Andriy Makhnorilo

27/09/2022

Because of it’s iconic status, it’s usually touted as being very touristy, but actually, when I visited, I was surrounded by locals who had popped in for a late afternoon drink and bite to eat!

I enjoyed a delicious croque monsieur, along with a glass of champagne and a bottle of Orangina. It was honestly so dreamy and much more relaxed than my usual La Gare and Hotel Amour. I sat there for ages just watching all the people go by, and loved the friendly waiters and atmosphere of this historic restaurant.

27/09/2022

You’ll need a longer trip to Paris to go inside the Louvre as it’s so huge, but it’s still nice to see it from the outside and take a photo!

16:30 – Walk to Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Walk across the Pont du Carousel bridge, into the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area. Stroll up the Rue des Saints-Pères towards Boulevard Saint Germain, which is the main road that cuts through this quarter of the 6th arrondissement. Saint-Germain is hands down my favourite quarter in Paris – it’s so beautiful and elegant!

17:00 – Early Dinner at Café de Flore
I have so many favourite restaurants in Paris – but La Gare, Cafe des 2 Moulins, and Hotel Amour are the three restaurants I always go to. So this time I decided to go somewhere different, and went to Café de Flore, one of Paris’ oldest and most iconic coffeehouses, which is famous for its celebrity clientele over the years.

22/09/2022

After you’ve rested a while, walk through the park. If it’s winter and you’re doing well for time (which is more likely if you haven’t been to the Museum in Montmatre earlier), I highly recommend going to Angelina for hot chocolate. However, if it’s summer or you don’t have a huge amount of time, then keep walking through the park to the Louvre.

22/09/2022

15:30 – Relax in the Jardin des Tuileries
Now, you’ve been walking for a while, so it’s time to have a rest. Head over to the Jardin des Tuileries, grab a crepe and a drink from one of the many kiosks or cafes in the park, and then find a chair in a shady spot beneath the trees and take a break. I took a book with me and read my book in the shade for half an hour, and it was pure bliss. It’s also the perfect place for people-watching!

19/09/2022

All things cozy and Austrian meet in this legendary inn, which first welcomed guests in the 15th century and now lists Prince Charles among its loyal fans. The hotel is in the heart of the medieval old town, surrounded by shops displaying wrought-iron guild signs. You can walk to pretty much anything, including Mozart’s birthplace, just down the street. Because driving can be a hassle—pedestrian-only areas, inscrutable road signs—you’re better off taking the train from Vienna or Munich. If it wasn’t so authentic, you’d swear a set designer had orchestrated the vaulted ceilings, antique farmers’ furniture, stag heads, and staff in lederhosen and dirndls.

19/09/2022

Redeveloped by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Xintiandi is Shanghai’s car-free entertainment district, built in and around a series of 19th-century shikumen (or “stone gate”) houses. Perfectly fitting in with that old-meets-new vibe is this 357-room luxury hotel, which occupies a contemporary granite-and-glass tower inspired by Chinese latticework. Inside, at the Chuan Spa, personalized treatments incorporate the five elements of wuxing philosophy: wood, earth, water, fire, and metal. And the property is filled with other nods to traditional art and culture, including a recurring horse motif that draws on Han Dynasty imagery. Guests shouldn’t miss a meal at the Michelin-starred T’ang Court, where Cantonese dishes include roasted goose, drunken pigeon in rice wine, and bird’s nest soup with crab roe.

19/09/2022

There is nothing that does not dazzle at the Santa Caterina, hewn from a cliffside off the staggeringly stunning Amalfi Coast—and even on looks alone, we’d have to agree. Terraces cleaved from natural rock formations and sprinkled with citrus groves and assorted gardens appear with astonishing regularity around every turn, ready to lend themselves to a quiet moment. The interiors are vaguely reminiscent of one of the island’s little Catholic churches—white walls, white linens, vaulted ceilings, gold-hued curtains, little baroque wooden chairs, and tiled floors decked out in primary colors—pretty angelic, really, and not a bad vibe to gravitate toward when you're seeking a peaceful stay away (you could also try the spa!). Some rooms feature ceramic accents and charming family heirlooms, and all bathrooms benefit from Bvlgari toiletries.

19/09/2022