Argentina: El Chalten: El Chalten Suites and Pura Vida restaurant. El Calafate: Recommend staying closer to town than we did at Xelena Suites, Torres del Paine: stay INSIDE the park or it’s a two hour drive to get to the hikes. Valparaiso: tour with Patatour is awesome! Unexpectedly delightful town. San Pedro de Atacama: pulled in to our longest scheduled stay and wondered what I was thinking. It’s a small town that unfolds itself and its splendor to you slowly. Must have a 4-wheel drive to explore every day. Loved the location and amenities of Terrantai Lodge. Highly recommend coffee at Roots (see blogpost), Pizzeria El Charrua for pasta and pizza (they LOVE pizza in Chile and Argentina), La Estaka and lovely lunch (great smoothies and juices) at Barros. Bariloche: Llao Llao resort and hotel, Emanuel at Trout Bariloche for fly-fishing. Buenos Aires: Mine Hotel in Palermo, Fierro Hotel for proximity to cool hood with excellent restaurants, hop-on/off bus and city parks, I Latina, Piegari for the steak and pasta meal featured on the blog.
Austria: Vienna: Steirereck, Steirereck, Steirereck!!!!! OMG!! The best meal of my life. You really cannot imagine what this experience is like. ‘Nuff said. Cafe Sperl for the experience of a true coffeehouse – if it works, have breakfast and go straight to the scrambled eggs with homemade dumplings. Trust me on this one.
Brazil: Chapada Diamantina: Estalagem Alcino, such a lovely Pousada. São Paulo: Hotel Unique, Around SP Tours, Vicky Constantinesco, vicky@vickyconstantinesco.com.br for gastronomy or historical tour or cooking classes.
Canada: Vancouver: Blue Water Cafe & Raw Bar is yummy for seafood. Guu way fun and hip for Japanese tapas. Parker for vegetarians and Burdock & Co for all-around foodies. Bike to Stanley Park and along the waterfront.
Czech Republic: Prague: V Zatisi, Bellevue (both owned by same restaurant group, but if you can only do one, do V), Hotel Pod Vezi for excellent service and perfect location.
France: Paris: Hotel Residence Henry 4 on the Left Bank or Hotel Beaubourg in Le Marais, just across from Centres Georges Pompidou. Museums: L’Orangerie, Musee D’Orsay, and Picasso Museum. If you’re curious and in the neighborhood, the Erotic Museum in Monmartre is a historical walk through porn and sex toys that’s fun and interesting. La Cave des Oubliettes for Jazz on the Left Bank. Food, glorious food!? L’Ange 20 (really fun atmosphere, small menu and great service), Les Papilles, Breizh Cafe (the one in Le Marais) for incredible crepes (great for breakfast or lunch, but often a line), Kei for the over-the-top in haute asian/new cuisine that’s frequently breathtaking in its texture, flavor and visual combinations and my personal favorite (and so reasonably priced): Semilla. Be sure to head there early so you can walk slowly down the street from the Seine; such lovely shops dot the cobblestone pavement. Chocolate: Pierre Herme is my choice of heaven in the shape of a bar, Gerard-Mulot (also a patisserie) has to-die-for squares filled with cocoa nibs or rose essence and the f***ing mousse selection in the front window of Chapon (sorted by origin and degree of darkness) is worth the trip, believe me! Patisserrie: Erik Kayser (as well as baguette). My favorite gelato store (and they’re in the south of France as well): Amarino. Best cheese shop: Laurent Dubois. Highest-rated coffee shop: La Cafeotheque (they even hold classes on roasting and preparing coffee properly). FYI, I researched many of these from “best of” lists, so it’s not just me…
Hong Kong: Hotel Icon, Ming Court in Langham Palace near ladies market for upscale dim sum.
Hungary: Budapest: Aszu for dinner and Gerbeauds for incredible gelato and hand-made chocolates, St. Stephens church for a concert if at all possible.
India: Delhi food tour is a must-do! Agra: Oberoi Amarvilas is incredible with fulltime view of the Taj, and incredibly expensive. Rishikesh: stay at either Seventh Heaven B&B or for more of a hotel, the Dewa Retreat (has its own yoga room with morning classes), eat at Bistro Nirvana, the German Bakery that overlooks the Ganga (and plenty of westerners and wi-fi), Ramana’s Organic Cafe (only place I ate salad, profits support the children’s home), Seeds of Life, and the Rajasthani in Rishikesh city.
Indonesia: Gangga Island: Gangga island Resort, off the northern tip of Sulawesi; Siladen Island: Siladen Resort and Spa. Raja Ampat: Misool Eco Resort is a pain in the ass to get to, but incredibly pristine waters and laid-back atmosphere. Some question as to real nitrox availability as well as quality of tank filling in general. Gili Islands: Pondok Santi Estate among a former coconut grove, eat at Ko Ko Mo (in spite of the name), the Pearl Beach Bar and Kayu Cafe. Tabanan: about an hour and a half outside of Ubud, but beautiful setting in the rice fields, excellent food and private villas by the stream, hiking right out the door, private drivers available. Def nicely out of hustle and bustle and a stay among locals.
Italy: Torino: Townhouse 70 is lovely, incredibly well-located and reasonably priced. Must visit the 3 big museums: The Museum of the Automobile, the Egyptian (said to be the best museum of Egyptian artifact for english speakers in the world) and the National Cinema Museum. The last is in a former church and takes you through the history of cinema, and ends with the opportunity to lay in chaise lounge chairs and enjoy some classic clips. The highlight is taking the glass elevator that rises right up through the middle into the cupola, where you exit to enjoy the sweeping view of the entire city. And did I mention The world gold-medal winner for chocolate confections: Guido Gobino? Mmmmm, giandujotto! Eataly for ridiculously good, dark hot chocolate. Enjoy the homemade coffee/chocolate drink created at Al Bicerin/Caffe Confetteria in 1763. Ischia: Trattoria Il Focolare up on the hilltop, what an experience! Milan: Gran Duca di York; again, an incredible location, but one of lesser breakfasts we had during the trip. Pizza Big for the real deal, so light you can eat a whole one and feel fluffy, not stuffy. Solferino, which I visited with Leonardo, is truly old school and ridiculously good. All Italians for business lunches. Mmmm..And peruse the gourmet food store Peck – their house brand olive oil is faboo – and even head upstairs for a bit of homemade pasta topped with caviar to be truly decadent. Wasn’t on the menu on most recent visit, but everything is top notch and worth a moan or two! Alba: Casa Pavesi in nearby Grinzane Cavour. Piazza Duomo is the end all-be all (didn’t go, couldn’t get in!) and 3* Michelin stop, but we did enjoy (first night photos) their sister restaurant downstairs, called La Piola. Osteria dell’ Arco was a dream (Taylor’s favorite tiramisu of the trip), but must book well ahead. La Morra: Great dinner at family trattoria called Osteria Veglio. For a simpler meal, or spot to hang, try Mange. Taormina: Osteria Nero D’avola in my all-time top 5, Hotel Villa Carlotta short walk to town and ridiculous view from breakfast room. Palermo: Frida for pizza (no reservations, so expect long wait on weekends), Trattoria Carpaccio, Osteria dei Vespri, and Lo Scudiero. For a new and different way to eat yummy gelato (in a big, fat brioche!) head over to Broscia.
Maldives: Mirihi Island: Resort of same name and only thing on the little island; quite simply: heaven on earth.
Myanmar: Traders Hotel in Yangon, Thande Hotel in Bagan (but def NOT the suite, ask for a riverside room), Inle Princess Resort: incredible!
Norway: Oslo: Fjord restaurant, Sogndal: Nes Gard B&B (easy drive from here to National Park and Glaciers), Alseund: Hotel Brosundet, XO diner (known for dried fish, but all seafood yummy here) and Maki (in hotel, tres gourmet).
New Orleans: Cochon for some rockin’ smoked pork and you MUST try the chili/garlic oil, wood-burning stove oven roasted oysters; August, a bit more upscale, but heavenly. Fun, neighborhood bar that’s jammed and hosts incredible music where the whole crowd dances with each other: The Maple Leaf Bar (and Jacques-Imo’s Cafe is right by and excellent food; among the top in town).
Panama: Manual Bunting, wonderful, friendly, accomodating guide, mbunting30@yahoo.com or manuelbunting@hotmail.com can try both. cell (507)6693-9683. Manuel is just like family, speaks mostly spanish but can understand broken spanish and most english
Siem Reap: Heritage Suites Hotel Relais & Chateau, a bit out of town, but wonderful service, pool and amenities, plus jazz on Thursday nights
Turkey: Istanbul: Hotellino, lovely, small, nice breakfast and great location to walk to trolleys, waterfront, Topkapi palace, etc. Urgup: Esbelli Evi Cave Hotel, Cappadoccia, has amazing views, breakfast and oh so helpful managers.