The directory

Canberra

Stay: Ovolo Nishi
In just a few short years the distinctive Nishi Building and hotel, with its standout timber-lined foyer and origami-inspired exterior, has become a true Canberra landmark.
ovolohotels.com.au

Buy: Ainslie Cellars
The wineries of the Canberra region produce some top cold-climate wines. Head to this inner-city, family-owned wineshop for an excellent selection of local drops, as well as good advice on what’s good to drink right now.
ainsliecellars.com.au

Lunch: Bookplate
Soaring stained-glass windows by Australian artist Leonard French and a prized lakeside spot make this café at the National Library of Australia a favourite. Sit on the balcony overlooking Lake Burley Griffin and pick from a menu featuring local produce and Wagyu beefburgers, followed by a slice of cake.
bookplate.com.au

Coffee: Ona
Founder Sasa Sestic was crowned world barista champion in 2015 and, ever since, he and his coffee have kept on collecting awards. His roastery operates four cafés across Canberra and the various house blends are well worth sampling.
onacoffee.com.au

Dinner: Eightysix
Quality produce from farms in nearby regions are fashioned into innovative dishes here, ranging from habanero steak tartare with prawn crackers to black chicken with buttermilk slaw.
eightysix.com.au

Drinks: Bar Rochford
Visit Bar Rochford in the Melbourne Building for the frequently changing menu and its signature Dubonnet cocktail.
barrochford.com

Visit: Henry Rolland Park
On the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, this recently opened park featuring barbecues and a wet dock for kayaking is set to be a summer city hub.
act.gov.au

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Charleston

Stay: The Dewberry
Cypress walls create a tranquil oasis in this mid-century landmark that celebrates Charleston’s quintessential southern style.
thedewberrycharleston.com

Buy: Fritz Porter
Housed in a converted cigar factory, Sarah-Hamlin Hastings’ design collective showcases contemporary furniture and fabrics next to fine antiques.
fritzporter.com

Coffee: The Daily
Serving top-notch coffee, this neighbourhood marketplace offers a fine food and drinks menu, featuring farm-fresh steak, wine and smoothies.
shopthedaily.com

Breakfast: One Broad Street
Situated in a historic antebellum building, this spot offers a unique take on breakfast, lunch and dinner. Inspired by the bread coming from close by Normandy Farms Artisan Bakery, its brunch menu is hard to beat.
1broadstreetrestaurant.com

Lunch: Basic Kitchen
Former New York restaurateur Ben Towill brought his concept to Charleston with this restaurant, relying on regional produce for everything from its fish tacos to the prawn ceviche.
basickitchen.com

Dinner: The Ordinary
Chef Mike Lata focuses on East Coast oysters in this former bank building that’s been turned into a dining hall. A Charleston staple, it offers an inventive menu within the city’s culinary landscape (think littleneck clams and chowder).
eattheordinary.com

Drinks: Félix
Fittingly festive with its lush leather seating, curved marble-top bar and vintage art, Félix’s menu is anchored by its vibrant cocktail menu. Try the famous Felix Tonic: a cognac mixed with a locally made Carolina tonic.
felixchs.com

Culture: Gibbes Museum of Art
This gallery is home to the foremost collection of US art that incorporates the story of Charleston.
gibbesmuseum.org

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Moscow

Stay: Hotel Metropol Moscow
Live like a tsar at the historic Metropol, with its gilded interior and traditional furnishings. Everyone from Lenin to playwright George Bernard Shaw paid this institution a visit (and sampled its shchi: cabbage soup).
metropol-moscow.ru

Buy: Yeliseevsky
Opened in 1901, this gourmet food emporium is the oldest in Moscow. Pop in to admire the lavish interior restored to its prewar glory and browse aisles of chocolate, luxury cheese and smoked salmon.
eliseevskiy.ru

Breakfast: Breakfast Club
This restaurant has an old-school diner atmosphere and serves some of the best pancakes, waffles, porridge and eggs any which way, alongside warm fruit infusions.
localband.ru

Lunch: Stolle
This to-the-point bakery has made pies its speciality. You’ll find plenty of sweet, salty and flaky pastry here, as well as generous portions and warm service.
stolle.ru

Dinner: Lavka Lavka
This restaurant celebrates organic Russian produce. Sample the deer carpaccio and Murmansk cod and wash it down with a glass of kvass (a traditional bread-based drink).
restoran.lavkalavka.com

Drinks: Strelka
For superlative cocktails and a good cider spritz you can’t go wrong with the lively riverside art deco bar at the Strelka Institute.
strelka.com/bar

Do: Ice skating
After a turn around Red Square’s ice rink, reward yourself with a warming portion of pelmeni (dumplings) at the neighbouring market.
gumrussia.com/rink

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Zürich

Stay: Romantik Hotel Europe
This lakeside abode has something of the English countryside home about it (patterned wallpaper and matching curtains). In-house French restaurant Quaglinos is worth a visit too.
europehotel.ch

Buy: Limited Stock
The shop in this former blacksmith’s atelier sells handcrafted and handpicked products, from Ryota Aoki pottery to Moroccan rugs.
limited-stock.com

Breakfast: La Stanza
This café‘s interior will transport you to the heart of Italy. Its espressos – made with a 1960s Faema machine – and pastries confirm first impressions.
lastanza.ch

Lunch: Spitz
Situated in a wing of the National Museum, this place serves hearty dishes such as sliced beef and potato gratin amid neon installations by Swiss artist Kerim Seiler.
restaurantspitz.ch

Dinner: Mémoire
Take the lift for underground open-kitchen dining. The restaurant, headed by Chris Züger, serves surprising three, four and five-course wine-pairing menus devised by the chef.
restaurantmemoire.ch

Drinks: Old Crow
An Old Town staple for hard-to-find whiskeys and cocktail creations. From the hefty 50-page menu we recommend ordering a Nikkita, which blends whiskey, saké, tea liqueur, lemon and soy sauce – a surprisingly good mix.
oldcrow.ch

Culture: Dörfli Christmas Market in Niederdorf
The smaller iteration of the Christmas Village, facing the Opera House, is also the city’s oldest. Take a stroll for some Christmas gift inspiration and a good glass of mulled wine.
weihnachtsmarkt-doerfli.ch