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A contemporary and trendy designer hotel in a youthful and busy area, the Marais district. Close to all the action of the area, but luckily it is in a quiet little street. Tasteful design, ambient colours and comfy beds. On the downside, the room wasn't that big. But that's pretty much how it is in the historic parts of the city. It was a great base to explore Paris, very convenient with many of the sights - Notre Dame, Pompidou Centre, Ile Saint Louis, the Bastille etc - are within easy walking distance. But the charming district, with its cute streets and cafés, is the real attraction.
This is one of the best places I have stayed in the world, the make you feel at home, but at the same time in a boutique hotel. Superb design, super central location and amazing breakfast.
Stepping into Debbie Bryan's studio and shop you get a true sense of the comfort and joy to be found in owning an original piece of British Designers work.
Beautifully displayed, innovative pieces capture your imagination and you're soon sure to be charmed by their individuality and affordable prices. With lots of events and workshop evenings on offer this studio/shop is a fantastic place to be inspired and creative.
18 St Mary's Gate, Lace Market, Nottingham, 0115 9507776. www.debbiebryan.co.uk
The Neue Galerie shows early twentieth century German and Austrian art and design, including first-rate examples of paintings by Kokoschka, Schiele, Klimt (Adele Bloch-Bauer), and many other artists and designers. The setting is a 1914 mansion, just off Fifth Avenue, which opened in 2001.
The work is displayed as if it were in a private house, with furniture and fabrics appropriate to the pieces on show. The glassware and ceramics are also of high quality. The Neue Galerie is a pleasure to visit and a tribute to its founders. There is a comprehensive bookshop offering scholarly works as well as souvenirs.
Corner of Fifth Avenue and 87th Street. Subway to 86th Street and walk from there.
Teatriz restaurant in Madrid is a fantastic restaurant designed by Philippe Starck, converted from an old theatre. I had lunch there on Christmas Day with my family to celebrate my wife's birthday and it was one of the best meals I have ever eaten.
Calle Hermosilla 15, Tel.91-577-53-79
Reservation recommended.
Boutique design hotel off the Ku'damm. Unfortunately we cancelled our romantic break there a month in advance in accordance with all published conditions and have been billed anyway. The staff cite cancellation requirements that are not published anywhere or mentioned in the confirmation email and refuse to show any flexibility.
Guardian article: www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2006/may/21/germany.worldcup2006travelguide.hotels
Hotel website: www.loock-hotels.com
Daily tours run by local volunteer enthusiasts from the South Beach architectural preservation society. Excellent on history of art deco buildings and styles, visits to some buildings and gives a great intro to SoBe.
Ocean Drive, South Beach
Umami is a unique experience, based on the philosophy of Japanese cuisine of natural, seasonal ingredients, accentuated by the substance and tradition of French cuisine. With an international flavour, Umami offers the very best in modern Japanese cuisine and interior design.
The bar is well stocked with the finest booze known to mankind and excellent cocktails.
St. Kongensgade 59
1264 København K
Tlf. +45 33 38 75 00
mail@restaurantumami.dk
This is a Scottish Episcopal Church which was built in 1818. It was not until the 1850s, however, that stained glass designs were incorporated into the windows, and this practice continued into the Twentieth century. In the mid-1980s all the glass was taken out, cleaned and repaired.
The church is a fine building and its stained glass is remarkable for the consistency of its design. Most of the windows were made in the studios of Ballantine and Allen of Edinburgh. Where the appearance of most churches has evolved over many centuries, St John the Evangelist offers a concentrated view of largely Nineteenth century Scottish style and design.
Church of St John the Evangelist, Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 4BJ. Most buses stop alongside the church, which is at the far end of Princes Street gardens.
www.stjohns-edinburgh.org.uk
In the Marais district get away from the non-ending 18th-century embellishment and discover some of the finest 20th-century Scandanavian design and furniture. A modernist oasis.
When recently in Montmartre we found a tiny shop called Manani, Rue des Trois Frères, selling bags made with the most beautiful African prints before making our way down to Fuxia which is such a simple and beautiful deli.
If ever you find yourself on Rue des Martyrs take a peek at their amazing array of wine, pastas, salads and vegetables. The beautiful waitresses are also very knowledgeable about the best bars and places to dance in Paris. Try happy hour at Fluid (same street), charming waiters and beautiful music, the perfect place to become a regular.
A friendly shop that my son thought was actually someone's house.
1 Malling Street, BN7 2RA
Tel: 01273 471269
Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, Pedrera, Güell Parc and Palau Güell are staple Gaudí monuments that give Barcelona its magic.
But here are some of Gaudí's lesser-known, beautiful contributions to design and architecture in Barcelona:
- Fountain of the Three Graces in Placa Reial
- Gigantic fountain in Parc de la Cuitadella
- The amazing wrought-iron embellished street lamps that line the streets are 125-year-old originals in the heart of the city. In Plaza Reial, by Las Ramblas, Passeig de Gracia and the old port entrance.
This gallery opened in 2002 and shows the visual arts and design of the 20th and 21st centuries. It was designed by Stephan Braunfel. It is spacious, full of natural light from a huge rotunda, and offers both a permanent collection and changing exhibitions. It is a pleasure to visit. The design work in particular is imaginatively displayed, on ramps, on huge open lifts that revolve in the air, or suspended at eye level from the high ceilings. Like the other nearby museums, it has a good cafe, and an attractive shop that sells both mementos of your visit and scholarly material. The entry fee was 9.50 euros but that covered all the shows offered in the gallery.
Museum District; tram 27 from Karlsplatz (Stachus) www.pinakothek-der-moderne.de
I got in touch with this hotel through their website, and I made a reservation. They answered that they were under construction, and the lobby and cafe were still undone. So they offered me a great deal to stay with them.
What can I say? The service was excellent! Since we were 4 guests in the whole hotel, we had an extremely personalised service. They were very nice to us. The manager herself took our breakfast every day to our room.
The hotel is gonna be great when they open it, because the concept is the design. The rooms are big and the decoration is very nice.
But the best thing is the attention.
Thanks to all the staff of Urbanica Suites for providing us with the best holiday in Buenos Aires!
www.urbanicasuites.com.ar
It's in Montañeses 2585, Buenos Aires.
In a very nice neigbourhood, called Belgrano. Nearby you have a great shopping area! But the area is in general quiet and very classy.
Trendy design store selling linen and fabrics. Quite a large colour scale to choose from. If you like your table linen simple and not too ornate this place is highly recommended. Reasonable prices.
Monday - Saturday 10-18
Sunday 10-16
Vene 12 and Suur-Karja 2
The home of the Bauhaus design school from 1926 to 1932, this fantastic building is a must-see for fans of modernist design.
Bauhausstrasse, 10 minutes walk from railway station. Visit www.bauhaus-dessau.de and for travel tips www.creen.demon.co.uk/travel/dessau.html
Novocaina is a traditional Italian restaurant, newly opened in the heart of Wroclaw's market square.
It's a unique experience; a balance between outstanding tradtional cuisine and a stylish contemporary approach to interior design... not so modern in style... you can find there a mixture of Baroque and Art Nouveau, simply feel the rhythm of wood, brass, patina gold and the majesty of claret filling the view.
All the flavours are a link between fully organic ingredients, ancient recipies, hard work and passion. Created in a tradtional sandstone stove eg. pizza rustica.
The menu is quite colorful, still growing and changing the flavours, love the pasta menu... a dinner menu for 2 (with wine and drinks) is about £20-30, a pint of beer is only £1 !!! A really rich selection of drinks and cocktails (cheap as well)... my favourite NOVOCAINA (whiskey, amaretto, espresso, cream).
A place for people who love Italian cuisine, great ambience with a hint of chillout and lounge music... it's a fab place to be, to meet and to enjoy...
Rynek 13, Wroclaw, Poland
Tel 00 48 71 3436915
novocaina@novocaina.com
Malmö is eager to exploit the fact that they're back on the map. A surefire way to do that is to build a huge building and The Turning Torso is turning heads.
Architect Santiago Calatrava's fantastic apartment building is 190 metres tall and Sweden's tallest building. When in Malmö, look up. You'll see it.
A stone's throw from the town hall square, the Danish Design Centre showcases all that is hot in Danish design. There's always an exhibition on and their shop is guaranteed to tickle your fancy with its wealth of cutting edge design wares.
Entree: 40 kroner (20 for students)
H.C. Andersens Boulevard 27. Just south of the Town Hall.
Tel +45 3369 3369
www.ddc.dk/
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