Chi Sing | Berlin
The center of one of Europe’s most energetic capitals now has a new restaurant designed for tranquility. The inspiration for both the cuisine and the décor is Huê, a city in Vietnam. The clean, minimalist lines of the origami-influenced interior extends to the seating area outside, where you can also sample the menu completely made of natural ingredients and try the teas or shakes made with ancient recipes. Half of everything served is vegetarian, and there’s a sense of meditative calmness in the atmosphere of the entire space.

Alma | Lisbon
He’s worked at the restaurant of one of Lisbon’s hippest hotels and has also had his own TV cooking show. Now chef Henrique Sa Pessoa has opened his own restaurant in the increasingly attractive design district of Santos. The all-white interior has an almost heavenly appearance, an elegance and simplicity also presented on the plate, in the chef’s interpretations of traditional Portuguese dishes. Yes, there are the cod and suckling pig options as expected at any Portuguese restaurant, but they’re given a personal twist, and there are also risottos and two tasting menus.

Sushinho | London
A fusion of Brazil and Japan does not sound strange if you’ve been to São Paulo or have experienced the still-hip Sushi Samba in New York or Tel Aviv. But in London, this is actually a brand new concept, with the opening of Sushinho on King’s Road. You can order uramaki made with tropical Brazilian fruits, or a sakerinha – a caipirinha substituting cachaça with Japanese sake. The décor of the cleverly-lit interior is all about dark woods and bamboo pole screens, also an attractive space for lounging with a variety of cocktails.

LA SOCIÉTÉ | Paris
(4 Place Saint-Germain-des-Près | 33 1 5363 6060)
Jean-Louis Costes’ latest restaurant is already a major Parisian hotspot. Try to book a table well in advance to experience the classic-contemporary Christian Liaigre design and live jazz performances as you sample the cuisine that follows the same refinement of the other Costes restaurants. Also be sure to admire the contemporary marble sculptures dotted throughout the space.

Gitane | San Francisco
A glam 1950s-to-70s décor fills this new bar and restaurant in downtown San Francisco. There is Turkish artwork and British wallpaper on the walls, vintage French chandeliers hang from the ceiling, while the furnishings are from Tom Dixon and Anthropologie.
The menu is just as eclectic, blending Iberian and French cuisines, while at the bar there are some exotic and innovative drinks being mixed. Everything works surprisingly well, and there is also a good wine list of mostly Spanish wines.

Saj | São Paulo
Named after a pan used in Oriental cuisine, this welcoming, inexpensive, and refreshingly unpretentious Lebanese restaurant in São Paulo is the city’s newest success story. It’s perfect for a casual gathering sitting around low tables and pillows, and a place to try some excellent desserts such as the “chocolamour”, an ice cream cup dripping in hot chocolate syrup.

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