Berlin has become my second favorite city in Europe (after Paris). There’s a buzz in Berlin: young artists are coming to the city from all over the world (because rents are low) and for fans of new architecture, there’s a lot to see: the Jewish Museum by Daniel Libeskind, the Reichstag Dome pictured above, just to name a few. In addition, the city has good infrastructure (excellent public transport, bike paths, free Wi-Fi in many cafes, high-speed broadband and the impressive new Central Station).

On the gastronomic side, it’s never going to be like Paris but I was very pleased to find Thai and Vietnamese restaurants everywhere. The Italian and French restaurants I tried were all superb. Shopping is also a pleasure. You will find small boutiques run by young entrepreneurs selling beautiful one-of-a-kind items. The eastern part of the city has not been overwhelmed with chain stores (yet). That may change in the future so you should come to Berlin now.

Here are my favorite restaurants, cafes, bars and boutiques organized by neighborhood.

Mitte:

Makoto
Japanische Nudeln
Alte Schoenhauserstrasse 13
10119 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 97 89 38 57
laid-back restaurant serving Japanese ramen, rice plates

Cavallino Rosso
Hannoversche Strasse 2
10115 Berlin
+49 30 27 90 8314
www.cavallino-rosso.de
(closed Sunday, reservations necessary)
Italian

Boetzow Privat
Linienstrasse 113
10115 Berlin, Germany
+49 117 465 5251
neighborhood bar and restaurant, German food

Cacao Sampaka
Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 3 / Unter den Linden
10178 Berlin
+49 30 847 12 476
(close to Alexanderplatz)
www.cacao-sampaka.de
chocolate bonbons from well-known Barcelona store

Shiro i Shiro
Rosa-Luxemburg-Str. 11
10178 Berlin
+49 30 9700 4790
(reservations necessary)
www.shiroishiro.com
Japanese-Euro fusion

Honigmond Restaurant
Tieckstrasse 12
10115 Berlin
+49 30 28 44 55 77
(reservations necessary)
www.honigmond.de
(Königsberger Klopse — meatballs in caper cream sauce)
German food

Hasir
Oranienburgerstrasse 4
10178 Berlin
+49 30 2804 1616
www.hasir.de
Turkish

Weinbar Rutz
Chausseestrasse 9
10115 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 24628760
(reservations necessary)
www.rutz-weinbar.de
wine bar serving tapas, gourmet food

Marcann’s
Invalidenstrasse 112
10115 Berlin, Germany
(breakfast, lunch)
delicious sandwiches, croissants, omelettes

Galeries Lafayette Berlin
Friedrichstrasse 76-78
10115 Berlin, Germany
Food hall has French bistro, luscious pastries, wine and champagne bar

Ambulance Bar
Oranienburgerstrasse 27
Berlin, Germany
funky little bar with DJ

Monsieur Vuong
Alter Schoenhauser strasse 46
10119 Berlin, Germany
+49 308 72643
www.monsieurvuong.de
Vietnamese, Asian

Restaurant Maxwell
Bergstrasse 22
10115 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 280 7121
www.mxwl.de
New German cuisine

Bangaluu
Invalidenstrasse 30
+49 30 8096 93077
www.bangaluu.com
restaurant, bar, dancefloor

103
Kastanienallee 49
Berlin
+49 30 4849 2651
bar restaurant, perfect for hanging on the sidewalk watching people

Shops

RSVP
Mulackstrasse 14
10119 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 280 94 644
Exquisite notebooks, pens, writing paper, cards and other paper products
www.rsvp-berlin.de

Neurotitan
Rosenthalerstrasse 39
Berlin
CDs, DVDs, books, comics in run-down graffiti filled building

Prenzlauer Berg:

Gugelhof
Kollwitzplatz / Ecke Knaackstrasse 37
10435 Berlin
www.gugelhof.de
+49 30 442 9229
(reservations necessary)
Alsatian

i Due Forni
Schoenhauserallee 12
Berlin
Pizza

Oki
Oderbergerstrasse 23
Berlin
+49 30 4985 3130
German-Japanese

White Trash Fast Food
Schoenhauserallee 6-7
Berlin
bar, nightclub with live music
www.whitetrashfastfood.com

Kreuzberg:

Osteria no. 1
Kreuzbergstrasse 1
+49 30 786 9162
Italian

Haifischbar
Arndtstrasse 25
Berlin
+49 30 691 1352
www.haifischbar-berlin.de

Friedrichshain:

Lemon Grass
Simon Dachstrasse 2
Berlin
Thai restaurant

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Here is a Google map with my favorite hotels, restaurants, bars, cafes and shops in Berlin.

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Singapore gets a bad rap. People say it’s boring and sterile. When I was in Singapore, however, I had a marvelous time. The food is fabulous: Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, Filipino, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese and more. You start with a bowls of spicy laksa (noodle soups with coconut milk) and end with ice kachang. You can eat outdoors at any of the food stalls without wondering whether you’re going to end up in a hospital. The city is clean and safe. I found myself walking around at midnight and saw many women walking outside as well, without any fear. Women can’t do this in most cities in other parts of the world. The shopping is superb. But before you head out to Singapore, check out my favorite hotels and make a reservation.

Hotel 1929
50 Keong Saik Road
Singapore
+65 6347 1929
www.hotel1929.com

The Scarlet
33 Erskine Road
Singapore
+65 6511 3333
www.thescarlethotel.com

New Majestic Hotel
37 Bukit Pasoh Road
Singapore
+65 6511 4700
www.newmajestichotel.com

Naumi
41 Seah Street
Singapore
+65 6403 6000
www.slh.com/naumi

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Here is a Google map of my favorite hotels in Singapore.

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Mexico City is a sprawling metropolis with a lot of good restaurants so our very small list is but a drop in the bucket.

Biko
Av. Presidente Masaryk 407, Colonia Polanco
+52-55-5282-2064
Basque

Pujol
Calle Francisco Petrarca 254, Colonia Polanco
+52-55-5545-4111
Mexican
www.pujol.com.mx

Oscar Wilde 9
Calle Oscar Wilde 9, Colonia Polanco
+52-55-5280-2723
Tapas

Aguila y Sol
Moliere 42
+52-55-5281-8354
http://tinyurl.com

Izote
Av. Presidente Masaryk 513
+52-55-5280-1671
www.frommers.com/destinations/mexicocity/D56075.html

Jaso
88 Newton
Col. Chapultepec Morales
(Polanco)
Mexico City, Mexico
+52-55 5545 7476
www.jaso.com.mx

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Here is a map of my favorite restaurants in Mexico City.

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Neve Tzedek is where I like to hang out when I am in Tel Aviv. It’s a tiny neighborhood not far from the beach, but it’s packed with cool boutiques, restaurants and cafes. Here are my favorites in Neve Tzedek.

Cafes

• Dallal Bakery (in the alley behind Dalal): great pastries and espresso
  Kol Yisrael Chaverim 7
  Tel Aviv, Israel
  Tel +972-3-510-9292
  www.dallal.info/#pageStart

• Tazza d’Oro: coffee and light food
  Ehad Haam 6
  Tel Aviv, Israel
  +972-3-5166329

• Nina Café (across the Nina Suites, my favorite boutique hotel in Tel Aviv)
  29 Shabazi Street
  Tel Aviv, Israel

• Café Mia (read review)
  55 Shabazi Street
  Tel Aviv, Israel
  Tel: +972 3 516 8793

Bars

• Jajo Bar
  47 Shabazi Street
  Tel Aviv, Israel
  +972-3-516-4557

• Jajo Vino: just across the street from Jajo Bar, but specializes in wine

• Nana Bar (read review)
  1 Ahad Haam Street
  Tel Aviv, Israel
  +972 3 516 1915

Restaurants

• Dallal
  10 Shabazi Street
  Tel Aviv, Israel
  +972 3 510 9292
  http://www.dallal.info/#pageStart
  

• Herbert Samuel (read review)
  Beit Gibor
  Rehov Koifman 6
  Tel Aviv, Israel
  +972-3-516-6516
  www.herbertsamuel.co.il

• NG meat bar
  Ehad Haam 6
  Tel Aviv, Israel
  +972-3-5167888

• Kimel
  Hashachar 6
  Tel Aviv, Israel
  +972-3-5105204
  Mediterranean food

• Mari
  Lilenblaum 1 (corner of Pines 27)
  Tel Aviv, Israel
  +972-3-5100989
  Mediterranean food

• Catit (read review)
  4 Heihal Hatalmud St.
  Tel Aviv, Israel
  www.catit.co.il
  +972-3-510-7001

• Yoezer Wine Bar (read review)
  Ish Habira 2
  Kikar Hashaon
  Jaffa, Israel
  (in nearby Jaffa by the clock tower)
  +972-3-683-9115
  French, wine bar

Copenhagen is one of those beautiful, off-the-beaten-track Northern European cities that you hope the budget airline hordes never discover because it’s so civilized and graceful. This year, Monocle, a design magazine, designated Copenhagen as the most livable city (and the Best Design City). Now that I have convinced you to visit Copenhagen, here’s where you should stay.

Hotel Skt Petri
Krystalgade 22
Copenhagen, Denmark
+45 3345 9100
www.hotelsktpetri.com

Front Hotel
Sankt Annae Plads 21
Copenhagen, Denmark
+45 3313 3400
www.front.dk

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Here is a Google map with Mapplr’s favorite hotels in Copenhagen.

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