Who says A, must also say B? That’s right. Artisan Walk, Afternoon Tea and Afterwork Cocktail are three experiences curated by the Hotel Bristol for a mindful visit to Vienna. On a walk through the city centre, back doors open to traditional artisan businesses, tea and scones can be enjoyed in the lounge by a crackling fire and the American Bar invites you to unwind after work.

Door number 14 opens gently and leads quietly into a room of silence, where Scandinavian design philosophies meet Japanese wisdom. The Danish Norm Architects have been studying the Far East for a long time and have incorporated their findings into numerous projects. Together with Gestalten Verlag, they have published Stillness, a book that we are giving away at the quietest time of the year.

Christmas is when it glitters and shines everywhere – just like behind door number 10. With the shimmering MOONLIT ed.1 eco antique metallic golden bronze bag from INA KENT, every outfit is ready for the festive season. Ready for Christmas talks in the urban gallery, photo sessions in Christmas-lit side streets or the last cocktail in the bar after the festivities? What stories this bag will soon be telling…

No, the Douro Boys are not a boy band, but the spirit is the same: they work together to touch the hearts of the whole world. Not with pop songs, of course, but with wine – from the Douro Valley. Not only does the river of the same name flow here, but above all port wine. One of the four Douro Boys members also runs the marvellous Hotel Casa do Rio. Door number 9 takes us to Portugal for today’s prize: a night in a hotel including wine tasting for two people.

In a world that is spinning faster and faster, many of us are looking for calmness and clarity. “Mindful living” means living consciously in the moment and shows us the path inwards, which is where real peace lies. Religions like Buddhism and Hinduism remind us that happiness can’t be found externally and resides instead in mindfulness and silence.

PIA KNOESTER, THE VISIONARY BEHIND HELGABAD, SHARES HER JOURNEY FROM THE BEAUTY AND PERSONAL CARE INDUSTRY TO THE CREATION OF A BRAND CENTRED AROUND WATER
AND MINDFULNESS. HELGABAD IS NOT JUST ABOUT PRODUCTS; IT’S ABOUT ENHANCING EVERY-
DAY MOMENTS INTO SOMETHING SACRED. IN THIS INTERVIEW, PIA EXPLORES THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF WATER IN BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING, AND HOW HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCES SHAPED HER UNDERSTANDING OF ITS POWER.