Some of New York’s finest architecture is found at its Civic Center, the headquarters for city government. Buildings here span the centuries, from the 18th-century St. Paul’s Chapel to the pioneering 20th-century Woolworth Building. Nearby is the famous Brooklyn Bridge, and the old maritime center of the city, South Street Seaport, its piers and buildings … Read more
On one level, Tsim Sha Tsui (universally truncated to “TST” in a merciful gesture to non-Cantonese speakers) is still a parody of a tourist quarter in an Asian port: its tailors and camera salesmen do not suffer fools, its hostess bars are the scene of many a ruinous round of drinks. But there is also … Read more
Shops Gifts, Garments & Goodies Escribà Confiteria i Fleca If the glistening pastries and towering chocolate creations aren’t enough of a lure, then the Modernista store-front certainly is. Buy goodies to go, or enjoy them on the spot in the small café. La Rambla 83 Como Agua de Mayo Try this tiny boutique for original … Read more
A Day in Les Halles Morning Tackle the Centre Georges Pompidou early, as the expansive modern art museum is worth a leisurely visit, and some of the excellent temporary exhibits may catch your eye. If you need refreshment after all that art, it has to be Georges, the chic brasserie at the top of the … Read more
Restaurants Boccondivino Madrid’s smartest Italian restaurant serves Sardinian specialities with complementary wines. Calle Castelló 81 91 575 7947 Closed Mon, Sun D Jockey Winner of numerous culinary awards including a Michelin star, Jockey is one of Madrid’s best and most expensive restaurants. Seasonal game and wild fowl dishes are a highlight when they are in … Read more
The cycle paths on the cape pass through dense pine forest. The trees on the Atlantic side, under the action of the powerful west wind, all lean back at the same slight angle, like neat italic handwriting inscribed on the powder-blue notepaper of the sky. I pedaled off in search of a coastal spot called … Read more
The small but lively Beaubourg quarter, brimming with art galleries and cafés, has become a major tourist attraction since the construction of the Centre Georges Pompidou. This inside-out hulk of modern architecture has become the focus of the area and is France’s third most visited site after the Musée du Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. … Read more
Fashion Shops Adolfo Domínguez Showcasing the collections of one of Spain’s leading designers, famous for elegant understatement. No.18 specializes in casual clothes, including jeans. Calle de Serrano 18 & 96 Adolfo Domínguez Ágatha Ruíz de la Prada Men and women’s fashions by one of the country’s most original designers, noted for her daring use of … Read more
Oyster-farming on the cape is nearly always a family business, because the beds are passed down from one generation to the nest, like the estates of the English gentry. In many places, you are likely to be waited on by the wife or the daughter of the oyster-farmer who brought your meal ashore. There are … Read more
Pig’s Ear In the heart of Chelsea, just a stone’s throw away from the bustle and extremely fashionable shopping in King’s Road, this gastropub serves up quality food in a warm and friendly atmosphere. For a calmer experience head upstairs to the Blue Room Restaurant. 35 Old Church Street SW3 Clarke’s A steady favourite since … Read more
Restaurants Beijing Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant It is the opinion of a great many Beijingers that there is no finer duck than that served here . Bdg 3, Tuanjiehu Beikou, Dong San Huan 6582 2892 Three Guizhou Men Test your taste buds on the likes of sour fish soup and a startling take on ribs … Read more
Secluded, laid-back and authentic, the French oyster capital of Cap Ferret is a haven of seaside sophistication, says Jonathan Bastable. Photographs by Helen Cathcart Cap Ferret is akin to the Côte d’Azur – but without the bling and desperate exhibitionism You may have seen Cap Ferret without ever having been there. It was the backdrop … Read more
A Walk From Ri Tan Park to Sanlitun Morning The American-style diner Steak and Eggs (5 Xiushui Jie), which is behind the Friendship Store, opens for pancake-platter breakfasts at 7:30am. Well fed, head north up embassy-lined Jianhua Lu to enter Ri Tan Park via the south gate. This is one of the city’s best parks, … Read more
Live like a Venetian in a plush palace designed to be anything but conventional, says William Cook. The Krug Lounge at Palazzina G With 20 million visitors every year and an abundance of historic buildings, Venice has never been short of hotels in all guises. Now former rally driver Emanuele Garosci has added a cutting-edge, … Read more
East of central Beijing, in a corridor between the Second and Third Ring Roads, is the district of Chaoyang. It’s not an area that is particularly old and it doesn’t have very many significant monuments, but it is home to two main clusters of international embassies, and it is where a large proportion of the … Read more
What is it? A Grade I-listed country-house hotel with 35 acres of gardens attributed to pioneering Victorian horticulturalist – and forefather of the English natural garden – William Robinson. The house is hidden in 1,000 acres of forested grounds, so it feels secluded and remote but is in fact only 12 miles from Gatwick Airport. … Read more
A Day in the Near North Morning Line up early with the locals for a fortifying stack at The Original Pancake House (22 E. Bellevue Pl.). Afterward, stroll south on Rush Street to Oak Street. Take a left and walk the most exclusive shopping block in the city, where you can pop into stores such … Read more
19. Kaufleuten Kaufleuten Show off your moves on Zurich’s best-known dance floor, while enjoying the theatrical seeting of this plush party location chandeliers, heavy velvet curtains, opulent furnishings and a large theatre stage make it a mainstay of Zurich’s party scene, with a reputation far beyond Swiss borders. It also has a great line-up of … Read more
History, culture, and commerce collide on Chicago’s densely- packed Near North side. This area is a pleasure to explore on foot, whether motivated by a penchant for shopping or an appreciation of fine art and architecture. The city’s toniest shopping boulevard – the Magnificent Mile, a.k.a. the Mag Mile – bridges the posh 19th-century mansions … Read more
11. La Stanza La Stanza, the popular espresso bar, just off Pradeplatz, brings an Italian flavor to the heart of the financial district This popular espresso bar, just off Pradeplatz, brings an Italian flavor to the heart of the financial district. Many locals say it serves the best espresso in town. Sit on a cosy … Read more