Mention Zurich to frequent travelers and two words come to mind: boring and expensive. Fortunately, much has changed in the past few years to make the city a bit more exciting, with more dining choices for people who aren’t in town to visit their private banker (although given the credit crunch and the disastrous financial results of Union Bank of Switzerland, private bankers may be reading this post, too). One of the most innovative concepts in dining is Blindekuh (German for blind cow). I won’t ruin the surprise; visit their website which is listed below. And when the weather permits, Seerose, on the lake, is the perfect place to hang out.

Here are my favorites in Zurich. If you have anything to add or subtract, post it in the comments section.

La Salle
Schiffbaustrasse 4
Zurich, Switzerland
+41 44 258 70 71
www.lasalle-restaurant.ch

Rosso
Geroldstrasse 31
Zurich, Switzerland
+41 43 818 22 54
www.restaurant-rosso.ch

Blindekuh
Mühlebachstrasse 148
Zurich, Switzerland
+41 44 421 50 50
www.blindekuh.ch

J.O.S.E.F
Gasometerstrasse 24
Zurich, Switzerland
+41 44 271 65 95

Seidenspinner
Ankerstrasse 120
Zurich, Switzerland
+44 44 241 07 00
www.seidenspinner.ch

Sterne Foifi
Theaterstrasse 22
Bellevueplatz
Zurich, Switzerland
+41 44 251 49 49
www.sterne-foifi.ch

Casa Aurelio
Langstrasse 209
Zurich, Switzerland
+41 44 272 77 44
www.casaaurelio.ch

See Rose (summer place on Lake)
Seestrasse 493
Zurich, Switzerland
+41 44 481 63 83
seerose.dinning.ch/fotos

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Click on the Google map of my favorite hotels and restaurants in Zurich.

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While there’s no shortage of lunch and brunch places in San Francisco’s SOMA (south of Market) neighborhood, especially close to the AT&T ball park, it’s not easy to find one that calls itself a French bistro and serves delicious pastries, breads and charcuterie. In general, most restaurants close to the ball park serve ball park food: burgers, hotdogs, “Mexican” grub, chicken wings, greasy tasteless fries. But if you walk a couple of blocks up from King Street, to South Park, home of many tech startups, you will discover an oasis of peace and culinary delights (such as the recently reviewed South Park Cafe, which is also a French bistro). The Butler and The Chef is definitely a local gem and one hopes that it stays that way. It’s open only during the day for breakfast, lunch and brunch. I like to come here for meetings because the food is simple and delicious, and you can sit outside on warm days.

• Vibe: Cute little French bistro in front of South Park, unpretentious, filled with people from the neighborhood enjoying a cup of espresso or a salad; weekends attract families and people with dogs. Perfect place to avoid the ballpark crowd (who have a tendency to become rather loud after a few beers).

• Pros: excellent charcuterie plate; good pain perdu (French toast) and breads; good coffee, Wi-Fi; the park is quiet and civilized, a place to get away from the car-infested frenzy of the neighborhood (which is close to the freeway ramps to the Bay Bridge and the ball park).

• Cons: crowded on weekends especially for brunch; outdoor seating is only for two persons per table so if there are 3 or more of you, it’s definitely a crowd and you’re relegated to indoor seating.

The Butler and The Chef
155A South Park
San Francisco, CA
+1 415 896 2075
www.thebutlerandthechefbistro.com

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Click on the Google map to see my favorite restaurants in San Francisco.

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Since I recently posted my favorite restaurants in Mexico City, I thought I’d add my favorite boutique hotels. One of the challenges I’ve faced when traveling is finding a boutique hotel (or B&B), preferably not part of a chain, but not outrageously priced either. The selection I’ve made here, although small, should get you started. If you find other good boutique hotels, please post a comment below.

Hotel Habita
Avenida Presidente Masaryk 201
Polanco
Mexico City
+52 55 5282 3100
www.hotelhabita.com

Condesa DF Hotel
Av. Veracruz 102
Col. Condesa
Mexico City
+52 55 5241 2600
www.condesadf.com

Hippodrome Hotel
188 Avenida Mexico
Condesa
Mexico City
+52 55 5212 2110
www.thehippodromehotel.com

Hotel La Casona
Durango No. 280
Col. Roma
Mexico City
+52 55 52 86 30 01
www.hotellacasona.com.mx

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Go to the Google map below to see all of my favorite hotels and restaurants in Mexico City.

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If you have ever taken the ferry or cycled from San Francisco to Sausalito across the Golden Gate Bridge, the first thing you notice when you come to this picturesque little town is how much of its main street has been taken over by fast food joints and tacky souvenir shops. The reason is fairly obvious: Sausalito gets hundreds of tourists crossing over the bay daily from San Francisco. So where do you eat if you happen to be in Sausalito during lunchtime? Go to Sushi Ran, a small Japanese restaurant tucked behind the back streets of Sausalito.

• Vibe: Quiet little Japanese sushi restaurant just behind the main street of Sausalito, dignified minimalist interiors filled with light, elegant but not stiff; a lot of business people during the lunch hour, but it does not feel like the suits have taken over the place
• Pros: outstanding fish, inventive twists on traditional Japanese dishes, good service
• Cons: be prepared to sit at the sushi bar if you have no reservations (I love sitting at the sushi bar but some people prefer to have a table to themselves)

Sushi Ran
107 Caledonia Street
Sausalito, CA 94965
+1 415 332 3620
www.sushiran.com

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To see all of our San Francisco favorite restaurants on a Google map, click below.

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Antwerp is a city with two personalities: one lives in the world of Rubens and 17th century Flemish architecture, the other favors minimalist furniture from Maarten van Severen and parties with the fashion crowd in Antwerp Zuid, the new trendy neighborhood where Belgian designers Dries van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester have their flagship stores.

But, these two worlds come together in the recently renovated B&Bs and boutique hotels that have sprouted up across the city in the last seven years. I have never been to a city that has so many chic B&Bs and boutique hotels, especially one that happens to be off the beaten (tourist) track.

In recent years, Antwerp has become a regular stopover for the fashion and design crowd. It is the headquarters of the Belgian fashion industry: the Modemuseum (fashion museum) is outstanding; its fashion and arts academy ranks among the best in the world, and the competition among students is brutal. Antwerp designers’ creations are carried in major department stores and boutiques around the world. Antwerp excels in furniture and interior design as well. And you won’t be disappointed on the gastronomic front. There are so many good restaurants that I’m already wondering how I’m going to select my top ten for a future blog post.

I had enough trouble putting together this list of my favorite hotels and B&Bs in Antwerp. If you want to read more about them, look at the gorgeous photos, and view an availability calendar, visit the wonderful Weekendhotel site, which is a tremendous resource for hotels and B&Bs in Belgium and the Netherlands. Here is a link to Weekendhotel’s Antwerp page.

Boulevard Leopold
Belgielei 135
Antwerpen
+32 486 675 838
http://www.boulevard-leopold.be/
Elegant 19th century house in the Jewish quarter, my favorite place to stay in Antwerp

Hotel Matelote
Haarstraat 11A
Antwerp, Belgium
+32 3 201 88 00
http://www.matelote.be/
Boutique hotel that brings 21st century chic to a restored 16th century building

Delaneau
Karel Rogierstraat 20
Antwerp, Belgium
+32 3 216 27 85
www.delaneau20.com
Elegant, modern hotel and spa

M0851
Nationalestraat 19
Antwerp, Belgium
+32 3 297 60 66
www.m0851.be
Trendy guestrooms across the Modemuseum (fashion museum), perfect for fashionistas

Room National
Nationalestraat 24
2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
+32 3 226 07 00
www.roomnational.com
Down the street from the Modemuseum, above the Violetta and Vera Pepa boutique, perfect for the fashion crowd

De Gulden Baers
Sint Katelijnevest 23
Antwerpen
+32 3 231 89 94
http://www.deguldenbaers.com/
Restored 18th century house owed by a real estate agent who specializes in historic houses, close to the most beautiful square in Antwerp (the Hendrik Conscienceplein)

Hotel Julien
Korte Nieuwstraat 24
Antwerpen
+32 3 229 06 00
http://www.hotel-julien.com/home.html
Luxurious boutique hotel in an historic house; minimalist modern design that still manages to be warm and inviting

Miauw Suites
Marnixplaats 14
Antwerp, Belgium
+32 (0)3 2484 707
http://www.miauw.com/
Industrial chic, light-filled apartment in the heart of Antwerp-Zuid, owned by Dutch fashion designer, Analik

Bed, Bath and Bread
Justitiestraat 43
Antwerp, Belgium
+32 3248 1539
http://www.bbantwerp.com/
B&B in a restored Belle Epoque grand house

La Rimessa
Lamorinierestraat 127
Antwerp, Belgium
Tel +32 (0) 3 286 70 98
Mobile phone: +32 (0) 476 78 07 83
http://www.larimessa.be
B&B in an Art Nouveau townhouse

Git’Ann’twerpen
Welvaartstraat 54A
Antwerp, Belgium
+32 476 47 33 51
http://www.gitanntwerpen.be/
Stylish chic apartment for short and long term stays; they have another apartment in central Antwerp

Antwerp Dreams B&B
Begijnenvest 20
Antwerp, Belgium
+32 3 293 66 21
GSM: +32 475 48 19 16
http://www.antwerp-dreams.be/home/
Brocante-inspired B&B in the trendy Antwerp-Zuid neighborhood

Lobby
Jan van Beersstraat 51
Bolivarplaats
Antwerp, Belgium
+32 3 233 6483
www.lobbyantwerp.com
Three uniquely designed suites; restaurant serves French-Belgian food

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Here is a Google map of my favorite Antwerp hotels and B&Bs.

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