The directory

Stay: Hotel Brummel: This recent Poble-sec opening has a leafy courtyard plus pool.
hotelbrummell.com

Buy: Bel y Cia: The Passeig de Gràcia shop has sold fine men and women’s clothing since 1842. The cashmere jumpers are of particular note.
belycia.com

Service: El Ciclo: Well-priced bike rentals in the Barri Gòtic of Barcelona’s Old Town. Head south towards the beachfront to find kilometres of smooth bike lanes.
elciclobcn.com

Breakfast: Espai Joliu: Pastries and La Marzocco-machine coffee in a former industrial space filled with houseplants and a fine selection of print media.
+34 93 023 2492

Lunch: Bar Jai-Ca: A Barceloneta staple: try the pulpo a la gallega – grilled octopus with roasted potatoes – with a glass of house white.
barjaica.com

Coffee: Federal Café: Aussie-style café serving flat whites and hearty breakfasts such as poached eggs on sourdough with spinach and hollandaise. The two outposts are in Sant Antoni and Barri Gòtic.
federalcafe.es

Drinks: Can Cisa/Bar Brutal: Ramshackle wine bar with a splendid cellar of organic tipples from Italy, courtesy of Venetian twins Max and Stefano Colombo.
cancisa.cat

Swimming: Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc: This open-air pool has wondrous views of the city.
31 Avinguda Miramar, 08038

Culture: Fundació Joan Miró: A cloud-like building, designed by Josep Lluís Sert, housing the works of artist and sculptor Joan Miró.
fmirobcn.org

Stay: Villa Clara: This seven-room guesthouse is run by a husband-and-wife duo and staffed by an attentive team – testament to the warmth of Lebanese hospitality.
villaclara.fr

buy: Plan Bey: Founded by artistic director and graphic designer Karma Tohmé and editorial director Tony Sfeir, Plan Bey stocks a range of publications, posters and zines.
plan-bey.com

Breakfast: Kissproof: Enjoy homemade granola and organic eggs on the leafy terrace of this café in the Badaro neighbourhood.
kissproofbeirut.com

Drinks: Coop d’Etat: The climb up to this rooftop bar may be tough but it’s worth it to admire the sunset over the port with a lemon margarita.
saifigardens.com/en/rooftop

Lunch: Tawlet: The lunch menu changes daily according to the latest cook’s hometown, including Syrian, Armenian and Palestinian fare.
soukeltayeb.com/tawlet

Buy: House of Zejd: An olive-oil mecca and part of a family business that dates back to the 19th century. The oils it sells are infused with everything from chillis to white truffles.
zejd.net

Coffee: Kalei: Beirut’s original micro-roastery has a lush garden, a traditional house setting and the best beans from around the world.
kaleicoffee.com

Stay: Casa Dovela: The 1930s California-style townhouse in Colonia Condesa features three apartments with tasteful all-Mexican decor such as rugs from Oaxaca courtesy of local atelier Taller Lu’um.
casadovela.com

Buy: Kris Goyri: Mexico City-born Goyri designs floor-length dresses, skirts and chic jackets in vivid colours and geometric patterns.
krisgoyri.com

Service: Barbería Capital: This barbería was the first in a wave of traditional men’s barbershops in the city. Head to the regal-looking Palacio de Hierro outpost for a wet shave.
barberiacapital.mx

Breakfast: Café Milou: A laudably simple and delectable French café serving gruyère quiche, flaky pain au chocolat and crunchy granola.
cafemilou.com

Lunch: Tetetlán: Traditional Mexican cuisine served atop volcanic rock tableware in the former stables of architect Luis Barragán’s Casa Pedregal – which was recently opened to the public.
tetetlan.com

Coffee: Buna: The Roma Norte-based café boasts an amiably austere concrete space and roasts its beans nearby.
buna.mx

Drinks: Bósforo: The best mezcalería in the city serves tipples from unmarked bottles by producers you’ll never find elsewhere. Sip, don’t shot, and chase with spiced orange.
31 Luís Moya

Fitness: Hiking: Climb the Nevado de Toluca volcano southwest of the capital. Bring a jacket – it can get nippy at 4,680 metres up.

culture: Squash 73:Former squash courts turned into a cultural venue hosting pop-up exhibitions, a furniture showroom and top-notch café.
squash73.mx

stay: Alma: The best beds in the Twin Cities are above famous fine-dining restaurant Alma. With their white oak furnishings and views of the Mississippi, these seven rooms fill up quick. Book in advance.
almampls.com

Buy: Wilson and Willy’s: In the bustling district of the North Loop this shop offers men and women’s clothing as well as home goods to suit a well-heeled cabin in the woods.
wilsonandwillys.com

Dinner: Martina: An Argentinian gem in the Midwest from chef Daniel del Prado. Cooked over a wood-fire grill, swordfish steaks and pork chops are the highlights.
martinarestaurant.com

Drinks: Tattersall Distilling: Inside the historic Thorp building in Northeast Minneapolis, Tattersall distils its own liquors. There are 22 varieties to choose from.
tattersalldistilling.com

Breakfast: Wise Acre: Most of the produce used in the kitchen comes straight from Wise Acre’s 40-hectare farm.
wiseacreeatery.com

Buy: St Paul Corner Drug: A real Americana throwback. Other than stocking up on Tums and Advil, come here to gorge at the soda counter.
stpaulcornerdrug.com

Coffee: Penny’s: Across its two locations in Minny, Penny’s pulls shots of La Colombe roasted beans and serves some rather tasty ham and gruyère crêpes.
pennyscoffee.com

Stay: QT Museum Wellington: Make your way through the gallery-like lobby and head upstairs to the Hippopotamus bar for a cocktail and harbour views.
qthotelsandresorts.com

Buy: Precinct 35: Much of the homeware on the shelves is inspired by Japan but many of the ceramicists whose work is sold here hail from the region.
precinct35.co.nz

Service: Wellington Cable Car: The city’s only funicular railway leads all the way up to the entrance to the fragrant Wellington Botanic Gardens.

Breakfast: Maranui Cafe: This café in Lyall Bay sits atop the local Surf Life Saving Club. Grab a window seat and a smoked salmon bagel, and watch the surfers below.
maranuicafe.co.nz

Drinks: The Library: This cocktail bar owes its name to its well-stocked shelves.
thelibrary.co.nz

Lunch: Five Boroughs: This casual Cuba Street spot serves up classic diner-style pleasures.
+64 4384 9300

Coffee: Customs by Coffee Supreme: Grab an espresso at the counter or choose from single origin Brazilian, Guatemalan and Costa Rican beans to take home.
coffeesupreme.com

Culture: The Embassy Theatre: This 1924 cinema has held on to much of its original interiors. Marble and brass fittings abound.
eventcinemas.co.nz