Tibidabo The mountain of Tibidabo is the best vantage point for a bird’s-eye view of Barcelona. Thrill-seekers opt for a spin on the Tibidabo fairground attraction called La Atalaya, a rickety basket attached to an ancient crane-like contraption which gives a 360-degree view of Barcelona, the sea and the Pyrenees. A less giddy option is … Read more
Embassy Row Since the 19th century, Embassy Row, the string of great mansions heading west from Dupont Circle up Massachusetts Avenue, has been a hotbed of gathering and suppressing information. Today, 46 embassies and chanceries here help shape foreign policy by allowing issues to be discussed without the glare of public announcement. Churchill statue, Embassy … Read more
A warm welcome The Viceroy embraces Mayan mythology and culture wholeheartedly. On arrival, resident shaman, Jose Coali blesses you with Copal, a type of incense made from the resin extracted from the Bursera Bipinnata tree, which he burns and what’s around you. Viceroy’s menu takes inspiration from Mayan cuisine with dishes such as Yellowfin Tuna … Read more
Mercat de La Boqueria Barcelona’s most famous food market is conveniently located on La Rambla. Freshness reigns supreme and shoppers are spoiled for choice, with hundreds of stalls selling everything from vine-ripened tomatoes to haunches of beef and moist wedges of Manchego cheese. The city’s seaside status is in full evidence at the fish stalls. … Read more
National Air and Space Museum Kids’ dreams are founded on and inspired by these ravishing soaring devices and spectacular rockets, while their parents and grandparents can reminisce over the early days of aviation and see how far we’ve come. End the visit by treating children to a scoop of the freeze-dried ice cream. National Air … Read more
Fun: The monthly Full Moon BBQ at the Bizot Bar kicks off with cocktails to the sounds of Radio Nova. The BBQ – if you have time to eat between dancing – has spicy jerk chicken, jerk pork, steaks, ribs, lobster and snapper and is served buffet style with a full salad bar. Must try: … Read more
Verveine The decor is soothing (soft lighting and linens), the food high-end comfort: smoked salmon with truffled scrambled eggs, poached eggs on croissant . Verveine Lakeview Lunch Slide into a booth – part of the old-style diner decor – and choose from a menu that focuses on eggs and burger classics. Good milkshakes. 1132 Dundas … Read more
Villa Farnesina A little gem of gracious living, decorated by some of the greatest artists of the Renaissance, including Raphael. The loggias are now glassed in to protect the precious frescoes, but they were originally open, embodying the ideal of blending indoor and outdoor spaces – a concept borrowed from ancient Roman villa designers . … Read more
Spa of the month – GoldenEye, Jamaica If you’re looking for a laid back Caribbean experience with a bit of celebrity magic thrown in, GoldenEye might be just the place for you. Located in Oracabessa on the north coast of Kamaica, GoldenEye is the quintessential cool resort. The property began life as a villa built … Read more
Colborne Lane This modern, post-industrial restaurant is a mecca for lovers of molecular gastronomy, and Claudio Aprile is Toronto’s most proficient and enigmatic culinary maestro. His tasting menu, bursting with delicious surprises, is a must. Both Food & Wine Magazine and Condé Nast Traveler voted Colborne Lane as one of the most exciting new restaurants … Read more
Caravaggio’s Deposition Caravaggio strove to outdo Michelangelo’s Pietà by making his Mary old and tired. Rather than a slender slip of a Christ, Caravaggio’s muscular Jesus is so heavy (emphasized by a diagonal composition) that Nicodemus struggles with his legs and John’s grasp opens Christ’s wound. Raphael’s Transfiguration Raphael’s towering masterpiece and his final work … Read more
Passeig de Gràcia Barcelona’s grand avenue of lavish Modernista buildings is fittingly home to the city’s premier fashion and design stores. From the international big league (Chanel, Gucci, Swatch) to Spain’s heavy hitters (Loewe, Camper, Zara, Mango), it’s all here. And topping the interior design list is the perennially popular Vinçon. Side streets reveal more … Read more
Newbury Street Try as it might, Back Bay’s most famous street cannot escape comparisons to Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive. True, both offer stupendous people-watching, sophisticated shopping, chic dining, and prestigious galleries. Yet with its 19th-century charm and convenient subway stops, Newbury Street outclasses its built-yesterday Left Coast counterpart by far. Filene’s Basement Discount fashion outlets … Read more
T’ang Court The Langham Hotel completed its US$35 million upgrade in 2003, and the food at T’ang Court continues to astonish. Peerless creativity and an insistence on wok chi (wok cooking at the highest achievable temperature) are the keys to T’ang Court’s greatness. 1/F, Langham Hotel, 8 Peking Road, Kowloon 2375 1133ext. 2250 The Verandah … Read more
Elephant Housed in a Modernista villa, filled with candles and Moroccan lamps, this swish nightclub attracts a fashionable young crowd. But the real highlight is the garden, where lounge beds with diaphanous white drapes, fountains and giant elephant statues add an exotic touch. In winter, the outdoor dance floor is transformed into a spectacular tent. … Read more
A village within a henge Avebury, Wiltshire Standing stones of the henge at Avebury, Wiltshire, England The 17th-century antiquarian John Aubrey famously wrote about Avebury that it “did as much excel Stoneheng (sic) as a Cathedral does a Parish Church.” The magnificent Neolithic henge, which encompasses the medieval village, olus the double stone circles hat … Read more
Hong Kong Dishes Cha Siu This is virtually Hong Kong’s national dish. The name literally means “fork roast”. The tender fillets of pork are roasted and glazed in honey and spices, and hung in the windows of specialist roast meat shops. Cha siu is classically served thinly sliced, with steamed rice and strips of vegetables. … Read more
All the city parks are officially open from around 10am until dusk. Parc de la Ciutadella Barcelona’s largest landscaped park offers a serene antidote to city life. Once the location of the 18th-century military citadel, this lovely 19th-century park is now home to the zoo, the Catalan parliament, two museums and a boating lake. There … Read more
Behind their charming facades, Britain’s villages hide many mysteries. Rose-framed cottages and the ancient church tower cluster protectively around the oak-shaded green. Here, in summer, the crack of willow on leather indicates that cricketers are conducting their weekly ritual, to utter bemusement of foreign visitors. There’s nothing more English than the village. Behind their charming … Read more
Casa PATAS If you’re interested in Flamenco but don’t know your cantadores from your bailadores, this lively club is a good place to get acquainted with the scene. Rated by madrileños for its class acts, the show usually starts around 11pm or a little later and continues into the small hours. Beforehand you can have … Read more