This is another Chow. It’s another of Philippe Chow’s restaurants, but not one of the legendary “Mr. Chow” (as in Michael Chow) restaurants. Although they share the same last name, there is no family relation between the two chefs, although Philippe did work with the other Mr. Chow for over two decades.
Philippe moved on to his own restaurant in New York which soon became one of the city’s most acclaimed for fine Chinese cuisine, and has recently expanded to the opposite coast, in West Hollywood. Philippe West Hollywood has been welcomed with much excitement on Melrose Avenue, receiving in-the-know and celebrity crowds looking for the Beijing-style cooking and signature dishes such as the duck with homemade pancakes. The light-filled interior is simple but sophisticated and elegant, with an atmosphere that has always been lively since its recent opening.

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Los Angeles has a fourth Katsuya restaurant, this time downtown. Once again, the menu is by sushi master Katsyua Uechi and the design by Philippe Starck. As UCityGuides previously reported (“Philippe Starck Redesigns Los Angeles“), the French designer has an exclusive contract with the SBE group, and his signature style is once again all over this new restaurant. Just like at the other Katsuyas, geisha eyes and lips take up most of the walls, and here you also have outdoor seating and private dining areas.
Katsuya L.A. Live is found next to a number of entertainment venues such as the Staples Center and Nokia Theater, meaning it won’t be long before it comes a major hotspot for a night out in downtown L.A.

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Tel Aviv beach

1. Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro
   Not only is Rio de Janeiro blessed with some of the world’s most dramatically gorgeous scenery, it also offers some of the most beautiful beaches together with urban pleasures. While Copacabana may be the most famous of all its beaches, and Leblon an increasingly attractive beach and neighborhood for sunseekers, it is in Ipanema that you’ll find the best of the city. Its golden sands are filled with flawlessly-sculpted bodies playing sports, jogging, or getting wet in the Atlantic, and that’s just the beginning of a day and night of posing and partying. Cross the avenue and you’ll find some of Rio’s best restaurants, or simply enjoy an açai juice or caipirinha at a cafe. Sitting on the sand or from a cafe table, take some time to admire the majestic peaks in the distance, the body-conscious strollers on the wave-patterned boardwalk, and soak up the sensual atmosphere all around.
2. Tel Aviv
   Tayelet (“Promenade” in Hebrew) is Tel Aviv’s sandy Mediterranean coastline lined with beach cafes and hotels. Often the site of parties and beautiful sunsets, it’s the city’s most irresistible area, the place everyone flocks to after a stroll down the trendy Sheinkin Street. After a day under the Mediterranean sun, the bronzed bodies clean themselves up under the freshwater showers and move on to Tel Aviv Port, a sleek seafront promenade that is a hot nighttime destination. It is actually an attractive spot at any time of the day, from brunch to evening jazz performance, especially on Shabbat.
3. Miami Beach, Miami
   In no other city in the world is the beach the main attraction. In Miami, it is the reason it receives so many tourists, curious about experiencing its parade of steroids, silicone, and sand-and-sun worshipers. When you finally take a break from that, the many cafes in the Art Deco District are another distraction, although the year-round heat will soon take you back to the ocean and eye candy. Miami is the ultimate see-and-be-seen destination, and the people-watching continues beyond the beach. The flashy clubs are for a night before another day at the palm-studded beach, and the joys of a flamboyant urban resort life.
4. Barceloneta, Barcelona
   An already exciting city can only get better with a beachfront. So when the Olympics came to Barcelona in 1992, its Mediterranean coastline got a makeover, and the result is Barceloneta Beach. Flashy hotels and restaurants have opened by this new sandy attraction, and it’s now a magnet for the city’s coolest crowds at any time of the day and night. That means you can work on your tan during the day, and later show it off at the clubs of any part of town. You can actually walk to the center of the city, strolling down a walkway lined with palm trees, cafes, and some exciting modern landmarks such as Frank Gehry’s 200-foot-long sculpture of a fish.
5. Venice Beach, Los Angeles
   L.A.’s bohemian beach is packed with bodybuilders, tattooed bodies, and all kinds of eclectic groups in its golden sands full of palm trees. In between them are rollerbladers, green lawns, galleries, cafes, and surf shops on the must-stroll Ocean Front Walk facing the beach. Venice Beach is a paradise for people-watching and by far the most interesting beach in Los Angeles, and arguably the most beautiful. Observe the human and natural spectacles and you’ll have a picture of what Los Angeles is all about.
6. Bondi Beach, SYDNEY
   Just as famous as Sydney’s Opera House are the city’s beaches, with waters always taken over by surfers and dolphins. Within minutes from the center of the city you’ll be stepping on golden sand, and the exact place to head to is Bondi Beach. It’s a crescent of sand faced by a variety of shops, often packed by sun and wave seekers. It’s a world-class surfing destination with a surprisingly relaxing atmosphere and a melting pot of crowds, from rich to poor, from young to old.
7. Tamariz, Lisbon
   Take the train from Lisbon’s central Cais do Sodré station to the seaside town of Cascais and you’ll be taken on a waterfront ride through a number of urban beaches. Step off the train in Estoril, just after the city’s Tagus River becomes the Atlantic, and stay laying on Tamariz Beach. Facing it from across the road is Europe’s largest casino, while standing above the sand is a castle belonging to the royal family of Monaco. Those were built when this coast was a haven for exiled royalty and European nobility during World War II, and the place still retains a certain faded glamour. On the sand you’ll be competing for space with crowds from Lisbon, its suburbs, and tourists on the hottest days, and for a refreshing drink or a meal, there are a number of bars facing the ocean. On summer months, this beach is a summer club at night, with tanned bodies dancing and drinking the night away.

Ipaneama Beach, Rio de Janeiro

Tamariz Beach, Lisbon

Venice Beach, Los Angeles

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Only a few weeks old, Tavern LA restaurant has already received plenty of buzz. Its glassed dining area features olive trees and chandeliers held by ropes, and has a refreshingly laid-back ambience. At the entrance is the larder/bakery where you can pick up some delicious pastries in the morning or buy some market goods.
It’s found in Brentwood, while West Hollywood is now home to the American version of one of London’s most refined Italian restaurants. L.A.’s Cecconi’s offers the same sophisticated service and menu as the Mayfair original, including some excellent carpaccios and risottos, and is open throughout the day. That means whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the special northern Italian flavors are always available. Just as attractive is the decor, featuring some cool velvet banquettes.
For the post-dinner hours there is also a brand-new attraction for those living in the city or visiting Los Angeles for an extended period. The Chamberlain Hotel is launching its “My Urban Retreat” program which gives members discounts on food, room rates, and pool rentals. And you’ll definitely want to take advantage of the pool area where you can enjoy the outdoor grill, individual yoga classes, or simply lounge in the sun as you sip a cocktail and admire the city views.

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Two years ago the designer signed an exclusive contract with the SBE group to design its new SLS hotels. Actually, these were to be redesigns, as in the very first project at the former Le Meridian Beverly Hills that is now the 2 U_Star SLS Beverly Hills. SBE somehow managed to get Starck to work his magic on their properties for a period of 15 years, when he’ll also work on New York and Miami hotspots, although it’s in the city of angels where you’ll be able to see most of his work. In addition to hotels, new restaurants and lounges will have the Starck signature, like at the recently-unveiled XIV Restaurant.

The dining area was inspired by a French chateau with ornate carvings and lavish furnishings where a modern American menu is served. Both the design and the cuisine will appeal to the most refined of tastes, as is the norm in the most sophisticated of L.A.’s newest addresses. One such example is the recent spa opening at the SLS Beverly Hills. Ciel Spa is more than just a place for pampering, it’s also seen as a private club. Around the walls of Starck’s translucent curtains are a number of surreal pieces, filling the bright space where exclusive treatments are offered. More visual Starck surprises are found in the same hotel’s The Bazaar restaurant, where you not only get to dine, drink, and socialize, but also shop for unique Moss design selections.

Also in L.A. is the Uward-winning restaurant Katsuya, the first Starck restaurant project for SBE and whose provocative design set the tone for the recent and upcoming openings in L.A. that you’ll be hearing about in the near future.

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For all of that, UCityGuides.com has created the Uwards, the travel awards highlighting the best of what’s new in the urban world. There are 15 categories this year, which are:

-Best airport
-Best airport magazine
-Best in-flight magazine
-Best hotel group
-Best new building
-Best new body & soul experience
-Best new rooftop bar
-Best new members’ club
-Best new concept
-Best new cafe
-Best new restaurant
-Most welcomed new opening
-Best new business hotel
-Best new boutique hotel
-Best new hotel

To find out what won these Uwards, see UCityGuides’ Uwards – Urban Travel Awards page.