The directory

Stay: Anantara Eastern Mangroves: A peaceful perch overlooking the city’s mangroves, this waterfront hotel is close to downtown and a quick drive to Saadiyat Island’s museums.
abu-dhabi.anantara.com

Buy: Tamashee: A shop selling a sharp update of the traditional Emirati sandal, made using camel hide from an Abu Dhabi tannery.
tamashee.com

Breakfast: Jones the Grocer: The Australian brand flourishes in the Emirates with no less than five branches in the capital. Enjoy plates of sesame labneh and sumac-drenched dukkah on eggs.
jonesthegrocer.com

Drinks: Ray’s Bar: Abu Dhabi can feel like it was built to be viewed from a great height and Ray’s Bar, on the 62nd floor of the Etihad Tower, offers exactly this palatable perspective.
+971 2 811 5666

Lunch: Almaz by Momo: Algerian restaurateur Mourad Mazouz’s latest outpost in the UAE carries on his knack for considered North African design and top-flight tagine.
momoresto.com

Service: The Cobbler: French cobbler Morgan Papin is at the helm of operations in this masterful shoe-repair workshop on Al Maryah Island. His team of craftsmen are trained according to the French guild certification for shoe specialists.
cobbler.ae

Coffee: No FiftySeven: Opened by two Emiratis who ran a much-loved dinner club in pop-ups around town, this boutique café is a favourite among industrious locals of a mind to sample some locally roasted beans.
no57.co

Stay: Villa Terminus: This 18-room, heritage-listed former retirement home is designed to feel domestic, with unfussy furniture and lighting. Each room has a stack of books by a different Norwegian author so you can exchange titles with other guests over coffee.
villaterminus.no

Buy: T-Michael: This bespoke tailor produces his own collections, as well as designing for outerwear label Norwegian Rain, which he co-founded. Other finery includes suits, shirting, bags and shoes.
t-michael.com

Service: Hordaland Arts Centre Bookshop: A gallery showing the work of local and international artists, with an impressive bookshop stocking more than 500 titles and magazines in both Norwegian and English.
kunstsenter.no

Breakfast: Godt Brød: This 23-year-old chain of bakeries dotted across the city is the go-to for bread and buns.
godtbrod.no

Drinks: No Stress: A few steps from colourful Bryggen wharf, this informal cocktail bar serves drinks such as the signature Chilli Martini. All are mixed with fresh ingredients, as well as subtle syrups and infusions.
nostressbar.no

Lunch: Colonialen Literaturhuset: A laidback offshoot of fine-dining institution Colonialen, this restaurant offers a froth-free menu featuring light salads and seafood.
colonialen.no

Coffee: Kaffemisjonen: Baristas keep regulars on their toes with a rotating selection of beans from roasters such as Norway’s Jacu, Tim Wendelboe and Solberg & Hansen. Pop in on Saturdays for free tastings.
kaffemisjonen.no

Stay: Hotel Casa de la Vega: Located in a former colonial house in the heart of Bogotá’s La Candelaria historic district, this hotel has 15 distinct rooms surrounding a homely interior patio.
hotelcasadelavega.com

Buy: Casa Santamaria: Down a road full of antique shops, this space showcases the best of independent Colombian talent in fashion, design and art, selling everything from leather accessories to swimwear.
casasantamaria.co

Breakfast: Artisanal Crepes & Waffles: This Bogotano chain serves breakfast, fresh tropical juices and all-day lunch. Our favourite outpost is in the Rosales neighbourhood.
crepesywafflesartesano.com

Drinks: Apache Bar: On the roof of the Click Clack hotel, this bar offers panoramic views of the capital and is usually packed from sunset until after midnight. Live DJs play music into the small hours.
clickclackhotel.com

Lunch: 80 Sillas: Set in a converted colonial house, this relaxed restaurant serves seafood sourced from the region and ceviche from Colombia’s Pacific coast, including sautéed tiger prawns and an exceptional risotto.
80sillas.com

Coffee: Bourbon Coffee Roasters: This Victorian-residence-turned-coffee shop offers superb fare brewed from Colombian beans.
+57 1 309 9738

Buy: Vincent & Mia: This shop stocks Japanese men’s and women’s labels, from Auralee and Scye to The Reracs and Blamink.
vincent-mia.com

Service: Qusamura: Hiroshima-born founder Kohei Oda sells rare cacti and succulents in particularly comely ceramic pots.
qusamura.com

Breakfast: Okuda Roast Café: Start your day at this old-fashioned Japanese kissaten (coffee shop), where morning service begins at 07.30 with a neat breakfast of fluffy toasted white bread with ham and eggs, plus yoghurt, salad and coffee.
12-21 Hacchobori, Naka-ku

Drinks: Bar Fouque: Those in the know frequent this bar for its ever-growing whiskey collection and its superb seasonal fruit cocktails.
fouque.ac

Lunch: Sazanka: Hiroshima is the home of okonomiyaki, Japan’s savoury pancake. There are hundreds of purveyors but this five-seat institution stands out from its rivals and has been serving the city’s soul food for more than 50 years.
3-2-7 Koihon-machi, Nishi-ku

Coffee: Obscura Coffee: The owners of this café travel around the world to source beans directly from farms, then roast them in-house to make a mean espresso.
obscura-coffee.com

Stay: Swiio Hotel Da An: This hotel’s pristine white exterior makes a statement in central Taipei. Inside are 36 guestrooms designed by film director Guo Zhida and designer Joe Fang.
swiio.com

Buy: Xiao Qi: This shop has brought a selection of the best Japanese homeware and utensils to Chifeng Street.
thexiaoqi.com

Service: Glasense: Other than selling its eponymous glasses, this wood-panelled shop also offers repairs, touch-ups and a polishing service for lenses and frames.
+886 2 2771 2800

Breakfast: Ciao Ciao Good Food: Famous for its daily-special scones and Assam milk tea, this bistro also serves delicious toast, eggs and yoghurt every morning.
+886 2 2341 5218

Lunch: Shi Yu: You’d find this restaurant entrance easy to miss if it weren’t for the queue snaking out of the door each lunchtime. Punters come for the noodles with succulent slow-cooked beef brisket.
+886 2 2506 9209

Coffee: Fika Fika: Owner James Chen won the Nordic Roaster championship in 2013. The space’s abundant sunlight and view over Yitong Park lure many a laptop-toting freelancer.
fikafikacafe.com

Drinks: East End Bar: This cocktail bar nestled on the second floor of Hotel Proverbs caps visitors numbers at 30 to ensure that bar staff can cater to individual tastes.
+886 903 531 851