Getting the most out of a city break requires a certain level of planning. So, we’ve delved into the black books of stylish locals and explored beyond the tourist traps to find out the best haunts to add to your itinerary. From hole-in-the-wall eateries and buzzy bars to must-visit cultural institutions and design destinations consider this your indispensable guide to travelling Europe like a very stylish local.
Linda Boronkay’s Budapest guide
The prolific interior designer might have carved out her career in London, but Budapest is where her heart is. From her favourite underground ruin bar, to the hotel she’d choose over all others and the tiny store only accessed by ringing a bell, find out the city’s best spots from someone who knows it best.
Joseph Grima on Milan’s hot spots
Founder of Milan-based architecture and research studio Space Caviar, as well as the creative director of Design Academy Eindhoven and co-founder of Alcova at Milan design week, Joseph Grima is at the forefront of the city’s design scene. His guide is an eclectic mix of iconic sites like Milan Cathedral, where to find the best cotoletta alla Milanese in town and the unmissable galleries across the city.
How to see Florence’s majestic frescoes
Florence is one of those cities where there seems to be a thing of beauty to marvel at on every corner. With so much to take in within a relatively short amount of time, a tour with the experts is the way to go. One luxurious hotel is offering just that, with a jam-packed itinerary taking in the city’s most divine frescoes, sculpture and architecture.
Mathieu Lehanneur’s Paris guide
Designer Mathieu Lehanneur takes us on an idiosyncratic tour of the City of Lights. From his favourite antiques market, to Karl Lagerfeld’s literary legacy and the city’s most discreet bistro, read on to see Paris through his eyes.
Beatrix Bourdon’s guide to Brussels
As director of leading art fair BRAFA, Belgian native Beatrix Bourdon knows exactly where to direct design and art lovers when visiting Brussels. Her picks include a legendary fashion boutique, two Michelin-star dining experiences and the stylish hotel located in an old abbey.
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Tekla Evelina Severin’s guide to Stockholm
Swedish design talent Tekla Evelina Severin has the lowdown on the capital’s best Scandi design, from furniture stores to the city’s subway stations. Plus, she highlights the finest spots to book across the city’s buzzy culinary scene and name checks two hotels worth staying in.
A design lover’s guide to the Riviera
This picturesque region in the South of France has shaken off a naff Eurotrash reputation to emerge as one of Europe’s most stylish destinations, thanks to a clutch of design-led hotels and hospitality venues. From a reimagined Cannes icon to the 17th-century convent and a restaurant designed by Francis Sultana, take your pick of the Riviera’s chicest new openings.
How to explore Valencia like a local
No longer a jumping off point to reach the region’s beaches, Valencia has emerged as a cultural hotspot, with futuristic architecture, a vibrant culinary scene and a Gothic old town that boasts plenty of hidden gems.
