Liam Collens

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Lolla, Singapore. “It’s a deliciously good time.”

Uninvited Opinion. Lolla’s easy going spirit and capable, crowd-pleasing dishes just delighted me. It is a neighbourhood restaurant for which I had to travel almost 4000 miles.
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Periodicals

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Amused Bouche 01
Bite-sized if not biting commentary. In this issue: a collection of eats, stays and sips across Singapore, an absolute jewel in Asia.
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Liam Collens
Something for the Weekend #23
Bringing in some structure. Are Saudi and Michelin perfect for each other? Instagram Channels. A bumper week for Eats, Writes & Substack Reads. So sit…
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Liam Collens
Something for the Weekend #22
Market Island openings. The Italian Project *deep sigh*. UAE levels up with Michelin Key properties. This Week’s Eats, Writes and Reads. So sit back …
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Liam Collens
Something for the Weekend #21
The UAE wins BIG at the 2025 The Best Chef Awards. Kraken is coming. The Italian Project hits the bricks. Eats, writes and more. So sit back & enjoy a…
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Liam Collens
Something for the Weekend #20
Heading back to Dubai. North America’s Inaugural 50 Best List. Ruché: Piemonte’s Little Red Secret. This Week’s Great Substack Reads. So sit back …
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Liam Collens
Something for the Weekend #19
Villa renovations, A Look Inside W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island, a humble feedback request, Champagne’s human trafficking, more Ozempic menus! So sit back …
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Liam Collens
Something for the Weekend #18
An unexpected M series: Monferrato, Montemagno to Moleto. From Le Manoir to McDonalds to British mousse. Lie back and enjoy a little Something for the…
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Liam Collens
Something for The Weekend #17
Are water menus now a thing? Do you have $500k for coffee? The effect of Ozempic on restaurant menus, and more.
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Liam Collens

Restaurant Reviews

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Lolla, Singapore. “It’s a deliciously good time.”
Uninvited Opinion. Lolla’s easy-going spirit and capable, crowd-pleasing dishes just delighted me. It is a neighbourhood restaurant for which I had to…
 • 
Liam Collens
Al Muntaha, Dubai. Restaurant review.
Sharper cooking, gentler décor, lunch is the move here.
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Liam Collens
Calicut Paragon, Dubai: restaurant review
You must respect a restaurant operating for nearly 100 years, but Calicut plays it safe, appeals to the masses and lacks South Indian cuisine’s flair.
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Liam Collens
La Bottiglieria del Ruché: restaurant review
La Bottiglieria del Ruché kindles the makings of an idyllic Italian enoteca with affordable wine and eclectic decor, but then we had the food.
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Liam Collens
The Lighthouse, Dubai Hills: restaurant review.
An all day diner that comes alive at night but, overall, The Lighthouse flickers instead of beams.
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Liam Collens
Eat Like a Local in Cairo: The Best Street Food, Cafes and Restaurants As Recommended by Locals
Forget the guides, this is where locals in Cairo really go to eat. Discover Cairo’s best street food and more, from shawerma buns to koshary, with…
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Liam Collens
Sticky Rice, Jumeriah Village Circle, Dubai
I don’t know if this is Dubai’s best Thai restaurant, but I don’t want to find another.
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Liam Collens
Corona Reale Trattoria, Moncalvo
A cozy, village restaurant where, after enough local wine, you'll start looking for homes nearby.
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Liam Collens

Travel Reviews

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The Chedi Muscat, Oman: It Was Well Worth The Wait (Archives)
We waited 10+ years to experience The Chedi Muscat. It was worth it. The Chedi Muscat’s tasteful luxury is a benchmark for other Middle Eastern resorts.
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Liam Collens
The Greatest Dining Spaces
Of views, history and art, you could come here to eat nothing and leave utterly satisfied. These are some of my most memorable dinings rooms.
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Liam Collens
Ascending God's Rooftop, Pt 2: The Journey to Himachal Pradesh, India’s Himalayas
Ascending God's Rooftop is a multi-part series about my recent travels to India, particularly Himachal Pradesh. This time I talk about Kasauli and…
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Liam Collens
Ascending God's Rooftop, Pt 1: A Journey to Himachal Pradesh, India’s Himalayas
A multi-part series about travelling to India over the years and, most recently, to Himachal Pradesh.
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Liam Collens
The St Regis Abu Dhabi
The St Regis Abu Dhabi's Grand Deluxe Suites overlook sweeping views of Abu Dhabi’s Corniche within moments of the city’s most-loved sights.
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Liam Collens
13 Unconventional Travel Destinations to Consider this Eid
There are MANY travel guides recommending the same places, but this guide finds some of the best and unique options out there.
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Liam Collens
48 Hours in Copenhagen: Where to Eat, Sleep and Play
The land of Carlsberg, mermaids and Hans Christian Andersen offers more than enough for a weekend getaway.
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Liam Collens
Maldivian-Style Villa Stays at the Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah
A brand-new weekend waterfront stay in Ras Al Khaimah challenges you to ask: do I need to go to the Maldives?
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Liam Collens

Recent posts

View all
Amused Bouche 01
Bite-sized if not biting commentary. In this issue: a collection of eats, stays and sips across Singapore, an absolute jewel in Asia.
 • 
Liam Collens
Al Muntaha, Dubai. Restaurant review.
Sharper cooking, gentler décor, lunch is the move here.
 • 
Liam Collens
Something for the Weekend #23
Bringing in some structure. Are Saudi and Michelin perfect for each other? Instagram Channels. A bumper week for Eats, Writes & Substack Reads. So sit…
 • 
Liam Collens
Rediscovering Moscato.
Getting passed the mediocre labels that set the wrong impression and re-discovering this grape, together with seven Moscato d'Asti labels that I HIGHLY…
 • 
Liam Collens
Something for the Weekend #22
Market Island openings. The Italian Project *deep sigh*. UAE levels up with Michelin Key properties. This Week’s Eats, Writes and Reads. So sit back …
 • 
Liam Collens
Calicut Paragon, Dubai: restaurant review
You must respect a restaurant operating for nearly 100 years, but Calicut plays it safe, appeals to the masses and lacks South Indian cuisine’s flair.
 • 
Liam Collens
Something for the Weekend #21
The UAE wins BIG at the 2025 The Best Chef Awards. Kraken is coming. The Italian Project hits the bricks. Eats, writes and more. So sit back & enjoy a…
 • 
Liam Collens
La Bottiglieria del Ruché: restaurant review
La Bottiglieria del Ruché kindles the makings of an idyllic Italian enoteca with affordable wine and eclectic decor, but then we had the food.
 • 
Liam Collens

Featured In

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Reif Japanese Kushiyaki, Dubai Hills: We Deserve This (Archives)
Reif Japanese Kushiyaki Dubai Hills expands Reif Othman’s success, reminding imitators that he’s still the yardstick to beat.
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Liam Collens
Consorzio, Turin restaurant review: "Fergus Henderson's doppelgänger is an Italian woman."
Consorzio tastes bold and edifying in modern times, making light work of unsexy, overlooked cuts. The squeamish will still eat well, and eat you should.
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Liam Collens
The Greatest Dining Spaces
Of views, history and art, you could come here to eat nothing and leave utterly satisfied. These are some of my most memorable dinings rooms.
 • 
Liam Collens
Potong, Bangkok: restaurant review. "No One Should Cook Duck This Well"
Potong is Chef Pam’s ode to her family and heritage; skilfully cooked, wrapped in class and served with charm. The storyteller all families would want.
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Liam Collens
Tasca restores joy in Dubai's brunches
It took the Portuguese, a birthday and a slather of sophistication to Make Brunch Great Again.
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Liam Collens
Tresind Studio x Gucci Osteria
Dubai continues to show the world that it's a world-class destination for creative cooking, eye-catching collaborations and a progressive melting pot…
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Liam Collens
The St Regis Abu Dhabi
The St Regis Abu Dhabi's Grand Deluxe Suites overlook sweeping views of Abu Dhabi’s Corniche within moments of the city’s most-loved sights.
 • 
Liam Collens
Gaggan, Bangkok: restaurant review
Weeks later, I cannot decide how I feel about Gaggan, but that seeded, restless stir is precisely where Chef Gaggan Anand wants me. Welcome to one of…
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Liam Collens
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