With no Olympics, World Cup, or World Fair, 2011 sounds like a largely uneventful year. That means there’s no major reason to visit (or avoid) any particular city, and no one destination will take over much of the travel media coverage. With that in mind, we guide you to the best city-break options for the new year, where you can catch some exceptional exhibitions.

1. LONDON
Every year is a good year to visit London, but an exception will probably be 2012 before and during the Olympics. So if you’ve never been to the city or wish to return, now’s the time or you better wait a couple of years. You’ll probably see a lot of the city around April in media reports of a certain famous wedding, but we suggest a visit at any time of the year, or perhaps in November for the unprecedented exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings at the National Gallery.
To save you a few pounds, consider getting the London Pass, and for a cultural experience outside the city, plan a visit to Stonehenge.

2. ISTANBUL
One year after it was the European Capital of Culture, Istanbul continues to present a list of major cultural events. In the new year (until the 20th of March), you can see an outstanding exhibition of over forty of Frida Kahlo’s and Diego Rivera’s works at the Pera Museum, and in a short city break in such a large city, you may look into the several organized tours and activities.

3. BARCELONA
You’ve probably seen many Picassos by now, but you’ve never seen an exhibition of the artist’s earliest works like this one. Barcelona’s Picasso Museum, in a co-production with Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum will show works from the early Paris years from June to October. There will also be works by Cézanne, Rodin and Van Gogh who were all inspired by Parisian life in the first decade of the 20th century.
After this exhibition, be sure to also check out the Miró Foundation, and to save you time and money in a short city break, get the Barcelona Card which also comes with a guidebook.

4. NEW YORK
The MoMA is always a must in the Big Apple, and until April 25th you can catch one of several exhibitions worth seeing this year. That’s “On to Pop,” showing works by Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol, among others. They’re artists who came to define American Pop art, painting the usual objects and images encountered in daily life.
The New York CityPass gets you free admission to MoMA and to a number of other attractions.

5. SAN FRANCISCO
After New York’s, visit San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art which from May to September will co-organize an exhibition with New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and Paris’ Réunion des Musées Nationaux. It will present paintings, drawings, and sculptures collected by the Stein family which lived in Paris in the early 20th century and returned to California in 1935 when the SFMOMA was founded. Their collection was instrumental in the creation of the museum, with works by Paul Cézanne, Matisse, and Picasso.
As always, in a short city break, the tourist pass is the best investment, so be sure to get your Go San Francisco Card.

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BAR BOULUD
You’ll notice the new restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel has a New York feel and that’s because it was first conceived for the Big Apple by French chef Daniel Boulud. But it ended up in London after Boulud’s almost three decades of living in the great American metropolis where he was awarded three Michelin stars. In the British capital he serves his signature French dishes accompanied by an excellent list of French wines.

THE MOUNT STREET DELI
A strong contender for the title of best Italian coffee in town, the Mount Street Deli is a new destination for any time of the day. It’s perfect for breakfast early in the morning, for people-watching in the afternoon, and to pick up something to eat later on (there are daily specials, salads and sandwiches). The coffee beans come from a family in the coffee business since the 1940s, and coffee lovers will tell you there is a unique taste to it.

SOLANGE AZAGURY-PARTRIDGE
It has shops in New York, Los Angeles, Singapore, and now it has a new address in London’s New Bond Street. The fine jewelry of Solange Azagury-Partridge is on display under a signature mirror ball and around other features designed by the jeweler.

SKITSCH
London’s first Skitsch showroom brings together original high-end design by over 30 world-renowned designers. The new space looks and feels like a gallery which together with its own collection also presents pieces from other contemporary design brands.

ACNE
The new London boutique of Swedish fashion brand Acne is much more than a shop, it’s also a true gallery filled with art. Next to the label’s denim collection are murals, drawings and sculpture by international artists which together create the retailer’s largest store in the world.

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The new hotspot of London’s East End is the new Town Hall Hotel and its restaurant and bar. It’s located in the former Bethnal Town Hall, an imposing building now offering 98 spacious and stylish rooms and apartments, with each apartment having been given its own Scandinavian-inspired look.
But more than its accommodation, it is its food and beverage services that have made this one of the most talked-about spots in the city. The restaurant, “Viajante,” serves creative cuisine in a space designed by an award-winning team, with tasting menus made up of flavors inspired from all corners of the globe.
Also attracting London’s young and smart crowds is the bar, with an extensive wine and beer list as well as a choice of ten excellent cocktails.

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Circus Club, London

Circus
Designed by Tom Dixon, Circus is currently one of London’s hottest venues, mixing bar, restaurant, and cabaret entertainment. As expected, it’s a glamorous and sophisticated space, serving refined Pan-American cuisine and innovative cocktails.

Cocomaya
One of the city’s favorite chocolate shops recently opened at a new site in Marylebone. It’s also a bakery and tearoom, offering its own bread and signature chocolates in a welcoming and very British environment.

Goyard
London has just received a slice of Paris luxury with the opening of Goyard. The luxury goods store on Mount Street in Mayfair has a late 19th century interior inspired by the original Paris store.

HixSoho
Mark Hix has shown his signature British cuisine at London hotspots like The Ivy and Le Caprice and opened this restaurant last October. It has since received critical acclaim, offering a clubby atmosphere and displaying specially commissioned art by British artists. The basement bar serves small dishes and cocktails.

HomeHouse Club
The Home House private members club has a new wing next to the original 18th century townhouse with a lavish interior and bar created by Zaha Hadid. The “House Bar” features sweeping lines and metallic bronze finishes under what is described as “space age lights” where you’ll be served fine cocktails and champagne.

Le Labo
Marylebone Village was the chosen site for the fourth boutique of the New York perfume house. Offering made-to-order fragrances in bottles inscribed with the buyer’s or recipient’s name, you can discover why the brand has become so popular among those with a good nose for quality perfumes.

Murdock
Sophisticated gentlemen have a new luxury grooming address in Mayfair. The new Murdock barbershop blends the classic and traditional with the demands of modern men, including the use of the finest products.

Pizza East
One of the most popular openings of the last few months was Pizza East in Shoreditch. It’s become a people-watching hotspot, although it’s laid-back and even offers take out and delivery service. The menu lists gourmet pizzas made with seasonal ingredients, while the dining area shows an industrial design with concrete walls and exposed pipes and pillars.

Proud Cabaret
London’s new nightlife seems to be a cabaret. Not only is there the new Circus mentioned above, but also the new Proud Cabaret. This restaurant serves classic British cuisine together with sultry entertainment in the form of burlesque dancing, singing, and jazz.

VA Museum
The Victoria & Albert Museum’s east wing has been redesigned and the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries have recently opened. That’s 10 new galleries displaying over 2000 treasures spanning 13 centuries, from paintings to tapestries and sculpture. Best of all is that admission is free.

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Valentine’s Day may be over but that doesn’t mean the gift of chocolate to someone you love or to yourself should have to wait another year. In London you can have a sweet day every day at the new William Curley patisserie in the Belgravia neighborhood. Curley is an award-winning chocolatier and this is his second shop offering his signature chocolates, cakes, and biscuits. There is also space for a “dessert bar” where you can watch the contemporary desserts be made in front of you.
But before you start thinking this is just a place for after a meal or an afternoon off your diet, note that it also serves mouth-watering breakfasts complete with pancakes and — what else?! — hot chocolate.
Where: 198 Ebury Street, London
Phone: (+44) 20 7730 5522

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Usually museum or gallery cafés serve as places for refreshments or a light meal after a visit to the exhibitions.  They are in most cases a complement to the art experience and not destinations in themselves.
However, Saatchi Gallery in London is an exception. Its annex, Gallery Mess, now offers a café, restaurant, and bar open throughout the day while also being an exhibition space itself. It’s used for the works of artists featured on the gallery’s website which can be admired as visitors savor equally artfully-presented food.
The menu is the responsability of one of the country’s best event caterers and there is something different for breakfast, a light lunch, and dinner.  Only fresh seasonal ingredients are used in the daily specials, and you may have them inside or at the outdoor tables.

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London has just opened a gay tourism office. Actually, the big news should be that London “finally” has a gay tourism office. If Amsterdam has one, so should London, as one of the world’s gay capitals that it is. But better late than never, and now LGBT visitors can find complete city information (not just gay events and venues) in the SoHo district, or more specifically above the popular Ku Bar on Lisle Street (there is another Ku on Frith Street). In addition to finding out where everything is, you may also book tickets for London activities and events, and know how to get around the city.
Perhaps even native Londoners will find something new, so more than a tourist office, this is an LGBT information center. But before you even arrive in London, all the city’s gay information can be found in UCityGuides’ London Gay Guide.

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“Eyeballs” – SHONA HEATH, 2008
Created for December 2008 British Vogue editorial, photographed by Tim Walker.
Painted acrylic, painted wood. 6 Pieces. 82 x 52 x 30cm; available at SHOWstudio

Founded by photographer Nick Knight, SHOWstudio.com has been selling some fabulous exclusive creations for some time, but now there is also a retail space in London that’s sure to become a must-go for discerning shoppers and collectors. It’s an opportunity to acquire one-of-a-kind pieces by world-renowned artists and designers that could become part of fashion history. Everything is hand-picked from catwalk shows and fashion shoots, and sold together with images and selected prints featuring those items in the work of contemporary fashion photographers. Other exceptional pieces available are handcrafted originals from a purpose-designed space, and offered exclusively at this shop. Their entire creative process is captured on SHOWstudio’s webcams, a ground-breaking creative philosophy that ensures that the artist and potential buyer participates in the conception and completion of the work of art.
SHOWstudio SHOP is found on 1-9 Bruton Place in London, and is open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 11AM to 6PM. Telephone: +44 (0)20 7399 4299

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What to think of a cafe whose slogan is “snob food”? Whatever comes to mind, it certainly draws attention, and once you try it, you’ll never settle for less than its delicious selection of fresh pastries, breads, gourmet salads, and sandwiches. Found in a handful of locations in London, Napket‘s latest address is in Piccadilly, inside a landmark building with high ceilings and a sophisticated interior matching the elegance of all the other branches. There are modern and baroque features, from its grand chandeliers to exposed brick walls, iPod sockets on communal tables, and Philippe Starck seats.
Consider it a design cafe-deli for chic crowds to go for carefully-selected teas and coffees, or to grab a bite for breakfast or after work.

-See the complete London city guide.
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