CARETTE
25 Place des Vosges
Carette is a legendary patisserie and it recently opened a second home in the urban wonder that is the Place des Vosges. Fashion designer Givenchy’s newphew, Hubert de Givenchy, designed the new space, mixing Art Deco and Louis XIII details. It’s a classically elegant space, although most choose the tables placed outside facing the square. Indoors or on the terrace you can enjoy the chef’s signature club sandwich or simply have coffee or tea in true Parisian style.

HUGO & VICTOR
40 Boulevard Raspail
If Carette gets you in the mood to try other local patisseries, look for the new Hugo & Victor, a luxurious space for mouth-watering cakes and chocolates. They’re created by Hugo Pouget who has worked with Michelin-starred chef Guy Savoy, mixing a variety of flavors which change every season. Also of note is a curious wine selection to go with the pastries.

LA PÂTISSERIE DES RÊVES
111 Rue de Longchamp
The third patisserie on your list should be the new Pâtisserie des Rêves, a second branch to continue to offer the chef’s creative interpretations of classic French pastries. To accompany them there is a great selection of freshly squeezed juices, and you can try them all inside or at the small terrace.

KONG
1 Rue du Pont Neuf
We already recommend it in our Paris Restaurant Guide, but this 7-year-old bar and restaurant is hot again, thanks to a new terrace for summer 2010. Designed by Philippe Starck, it features paintings by Luis Urculo next to Louis XVI furniture around which you can dine, drink, and spend the night in the open air.

B&B ITALIA
35 Rue du Bac
Contemporary design has a new home in Paris via Italy. This new store on the Left Bank offers pieces by Antonio Citterio and Gaetano Pesce among other Italian designers, displayed on three floors. Although everything is from Italy, a French touch was given in the space’s design by Jean-Marie Massaud.

SLOTT GALLERY
12 Rue du Chateau Landon
More design is found at this new gallery, opened to become a creative think-tank in the city, where artists meet and work on new projects. The first exhibition opened last December and it’s now the new place to look for out-of-the-ordinary creations by emerging talent.

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Take a look at any newspaper lately and you’ll likely see the words “Greece” and “Athens” within the first pages. Those reports of the economic crisis and street protests will have some thinking twice about a visit to the country this summer, but they should not have to. In Athens life goes on as usual despite everything, and judging from the city’s most high-profile openings, things even look better than ever.
There is the recent Matsuhisa Athens, the latest from celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa providing views of the Saronic Gulf and a martini bar listing creations by mixologist Dale DeGross who gave the world the Cosmopolitan, plus the same tasteful interiors and expert Japanese cuisine found at the other Nobu restaurants, including the first one in Greece, in Mykonos.
Also hot is the new Salon de Bricolage, the city’s first members’ club. Located in upscale Kolokani, it will be accepting just 350 members but each member can always bring three friends along. Its aim is the promotion of gastronomy, art, well-being, and entertainment in an exclusive environment.
These are just two perfect places to check out this summer in Athens, together with the recent (and Uward-nominated) Acropolis Museum before hopping on a ferry to Mykonos or Santorini. Who said anything about a crisis?

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BRASSERIE ROSSIO GOURMET
The just-opened Altis Avenida Hotel faces two of the city’s main squares, so naturally the top floor was reserved for the restaurant in order to serve fabulous views along with fabulous food. Just like in the hotel rooms, the décor of the restaurant is contemporary but slightly inspired in the 1940s, the decade of the building’s original construction. On the menu you have a selection of classic French dishes under the direction of Michelin-starred chef José Cordeiro, and you can enjoy them on the terrace when the sun is out, bringing you even closer to the views.

FLOWER POWER FOOD
One of Lisbon’s coolest flower shops, one you can always trust for the most special flower arrangements for someone special or a special event, is now also a café. Of course the café space is decorated with plants for a fresh and relaxed ambience, all very laid-back and perfect for a light meal. You can choose a dish of the day, salads, or sandwiches, all for less than 10 euros, or go for just a glass of wine accompanied by Portuguese cheeses. A small area with gourmet products allows you to take the finest ingredients to cook at home.

LARGO
An inexpensive meal at Flower Power Food allows you to save to splurge at the new Largo Restaurant. It’s found right by the city’s opera house, with an interior by Miguel Câncio Martins, the Portuguese designer who created the interior of Paris’ Buddha Bar. The owner is Miguel Castro e Silva, one of Portugal’s most acclaimed chefs, here presenting a menu of contemporary Portuguese and international cuisine. The prices are not the cheapest in the city, but the top quality of the food and the sophistication of the space and service certainly justify them.

MANIFESTO
Another star chef with a new restaurant is Luis Baena, a talent developed next to some of the world’s biggest culinary names such as Paul Bocuse. His restaurant is in the Santos Design District and has a fitting interior revealing a stylish pop/Warholian look. The creative menu is whatever the chef is inspired to prepare, but always blending his Portuguese and international know-how.

PORTAS DO SOL CAFÉ
One of Lisbon’s most beautiful viewpoints is now even more attractive since the opening of Portas do Sol Café. It’s on the terrace of the same name and serves light meals to the beat of a cool, chill-out soundtrack during the day, and drinks to the sounds of live DJs on Friday and Saturday nights. But here’s a warning: the views and ambience will make it hard to leave.

ROSSIO WINE BAR
End your day with a glass of Portuguese wine as you overlook the bustling Rossio Square from the windows of this new bar inside the renovated Internacional Design Hotel. Or you may choose a cocktail instead, either before or after dinner, as the hotel’s restaurant is right on the other side of the room. The menu spans all continents and uses organic products.

TEASE
The coolest shopping street of Lisbon’s Bairro Alto district now has an equally cool café for you to take a break. The big “tease” here are the cupcakes, which are irresistible as soon as you set your eyes on them. In a city so rich in pastries, cupcakes are only now becoming popular, and that’s in no small part thanks to the “Sex and the City” series. The interior is small but decorated in such a glamorous pink/red-hot style that Carrie Bradshaw would certainly approve. Whether or not “Tease” achieves the success of New York’s “Magnolia” with long lines at the door only time will tell, but considering that one of the owners is also behind one of the city’s hottest cocktail bars (Cinco Lounge, recommended in UCityGuides’ Lisbon bars guide), you can say this has a recipe for success.

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This one could very well be added to our list of 7 Essential Stops in Amsterdam if one of our long-time favorites ever closes. Brasserie Witteveen was a popular restaurant in the 70s and 80s and after a recent reopening it should attract a legion of new fans. The new space is quite contemporary, and is open throughout the day, starting with a breakfast menu that changes regularly. The other meals offer daily specials together with a variety of choices, from pastas and salads, to sandwiches, all at reasonable (average) prices. The big surprise is the wine list, offering dozens of choices, mostly from Europe. That, and the opening times make Witteveen a place to meet even if only for a drink.
The atmosphere is very relaxed and there are different sitting areas — a wine bar, a “living room,” and the brasserie space:

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You wouldn’t know it from the graffiti-ridden façade, but behind it is one of Buenos Aires’ hottest new restaurants. That façade was specially commissioned and helps peak curiosity of what’s it like inside. Located in the hip Palermo Hollywood neighborhood, “Tegui” has an intimate dining area looking out to a banana tree courtyard, and a well-designed bar and wine cellar by the entrance. The name derives from chef German Martitegui who prepares a contemporary Argentinean menu at not-exactly-cheap prices, and there is a similarly high-priced wine list. However, the prices are justified by the quality and you won’t mind staying for an entire evening when you try one of the cocktails at the bar.

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ROBERT RESTAURANT
While MoMA and its The Modern receive most of the attention, don’t overlook the Museum of Arts and Design and its new restaurant. “Robert” overlooks Columbus Circle and Central Park and features a stylish dining area where contemporary American cuisine mixed with Mediterranean influences is served. From Wednesday to Saturday nights, a live pianist enhances the ambience.

CROSBY STREET HOTEL
The team behind some of London’s top hotels such as the Covent Garden and Haymarket has opened its first hotel in the Big Apple. Since opening a few months ago, it’s already one of the most talked-about hotels in the city, in part thanks to a prime location in Soho by Prince and Spring streets. The interior is made up of modern and antique furnishings, together with original art. Start your day in the outdoor garden before a shopping spree in the neighborhood, and end your night in the luxurious screening room.

CASA LEVER RESTAURANT
In our New York restaurants guide we recommend the acclaimed Sant Ambroeus restaurant and now the team behind it has created another hot table in town. Designed by Marc Newson, the new Casa Lever features Andy Warhol portraits on the walls and offers a menu of Italian classics. It also has an excellent wine list and cocktails menu, in an effort to provide New Yorkers with a true taste of la dolce vita.

Provocateur at Gansevoort Hotel, New York

PROVOCATEUR AT HOTEL GANSEVOORT
The 3 U_Star Gansevoort Hotel is one of the hottest addresses in New York, and it’s become even more so with the opening of Provocateur. It’s an exclusive lounge with a sensual atmosphere created by a lavish décor, and offering private areas for an even more special night of cocktails and light Japanese cuisine.

MAIALINO RESTAURANT
The new restaurant at the Gramercy Park Hotel is a Roman-style trattoria brought to you from the same team that created The Modern at the MoMA in 2005. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with the menu presenting Italian specialties. The dining area features wide windows with park views and a diverse collection of art.

GAGOSIAN GALLERY
Gagosian Gallery’s latest opening is its first shop. It’s found on Madison Avenue and offers publications and limited editions by artists and designers like Marc Newson and Jeff Koons.

LE CAPRICE RESTAURANT
London’s legendary Le Caprice has expanded across the Atlantic and opened in the Big Apple. The menu offers all the favorites from across the pond, while the interior designed by Martin Brudnizki features photographs of supermodel Jean Shrimpton and tiled floors in black and white. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and serves a special Sunday brunch.

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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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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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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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Tomorrow New York’s Guggenheim will open a new restaurant called “The Wright,” celebrating the 50 years of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed museum.
It will only be serving lunches for now, but will open for dinner starting in mid-January. A special brunch will also be available on Sundays from 11AM to 5PM.
The dining area features a sleek design by architect Andre Kikoski and includes a European-style bar in the center for small plates dining. The entire space is a homage to Wright, and reflecting the museum’s contemporary focus there is a site-specific commission by British artist Liam Gillick running up the walls and ceiling. Accommodating up to 58 diners at a time, it will be a comfortable venue with an upscale atmosphere for after a visit to the museum’s exhibitions or any time in between (for reservations, call 212 427 5690).
At the moment the Guggenheim is presenting a Kandinsky retrospective until the 13th of January. It was previously shown in Paris’ Centre Pompidou and Munich’s Lenbachhaus, and is a comprehensive, chronological presentation with over 100 paintings, including some rarely-seen works from private collections.
Solomon Guggenheim bought more than 150 Kandinsky works when he visited the artist’s studio in Germany in 1930, and that is said to have been the inspiration for Guggenheim’s opening of his own “Museum of Non-Objective Painting” in 1939.

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