Come summer, come winter, we love a city break. And with so many great cities a mere hop, skip and a jump from our shores, why would we not?
Alas, we don't want just any old city break. Oh no, we want a stylish city break where we eat, drink and stay in the best places in town. Places that the locals frequent and are a far cry from the tourist traps.
Well, fret not avid travellers as we have the answers for you with this carefully curated guide to our favourite cities. What's more, we've teamed up with Coach to put together the most stylish looks that will allow you not to just live like a local, but blend in to boot.
Barcelona
Eat: Disfrutar, Carrer de Villarroel, 163
Founded by three former elBulli head chefs, Disfrutar is the new big thing in Barcelona. With prices you can actually afford (well, relatively to elBulli, that is), choose between the short tasting menu (68 euros), or, if you're particularly hungry, go for the 25-piece plus tasting menu at 98 euros!
Drink: Boca Chica, Passatge de la Concepció, 12
What do Persian carpets, indoor trees, animal print and oversized lights all have in common? Well, they adorn the interior of Boca Chica, Barcelona’s coolest bars, for one. This is a no-menu kind of place, so do as the locals do and get the barman to mix something a little unusual up.
Sleep: Airbnb Loft, Enrique Grandos
Live like a local and rent this incredible loft conversion on the coolest street in the city, Enrique Grandos. Armed with a private terrace and a stones throw from the cities buzzing bars and restaurants, this crash pad is everything you need. And more. From £353 a night, sleeps four.
Do: Alfresco Art gallery
You can’t come to Barcelona without seeing the street art. It’s hard to miss it, but take a walk around the El Borne and Gothic neighborhoods for a closer look at what is essentially a sprawling al fresco art gallery.
What to wear in Barcelona
Pack for the nightlife in Barcelona. You need to dance til' dawn, after all.
75th Anniversary Rectangle Sunglasses, £175
Rogue Bag, £750
Fluid Leather Skirt, £650
Turnlock Creeper Slide, £325
Edinburgh
Eat: Timberyard 10 Lady Lawson St Edinburgh EH3 9DS
One of the trendiest places in town, Timberyard sits behind Edinburgh Castle in a former props and costume warehouse space. Serving up a seasonal, locally sourced, home-smoked, home-grown (you get the idea) menu, a visit to Timberyard may not be easy on the bank balance, but it certainly is a treat for the palette.
Drink: Panda & Sons, 79 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4NF
Edinburgh it’s famed for its after- dark entertainment. But that need not mean you should stumble into the first (of many, many) pubs you see. Panda & Sons, Edinburgh’s in-the-know speakeasy, is hidden behind a dodgy Chicago barbershop and is one of the coolest cocktail bars in town. Order The Birdcage, served in a smoking bell jar. What could possibly go wrong?
Stay: The G&V, 1 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1AD
The G&V Royal Mile Hotel is about to become your new favourite home-from-home. Previously a Missoni hotel, its new iteration is a very Scottish affair - right down to the tartan staff uniforms created by kilt king, Howie Nicholsby. Rooms from £220.
Do: Edinburgh’s Cinematic Tour
From Trainspotting to One Day, Edinburgh has been the backdrop to many an iconic flick. Now, for the first time, you can take a two-hour walking tour of all these cinematic locations. Just remember your umbrella, Edinburgh isn’t known for its Mediterranean clime.
What to wear in Edinburgh
Make sure you stay warm in Scotland's capital with this ensemble.
Inverted Pleat Skirt, £375
Rivets Rogue Bag, £950
Moto Hiker Boot with Shearling, £425
Embroidered Souvenir Sky Sweatshirt, £295
All from the Coach 1941 Pre Fall Collection
Berlin
Eat: Beuster’s Neukölln, Wesertrasse 32, 12045
Neukölln, Berlin’s new ‘in-district’ and home to an artsy crowd who know good food, is the place to head. Beuster’s should be you first stop for sustenance. Offering a handful of tasty options (their steak tartar gets a massive thumbs up) at reasonable prices, you’ll definitely want to stay on for one of their cocktails.
Drink: Nathanja & Heinrich, Weichselstraße 44, 12045
Make the most of your night in Neukölln and explore the bars, for there are many to get acquainted with. The theme here is very much of the mismatched furniture and raw walls look – something which Nathanja & Heinrich does to perfection. The cool crowd and potent cocktails will see you through the night.
Stay: Soho House, Torstraße 1, 10119
Imposing yet effortlessly laid back, this is the sort of contradiction that only Soho House Berlin could successfully combine. The Grade II-listed Bauhaus building is just a short walk from Alexanderplatz, and set over eight floors featuring original artwork, a rooftop bar and decadent bedrooms ranging in size (and price) from ‘itsy’, to ‘XL’.
Do: Urban Industrial, Holzmarktstraße 19-23, S-Bahnbogen 41-42, 10179
If your dream interior features subway tiles, wood surfaces and exposed metal piping, this place is for you: think vintage factory lamps, old class room chairs and blast proof lamps. To find it, pass by the gates of the Fame restaurant by Katerschmaus and on the left you will see a what looks like a scrappy junkyard, but is in fact the start of Urban Industrial –persevere; it’s definitely worth getting lost for.
What to wear in Berlin
The Berliners are known for always being on trend, so, embrace it and get involved.
75th Anniversary Rectangle Sunglasses, £175
Patchwork Shearling Vest, £1495
Dinky Crossbody 24 Bag, £375
Leather Short, £475
PARIS
Eat: Chez Janou, 2 Rue Roger Verlomme, 75003
Great food isn’t hard to come by in Paris, but if you like your food with a touch of theater, then Chez Janou in the 3rd arrondissement should be top of your list. Fun, fast and featuring a mousse dessert that is the subject of many a blog post, Chez Janou is adored by passers by and Parisians alike.
Drink: Experimental Cocktail Club, 37 Rue Saint-Sauveur, 75002
You may be familiar with the Experimental Cocktail Club, in which case well done, you know a thing or two about good cocktails. The ECC in Paris is a dimly lit den that is still The Don of world class drinks. Our tip? Get down early (the place is tiny), forget what your favorite drink is and just let the barkeepers work their magic.
Sleep: Hotel Crayon, 25, rue du Bouloi, 75001
Just a short walk from the Louvre Museum lies Hotel Crayon, which as the name suggests, is home to artists in residence. Julie Gauthron and Christophe Sauvage have decorated each of the 27 rooms with flea shop finds and antique discoveries. Rooms from €170
Do: Shakespeare & Company, 37 rue de la Bûcherie, 75005
Featured in many a film and visited by many an A-lister in cognito, Shakespeare & Company is unlike any bookshop you've been to before. Stroll between wonky booksleves, wander past beds where aspiring writers lay their head come closing time and pick up a Hemingway book (he used to write here, don’t you know). After that, grab a coffee in the newly opened café.
Marrakesh
Eat: Nomad, Rahba Kedima
Set on a corner of the Spice Square in the Marrakech medina, Nomad’s menu is a mix of Moorish flavors and spices with a contemporary twist. Snag a table on the sun terraces for hard-to-beat views over the medina rooftops.
Drink: Kosy Bar, Place des Ferblantiers، Rue de Berrima
This chilled little secret is the perfect antidote to the hectic Souks on the outside. Head straight for the roof terrace and take in a truly incredible sun set.
Sleep: Talaa 12, 12 Talaa Ben Youssef
Nestled away in a nook of the Medina's winding streets (so yeah, it's not the easiest to find) Talaa 12 is quiet and serene - despite the hustle and bustle that awaits you mere minutes away. The rooms are luxurious and spacious, beds are insanely comfortable and the rooftop view (where one takes breakfast, obviously) is another serious tick. Rooms from €180
Do: Trek in the Atlas Mountains
Get out of the city and take a hike in the Atlas Mountains. We’re not suggesting a full on trek in the summer heat (it can reach upwards of 30 °C in peak months), but a day trip to the Mountains and its surrounding Berber villages - which have remained largely untouched for years - will certainly give you some #instaworthy pictures.
What to wear in Marrakesh
With temperatures in the 30-somethings come summer, go light and breezy.
Silk Ruffle Dress, £425
Saddle Bag 23, £375
Tea Rose Sunglasses, £175
High Top Sneaker, £325
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