The world’s most liveable cities: part one

Monocle’s 15th annual Quality of Life Survey charts 25 outposts on the up and ranks the best places to put down roots. Did your city make the cut?
The world’s most liveable cities: part two

Monocle’s 15th annual Quality of Life Survey charts 25 outposts on the up and ranks the best places to put down roots. Did your city make the cut?
Pursuits of happiness

Whether it’s walking, drawing or playing tennis (badly), six writers and artists share their thoughts on the things that bring them joy.
Meeting in the middle

Long the first stop for migrants coming into the US, Miami is now bursting at the seams with New Yorkers heading south for the city’s sunshine, music and burgeoning technology scene.
Cities, slicker

Neglected industrial parts of cities, from Rome to Istanbul, are in the throes of thrilling regeneration.
Talking point

Learning a language opens up the world but studying in a classroom can feel dull. Why not throw aperitivos and K-pop ballads into the mix? We immerse ourselves in schools with a novel approach to the business of teaching.
Sea change

A staple of the Spanish coastline is in the balance. We meet the people behind Formentera’s chiringuitos.
Read all about it

There’s a bookshop boom in Malaysia aided by unconventional business models and pandemic-changed reading habits.
Strawberry yields

In a warehouse outside Jersey City, a Japanese-flavoured start-up is growing berries so coveted that people happily pay $50 for a bowlful. Is this vertical farming’s first luxury brand?
Different beat

Portugal is a recording mecca for acts from across the Lusophone world. But can it export its stars?
Follow your art

Away from the French capital, creatives head to the Med for a slower, more affordable way of life.
Screen time

Far from the bustling, buzzing multiplexes, with their packed screenings and sprawling footprints, these small cinemas offer their own unique ways of watching a movie – and being part of a city’s culture and community.
Artistic intake

From a sculpture park to record shops, these are the cultural hotspots to hit this summer.
Summer’s soundtrack

Monocle’s senior culture correspondent has fashioned the ultimate holiday playlist full of fresh releases and timeless classics.
Force of nature

Italy’s leading landscape designer Pietro Porcinai, who brought modernism to traditional gardens, was passionate about the importance of nature in design and ensuring that greenery was part of any built environment. His legacy is more pertinent than ever.
Best in town

From architects to street-lighting experts, these firms are keeping our cities liveable.
In plain sight

A sensitive city hall revamp opens up this storied building to foster dialogue and democracy.
Keep cool

In the island sun sits an innovative new apartment block that could reshape the city’s design ambitions.
The new wave

Surfwear, footwear, city shorts and relaxed shirts – summer holidays are all about breezy, effortless dressing. From Bali to Brazil, we’ve found the new generation of retailers selling the best summery brands.
Pack it in

Pop some sturdy sandals, no-nonsense trunks and cool stripes into your holdall and you’re away. Just add a crisp white for the cooler box (and don’t forget the corkscrew).
Ebb and flow

The Canal St Martin offers a chance to contemplate. And when Paris empties in summer, you’ll have it all to yourself. Get comfy, stay cool and head to the water.

Culture: Music / Global

Summer’s soundtrack

Monocle’s senior culture correspondent has fashioned the ultimate holiday playlist full of fresh releases and timeless classics.

Road trip
From breezy Aussie electro-pop to rocky riffs from Texas and smooth French hip-hop, put these tunes on and roll down the windows.

1.
Push It Up
Confidence Man

2.
Supermodel
Måneskin

3.
Steal My Sunshine
Len

4.
Night Drive
Shinichiro Yokota

5.
Le Banana Split
Lio

6.
Nouveau Western
MC Solaar

7.
Hell on Wheels
Cher

8.
Samurai
Cairokee

9.
É Proibido Fumar
Rita Lee and Gilberto Gil

10.
Summer in New York
Sofi Tukker

11.
Teardrops
Womack & Womack

12.
Texas Sun
Khruangbin and Leon Bridges

13.
Soaked
Benee

14.
Summer in the City
Quincy Jones

15.
I Got the Moves
Habibi

16.
Mediterranea
Irama

17.
A Gira
Trio Ternura

18.
I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)
Hall & Oates

19.
Lotta Love
Nicolette Larson

Apéro time
Slow down with Nigerian-Italian funk, Austrian chillout and vintage disco.

20.
Ease Your Mind
Darius feat. Devin Tracy

21.
Bells
dbn Gogo feat. Eltonk SA, DJ Stopper and tnk Musiq

22.
Juice
Muzi

23.
Think About Me
Hammer

24.
Lagos Connect
Aura Safari feat. Villy

25.
Holding on Too Long
Hard Feelings

26.
What Is It Like
Wolfram feat. Pam

27.
Negotiate With Love
Rachel Stevens

28.
Un Millón
The Marías

29.
Perfetta Cosi
Sam Rufillo

30.
Yo Yo
Mika

31.
Count What You Have Now
Vantage

32.
Pourquoi faire aujourd’hui
Lisa LeBlanc

33.
Arpoador
Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18

34.
Ride It
Regard

35.
Mourir sur scène
Dalida

36.
Le Reste
Clara Luciani

37.
Summer Night City
Abba

38.
Space & Sound
Oliver

Afternoon sunbathing
Scorching-hot tracks, from 1990s classics to Cali soul.

39.
Summer Blue
Bread & Butter

40.
Imizamo
Karyendasoul and Blaqrhythm feat. Nana Atta and Teezy Musician

41.
Dreams of Music
Aura Safari

42.
Enty Hayaty
Saad Lamjarred feat. Calema

43.
Vamos a la Playa
Miranda

44.
It’s So Nice (To See Old Friends)
Minnie Riperton

45.
Ain’t Nobody Straight in LA
Whale Island

46.
Instant Sunshine (Luke Million remix)
Lau

47.
Sheltered Life
Erlend Øye

48.
Western Wind
Carly Rae Jepsen

49.
L’âme-stram-gram
Mylène Farmer

50.
Calma
Marisa Monte

51.
French Waltz
Leon Ware

52.
Só Para Você
Juniper feat. Sango and Vhoor

53.
Together Again
Janet Jackson

54.
Se a vida é (That’s the Way Life Is)
Pet Shop Boys

55.
Breathe
Télépopmusik

56.
Summer Breeze
The Isley Brothers

57.
Everybody Loves the Sunshine
Roy Ayers Ubiquity

58.
Pick Up Your Heart
Paige Bea

59.
Rhythm to Ya Love
Sunni Colón

60.
Sunchyme
Dario G

Euro dance floor
Italo-disco, Cypriot salsa and Spanish pop tunes to transport you straight to a Mediterranean nightclub.

61.
Ciao Ciao
La Rappresentante di Lista

62.
Libre
Angèle

63.
This Girl
Kungs vs Cookin’ on 3 Burners

64.
Slomo
Chanel

65.
Je Survivrai
Régine

66.
Madame
Kings x Trannos

67.
On Your Mind
Doss

68.
You Could Be
Anz feat. George Riley

69.
Bamboo Fighter
Soichi Terada

70.
Cleo
Shygirl

71.
I’m Good
Betta Lemme

72.
Talk About
Rain Radio and DJ Craig Gorman

73.
Into the Groove (remix)
Madonna

74.
La Nuit
Diva

75.
The Summer Is Magic
Playahitty

76.
Bagno a Mezzanotte
Elodie

77.
1ul
Danny L Harle

78.
I Can’t Get Enough
Cazzi Opeia

79.
All Around the World
atc

80.
Kuuma Jäbä
Isaac Sene

81.
Turn Me On
Kevin Lyttle

82.
Caramela
Eleni Foureira

83.
Live Is Life
Opus

Brazilian sunset
Sultry, tropical beats to wind down to – expect moody jazz, samba and bossa nova from Latin-America and beyond.

84.
Dégaine
Aya Nakamura feat. Damso

85.
São Paulo
Julia Jean-Baptiste

86.
Pourquoi C’est Comme Ça?
Jacques

87.
I’m Not in Love
Karen Souza

88.
Paris Tropical (Kazy Lambist remix)
Minuit

89.
Brisa
Iza

90.
Sexy Yemanjá
Pepeu Gomes

91.
Midnight Cruisin’
Kingo Hamada

92.
Sove Lanmou
Zouk Machine

93.
Passarinha
Bala Desejo

94.
Give My Love a Try
Body Music feat. Xavier Smith

95.
Sensitivity
Ralph Tresvant

96.
Menino do Rio
Caetano Veloso

97.
Darling Come Back Home
Barbara Mason

98.
Freed from Desire
Gala

99.
Tutto Va Bene Quando Facciamo l’amore
Alex Rossi feat. Jo Wedin

100.
Smooth Operator
Sade

To listen to the playlist, search for Monocle 24’s account on Spotify – and make sure to tune in to our round-the-clock programming.

Editor’s letter

The Opener

Dreams take flight

Above water

My cabinet

In the hot seat

Affairs

Comment

Business

Culture

Design

The world’s most liveable cities: part one

The world’s most liveable cities: part two

Pursuits of happiness

Meeting in the middle

Cities, slicker

Talking point

Sea change

Read all about it

Strawberry yields

Different beat

Follow your art

Screen time

Artistic intake

Summer’s soundtrack

Force of nature

Best in town

In plain sight

Keep cool

The new wave

Pack it in

Ebb and flow

Urban upswing

Changing tides

New kids in town

Southern style

Local flavour

Taking to the waters

Sleep easy

Let’s go outside

Checking in

Now hear this

Cold comfort

25 things to make you happy

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