CAFÉ GERMAIN
It’s already been a decade since we were first seduced into checking out Hôtel Costes in Paris thanks to its popular chill-out CDs. Over the years we’ve grown accustomed to a philosophy that “if it’s Costes brothers, it’s good,” and that’s still proven correct at the latest opening by the Costes empire, the Café Germain. This brasserie in the Saint Germain neighborhood was designed by India Mahdavi and features large, colorful sculptures and lamps. It’s a favorite lunch spot among the artistic crowds from the nearby galleries, and is said to make the best mojitos in the city. Find it on 25-27 Rue de Buci.

DOMEAU & PÉRÈS
Bruno Domeau and Philippe Pérés are the duo behind Domeau Pérès, a design manufactoring company that has opened its first showroom in Paris. It presents creations by several designers, all furnishings made with carefully selected materials. The address: 10 Cité Dupetit-Thouars

JAMIN
It’s been open since 1981, but Joel Robuchon’s Michelin-starred “Jamin” feels like a brand new restaurant thanks to a recent makeover. It has a new menu by chef Alain Pras and the dining room was made even more attractive, now with space to show Pras’ art collection which includes works by Joan Miro.

L’ARC
This new club-restaurant is providing some of the most sophisticated nights in Paris. With a menu created by Anthony Germani from L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, this is also a destination for cocktails and dancing to the sound of new and classic mixes. The space features a fabulously-designed interior with Hoffmann furnishings, and includes a private garden and smoking room to further enjoy the night. See the website for more: www.larc-paris.com

LA VILLA
Julia and Olivier Demarle are successful restaurateurs and seem to have a new hotspot on their hands. Serving the always-refined French cuisine, “La Villa” is a glamorous new space designed by Gilles & Boissier who’ve worked under Philippe Starck. They created an elegant interior and terrace areas, each with a different mood. The three areas inside are divided into coffee lounge, club, and private lounge, with an Ottoman-inspired look and careful lighting — a perfect setting for your private event.
You’ll find it at number 37 of Avenue Friedland by the Champs Elysées.

SIX SENSES SPA
Paris’ first Six Senses spa was designed by French architect Pierre David and features a video wall with images of the city. Another curiosity is a large vertical garden that immediately puts you in a relaxed state even before you start one of the rejuvenating treatments available.
The address is 3 Rue de Castiglione.

STEPHANE KELIAN
Designing fabulous shoes for some of the biggest names of the fashion world since the 80s, Stephane Kélian eventually created his own label which has recently opened its first store in Paris. It’s on 19 Rue François 1er, parallel to the Champs Elysées, and in addition to the chic shoe designs is a small collection of bags.

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Part gallery, part shoe store, Prague’s new 66 Gallery is a cool new addition to your shopping list in the Czech capital. Opened last December and designed by local architects, the shop presents redesigned sneakers of the Czech brand Botas which was born in the mid-60s. Graphic designers transformed the classically styled shoes and you can see hundreds of them and the yellow boxes they come in, together with art and design exhibitions. You’ll also find a number of locally designed products, from notepads to T-shirts, meaning that this is one of the best places for “best of Prague” gifts for yourself.

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While many hotels offer a gym and spa services, Berlin’s new Apria Hotel is the exact opposite — it’s a state-of-the-art gym and spa with a hotel. Found in a former industrial space, this is one of the German capital’s top fitness destinations, and now in addition to the exclusive gym, spa, and roof terrace, it offers elegantly designed rooms and apartments for the most active and body-conscious travelers. Guests are free to use all of the fitness and wellness treatments, can enjoy a swim in the 25-meter indoor pool, practice some yoga or Pilates, go for a massage, and relax in the sauna or jacuzzi. Meals are served at the rooftop lounge, and you can always go for just one more workout before you check out.
More hotel and booking information here: Aspria Hotel

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The hottest new table in Miami comes via Paris. Opened last summer, it officially became a hotspot as a popular dinner destination following the Art Basel Miami fair last December. Hip crowds continue to show up at lunch, or for an excellent brunch menu served between 11:30AM and 4PM.
The first “Caviar Kaspia” restaurant is a Paris gastronomic landmark dating from 1927, and this is the first one across the Atlantic. Located inside the fashionable Webster concept store in Miami Beach, Kaspia Miami offers the same sophistication and refined menu of the French capital, with the specialty being caviar of the highest quality from the Caspian Sea, together with duck Foie Gras and vodka as the drink of choice.
The dining area has a rather classic/Art Deco look, with seats upholstered in silky stripes of brown, gold, and silver.

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Here’s another dose of culture and good taste in Las Vegas to combat the city’s tacky image. After its wave of world-class star-chef restaurant openings, there are also new shops catering to those looking for something besides kitsch and nouveau riche bling. Found among the elite retailers of the Crystals shopping mall of CityCenter Las Vegas, the new Assouline store presents over 25,000 of its well-illustrated art and culture books in a space designed by Mr. Prosper Assouline himself. Created to have a contemporary home library feel, the store also includes a library design studio and offers special services such as bookbinding and handwriting. You’ll also find rare vintage books and an exclusive line of gift items going for anywhere from 50 to thousands of dollars.

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Milan has long been known as a fashion capital, so it’s a fitting home for an exhibition of the work of one of the world’s top fashion photographers. Born in England, Tim Walker has been a regular photographer for Vogue magazine (the British, American, and Italian editions), and has his works on display in the permanent collections of London’s National Portrait Gallery and Victoria and Albert Museum. Now, this current exhibition in Milan’s Galleria Carla Sozzani shows the artist’s most famous works together with those previously unseen.
His work is often described as evoking a high sense of drama and beauty in stunning sets. He is also described as a “fantasist,” capturing dream-like images. You can see many of them in his book titled “Pictures” published in 2008, just around the time of his first major exhibition in the Design Museum in London.
Now you can get up close to some of his best work at the design mecca of Milan until March 7th.

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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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The largest collection of Frida Kahlo’s work is naturally found in her native country in the Museo Dolores Olmedo. Now thanks to a special festival celebrating Mexican culture in Brussels, you can see many of the artist’s most important works in Europe. The European Union capital’s Bozar Centre for Fine Arts is showing the exhibition “Frida Kahlo y Su Mundo” (“The World of Frida Kahlo”) now until April 18, consisting of 19 paintings, six drawings, an etching, and several photographs lent by the Dolores Olmedo Museum. These works reflect the artist’s Mexican culture but also her life after a tragic bus accident and a turbulent marriage, in a style that can be described as a mixture of surrealism and symbolism. This combination was in part what attracted the attention of the Louvre Museum which in 1939 made Kahlo the first Mexican artist of the 20th century to have her work purchased by the museum.

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February is the month of romance and whether you have a special someone on Valentine’s Day or are looking for one, there will be a special event for you in or around the 14th of the month all over the world. With the northern hemisphere still feeling the cold of winter, it’s tempting to go somewhere warm still feeling the heat of summer. For gay travelers the choice should be Rio de Janeiro, which is throwing major gay parties in mid-February. On the 13th it will be the “R:evolution Party” at 11PM in , while on the 16th it’s the Original Brazilian Pool Party at 4PM at Clube Internacional de Regatas. You can get complete party details through the website (www.revolutionparty.com.br), which includes ticket information.
A recommended hotel for this time of the year is Rio 180, gay-friendly accommodation with stunning views of the city. It includes a romantic pool area, although Ipanema beach is just a short ride away. Get complete hotel information here: Rio 180.

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