An LA institution open to the early morning. If you can withstand the heat and the queue, a monster chilli dog awaits.

Pink's Hot Dogs; 709 N La Brea Avenue; Los Angeles, California 90038; Tel: 323-931-4223; www.pinkshollywood.com/

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Musso and Frank Grill on Hollywood Boulevard looks like it has seen better days, but then it probably seemed that way when it opened in 1919. A legendary Hollywood hangout (from Welles, Faulkener and Hemingway to Depp and Keith Richards) the bar and restaurant is renowned for its martinis and surly waiters.

Musso and Frank Grill; 6667 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90028; Tel: 323-467-7788

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Arguably Dublin's finest Michelin-starred restaurant, the best of modern Irish cooking, from oysters to cabbage, Dublin bay prawns to Irish salmon, in a surprisingly relaxed atmosphere. Main courses up to €48, or three-course lunch for €45.

109a Lower Baggot Street; Tel: 00 353 1 6611919; www.lecrivain.com/

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Remarkable modern decor, imaginatively presented dishes and very fine tea.

54, Tayuancun, near East gate of the Workers’ Stadium; Tel; 6468 5903

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Offers authentic North Korean food and entertainment. It should. All the staff are state employees and wear the mandatory Kim Il Sung lapel badges.

Near the west gate of Chaoyang Park

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Located in Beihai Park, once an imperial garden, the restaurant offers exquisite imperial food of former Qing Dynasty. Waitresses in period garb lead you to the dining room, which is splendid, with high painted ceilings and traditional Chinese art. 200-300 rmb per person.

Beihai Park, near the east gate; Tel: 010 6401 1879

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This is the place for mutton hot pot, a traditional northern dish. Expect to pay about 40rmb per head.

No 130 Wangfujing Dajie Street, Dongcheng District; Tel: 86 10 6528 0932; www.donglaishun.com/

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The place where Germany’s Prominenten - in other words, its politicians, celebs and beautiful people - go to be seen. The food isn’t bad and they serve you a decent schnitzel. Close to Galerie Lafyette, Berlin’s chi-chi shopping centre.

Französische Strasse 47; Nearest U-Bahn: Französische Strasse; tel: 030 20387110

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Superior French restaurant, a stone’s throw away from the Brandenburg Gate. I have to admit I haven’t actually eaten here but it’s supposed to be good.

Unter den Linden 78; Nearest S-Bahn: Unter den Linden; Tel: 030 22652611

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Berlin’s best curry house, run by a splendid chap called Ashok. Very good food. You can order in English and be as noisy and un-German as you want. Mains €9-€14.

Bleibtreustrasse 17; Nearest S-Bahn: Savigny Platz; Tel: 030 8836293

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My favourite restaurant, this is a tiny Austrian place in leafy Charlottenburg. The food is simply amazing. I’m very fond of the Kaiserschmarrn pudding - a sort of sweet fried pancake. The lamb leaves me dreaming of Wales. My local.

Schlüterstrasse 67; Dinner only; Shut on Sundays; Nearest S-Bahn: Savignyplatz; Tel: 030 3131033

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Walk into any bakery for fresh 'Brötchen' (rolls in all shapes and sizes often covered in pumpkin seeds) filled with cheese, salami, schnitzel, peppers …

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A tourist hang-out, but also the preferred eaterie of the well-heeled. High-end Russian cuisine where smoked meat meets pickled fish. Expect to pay at least £50 a head.

26a Tverskoi Bulvar; tel: 095 229 5590; nearest metro: Tverskaya

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Apparently an exclusive club-restaurant, but they let anyone in who asks nicely (in Russian). Traditional Russian food, ice cold vodka, and bizarre caricature busts of everyone from Lady Di to Dostoyevski. £15 a head for vodka and food.

24 Myasnitskaya Ulitsa (in a courtyard away from the street); Tel: 095 923 0082; nearest metro: Christiye Prudy

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Azerbaijani food (a little like Georgian, but with more herbs and less melted cheese). Kebabs, pickled vegetable stuffed in previously unimaginable ways. Try the kutab with pumpkin (kutab s tykvy). Drink Georgian Saperavi wine. A drunken feast for about £30 a head.

52 Povarskaya Ulitsa; Tel: 291 6376; nearest metro: Barrikadnaya

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Sushi is all the rage, but you should try this. Grilled meat, fresh vegetables and hachipuri, bread stuffed with melted cheese - easily the most addictive substance in the former Soviet Union.

Genatsvali restaurant on Ostozhenka, 12/1 (nearest metro: Park Kultury) is not the cheapest, but perhaps the best.

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A New York-style delicatessen. Exquisite pizzas and omelettes. Rack of the finest lamb in town. Increasingly and annoyingly popular.

Bolshaya Gruzinskaya; www.correas.ru/

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This restaurant is in the heart of the historic centre of the city. It's no bargain but the food is interesting and good. Most memorable is the rooftop terrace overlooking the Zocalo. Try going there at night.

Casa de Las Sirenas, Guatemala 32, Zocalo.
Tel + 52 5 704 3225

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Mint is a great restaurant in Mohandiseen. The atmosphere is brilliant, the international dishes are all cooked perfectly and the decor just finishes the experience off. It is a bit difficult to find but don't give up - it is well worth it.

Mint restaurant, Gezirat El arab street, Mohandiseen.
Tel : 00 20 (2) 345 5510/2

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Midsummer is the longest day and I spent one of the most beautiful nights ever on a beach watching the light not fade. And, if you like seafood, chardonnay and vodka, the crayfish festival is the best way to round off the summer. I lived in Gothenburg for five years and to me it is the heart of Sweden. If you go to Sweden, go to Gothenburg.

The annual crayfish parties are held throughout Sweden on Midsummer's Eve in June.

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