Isetan: shopping as spectacle

We’ve crunched the numbers, canvassed the locals and hit the bars. And now Monocle’s Quality of Life Index is here: the definitive ranking of the top places to live in 2024. Where does your city rank? We also meet five mayors who are preening their patches, learn some breezy branding lessons and have a big night out in Bali – it is summer, after all. And our bumper double issue will see you through the season in style.

It’s time to set off on a sun-soaked summer journey: let Konfekt’s new travel-themed issue inspire a few itineraries. Whether you prefer a grande dame on the Ligurian coast or a bolthole in Patmos, our annual hotel guide will be happy to assist you when choosing where to check in for a seaside holiday.

Currently serving 250,000 drinks a day, Tao Bin has become a staple in Thai malls, hospitals and offices since the brand launched in 2021. The machines boast freshly ground coffee, fizzy lemonades, protein shakes and more. Monocle Films travelled to Bangkok to see them in action.

The best hospitality projects delight visitors as much as locals. In this vein, businessman Yuta Oka transformed a series of historic buildings in the small town of Setoda into charming inns, a coffee roaster, a public bathhouse and more. Join us on a jaunt to the Seto Inland Sea.