Sure, you know the Eiffel Tower and London Bridge, but where can you go to really escape the crowds? Check out our insider’s guide to these amazing cities.
Sure, you know the Eiffel Tower and London Bridge, but where can you go to really escape the crowds? Check out our insider’s guide to these amazing cities.
London
Journalist Brooke Bickmore shares her best secrets for navigating the city of Big Ben, tea and killer shopping.
The best bar to get a glass of bubbly is…
“Bob Bob Ricard (bobbobricard.com). You think you’d get bored of the ‘Press for champagne’ button (or gimmick) pretty quickly, but trust me, you’d be surprised.”
Shopping-wise, check out…
“& Other Stories (stories.com) on Regent Street. Started by the people who own H&M, this grown-up sister store is Scandi-style, all wrapped up. You’ll find some brilliant basics and Alexa Chung-cool prints for similar prices as Sportsgirl.”
The hidden dinner spot you have to find…
“La Bodega Negra (labodeganegra.com). Hidden on a bustling street in Soho, it lives behind a sex shop so you’ll see people lurking around unsure if they’re at the right place. There’s a great bar inside, and you’ll want to try everything on their Mexican menu.”
Oh, you want to dance? See…
“Tonteria (tonteria.co.uk) in Sloane Square. This tequila bar has a train track that runs around the ceiling to deliver drinks all around the room.”
Forget tour guides, do this instead…
“Hire a car (or take the train) to Windsor for the day. Start with a look around Windsor Castle where the Queen sometimes spends her weekends, get lost in the surrounding gardens to spot reindeer, and then fall into a cosy pub.”
Take a date to…
“The Blind Pig (socialeatinghouse.com) in Soho. Even if you run out of things to talk about, you’ll be able to bond over a creative cocktail list that includes a Kindergarten Cup with Skittles-washed Ketel One vodka.”
If you’re on a shoestring budget but want to pretend you’re not, eat here…
“Borough Market (boroughmarket.org.uk). The hardest part will be deciding what to buy when everything smells so appetising!”
Don’t go to Tower Bridge, visit:
“Box Park (boxpark. co.uk), a pop-up mall made out of shipping containers. Craving the classics? The Victoria & Albert and Natural History Museums are only a tube ride away.”
Rome
The Italian capital can be overwhelming so tour guide Charlotte Overton shares the must-see places.
Take your boyfriend to…
“Villa Borghese lake or Lo Zodiaco restaurant (zodiacoroma.it) – the views never disappoint. They’re both romantic, and will make some beautiful Instagram memories.”
To shop till you drop, check out…
“Via del Corso or Via Cola di Rienzo. These two areas are packed full of shops, cafes and history.”
A restaurant to try is…
“Taverna Rossini (tavernarossini.it). You’ll never eat better Italian food.”
And on its menu, make sure you order…
“The Fiori di Zucca. It’s one of Rome’s summermenu must-orders: zucchini flowers stuffed with cheese and anchovies.”
The best bar in town is…
“La Zanzara (lazanzararoma.com) in Prati. It’s close to the Vatican, has atmosphere and very chic waiters. The club sandwich is the way to go.”
If you’re low on cash…
“Head to Gusto Ristorante (gusto.it) for an aperitivo. Get comfy, bring a book and enjoy their snacks for hours for around S$15.”
Dancing heels are needed at…
“Salotto 42 (salotto42.it). After 10pm, you’ll be channelling Coyote Ugly – dancing on the bar is encouraged.”
Even if you’re not a history buff , go to…
“The Pantheon to see one of Rome’s best preserved ancient monuments. The inside will blow you away.”
Paris
For local knowledge of what to tick off your bucket list in the city of lights, we asked Fanny Trescazes from Paris’ Hotel Aviatic.
The best bar to flirt with the bartender is…
“Le Sherry Butt (sherrybuttparis.com). With its sexy interiors and tattooed barmen, this is the perfect place for a late-night tipple.”
The locals shop at…
“Canal Saint Martin. Filled with quirky boutiques and second-hand bookshops, it’s home to students and creatives.”
The hidden dinner spot you just have to try is…
“Les Bobines (les-bobines.fr). Enjoy a delish dinner, then make your way to their downstairs cinema for an arty film fest.”
To avoid tourists and see the real Paris, head to…
“The 16th arrondissement, Passy. Passy has amazing bakeries, a great food market, and a collection of shopping streets and laneways. Worth a visit.”
To catch the sunset while sipping on a bubbly, visit…
“Le Perchoir (leperchoir.fr). It’s the city’s first rooftop bar and it’s absolutely perfect.”
If you want a quick, tasty meal, eat at…
“L’As du Fallafel (34 rue des Rosiers). It’s a small falafel cafe, but come lunchtime, the line tells you how much the locals love it.”
For star-spotting, make sure you have your phone ready at…
“Le Bien Décidé (117, rue du Cherche-Midi). This restaurant is a place where you’ll spot local and international celebs.” Th e best hidden bar is… “The Moonshiner (5 rue Sedaine), where you must pass through a pizzeria and an industrial fridge just to reach the bar.”
If you want a drink, head to…
“Le Ballroom du Beef Club (58 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau). You must find the unmarked door to descend into this ballroom, but the cocktails are worth it.”
It’s important that you…
“Don’t rush Paris. It needs to be soaked up in the street cafes and parks. Paris is a way of life, not a destination.”
Hong Kong
From the harbour to the hills, it’s easy to miss the finer points of this high-rise city. Enter expat Lucy Guernier from stolenpublications.com who’ll get you up to speed.
The best bar to get a drink with a #nofi lter view…
“The tallest bar in the world, Ozone Bar (ritzcarlton.com/HongKong).”
For the coolest threads, you need to shop at…
“Lane Crawford (lanecrawford.com), the best high-end department store. And then there’s Harbour City (harbourcity.com.hk) which has the perfect mix of high- and low-end shops. If you can, catch the train to Shenzhen, China, for the day. The shopping centre is right through the other side. Be prepared to haggle (and get hassled)!”
People can’t get enough of…
“Yardbird (yardbirdrestaurant.com). Try the amazing yakitori.”
If you have a spare day, go…
“Hiking up to The Peak for amazing views of the city, or head to Repulse Bay for lunch and sunshine on the beach.”
For great food, check out…
“Brickhouse (brickhouse.com. hk). It has possibly the best Mexican food this side of Acapulco, plus it has great atmosphere.”
If you don’t want to spend too much money, visit…
“La Vache (lavache.com.hk) for their tasty steak and unlimited fries.”
Fan of live music? Try…
“Salon No 10 (10 Arbuthnot Road, Central). It’s exclusive yet not pretentious, and the eclectic crowd is worth chatting to.”
Don’t forget to…
“Embrace the culture, nightlife and food. Hong Kong never sleeps!”
New York
Home to more than 20 million people, model Lizzy Barter hones in on NYC’s must-see spots.
The coolest bar to get yourself a drink is…
“The Bowery Hotel (theboweryhotel. com). It’s always en pointe to start, stay and finish. Or on a balmy summer eve, head to Grand Banks (grandbanks.org), which is a sailing ship on the Hudson river. The views are impressive.”
To work your credit card, go to…
“Bleecker Street. It’s been called the prettiest street in NYC. But I recommend Otte (otteny.com) on Greenwich Avenue; it will have all your designer selects. Reformation (thereformation.com) is also worth visiting. It’s in Soho and has every thread a model could own. On Mott Street, Warm (warmny.com) is renowned for its quirk. Also, ABC Carpet & Home (abchome.com) has drool-worthy homewares. And, of course, Bloomingdale’s (bloomingdales.com). Go there when all else fails – it’s your one-stop uptown shop.”
The best places to eat at are…
“Cafe Buvette (buvette. com). It’s kind of my fave anytime spot. Dinner would be Red Farm in the West Village (redfarmnyc.com).”
And on their menus, you have to order…
“At least one croque madame or croque monsieur from Cafe Buvette. And make sure you go for the Pac-Man dumplings at Red Farm.” If you’re feeling a little lucky… “Make friends with a local and do a road trip upstate to explore the country side of NY – it’s like being in a Chevy Chase film.”
Go on a date at…
“Queen of The Night (queenofthenightnyc.com). This is not a typical bar, but an experience (and a very sensual one... you won’t even need to talk!). Or check out what cool bands are playing at Rough Trade Records (roughtrade.com).”
If you want a good feed that’s not too ex…
“Hudson Clearwater (hudsonclearwater. com). They have mains around the US$25 mark and it’s got that real West Village charm.”
For a big night out, tick off …
“Up & Down (uadnyc.com) like all the cool kids do, or Paul’s Baby Grand.”
Don’t go to the Empire State Building, go and see…
“Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center (topoftherocknyc.com) because, well, the views can’t get much better, that’s why! Then afterwards, go for a drink in Williamsburg at the Wythe Hotel (wythehotel.com) and get lost in the best sunset views you’ll ever see.” You can’t leave New York without… “Riding the subway at least once. This is where all the funny, weird experiences happen. And better yet, ride that clucky old thing all the way to Brooklyn.”
CLEO travel tips
Take these on board for your next trip and look less like a tourist.
Don’t walk around with your nose deep in a map. Download one on to your phone or tablet. It means you’ll always have access to it, even when you don’t have acess to the internet.
Make sure you hit up Airbnb for accommodation. By staying in someone’s home, you’ll feel more local than the locals.
Learn at least the very basics of the language – thank you, hello, good bye, etc. It’s just polite to do so, people!
Steer clear of puffer jackets, hiking boots and camo pants. Dress like you would for a city trip. You don’t need to rep Gore-Tex for a croissant and coffee.
