Stunning landscapes, incredible variety, endless culture. The USA is the ultimate year-round destination. If you’re looking for some travel inspiration then look no further than the soul of the south – Nashville, Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee and New Orleans, Louisiana. A region with an incredible wealth of history, culture and nature, coupled with sensational cuisine and unbeatable music credentials, the Southern USA is the vacation of a lifetime.

In partnership with Visit the USA, we invite you discover the soul of the south and to travel with us on Southern Grace, a 9-day luxury journey from Nashville to New Orleans. To whet your appetite, we’ve picked out some of our favorite moments.

For travel inspiration: USA destination guide

Read more about our Southern Grace tour: High Notes: How Travel Concierge Ann Amplifies the Sounds of the South

Walk in the footsteps of legends in Nashville, Tennessee

A welcoming and vibrant destination for visitors, Nashville has long been at the heart of country music in America. ‘Music City’ as it is affectionally known, is also the birthplace of bluegrass, with a thriving rock and pop scene. A city packed with sensational eateries and exceptional hotels, your stay at the sophisticated Grand Hyatt on our Southern Grace small group journey places you in the center of luxury and the downtown action.

Nashville grew from a foundation based on music and, as the 1800s unfolded it became a national center for music publishing. Join us and discover the music like a VIP. At Studio B – Nashville’s oldest remaining record studio, take part in a private recording session under the guidance of a professional sound engineer. Let your inner songbird free and record a take-home tune just as legends Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton have done before you.

Later, at the Country Music Hall of Fame, as guests of Luxury Gold you’ll enjoy a private, behind-the-scenes look at the songwriting process with a local songwriter and singer. On your visit you’ll also see memorabilia from stars such as Jim Reeves and Roy Orbison, before topping the night off with a performance at the Grand Ole Opry.

You may also enjoy reading: For Your Ears Only: Experience the Privilege of Private Live Music

Discover U.S. history in Memphis, Tennessee

Home of ‘The King’, the blues and the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll, Memphis is another musical pilgrimage hotspot. But over and above the music, this city holds an essential place in U.S. history, and its civil rights legacy lives on in many ways.

Nowhere is this history brought to life quite like the National Civil Rights Museum, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on Southern Grace. Immerse yourself on a guided tour through the interactive exhibits and poignant storytelling, the museum shares the story of key moments throughout the American Civil Rights Movement, from the history of enslaved people all the way through to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.

Memphis, and indeed the whole of Southern USA, is also known for its delicious cuisine including cajun, creole and some of the finest BBQ. To experience traditional cooking at its most tasty, Luxury Gold guests get a backstage pass to Central BBQ – one of the city’s oldest and most iconic establishments. Sweep past the queues (which are usually around the block) for your VIP visit. Inside you will meet Clint Cantwell, a renowned grilling expert to learn how to make the most delicious pulled pork, brisket and ribs – a rare event usually only local insiders get to experience. Followed of course by a scrumptious meal.

Bookmark for later: How We’re Setting the Gold Standard for Sustainable Luxury Travel

Step back in time in Natchez, Mississippi

Stepping away from the hustle and bustle, Natchez is a charming retreat. The oldest city on the Mississippi and one of Southern USA’s hidden gems, more than 1,000 structures in Natchez are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With properties dating to the late 1700s, the South’s unique architecture and history comes to life in Natchez’s antebellum homes.

Your stay in the Monmouth Historic Inn & Gardens, a National Historic Landmark built in 1818, gives you a timeless feel for the place. An early 19th-century antebellum mansion set in 26 acres of manicured gardens, world class service and historic surroundings combine for a decadent stay.

While in Natchez on Southern Grace, we invite you to personalize your day with a choice of two experiences. Either you can step back in time and take a private tour an 1850s Greek-Revival cottage, the beloved home of a local. Take your time to explore the interior and grounds and let your imagination run wild as you learn about its past. Alternatively you can choose to join a mixology class and learn all about famous Southern cocktails including the ‘Crown Julep’.

You may be interested to read: Our Favorite Classic Cocktails, and the Timeless Hotels To Try Them At

There’s nowhere quite like New Orleans, Louisiana

To cap off your Southern Grace tour the ‘Big Easy’ beckons. A city so steeped in history and culture and rich traditions there’s a tantalizing story around every corner. The Ritz Carlton is your majestic home for three nights and is a destination in itself. The building was built originally in 1908 and it became a luxury hotel in 2000 showcasing the best of American hospitality. Centrally located it means you are just a few steps from the area’s most popular attractions, including the famous Bourbon Street.

A city world renowned for its Mardi Gras celebrations, as part of your exploration of New Orleans we invite you to enjoy an all-access pass to the Mardi Gras World’s Blaine Kern Studios. This workshop has created sensational floats for Mardi Gras and other parades around the world since 1947. Learn how artists and architects build Mardi Gras floats from the ground up and view colorful costumes and props.

Read more about this extraordinary hotel: Why New Orleans’ Ritz Carlton Hotel is a cut above the rest

To enjoy the best of the USA with a luxurious visit to the sensational South, take a look at our Southern Gracesmall group journey.

What’s the best restaurant in the world? It’s a great dinner party question, and one that might provoke much discussion – everyone has an opinion on their favorite. But if you want to know what the critics think (and get a decisive answer) then look no further than the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, which has just been released for 2024.  

Introducing the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 

Founded in 2002, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants aims to celebrated the richness and diversity of the world’s culinary landscape. Each year a snapshot of global gastronomy is curated by a panel of 1,080 culinary experts. those on the panel can’t vote for any restaurant they have an economic interest in, and they must have eaten at restaurants that won their votes in the previous 19 months. As a go-to for the best culinary destinations as well as the latest gastronomic trends across the globe, the World’s 50 Best Restauratns is one of the best. 

The highest ranking restaurants in each continent were given a special mention. The best restaurant in Africa was La Colombe. Atomix was the highest ranking restaurant in North America, and the highest ranking restaurant in Asia was Gaggan. The best restaurant in South America for 2024 is Maido. And the best restaurant in Europe, and the winner of The World’s Best Restaurant in 2024, is Disfrutar in Barcelona.  

Below, we’ve chosen five restaurants in countries you can travel to with Luxury Gold. If gastronomic experiences are at the top of your travel list, consider extending your stay in these countries on your Luxury Gold journey – though, needless to say, with an accolade like this make sure you reserve a table well in advance!  

Disfruta 

Barcelona, Spain

 

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Taking the top spot and now the best restaurant in the world is Barcelona’s Disfrutar. It seems as though its fate was always intertwined with the award, as its three owners, Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas, met at the legendary El Bulli which reached No.1 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants five times. Disfrutar opened in 2014 in the Eixample district of Barcelona, serving food in a light-drenched, white-washed dining room and sun-dappled terrace at the rear. 

Choose from two parallel menus on offer, both with around 30 courses. The Classic option is a greatest hits album featuring the chefs’ favorite dishes from the last decade, where you can catch the famously indulgent caviar-filled Panchino doughnut, or the brilliant frozen gazpacho sandwich. On the other hand, the Festival menu is the latest manifestation of the team’s unbounded creativity, always backed with meticulous culinary research. 

What did the judges say? 

“The combination of brilliantly imaginative dishes, unsurpassed technical mastery and playful presentation results in the dining experience of a lifetime, as full of surprises as it is memories. Table theatre and interaction are frequent, executed with a blend of professionalism and humour. Disfrutar remains at the forefront of gastronomic thinking, creating an experience as fun as it is inspired.” 

Our 13-day Spain & Portugal in Style journey embarks from Barcelona. Why not arrive a day early and experience one of the world’s best restaurants for yourself on a luxury Spain vacation? 

Table by Bruno Verjus 

Paris, France 

 

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Taking third place is Table (pronounced a la Française), opened by Bruno Verjus 10 years ago following a career as a journalist, food writer and blogger. The space features a wave-designed counter with private nooks and an open kitchen, allowing guests to follow every gesture and plating, including the “Colours of the Day” – a daily dish of seasonal herbs and vegetables. With an ever-changing seasonal menu, diners can watch as founder Verjus serves green asparagus poached with seaweed or prepares lobster with sugar snap peas, nettle, and caper remoulade. Friendly service and fabulous wine support the incredible food, and Table achieved the rare feat of entering the top 10 on its first appearance in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2023, climbing even higher in 2024. 

Our Luxury France guided tours end in Paris, so you can catch Verjus working his magic at Table on your Luxury Gold journey. 

Maido 

Lima, Peru 

 

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Maido is an elegant restaurant found in Lima’s trendy Miraflores neighborhood. It’s been making waves since respected chef Mitsuharu ‘Micha’ Tsumura opened it in 2009, combining Japanese techniques with Peruvian ingredients into Nikkei cuisine. Guests can choose from either a tasting or à la carte menu. Make sure to look our for delicacies like The Triple, a combination of avocado, eggs, tomato and chashu (braised pork belly); and caracoles al sillao (soy sauce), sea snails, with yellow chili foam and Nikkei sauce. Not only has the restaurant scooped up 5th place, but chef Micha also took home the Estrella Damm Chefs’ Choice Award, a peer-voted accolade honoring chefs who make a positive contribution to the global culinary scene each year. 

Our Luxury Treasures of the Incas tour starts and ends in Lima, so why not visit Maido on your trip with Luxury Gold? 

Alchemist 

Copenhagen, Denmark 

 

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Taking 8th place on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants is Alchemist, a completely immersive and thoroughly unusual restaurant found in Refshaleøen, a relatively remote part of Copenhagen. Enter through two-tonne-heavy bronze doors which automatically swing open, signalling the beginning of what can only be called a show. The theatrical and immersive dining experience, led by Rasmus Munk, takes place under a domed roof with various graphics which change according to the dishes. Expect flavorful food made with exceptional produce, with a side of environmental awareness 

Our 12-day Luxury Scandinavia guided tour begins in Copenhagen, where you can experience this other-worldly restaurant for yourself. 

Don Julio 

Buenos Aires, Argentina 

 

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Taking 10th place is Pablo Rivero’s Don Julio, which he opened during his early 20s in 1999. After 25 years it’s still a family-run affair, showcasing Argentinian cuisine to the world through Rivero’s dedication to organic agriculture and local produce. As it originally opened as a neighborhood parrilla (an Argentinian steakhouse), it’s no surprise that specialty steak is highly prized here, meanwhile executive chef Guido Tassi designs the menu ‘around the seed,’ focusing on seasonal crops. Pair your meal with one of the 14,000 Argentine wine labels in the restaurant’s cellar –  Rivero also took home the Beronia World’s Best Sommelier Award 2024 at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.  

Our 12-day luxury South America tour spends three nights in Buenos Aires – why not book ahead and secure Don Julio for one of your evenings? 

Lido 84 

Gardone Riviera, Italy 

Coming in 12th place on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants is Lido 84, serving quintessentially Italian food with a twist. Years of research into local ingredients, old recipe books, and international cooking techniques, combined with a love for art and a customer-first philosophy, have turned Riccardo and Giancarlo Camanini’s restaurant into a masterpiece. Housed in a former lido, the building was bought and transformed by the Camaninis in 2013 with unparalleled views of Lake Garda. The dining room is decorated with eclectic art pieces, and when the weather is good guests can dine out on the terrace overlooking the lake. Expect to be warmly welcomed by Giancarlo’s exceptional service, and enjoy Riccardo’s exquisite culinary creations. 

Our Luxury Italy guided tour finishes in Venice, just an hour or so from Lake Garda. Why not extend your stay and try this award-winning Italian food for yourself? 

What are the World’s 50 Best Restaurants? 

Find the full list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants below. 

1. Disfrutar, Barcelona
2. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo, Spain
3. Table by Bruno Verjus, Paris
4. Diverxo, Madrid
5. Maido, Lima
6. Atomix, New York
7. Quintonil, Mexico City
8. Alchemist, Copenhagen
9. Gaggan, Bangkok
10. Don Julio, Buenos Aires
11. Septime, Paris
12. Lido 84, Gardone Riviera
13. Trèsind Studio, Dubai
14. Quique Dacosta, Dénia
15. Sézanne, Tokyo
16. Kjolle, Lima
17. Kol, London
18. Plénitude, Paris
19. Reale, Castel di Sangro
20. Wing, Hong Kong
21. Florilège, Tokyo
22. Steirereck, Vienna
23. Sühring, Bangkok
24. Odette, Singapore
25. El Chato, Bogotá
26. The Chairman, Hong Kong
27. A Casa do Porco, São Paulo
28. Elkano, Getaria
29. Boragó, Santiago
30. Restaurant Tim Raue, Berlin
31. Belcanto, Lisbon
32. Den, Tokyo
33. Pujol, Mexico City
34. Rosetta, Mexico City
35. Frantzen, Stockholm
36. The Jane, Antwerp
37. Oteque, Rio
38. Sorn, Bangkok
39. Piazza Duomo, Alba
40. Le Du, Bangkok
41. Mayta, Lima
42. Ikoyi, London
43. Nobelhart & Schmutzig, Berlin
44. Mingles, Seoul
45. Arpege, Paris
46. Single Thread, Healdsburg
47. Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau
48. Hisa Franko, Kobarid
49. La Colombe, Cape Town
50. Uliassi, Senigallia

There’s nothing quite like losing yourself among the halls and exhibitions in one of the world’s many art galleries. Whether you’re looking to gaze your eyes upon iconic works of art or discover something completely new, you’re sure to find something that’ll grasp your attention.  

No matter if you’re a die-hard art enthusiast or looking to dip your toe into the art world, these are our top 10 art galleries that we think you ought to visit at least once. 

The Van Gogh Museum 

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Vincent van Gogh produced nearly 900 paintings and more than 1,100 works on paper during his lifetime, and Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum showcases the world’s largest collection of the artist’s work. Opened in 1973 in the center of Amsterdam, it now holds over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 700 letters, including iconic paintings such as ‘Sunflowers’ and ‘The Bedroom’. Alongside van Gogh’s original work, the gallery also includes pieces from his contemporaries, giving viewers context of his style, as well as work from those influenced by van Gogh.  

Read more: A work of heart: meet the founder of the Rosengart collection

Whitney Museum of American Art 

New York City, USA 

You’ll find the Whitney Museum of American Art, often referred to simply as “The Whitney”, in New York City. Founded in 1930 by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, a wealthy and influential art patron and sculptor, the museum focuses on 20th and 21st-century American art, with a particular emphasis on living artists. The Whitney’s collection includes more than 25,000 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, and photographs, created by over 3,500 artists, with notable names including Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein, and Edward Hopper. Make sure to visit one of its many terraces for unparalleled views of the city. 

The National Gallery of Art 

Washington D.C., USA 

One of the premier art museums in the United States, the National Gallery of Art was established by an act of Congress in 1937, made possible by a gift from financier and art collector Andrew W. Mellon. Explore the two main buildings: the imposing, columned West Building, where you’ll find works from the 11th through the early 20th century such as “Woman with a Parasol – Madame Monet and Her Son” by Claude Monet; and the modern East Building which houses a growing collection of contemporary art, not forgetting the Sculpture Garden. 

Read more: The Luxury Gold guide to discovering statement art pieces on your travels

Vatican Museums 

Vatican City, Italy 

Known the world over, the Vatican Museums were founded by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century, beginning with a single sculpture: ‘Laocoön and His Sons’. Spanning a collection of art galleries, chapels and museums within Rome’s historic Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel is one of the most renowned features, particularly for its ornate ceiling painted by Michelangelo. 

 See it on our Luxury Italy tour

The Metropolitan Museum of Art 

New York City, USA 

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (commonly known as the Met) isn’t just where the prestigious Met Gala is held each year – it holds over 2 million pieces of art work spanning 5,000 years within its walls, featuring artists such as Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, and Michelangelo. The Met first opened in April 1870 in the historic Dodworth Building, but was moved to its current location on Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street in 1880. Its purpose upon founding was to bring art and education to the American people, something that hasn’t changed. 

Read more: Why Spain Sets the Gold Standard for Art Museums

The National Gallery 

London, England 

Located in London’s iconic Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery is a treasure trove of Western European art, housing an extensive collection of Western European paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries. It was founded in 1824, when the British government purchased 38 paintings from banker and art collector John Julius Angerstein. It wasn’t until 1838 that the current building, designed by architect William Wilkins, was opened to house the growing collection. Currently the gallery holds over 2,300 paintings, notably including masterpieces by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian. 

See it on our Luxury England tour

The Picasso Museum 

Barcelona, Spain 

The Picasso Museum is unique in that its namesake had a hand in founding it. The museum opened its doors in 1963, a joint effort between Pablo Picasso itself (before he died in 1973) and Picasso’s close friend and secretary, Jaume Sabarté, making it one of the first museums dedicated to Picasso’s work. Picasso donated many of the pieces that are housed there today, and it now boasts a collection of over 4,000 of his works by Picasso, taking visitors along his development as an artist from the early years to his Blue Period, and beyond.  

Paul Getty Museum

Los Angeles, USA 

The Getty Museum opened its doors in 1997, making it relatively new on the scene. The art gallery is known for its unique architecture as well as its collection, sitting high on a hilltop overlooking L.A. – you can access the museum through a cable pulled hovertrain from the parking garage at the foot of the hill. The Getty Museum has a remarkable collection of artwork which includes the works of Vincent Van Gogh including the famous painting Irises, Monet and Cezanne. As well as an art gallery, the site also houses a research institute and a conservation institute. 

Uffizi Gallery 

Florence, Italy 

The origins of the Uffizi Gallery, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, were slightly less exciting than you might expect, as it was originally built in the 16th century as administrative offices (or ‘uffizi’) for the Florentine magistrates. Gradually, its upper floors were converted into a museum to display the Medici family’s extensive collection of art, who were ruling at the time. Visitors can take in an extraordinary collection of Renaissance and Baroque art, with works by some of the most celebrated artists in history – most notably, Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’.  

The Musée du Louvre 

Paris, France 

Holding the title as the most visited museum in the world with over 7 million visitors each year (based off numbers from 2022), the Musée du Louvre is world-famous for housing Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. But the Louvre also takes the title of ‘biggest’ museum, clocking up 400 rooms across 650,000 square feet – even if you spent just 30 seconds in each room of the Louvre, it would take 100 days to visit the museum in its entirety. It began as a fortress in the late 12th century to protect Paris from potential invasions, and the Louvre’s association with art and culture only began in the 16th century thanks to François I, an art collector who brought the ‘Mona Lisa’ to the museum. It wasn’t until the “Grand Louvre” projec in the 1980s and 1990s that te iconic glass pyramid entrance was constructed, completed in 1989. The Louvre now houses nearly 380,000 works of art.  

 See it on our Luxury France tour

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) 

New York City, USA 

Last but certainly not least we have the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), one of the most influential and renowned art galleries in the world. It was founded in 1929 by three patrons of the arts: Lillie P. Bliss, Mary Quinn Sullivan, and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. The goal was to establish an institution devoted exclusively to modern art, and MoMA has played (and continues to play) a major role in developing and collecting modern art, often considered one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of modern art in the world. Catch some of the most iconic pieces in the world at MoMA, such as Vincent van Gough’s ‘The Starry Night’, Andy Warhol’s ‘Campbell’s Soup Cans’, and Salvador Dalí’s ‘The Persistence of Memory’. 

Discover an incredible array of art and culture on a Luxury Gold tour. Explore our trips here.