Candle Magazine

What really goes into building a fine dining restaurant in India? With the country’s dining-out market projected to hit ₹9 trillion by 2030, and full-service restaurants set to grow at a CAGR of 11.28%, the demand for high-end culinary experiences is rising fast. In this episode of Luxury Legends, restaurateur Neeti Goel breaks down the real work behind creating a fine dining brand in India—from sourcing to service, concept to culture. 🎙 Full conversation now live on Candle Magazine’s YouTube. 🔗 Link: https://lnkd.in/ghWhcwU7 #LuxuryJournalism #FineDiningIndia #RestaurantIndustry #NeetiGoel #CandleMagazine #LuxuryLegends #IndianLuxury #HospitalityBusiness #RestaurantEconomics #IndiaRising

The Orient Express has opened its first hotel, La Minerva, inside a 17th-century palazzo just steps from the Pantheon in Rome. Known for its storied luxury trains, the brand—now owned by French hospitality group Accor—has turned to hotels, beginning with this 93-room, 36-suite property. No two rooms are alike in layout, a reflection of the building’s layered past. The address, Piazza della Minerva 69, has long been a meeting point for travellers and creatives. Architect and designer Hugo Toro was tasked with reimagining the space. His approach blends the old with the new: original marble columns and an 1854 statue of the Roman goddess Minerva sit alongside patterned floors, rich textures, and pockets of greenery. The rooms, too, reference the brand’s train travel roots—bespoke trunks and polished wood details offer subtle nods to its past life on the rails. There are also three restaurants planned for the space. The lobby bar, La Minerva, is already open under a glass roof. A rooftop spot, Gigi Rigolatto, is set to open in May, with Riviera influences and backing from Rikas Hospitality and Paris Society. Later in the year, Japanese restaurant Mimi Kakushi will open, inspired by 1920s Osaka with touches of Western style. This is just the start of the brand’s expansion. A second hotel, the Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, is set to open in Venice later in 2025. And in the spirit of its original rail journeys, the company has also launched La Dolce Vita—a new train experience through Tuscany. #TheOrientExpress #OrientExpressLaMinerva #Rome #LuxuryTravel #LuxuryTrain #Hotel #Luxury #LuxuryNews #Exclusive #CandleMag #CandleMagazine

Bentley has expanded its electrified range with the launch of a new high-performance hybrid powertrain across the Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible (GTC), and Flying Spur. Producing 670 hp and 685 lb-ft of torque, the new V8 hybrid delivers Bentley’s electric efficiency across more configurations than ever before. The 4.0L V8 plug-in hybrid, paired with an electric motor, sits just below the brand’s 771-hp Ultra Performance Hybrid found in the Speed models. Despite that, it outperforms the previous W12 Speed in every major category, sprinting from 0–60 mph in 3.5 seconds in the Continental GT and offering up to 53 miles of electric-only driving. Each model is offered in three trims — Core, Speed, and Azure — with the Azure edition emphasizing comfort and wellbeing. Azure models feature massage-equipped Wellness seats, mood lighting, and intricate 3D Harmony diamond quilting. Exterior updates on the fourth-generation Continental GT and GTC include Bentley’s iconic black matrix grille, crystal-inspired Harmony headlamps with bespoke welcome animations, and chrome-trimmed tailpipes. Inside are the handcrafted fluted leather seats and customizable chrome or dark chrome accents. Prices for the new Continental GT start at INR 2.30 crore ($265,900 USD), and the models are now available for order through authorized Bentley dealers. #Bentley #Luxury #LuxuryNews #Exclusive #CandleMag #CandleMagazine

Louis Vuitton’s connection to the world of design runs deep, from its iconic 1885 Bed Trunk to the Hemingway Library Trunk, crafted in 1927 by Gaston-Louis Vuitton for Ernest Hemingway as a travel library. Over the decades, this dialogue between the French luxury house and design has only grown stronger. Now, Louis Vuitton is entering a new era with the launch of its Home Collections — a complete offering across five categories: Objets Nomades, the new Signature line of furniture and lighting, Decoration (including objects and textiles), Tableware, and Exceptional Gaming. The collections will make their debut at Milan’s historic Palazzo Serbelloni, open to the public throughout the city’s Design Week and Salone del Mobile, from Tuesday through April 13. Louis Vuitton’s newly renovated Via Montenapoleone flagship will also become the first store globally to showcase the Home Collections. #LouisVuitton #NewCollection #HomeCollection #Milan #Luxury #LuxuryNews #Exclusive #CandleMag #CandleMagazine

The world’s 500 wealthiest individuals saw their fortunes shrink by a combined INR 17.8 lakh crore ($208 billion) on Thursday after the president’s new tariffs rattled global markets, according to Bloomberg. It marked the fourth-largest single-day loss in the 13-year history of Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index — and the worst since the Covid-19 pandemic. More than half of the billionaires tracked by the Index saw their net worth drop by an average of 3.3 percent, with American tycoons bearing the brunt. Mark Zuckerberg took the biggest hit, losing around INR 1.5 lakh crore ($17.9 billion) — about 9% of his wealth — after Meta shares fell 9 percent. Jeff Bezos wasn’t far behind: Amazon stock plunged 9%, its sharpest decline since April 2021, wiping INR 1.3 lakh crore ($15.9 billion) off Bezos’s fortune. Amazon shares have now fallen over 25 percent since February. Elon Musk also suffered, losing INR 94256 crore ($11 billion) on Thursday alone. Tesla shares slid 5.5%, adding to the INR 8.4 lakh crore ($99 billion) Musk has already lost this year. Not every billionaire was caught in the fallout, though. Ultra-high-net-worth individuals in the Middle East managed to dodge the turbulence, with the region being the only one where billionaires posted a net gain that day. #TrumpAdministration #Tariffs #DonaldTrump #BillionairesList #JeffBezos #MarkZuckerberg #ElonMusk #Luxury #LuxuryNews #Exclusive #CandleMagazine #CandleMag

From ₹25 crore listings to the psychology of India’s luxury buyers — here's everything you didn’t know about Indian real estate. 🏙️✨ On this episode of Luxury Legends, we decode: • Why India’s top developers are going boutique • The new definition of luxury living • What truly sells in a ₹100 crore home • And how the ultra-rich are buying property without stepping foot inside. Catch the full conversation with Gulam Zia, Senior Executive Director at Knight Frank India here: https://lnkd.in/dmj4CwNq #LuxuryLegends #CandleMagazine #IndianRealEstate #LuxuryRealEstate #RealEstatePodcast #HNIBuyers #LuxuryLivingIndia #RealEstateReel Knight Frank India Gulam Zia

At Watches & Wonders 2025 in Geneva, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced a new range of Reverso timepieces, staying true to its focus on craftsmanship, innovation, and design. The lineup includes the Reverso Tribute Geographic with the in-house Calibre 834 and a world time display, the Reverso Tribute Minute Repeater with a detailed dual-dial design, and the Reverso Tribute Nonantieme Enamel, featuring celestial-inspired details. The brand also presents four Reverso Tribute Enamel Shahnameh models, each featuring miniature enamel paintings celebrating Persian culture. Another standout is the Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds in pink gold with a Milanese bracelet, offering a mix of vintage style and modern elegance. The collection is completed by the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 and new Reverso Tribute Duoface models, both combining technical expertise with thoughtful design. Prices for all models are available on request through the brand’s website. #WatchesAndWonders #JaegerLeCoultre #NewReleases #Geneva #Reverso #Luxury #LuxuryNews #Exclusive #CandleMag #CandleMagazine @jaegerlecoultre

Watches and Wonders is back in Geneva, and this year’s edition is the biggest yet. With 60 brands exhibiting, the 2025 show surpasses last year’s already massive event, where 54 brands transformed Palexpo with elaborate booths reflecting their latest innovations. First held in 2013 as a traveling showcase, Watches and Wonders made stops in cities like Hong Kong and Miami before settling in Geneva in 2020. It stepped into the gap left by Baselworld’s decline, evolving into the industry’s leading trade event. But its roots go back further—Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), founded in 1991, was Richemont’s exclusive watch fair for brands like Cartier, Panerai, IWC, Vacheron Constantin, and Jaeger-LeCoultre. Over time, SIHH expanded to include independent powerhouses like Richard Mille and Audemars Piguet. The turning point came when Rolex and Patek Philippe joined in, elevating the show to the industry’s top event. SIHH eventually merged with Watches and Wonders, creating the premier stage for luxury watchmaking. As day one unfolds, several major releases have already made headlines. Zenith marks its 160th anniversary with striking blue timepieces, Patek Philippe unveils an iced-out Nautilus, and Rolex presents its latest collection. Cartier revives the Tank à Guichets, while IWC brings a mix of haute horology, Hollywood influence, and F1 energy to its 2025 lineup. And there’s still plenty more to come. #WatchesAndWonders #Geneva #Cartier #Rolex #VacheronConstantin #IWC #Zenith #Panerai #Luxury #LuxuryNews #Exclusive #CandleMag #CandleMagazine @cartier @iwcwatches @rolex @zenithwatches @watchesandwonders @tagheuer @panerai

What amenities do HNIs seek in luxury real estate today? 🤔🏡 Gulam Zia, Senior Executive Director at Knight Frank, breaks down the trends shaping high-end properties in India. Tune in to the full podcast—https://lnkd.in/gAD-BWFr #LuxuryRealEstate #HNI #Podcast Mansvini Kaushik Knight Frank India

Land Rover has introduced the Defender Octa in India, starting at INR 2.59 crore. As the most powerful and off-road-focused iteration of the Defender yet, it takes on the Mercedes-AMG G63. A special Edition One variant, priced at INR 2.79 crore, offers even greater off-road capability but will be available only for the first year of production. The Octa is offered exclusively in the 110 body style, featuring a more aggressive stance with flared wheel arches, a larger grille, a redesigned front bumper, and increased ground clearance. It rides on 22-inch all-season tyres, while the Edition One gets 20-inch wheels with off-road tyres. ‘Octa’ badging appears on the C-pillars, and the tailgate and roof sport a gloss-black finish. Land Rover offers four bespoke colors—Carpathian Grey, Charente Grey, Faroe Green, and Petra Copper—each available with a matte finish and a protective film. Inside, new performance seats with a 3D-knit texture, integrated headrests, and enhanced bolstering enhance comfort. The Octa also features Land Rover’s Body and Soul Seat technology, which syncs seat vibrations with the audio system. These enhancements, along with revised front and rear bumpers, improve the Defender Octa’s off-road capabilities, increasing its approach, departure, and breakover angles, as well as wading depth and articulation, compared to the standard Defender 110. #LandRover #Defender #LaunchedInIndia #Luxury #LuxuryNews #CandleMag #CandleMagazine #News #Exclusivity