A round-up of practical and pretty things, including a dog bowl that doesn’t go walkies and a baby soap that is a national institution.

*Monocle* HQ wouldn’t be the same without an occasional visit from our canine colleagues. So, this month we asked guest editors Bruno, Bertie, Gus, Muffin and Molly to compile a list of the best beds, bowls, biscuits and…

Time to shine your shoes, pamper your pooch and brighten up your home with this month’s assortment of objects.

Functional meets beautiful in Taiwan’s cultured capital, and its independent shops are abuzz with creativity. We’ve been taking a fresh look at its wares, from cycling to ceramics, and talking to those lighting up the lives…

A sleek wooden locomotive toy and a smart Danish bike helmet are among the picks for this month’s shopping guide, but we start with a look at a stunning boutique hotel in the Netherlands.

Japanese car company Subaru has always attracted a less conformist driver. Its crossover 434 Forester epitomises the brand’s quirky but unflashy design and solid reliability. Although recent Subaru models are looking a…

CNN’s man in Baghdad, Michael Ware is one of few western journalists to have reported from insurgent camps. An avid rugby fan, we met him in Paris where he was covering the World Cup. He selects the touristy Thai restaurant…

With a mix of traditional flats and small-scale retailers, Sheung Wan also has a real sense of community.

At the height of socialist East Germany’s power, workers from Mozambique and Vietnam came to the GDR thanks to the political ideologies their countries shared. But when the Wall came down, they had to make the decision…