GIMME FIVE: Kate Kingsley's Top 5 Places to be Young, Loaded and Fabulous

Chicklish is delighted to welcome Kate Kingsley, author of the juicy and gossip-tastic British boarding school series Young, Loaded and Fabulous. We asked Kate to tell us about five YLF places, and here are her answers...

Kate Kingsley’s Top 5 Places To Be Young, Loaded and Fabulous (in ascending order)

by Kate Kingsley, author of the YLF series

5. Le Club 55, St Tropez

The charm of this French Riviera spot is that it looks like a normal beach club. Actually, it’s anything but. Trot on down here for lunch if you fancy some of the best people-watching in the world. Wear a floaty sarong, order a crudités basket, and play spot-the-celeb. Johnny Depp? Check. Paris Hilton? Check. Brad Pitt? Check. After lunch, join the Euros for a snooze on the gorgeous strip of white beach. And don’t forget to wave at the lines of lush yachts.

4. Met Rooftop Martini Bar, NYC

The rooftop bar at the Met (that’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, to the uninitiated) is my favorite place to grab a cocktail in NYC. Yep, the drinks are great, but I come here for the culture fix. Oh, and the view. At sunset, the Manhattan skyline glows behind the greenery of Central Park. While you’re up here, check out whatever sculpture the museum has on show. You’ll sound way cooler at that party later on if you can name-drop a few facts about art.

3. Grand Bazaar, Istanbul (Photo by Babak Gholizadeh)

Ok, so department stores are great, but in my opinion the most fab way to shop is at markets. And Istanbul’s is one of the hugest and coolest on the planet. Load up on pashminas, pottery, leather jackets and colourful bracelets as you wander through its majestic, mosaic-tiled galleries. Then drag Daddy over to the maze of antique jewellery dealers. While you’re bargaining for that gold charm necklace, enjoy the glass of delicious Turkish apple tea that the proprietor will brew up.

JOINT 2nd PLACE

- Coco Club, Verbier

I’m more of an après-skier than an actual skier – which makes Verbier the perfect resort for me. And for everyone YL&F. While your family’s sleeping the night away, come party with Coco Club’s beautiful Euro crowd and sample its opulent ‘Chalet’ cocktail, which contains an entire magnum of champagne and costs an affordable £4,300. After you’ve downed it, those cute boys at the bar will look even cuter…

- The Malecon, Havana

Being YL&F isn’t just about going to glam clubs. It’s about soaking up a city’s atmosphere, too. Havana’s famous Malecon (promenade) has got to be one of my favourite places on earth for that. Do like the locals do: Meander out here with some friends and some Coronas, take a seat on the seawall, and turn your face to the ocean spray. After a while, some hot young Cuban guys will probably come say hello… 

1. Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

What can I say? Everything about this hotel is utterly fabulous. And it’s in the middle of one of the coolest cities ever. Settle in for a delish dim-sum breakfast at the Clipper Lounge, overlooking the hotel’s black marble lobby. Then hit the vibrant, chaotic streets of Central – you’ll find everything from Chanel boutiques to market stalls selling live squid. Yum. Late in the afternoon, treat your tired feet to a pedicure in the gorgeous Mandarin spa. Then throw on a cute dress and head up to Sevva, the bar atop the 25th floor of the Prince’s building next door. If you arrive at 8pm, you can watch the awesome lightshow over Victoria Harbour while sipping your martini and nibbling complimentary crisps. Perfection.

by Kate Kingsley

Thank you very much, Kate Kingsley!

Read our interview with Kate Kingsley here

Click on titles or cover images for reviews of Book 1, Young Loaded and Fabulous; Book 2, Secrets and Liars and Book 3, Kiss and Break Up

   

Comments

[Ria]

Hong Kong! I really want to go there! I've heard about they're wild range of things on sale there- but live squid!? I could imagine it wriggling about.
New York- who DOESN'T want to go there?
Your so lucky to have gone to all these wonderful places!
Ria xxxx

[Rachel]

I have a book blog too! The link is...

http://readhappilyeverafter-rachel.blogspot.com/

[Lauren]

These definitely sound fabulous. I love the thought of the Met Rooftop Martini Bar and the Hong Kong Mandarin Oriental.

[Sophie]

Johnny Depp?! It's Le Club 55 for me. Though I do really want to go to NYC...