-style Carnitas that swaps Bihar’s mustard oil, handi-cooked mutton classic with a pork base; the Coorgi Dumpling, which reimagines the classic Kodagu-style combo of pork and kachampuli in gyoza form; the simple and exceptional Channa Martabaan, best pinched with chèvre-coated bhatura; and the Recado Negro, Maharashtrian kaala mutton from Nagpur. Don't miss their Japanese take on the vada pav, featuring togarshi lasooni chutney, fresh shiso leaves, and yuzu kosho—a fermented, tangy chilli sauce—and a crisp fried vada with soft plump morsels of lobster. Julian Manning Carnival by Trèsind, 7th Floor, Krishna Curve Building, Junction Of Linking Road, &, Juhu Tara Rd, Santacruz West, Mumbai; Instagram

Konkani Haven, Khar

This new cosy, open-air restaurant in Khar is offering traditional Konkani flavours to the city . Think, a summer special chilled aamras with puris, jhinga (prawns) flavoured with spicy thecha, bharli vaangi (stuffed brinjal) and cucumber vade. For mains, try the Konkani chicken pulao, jackfruit in Malvani masala, fish or prawns ambotik or kolambi bhaat (prawn pulao). Don't forget to wash it all down with a bowl of cooling solkadi, and wrap it all up with desserts like mango kharvas, bottle gourd halwa and fruit custard. Konkani Haven, backyard, 21st road, behind Poco Loco, Naushad Ali Road, Khar west, Mumbai

Mool Kaapi Bar & Bakes, Fort

There’s a new spot for coffee and bakes in South Mumbai. Mool Kaapi Bar & Bakes pays homage to a classic South Indian filter coffee by offering several variations of it, such as the Kaapicino and the Vietnamese Kaapi, both of which feature an in-house blend of 60% Arabica, 25% Robusta and 15% Chicory. There are also “kaapi coolers” infused with flavours like sugarcane and citrus, and a D&T-Decoction & Tonic, along with a classic filter kaapi. If you prefer non-coffee beverages, try the smoothies, aam panna, masala chai or Kashmiri kahwa or, if you’re in the mood for a stronger drink, pick from the tight selection of coffee cocktails. There’s an Espresso Martini, a Vietnamese Coconut (coffee liqueur, coconut cream, caramel), a C&T (Bandarful coffee liqueur with tonic and an orange slice) and the Coorg (in-house kaapi blend, coconut puree, cardamom bitter, vodka). The food menu includes quick bites like chicken ghee roast puffs, croissants and danishes, muffins, biscotti and desserts. If you’re looking for something more substantial, there are also eggs, ragi dosas, podi idli, and appam and stew. Mool Kaapi Bar & Bakes, 1st Floor, Unit No. 30, Ground Floor, Rajabahadur Mansion, 28, Mumbai Samachar Marg, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai; Instagram

Privé by Fame, Powai

Situated within The Beatle hotel in Powai, Privé by Fame is a new restaurant meant for times you want fine wines, a good drink and easy nibbles. The menu features European and Mediterranean cuisines, with charcuterie boards, mezze platters, smoked feta spanakopita, parma ham and blue cheese bruschettas, pizzas topped with proscuitto, and mains like lobster ravioli, Sicilian pork belly and Tuscan lamb chops. Wrap ip the meal with flaky baklava, a chocolate praline and hazelnut torte, or the Greek galatopita and date cheesecake.

New restaurants in Mumbai in March

The team behind Mumbai restaurants Gigi, Donna Deli and Eve, as well as Goa’s boutique resort KAIĀ, recently launched Lyla, a Mexican and California-inspired cocktail bar. Spread over 4,500sqft in BKC, Lyla features a large wooden island bar and a colour palette that blends soothing earthy tones with bright patterns and statement murals. Chef Beena Noronha, who also helms the kitchen at Gigi, mixes up light bites with big, bold flavours on the menu. Try the Ceviche Amazonico made with red snapper and a coconut leche de tigre, crunchy, savoury Ají Lima Churros dusted with a chilli-lime seasoning, and tortas or Mexican sandwiches stuffed with pulled bbq pork or jackfruit, chorizo, butter poached lobster, and even mock meat. Leave ample space for signature desserts like the Monstruo Churros, a chunky tangle of churros with salted caramel ice cream and chocolate sauce, the Horchata Tres Leches and the Piña Colada Crème Brûlée. Lyla, Platina Building, G Block BKC, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai; Instagram

La Mar, Worli

The sprawling 18,000sqft La Mar is led by Zorawar Kalra, the award-winning restaurateur of Farzi Café and Masala Library fame, and Harindra Singh—the man behind the hugely successful Sunburn Festival. La Mar is nestled next to the entertainment venue Dome and features spacious indoor seating and an expansive outdoor space upstairs that doubles up as a party area late into the night. The upstairs can get as loud as they want, while dinner and drinks remains a more peaceful affair downstairs. The menu is a 50-50 split between veg and non-veg fare and the talented chefs come from respected restaurants like the Michelin-starred Il Riccio and Gaa, Burnt Ends, Ekaa, Noon, and Masque. Don’t miss the hummus, a proper Israeli recipe featuring Baba ganoush-style baked eggplant, greek yoghurt, red onions, pickled cucumbers, and Jaipur olives with pita made in-house. Nibble on the eggplant or salami flatbreads, the yellowfin tuna tataki and the buff tartare before indulging in the trolley service of the butter steak seared table-side. If you’re partying it up upstairs, there’s a special tapas menu to soak up the booze. Julian Manning La Mar NSCI, Worli V Patel Road & Lala Lajpatrai Marg Worli, Mumbai; Instagram

Takumi, Santacruz

Pan-Asian restaurant Takumi is the newest venture of the team behind All Saints in Mumbai and the Vagator beach club Raeeth. Sip on a variety of innovative cocktails, including Southeast Asian twists on classics, like the Gold Fashioned (whisky and Umeshi with orange bitters and sake) or the Samurai Sour (gin, homemade plum liqueur, muskmelon and lemon juice and egg white). Other signature cocktails include the Madame Butterfly featuring butterfly pea-infused Blanco tequila and the Geisha Smile made with Ginjo sake shaken with pomegranate juice. As you sip, nibble on crunchy Som Tam or Laab Gai, before moving to mains like Gaeng Keaw Whan (Thai green curry) with jasmine rice, Burmese Khow Suey, and Lamb Rendang Curry. Takumi, ground floor, Savoy Chambers, Linking Road, Santacruz West, Mumbai; Instagram

CIRQA Dining Room, Lower Parel

Brothers Pankaj and Avinash Gupta, founders of Lower Parel’s speakeasy-style cocktail bar CIRQA , have now launched CIRQA Dining Room, a two-floor restaurant in the same building. The inaugural menu “Bombay and the World” offers playful takes on the vibrant, ever-changing food cultures of Mumbai . The Labneh From Bombay features smoked labneh with zucchini, bell peppers and sweet potato in a peri peri sauce, the Buff Puff is a phyllo meat pie reminiscent of Mumbai’s many bakeries, and there’s also a fragrant Nihari with focaccia to mop it all up. Wrap up the meal with a peanut butter sundae, coffee ice cream sandwich or coconut panna cotta with mango coulis. CIRQA Dining Room, Plot 126, Ground Floor, Mathuradas Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Pawar Marg, opposite Zeba, Lower Parel, Mumbai; Instagram

Sorozai, Versova

Sorozai, a new restaurant in Mumbai , aims to transport diners to the shores of easy, breezy Goa through its food and interiors. In Konkani, Sorozai roughly translates to “would you like a drink?”, a question that at once welcomes you in, as do the warm orange and red hues and cosy corners at the restaurant. Head here on a relaxed day off to dig into pizzas topped with tangy balchao prawns or Goan chorizo, burgers with rawa fried fish and Cafreal chicken, Bhavnagari chillies stuffed with mushroom and pepper, green pea rissois, rechaedo chicken wings, prawn chips dusted with peri peri, fish curries, watana rassa and more. After all those big flavours, opt for mellow but flavourful desserts like the citrusy serradura, bebinca, sitaphal panna cotta or jaggery pudding. Sorozai, Gala 1, Aram Nagar Part 1, JP Road, Versova, Andheri West, Mumbai; Instagram

New restaurants in Mumbai in February

Noa by the nutcracker, bandra.

Regulars at The Nutcracker outlets in Fort, Bandra or BKC have a new spot by founder and restaurateur Annie Bafna to visit. Noa is The Nutcracker’s deli-cum-bakeshop designed for quick bites and coffee. Expect a variety of fresh bakes, including hearty sandwiches like The Hungry Chippie (focaccia with fresh vegetables, miso mayo and handmade wafers) and the Aubergine Schnitzel (aubergine and ajjvar in focaccia bread). If you would rather skip the carbs, opt for wholesome salads and bowls paired with smoothies. The coffee beans are from Goa’s well-loved G-Shot Coffee Roasters and are brewed into cortados, flat whites and iced lattes at Noa. Before you leave, check out the range of freshly baked breads—focaccia, ciabatta, bagels and the cafe’s signature rye and black wheat sourdough—to take back with you. Noa by The Nutcracker, Kamal Vishranti Kutir, Ground Floor, 24th Road, opposite St. Theresa School, Bandra (west); Instagram

Nadara, Goregaon

This new restaurant in Mumbai serves food from across the globe and you can expect everything from Mangalorean ghee roast and Kerala stews to Turkish kebabs and European classics like aglio olio and spaghetti carbonara. Start with the Peri Peri Idli Popcorn, mini idlis fried to a crisp and tossed in peri peri—the perfect bar nibble to accompany your first cocktail. Also pack in the ghee roast chicken topped with crispy curry leaves and toasted cashews, the Purani Dilli Ki Mutton Seekh Kebab, and Ajwani Pomfret. Mains are a mix of pasta, pizza and more, but we recommend trying the Indian coastal delicacies, like the appam and stew, kori gassi with neer dosas, and the Malabari egg roast. The restaurant is located on the ground floor of boutique hotel Arnna and is perfect for families and big groups who want variety. The desserts are equally diverse with dishes like chilled Crème Brûlée Rice Pudding, Banarasi Meetha Paan Artisanal Ice Cream, and the cooling Elaneer Payasam with flakes of tender coconut. Nadara, ground floor of Arnna Hotel, 326, Walbhat Road, next to Sharma Industrial Estate, Cama Industrial Estate, Goregaon, Mumbai; Instagram

Charlee, Santacruz

This new restaurant in Mumbai serves innovative cocktails alongside an exciting all-vegetarian menu packed with fresh flavours and ingredients. Charlee is the latest opening by the team behind Bandra’s Joshi House and the vegan and sattvic garden restaurant Sukoon. Try the Affogato Tiramisu Martini, the fruity Perry Road featuring tequila, guava and bird’s eye chillies, and classics like the Old Fashioned and Margarita. Start with bar nibbles like Sriracha Salted Edamame and Kimchi Brussels Sprouts or salads like the refreshing Beetroot and Mango Carpaccio. There’s also an Avocado and Tender Coconut Ceviche for fresh flavours. For mains, pick from hearty portobello sliders, black truffle udon and melt-in-the-mouth mushroom galouti. Charlee, First floor, CHS, Plot, Vatsala Niwas, Ground and 1st Floor, 65B, Linking Road, Santacruz West, Mumbai; Instagram

Kembara, BKC

In Malay, kembara means “to wander” and the menu at the newly-launched restaurant circles across the continent with dishes from Japan, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Korea and more. This is the pan-Asian restaurant’s second outlet—the first is in Hyderabad—and is a collaboration between restaurateur Shilpa Datla and chef Seefah Ketchaiyo. Head in with an appetite and eat your way through Asia with dishes like roasted duck with pancakes, Sichuan glass noodles salad, twice-cooked pork belly in a black bean sauce, crispy prawns tossed with kimchi and cheese, and Unadon, a Japanese grilled eel served with jasmine rice, teriyaki sauce, pickled ginger and miso soup. The lemongrass cheesecake with seasonal berries is a bright, fresh end to the spunky meal. Kembara, Shop no 11, Kembara, Ins Tower, Opposite Indian Oil Petrol Pump, G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai; Instagram

Megumi, Santacruz

There’s a new spot for sushi and yakitori in Mumbai. Spread across 6,000sqft in Santacruz this new Japanese restaurant is helmed by chef Raman Udas who previously worked at Zuma, Dubai, ranked #13 on the 50 Best Restaurants list in the Middle East and Africa. The menu focuses on Nikkei and Japanese cuisine, with dishes like Sichuan tilapia, crispy duck yakitori glazed with hoisin sauce and tebasaki or Japanese chicken wings served with a chilli jam. There’s a live sushi bar featuring a variety of maki rolls, nigiri, sashimi, carpaccio and tartare and on point cocktails featuring yuzu and sansho pepper. Pair your nibbles with the Wabi Sabi (smoked bayleaf, gin, passionfruit) and Kintsugi (brown butter whisky, ginger mint gomme). Megumi, 9th floor, Ramee Emerald II, Linking Rd, above Nike Showroom, Vithaldas Nagar, Santacruz West, Mumbai; Instagram

Freny’s, Bandra

Freny’s, a new all-day restaurant and bar in Bandra, is an elevated version of Monèr, Bandra’s well-loved dessert bar that shut its original outlet last year. Founder and chef Freny Fernandes is serving up all the Monèr bestsellers, including the Crème Brûlée French Toast, along with new desserts like the Matilda Cake, a rich chocolate cake inspired by Bruce Bogtrotter’s decadent cake from the Roald Dahl movie, and the Every Sunday Sundae, which features layers of raspberry jelly, custard cream, and vanilla cake topped with French vanilla bean gelato and raspberry sorbet. While you can just drop in for dessert, there’s a wide food and drinks menu on offer too. Dig into East Indian dishes like fugiyas, bottle masala potatoes and vindaloo sliders or opt for European classics like pasta, chilli cheese risotto, waffles Benedict, and purple potato gnocchi. Pair it with the Tamarind Pop (vodka or gin, guava juice, tamarind jam, chilli) or the Queen Fernandes (bourbon, homemade rose shrub, apple ginger fizz). Freny’s, Shop no.11, Silver Pearl Building, W, Waterfield Road, opposite China Gate, Bandra West, Mumbai; Instagram

La Panthera, Bandra

After the resounding success of the Bandra restaurant La Loca Maria, chef Manuel Olveira and his wife Mickee Tuljapurkar have opened the doors of La Panthera, a modern European fine dining restaurant in BKC. This new restaurant has all the ingredients for a wild night: a large wooden bar, ample space to mingle, disco music playing in the background as well as an excellent cocktail program. Try the Roll the Dice (bitter bianco, lavender nectar, orange blossom) and the Slippery Lady (gin, Aperol, passionfruit). The food is European classics with a twist, like a Himachi tiradito with pineapple leche de tigre and a sprinkle of passion fruit and coriander oil, a stracciatella, olive and poached pear salad with a traditional Catalonian crystal bread and charred octopus and a buff carpaccio featuring wasabi and horseradish. There are also pizzas made with 48-hour fermented dough and large plates like tenderloin steak and New Zealand lamb chops. - Jasreen Mayal Khanna La Panthera, ground floor, INS Tower, Unit 1 & 2, G Block BKC, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai; Instagram

Papa’s, Bandra

Tucked in the rafters of the wine bar -meets-sandwich shop, Veronica’s, lies a new, eclectic fine dining concept: Papa’s . The 12-seater space is accessible via a staircase behind the coffee counter at Veronica’s. Start with the cocktails: the Papa’s Hut, a take on the Bloody Mary that’s served with a Monaco biscuit topped with marinara sauce and aged Belper Knolle cheese, the dirty martini and the negroni which features coconut oil, water and cacao nibs. Small plates include a samosa made with chamomile tea jelly wrapped in paper-thin ahi tuna, a modak filled with char siu pork and green apple and the Bugs Bunny which features Hibachi-grilled morsels of tender rabbit brushed with a red ant marinade and served with a jowar pita. Large plates include a Wellington which features a roulade of slow-and-low braised lamb, and crackling skin duck served with Indrayani rice duck biryani. - Julian Manning Papa’s, Waroda Road, Ranwar, Bandra West, Mumbai; Instagram

Toast Doughnut Shop, Bandra

Amidst the lockdowns of 2021, many a bored Mumbai resident found solace and a little bit of joy in fluffy, sugar-dusted, chocolate-filled bombolinis, courtesy chef Devika Manjrekar and her pandemic delivery business Toast Doughnut Shop. Now, Manjrekar—who was also founder and chef of Toast Pasta Bar in Lower Parel—has given the business a physical home in Bandra. At Toast Doughnut Shop, the soft brioche doughnuts are hand-rolled, slow-proofed and fried fresh. Head here for doughnuts filled with jam and custard, lemon meringue and Belgian dark chocolate. There’s also an all-day dining menu of sandwiches, eggs, and coffee. Toast Doughnut Shop, Shop no 1, Simple Premises, 16th Road, opp. Canara Bank, near Mini Punjab, Khar, Bandra West, Mumbai; Instagram

Arggo's, Bandra

This new bar in Bandra is for cocktails and an exciting plant-based menu. The bar serves a variety of cocktails alongside appetisers featuring fresh greens and meat alternatives. Try the MVP (milk-washed gin, peach schnapps, vanilla syrup, Earl Grey tea) or Bourbon Pop, and pair it with crispy wontons stuffed with melted cheese and gochujang, cauliflower wings tossed in buffalo sauce, the Not Dynamite Shrimp which features crumb-fried mock prawns, or a Neapolitan-style pizza topped with mock pepperoni. Arggo’s, Kings palace hotel 538, Linking road, Khar west, Mumbai; Instagram

New restaurants in Mumbai in January

Avartana, itc maratha.

The arrival of Avartana, anywhere, brings along bright expectations. With the restaurant’s many accolades at ITC Grand Chola in Chennai, and its well-received expansion to Kolkata’s ITC Royal Bengal in 2022, Avartana now brings its modern South Indian menu to Mumbai. Supper service commences with rasam in a French Press. At ‘Avartan’, as it is pronounced, the tasting menus do the talking: first by filling in the gaps—for in Mumbai, South Indian fare often lacks its proper punch outside of Matunga, and even there, non-veg delicacies are certainly not the focus—and then by giving you something you didn’t even know you were missing.

A surefire standout is Avartana’s long-time favourite, Uthukuli Chicken, named after a taluk in Tirupur famed for its white butter. The ingredient is paid homage to through a ‘toffee’ that appears to have been accidentally dropped into the dish. Its red wrapper, made out of an edible beetroot film, holds a morsel of utterly delicious Uthukuli butter. Mash into it with mini Malabar parottas that are everything you want them to be—flaky, crisp, their circular strands with just the right amount of crunch—and the butter merges with the velvety, lightly spiced gravy, adding a softly nutty sweetness, plus Uthukuli’s proprietary tinge of tang. The same goes for the peppery, banana leaf-steamed lamb cheek and sticky rice; the delicate shrimp and coriander dumpling—fashioned in the form of kozhukattai, a type of southern modak—sitting above a feisty chilli coriander jam; and the raw mango pudding of halwa consistency, served with a ghee candle with a coriander stem wick, which is lit tableside. When it comes to inventive, modern south Indian fare in Mumbai, that little candle burns like a beacon, casting a lighthouse-sized shadow. Julian Manning Avartana, ITC Maratha, Sahar Village, Andheri East, Mumbai; Instagram

Mag St., Bandra

After its flagship café in Colaba and an outlet in Lower Parel, Mag St. is crossing the Sea Link to make its way to Bandra. Mag St. Bandra will serve the brand’s signature menu, including their half-and-half sourdough pizzas, hand-cut truffle fries, lobster rolls, healthy smoothie bowls and Asian curries. There will also be signature cocktails by head mixologist Durgesh Singh. Inside, expect plenty of beautiful natural light streaming in through 10 ft-high windows, marble and wood seating, an eye-catching all-white bar, and artwork from around the world. Mag St. Bandra, Construction House A, 24th Road, Opposite Khar Telephone Exchange, Bandra (W), Mumbai; Instagram

The Tham Brothers have brought their signature pan- Asian restaurant Foo to Thane, marking the brand’s eighth outlet in Mumbai. Foo Thane features a deep red waffle ceiling, with pops of green and blue across the 3,800 sqft space. Try the restaurant’s well-loved signatures such as the Togarashi Black Rice Maki, Tenderloin Chilly with Leeks and Onions, Prawn Cheung Fun and the Foo Blue Butter Japanese Fried Rice. The black sesame ice cream is a fitting end, but if you want to try more, opt for more flavours like mango, Japanese matcha and kaffir lime, or try the Mount Foo-ji and the Black Marble Sesame Cheesecake. Foo, Level 1, Viviana Mall, Thane; Instagram

PF Chang’s, Lower Parel

P.F. Chang’s wok-fired bowls, Singapore street noodles and lettuce wraps have won a loyal following from Dubai to Durham. Now, the brand has finally made its way to India, with an outlet in Mumbai’s Lower Parel. The menu is localised, varied and about 40 percent vegetarian, with a special Jain menu tailor-made for India . Try signatures like the lettuce wraps and dynamite shrimp, and also sample new additions for India, which include dynamite paneer, the Samba roll (a vegetarian, tempura-fried sushi roll), asparagus-and-pea dumplings, and Dali paneer, a twist on the international favourite made with chicken. Aatish Nath Unit no. 4, Ground Floor, One Lodha Place, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai; Instagram

Mool: Kitchen & Bar, Fort

Mool translates to “from the source” in Sanskrit and the new restaurant in Fort aims to go back to the roots of Indian cooking by showcasing recipes from households across the country. The menu features dishes by home chefs from different parts of the country, each of whom makes a cut from the sale of their dishes. So, you can try aloo ke gutke and gehat ki dal courtesy Mrs. Taragai from Lohaghat in Uttarakhand, or kosha maangsho with shukto and cholar dal courtesy Mrs. Mukherjee from Kolkata . There are also dishes by home chefs from Mangalore, Chandigarh, Jharkhand, Srinagar and more. Mool Kitchen & Bar, Unit No. 30, Ground Floor, Rajabahadur Mansion, 28, Mumbai Samachar Marg, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai; Instagram

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The Condé Nast Traveller Beauty Awards 2024

By Anita Bhagwandas

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Just in time for peak travel season, our inaugural travel beauty awards offer the definitive list of the best travel beauty products to pack in your wash bag for the summer and beyond. To create this list our editors researched and tested over 200 of the top beauty and wellness products from a traveller's perspective to determine which are worthy of space in your luggage .

How we chose the winning products

Each product was tested by an editor over a period of time and given a score out of 20, after considering the following factors:

Efficacy:  Did you see results? Was it easy and enjoyable to use? Did something about it make you want to keep using it? It could be anything from how it smelled to the texture.

Travel-friendly:  Is it easily packable, compact, leak-proof? Maybe it's under 100ml too? Does it smell like holidays? Is it evocative of a certain place or location?

Innovation:  Does it feel novel, clever, new or different in some way?

Packaging:  What's this like? Did you find it easy to use? Is it innovative? Is it good or better for the planet in any way? Can it be composted or recycled?

This list features the top scoring products, along with quotes from our testers describing why we recommend each product for travel.

The ultimate travel must haves

This nourishing face mask uses skin-repairing ceramides to rescue flight-weary skin.

Our tester says “I tried it as a mask, night cream and regular moisturiser. It’s invisible, so I didn’t feel self-conscious using it on a flight.

The part of our brain that processes memory is right next to the part that processes scent. A single spritz of this warming fragrance is especially transportative, with creamy sandalwood, fresh Egyptian jasmine and earthy Italian bergamot notes that suit all climates. The set comes with a refillable gold bottle for extra travel style.

This monogrammable leather-like vanity case holds an array of beautiful travel-sized products such as a personalisable lip balm and a nourishing hand cream. Super useful, no matter where you’re going.

Our tester says “Every travel lover will adore this, whether they use it or admire it as a vintage inspired keepsake.”

Best innovative travel beauty buys

This fruity scent is infused with jasmine, sandalwood and berries. With an innovative and travel-friendly product design, each biodegradable capsule holds one application of fragrance: just twist and squeeze onto your skin.

With all the prowess of a regular serum, this wonder stick contains natural moisturiser squalane, plus Japanese lemon balm to reduce inflammation. You can apply it over or under make-up and as a top-up during the day to prevent dehydration.

This do-it-all moisturiser boosts radiance, lightens dark spots and improves skin condition.

Our tester says “I saw a huge improvement in my dull, dry skin – it’s like a daily spa facial.”

This genius kit gives you everything you need to apply small strips of false lashes underneath your own, making them undetectable and natural-looking. The technique requires practice but, once on, the lashes last for up to 10 days – ideal for travelling.

This classic SPF now comes with Mexoryl 400, a sun filter that targets the 380 to 400 nanometre range of UVA rays, which are hard to protect against. It’s lightweight, non-greasy and works on all skin types – key when snow can reflect up to 90 per cent of UV radiation.

Those with sensitive skin can struggle to find an SPF that protects and is enjoyable to use: this orange tube of wonder delivers so much. The water- and sweat-resistant formula is the consummate companion for water sports, plus it keeps skin hydrated for up to eight hours, all without leaving white streaks.

Our tester says: “For a thick-ish cream it absorbs very quickly without being greasy at all, and it’s ocean-friendly. Ideal for people with very fair skin, dermatitis or increased sun sensitivity.”

Australian sun protection is widely known to be the best in the market, and this weightless and invisible formulation is the best of the best. Like its more mattifying predecessor, this SPF seems destined for cult status, but this version has the added bonus of skin-regulating niacinamide, ideal for ensuring your skin doesn’t overproduce oil. It also uses subtle light-reflecting pearls that melt into the skin for a dewy finish with no white cast in sight.

This spray-on SPF contains soothing Australian botanicals and protective antioxidants, which give it an edge over the rest. A simple spritz of mist produces a gentle, non-greasy glow. It has high SPF protection, and the lack of white cast means you can use it over make-up.

This watermelon scented stick fits in handbags for on-the-go SPF touch-ups. Its brightening and hydrating formula gives a dewy finish, but isn’t greasy when used on the scalp.

Best travel skincare

A deep-cleansing gel that uses gentle salicylic and azelaic acid to sweep away sweat, salt water and SPF, which can clog pores.

Our tester says “This stuff is amazing. My skin looked noticeably brighter, clearer and fresher after just one use – it felt as if I’d had a facial.”

This clay-based mask, which comes in a handy recycled tin, helps to decongest your skin, making it an ideal salve for bacteria-laden flights. It’s easily washed off to reveal less visible pores and more matte skin.

Our tester says “My skin can get greasy on flights, but this left it calmer and less reactive.”

This fragrance free intense moisturiser is a must for cold climates. It’s deeply hydrating, prevents transepidermal water loss from the skin and protects against environmental aggressors such as pollution.

Using a combo of vitamins C and E to protect against environmental damage, this is the go-to serum for all skin needs.

Our tester says “My skin looked brighter, and a patch of redness was reduced. The small bottle is easy to slip into a carry-on too.”

Every adventurer needs an SOS skin remedy, and this tube contains moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid, skin-repairing ceramides and petrolatum that locks the ingredients into the skin.

Our tester says “I used this under socks at a festival and my usually sore feet were super soft and didn’t ache at all.”

Lyma is the only FDA-approved at-home laser out there. It promises to help stimulate collagen production and skin healing over a three-month period.

Our tester says “After a couple of uses, my skin looked fresher and plumper. It’s hand luggage size and has a useful travel pouch.”

Best travel make-up

Sleep helps you look well rested after a journey, but the other secret weapon is blush. This lightweight, easy-to-apply balm contains skin softening vitamin E, and uses micro-fine pigments that blend with the skin’s texture for a sheeny glow. It comes in nine gloriously vibrant shades and its pot is made with 43 per cent recycled plastic.

Some tinted moisturisers can feel a little greasy, but this formula is light, SPF 20 and comes in five adaptable shades for those with golden undertones – a space-saving moisturiser and foundation in one little tube.

Matte lipstick in arid temperatures can too often mean cracked lips, but if it’s too moisturising it becomes heavy in sweaty weather. This lipstick, in 23 shades, combines pigmented matte hues with a slight moisturising sheen.

Our tester says “It’s my new travel make-up essential, lasting all night without touch-ups.”

Best hair products for travel

Philip Kingsley’s expert trichologists created this heavy-duty mask for the US Olympic synchronised swimming team to protect their hair against the damaging effects of chlorine, salt water and UV rays. There’s nothing else like it on the market.

Extreme climates often cause dehydrated, crispy and frizz-prone locks. This moisturiser infuses wet or dry hair with strengthening ingredients and heat protection.

Our tester says “This compact cream is essential for reconditioning dry hair - it even gave my fine strands extra volume.”

If flying flattens your hair, this clever heatless curling tool should be your new travel companion.

Our tester says “It’s easy to use and lighter to pack than heated curlers or tongs. Plus, you never have to wait for it to cool down.”

Our tester says “Designed to keep your hair super sleek, this straightener is simple to use, doesn’t take up much room in your hand luggage and has a 10-minute turn-off function. Universal voltage and an extra-long cord for tricky plug points make it ideal for travel.”

A new generation of smaller-cylinder hairdryers do away with the need to have a separate travel version. This one weighs less than a can of Coke and is powerful yet super quiet, with changeable attachments and a padded case.

Best body products for travel

Created by professional West End dancers, this natural deodorant balm was designed to be planet friendly as well as effective. Elegant scents such as After Thunder and Orange Grove are perfume-worthy, and each recyclable tube lasts six to eight weeks, with a travel-friendly mini size also available.

This body balm is a must-have for intrepid travellers to lock in moisture and calm skin with camellia seed and apricot kernel oils.

Our tester says “Once it has absorbed, you’re left with super-soft skin that feels replenished. I used it to rehydrate my lips, hands and areas of dry skin.”

This bath and shower oil hydrates and perfumes using skin-softening mogra, a type of jasmine often found in Indian skincare.

Our tester says “I love the delicate scent, and my skin felt so soft after washing with it.”

The best travel tanning products

For those sunny UK days, this calming lotion – with buriti fruit oil for an even tan – cloaks the skin in a cooling velvety emulsion.

Our tester says “I love the gentle smell, and my tan definitely developed quicker and held for longer than usual.”

A few pumps of this silken bronze-booster in your moisturiser will produce a sun-kissed glow without the sun damage.

Our tester says “It feels nourishing and non-greasy, with a shade that looks incredibly natural: golden, not at all orange.”

The best travel fragrances

Citrus scents work well in coastal climates due to their lighter notes and mood-boosting effects, but they can be fleeting: not in this case.

Our tester says “The citrus blooms as soon as you apply it, but the warming cashmere wood helps it adhere to the skin, enveloping you in a gentle and balanced scent.”

An ode to the ancient incense trade route city of AlUla, this perfume combines notes of pepper, plum, cardamon and tobacco to create a sweet warming scent that becomes richer and darker over the day.

Our tester says “It’s complex and intriguing in equal parts.”

Laced with rose, iris and musk, this elegant scent is a love letter to the Spanish capital. Designed to celebrate the statue of Cibeles in the heart of the city, its complex, uplifting and takes you on the sweetest of journeys.

The best wellness products for travel

Need some post-ski physio on the go? This gadget targets muscular tension with six speed settings and up to 200 minutes cordless run time.

Our tester says “It’s so easy to transport and was really effective after skiing.”

There are a lot of LED masks on the market, but this one folds best for travel and comes with clever global adapters.

Our tester says “I noticed a positive difference after a couple of uses. The LED bulbs take up a large surface area so it’s very effective.”

Our tester says “This mask feels like a silk duvet for the eyes and keeps puffiness at bay. It’s stylish, washable and adjustable, so it stays in place and doesn’t let in any light – a must, given that I need total darkness for a good night’s rest.”

This science-backed probiotic is delivered by subscription in a recyclable glass jar (with mini travel container). Inside each capsule are 24 probiotic strains proven to support gut health.

Our tester says “This is the only probiotic that’s made a tangible difference to me. It’s a must for sensitive stomachs.”

Developed by a team of dieticians, neuroscientists and doctors, this all-in-one multivitamin is designed to fuel your body and feed your brain with 20 nutrients, such as DHA omega 3 and vitamins D3 and B12. It’s subscription based, so you won’t run out, and helps eliminate travel induced brain fog.

Early studies of collagen’s effect on skin health have shown promising results. Drinking from these travel friendly sachets of natural marine collagen, antioxidants and vitamin C can also aid collagen synthesis, keeping joints supple and boosting your overall immunity.

But sustainable travel beauty buys

Infused with omegarich oils, this silky shower formula cleanses and softens the skin unlike any other. It’s an essential in hard water areas and to hydrate the skin in dry climates. Plus, it’s vegan-friendly, uses Braille on its refillable packaging and also comes in a mini size that’s perfect for a weekend away.

This smart toothbrush was a hit with several members of the team, partly for its eco credentials and focus on lifetime use.

Our tester says “I love this brush: it’s compact, innovative, progressive and sustainable – and the battery lasts a very long time, making it perfect for travel. And it looks stylish in the bathroom.”

Brimming with moisturise-boosting hyaluronic acid and skin-defending fruit extracts, this gel-creme is truly the travel moisturiser of dreams. It relieves parched skin in air-conditioned environments, is light enough for the hottest of climes and has clever refill pods.

The best airport beauty buys

Applying this serum, which is enriched with hyaluronic acid and minerals, helps to rehydrate parched and dry skin in arid and air-conditioned environments.

Our tester says “I felt that my skin was immediately softer after using this product, and I love the packaging and the price point too.

Created by master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, this reinterpretation of the original 1947 scent combines jasmine, mandarin and woody accords that suit a variety of climates.

Our tester says “It’s not too strong yet lasts beautifully throughout the day, revealing an uplifting range of notes as time goes on.”

Retinol might be part of your daily ritual anyway, but these mini serum vials are especially suited to travel, with added ingredients such as soothing ceramides, which help to combat sun-induced sensitivity. The capsules are easy to use and pop into the smallest of cosmetic bags, so you can stick to your skincare routine no matter where you are.

All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The 10 Best Budget Carriers for Long-Haul Flights

By Rachel Chang

“Low-cost” and “ long-haul ” can feel like oxymorons when it comes to airlines, with seat comfort often sacrificed for affordable fares. But with several new budget international airlines launching around the world in recent years, it’s possible to snag perfectly-bearable long-haul flights for under $500 roundtrip.

This week, UK-based consulting firm Skytrax released their annual World Airline Awards , known within the aviation industry as the “Oscars of aviation.” Among this year’s winners are lesser-known airlines going the distance to provide affordable flight options in the long-haul low-cost airline category. Launched in 1999, the awards are based on passenger surveys completed by travelers representing over 100 different nationalities who make “their own, personal choices as to which airlines they consider to be the best, underlining the brand as the Passenger’s Choice Awards,” according to Skytrax’s methodology. A total of 21 million entries including 350 different airlines were submitted between September 2023 and May 2024 (airlines pay no entry fees and all survey costs are paid for by Skytrax).

Below, see the 10 top low-cost carriers in the long-haul category, according to the 2024 World Airline Awards, organized in descending order.

Toronto-based Air Canada launched its low-cost affiliate Air Canada rouge in 2013.

The top 10 budget international airlines in 2024

1. Scoot Scoot is the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines—which earned the No. 2 spot in the overall world’s top airlines category. The carrier serves 67 destinations in 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Europe. Launched in 2012, the airline has won several accolades since then, including membership to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 2022 for its high safety standards. It holds the No. 1 spot in this Skytrax category for the fourth consecutive year.

We found roundtrip flights from Singapore to Phuket from $71, Kuala Lumpur to Taipei from $79, and Chennai to Sydney for $239.

2. Jetstar Airways This Qantas Group subsidiary is a part of the Jetstar Group, which had its first flight take off in 2004. Technically speaking, Jetstar Airways serves Australia and New Zealand, while its affiliates Jetstar Asia Airways and Jetstar Japan serve Asia. Together, they have 5,000 flights a day to more than 58 destinations in 18 countries across the Asia-Pacific region. Having been voted the best low-cost airline in Australasia for the second time in three years, the airline has also been honored for its cabin crew and operational excellence.

We found roundtrip flights from from Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City starting at $227, Sydney to Honolulu from $373, and Gold Coast to ChristChurch from $322.

3. Norse Atlantic Airways Celebrating the two-year anniversary of its inaugural flight from Oslo to New York this month, Norse Atlantic Airways has quickly made a name for itself, specializing in trans-Atlantic flights between the US and Europe. It snagged the No. 4 spot for best Northern European airline in the World Airline Awards as well. The carried, based in Arendal, Norway, has a fleet of 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and goes to New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, and Orlando in the United States; as well as Bangkok, Cape Town, Oslo, Athens, Berlin, London, Paris, and Rome.

We found roundtrip flights in economy light class (without any extras) from Los Angeles to London for $417 and New York to Oslo for $494.

4. Air Canada rouge Toronto-based Air Canada launched its low-cost affiliate Air Canada rouge in 2013 branding itself as a “leisure airline,” with flights in North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Central America. Now fully integrated into the Air Canada network, passengers will simply see the rouge flights pop up in their searches when available on that route. Free checked bags are included on long-haul flights, and high-speed Wi-Fi is available for purchase. There's also a Premium Rouge class with priority check-in and boarding; wider seats with more leg room; free Wi-Fi, and meals on flights longer than two hours.

We found roundtrip flights from Montreal to Tulum for $278 and Toronto to Punta Cana at $280.

5. Zipair Japan Airlines began operations of its low-cost carrier Zipair in 2018. Based in Tokyo Narita (NRT), the subsidiary flies to four Asian destinations (Bangkok, Singapore, Manila, and Seoul) and five North American ones (Honolulu, Los Angeles, San José, San Francisco, and Vancouver). Wi-Fi is complimentary to all passengers of its 290-seat Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. Also innovative: a contactless in-flight experience to order meals and goods from personal phones and tablets.

We found standard-class roundtrip flights from Honolulu to Tokyo for $519 and San Jose, California to Tokyo for $697.

6. AirAsia X While Malaysian company AirAsia took the overall best low-cost airline award for 2024 , its longer-haul affiliate AirAsia X snagged the No. 6 spot in this long-haul category. With three Asian hubs in ​​Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Denpasar in Bali, the subsidiary serves 29 destinations in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and one US destination, Hawaii (it was the first airline from Southeast Asia to receive Federal Aviation Administration approval to fly into the US). Booking is integrated into AirAsia’s greater network.

By Steph Koyfman

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We found roundtrip flights from Kuala Lumpur to Seoul for $214 to Kuala Lumpur to Osaka for $278.

7. LEVEL Barcelona-based LEVEL specializes in connecting the Spanish hub with the Americas, with direct flights to five US cities—San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, New York, and Miami—as well as Buenos Aires in Argentina and Santiago in Chile. Launched in 2017 by International Airlines Group (IAG), which also owns British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, and Aer Lingus, the brand is known for its simple and clean style and is one of the cheapest ways to get from the US to Spain.

We found $434 roundtrip flights from New York to Barcelona and $495 from San Francisco to Barcelona.

8. Cebu Pacific One of the longer running airlines to make the list, Philippines -based Cebu Pacific made its first flight from Manila to Cebu back in 1996, and has continued to serve destinations popular for Filipinos to travel, like Hong Kong and Dubai. The carrier has been switching to more eco-friendly Airbus A321neo and A330neo, and aims to run only neo aircraft by 2027. Not only did it welcome its 200 millionth passenger in 2022, it’s also been a leader in giving back, in particular to the UNICEF Change for Good program.

We found Cebu to Seoul flights starting at $66 and Manila to Dubai for $86 as part of Cebu Pacific's current seat sale .

9. French Bee Based in Paris’ Orly airport (ORY), French Bee has been offering its trademark à la carte flight experience since launching in 2016. With an all-Airbus fleet, the aircraft boast high ceilings, effective ambient lighting, and improved temperature control. French Bee flies from Paris to Punta Cana, Reunion Island, Tahiti, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Bora Bora.

We found roundtrip flights from Los Angeles to Paris starting at $685 and Miami to Paris for $552.

10. Discover Airlines Lufthansa Group’s low-cost affiliate Discover operates out of Munich and its headquarters in Frankfurt. Running since 2021, the fleet of 27 aircraft is focused on leisure destinations in North America, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. Some searches are integrated into the Lufthansa search engine.

Current flight deals include Frankfurt to Split, Croatia, from $159 and Frankfurt to Mauritius from $793.

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