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My 10 (+1) favourite bars in Tokyo
Tokyo has a population of over 14 million. The Greater Tokyo Area, however, includes Tokyo and parts of six neighbouring prefectures (Chiba, Gunma, Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Tochigi), and is, therefore, the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents. Considering that in Japanese culture, alcohol plays a significant role in social gatherings and business interactions, it comes as little surprise that Tokyo is home to many, many, many bars. Popular drinks include sake, beer, and shochu, yet my favourite is the whiskey highball. Today, I’m sharing my impressions of my 10 (+1) favourite bars in Tokyo. The Old Blind Cat This is the first bar I…
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13 places to try Japanese cuisine in London
The Japanese cuisine is one of my favourites. I am therefore very grateful that London is not short of Japanese restaurants. In this post, I revisit some of my favourite places (not necessarily restaurants) to try Japanese cuisine in London. About half of those are located in West London, where I live. At the same time, West London is home to many Japanese people too. 6 places to try Japanese cuisine in West London 1. Momo Momo is a great sushi restaurant on Hanger Lane, in West London. It’s the closest to where I live, so I’ve been there quite a few times. I never get tired of it though. That…
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7 things to do in Mexico City
I recently watched two films, which I really enjoyed: Queer, a romantic drama set in the 1950s, starring Daniel Craig as an American expatriate who falls for a younger man, and Emilia Perez, a musical about a Mexican cartel kingpin who changes sex and reinvents herself. They’re both set in Mexico City. The Mexican capital is home to more than 9 million people (whereas Greater Mexico City is home to more than 20 million), which makes it the largest city not only in Mexico but also in North America. Mexico City is also the oldest capital of the Americas. Nowadays, it is a vibrant city well worth a visit. As…
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20+1 places to eat and drink in Mexico City
In my last post, I mentioned that Mexico City is home to Handshake Speakeasy, which was voted last year (2024) as the world’s best bar. The Mexican capital is actually home to a total of six of the world’s 100 best bars, as well as four of the world’s 100 best restaurants. Today, I am going to make my own recommendations about where to eat and drink in Mexico City. Considering the size of the city (the largest in North America), I have grouped my recommendations first based on their location, and second based on the time of the day that’s best to visit. So, without further ado, here are…
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Mexico’s best bars and restaurants
The world’s 50 best bars and restaurants are announced every year. In 2024, Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy was selected as the best bar in the world, whereas Barcelona’s Disfrutar was selected as the best restaurant. Handshake Speakeasy was followed by Bar Leone (Hong Kong) and Sips (also in Barcelona), while Disfrutar was followed by Asador Etxebarri (also in Spain, but in Atxondo, Basque Country) and Table by Bruno Verjus (Paris). Today, I will focus on Mexico’s best bars and restaurants. Mexico’s best bars There are four bars in Mexico among the world’s 50 best. As well as Handshake Speakeasy (number 1), there is also Tlecān (number 20), Licorería Limantour (number…
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15 places to eat and drink in Florence
Florence is the capital of Tuscany, as well as one of my favourite Italian cities. I’ve often thought that Firenze, as the Italians call it, embodies the concept of la dolce vita. I’ve been to Florence several times, and every time I enjoyed the city a little bit more. I remember strolling around the beautiful city centre trying to plan my meal times, so that I could dine at as many restaurants as possible, and have as much gelato as possible between or after my meals (quite a task!). Today, I’m sharing my recently updated list of places to eat and drink in Florence, and I’m proud to say that…
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Top 5 tips for 4 days in Siena, Tuscany
Although Siena is only the 12th largest city in Tuscany, with a population of just over 50,000, it is one of the most famous and visited. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, containing buildings dating as far back as the 13th and 14th centuries. Having already shared my tips about places to eat, today I am sharing my top 5 tips for 3-4 days in Siena. 1. Museums & Churches Ticketed One of the main sights in Siena is the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, simply known as Duomo. The entry ticket costs 8 euros and it also gives you access to the Libreria…
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9 places for sweets, coffee and dinner in Siena
As I’ve mentioned in my previous posts, I recently travelled to Tuscany. As well as Florence, I also visited Siena, Lucca and San Gimignano. Although Siena is only the 12th largest city in Tuscany, with a population of just over 50,000, it is one of the most famous and visited. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, containing buildings dating as far back as the 13th and 14th centuries. Today, however, I am sharing my tips for 9 places for sweets, coffee and dinner in Siena. Pasticceria Nannini Conca d’Oro Established by Guido Nannini in 1910, the Pasticceria-café of the same name has almost become synonymous with Siena.…
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A day trip to Lucca, Tuscany
As I mentioned in my previous post, I recently travelled to Tuscany. Although I had been to Florence several times before, I had never previously ventured out of the Tuscan capital. As well as Firenze (as it’s called in Italian), I also visited Siena, San Gimignano and Lucca. Also known as “Città d’arte” (City of Art), the latter is famous for its intact Renaissance-era city walls which encircle the old town. Nowadays, Lucca has a population of about 89,000 and is the 7th most populous city in Tuscany. How to get to Lucca Lucca is easy to reach from Florence by train. The journey takes about an hour and a…
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A day trip to San Gimignano, Tuscany
I recently travelled to Tuscany. Although I had been to Florence several times before, I had never previously ventured out of the Tuscan capital. This time, I also visited Siena, Lucca, and San Gimignano, as well as Firenze (as it’s called in Italian). The latter is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena. In fact, it was during my stay in Siena that I visited San Gimignano. Famous for its medieval architecture and home to 8,000 residents, San Gimignano is a popular destination for many tourists, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I stayed there for about 4 hours before I returned to Siena.…