Hotel 1898 is named after the year in which Spain lost the Philippines and Cuba, which is not surprising given that it’s housed in the former headquarters of Compania General de Tabacos Filipinas. The company was founded in 1881 and still operates as a tobacco dealer out of Barcelona. I’m Filipina so I am interested in Spanish and Philippine history, which dates back to the 1500s when the Philippines became a colony. Indeed, after four centuries of Spanish rule, the Philippines is more “latin” than Asian and I feel much more at home in Spain than in Asia.

Hotel 1898 radiates elegant Old World colonial chic with its imposing grand hall and classical architechture. Thank heavens the rooms are sound-proofed (it is located on the busy La Rambla). The colonial suite has a private rooftop swimming pool where you can hang out and gaze over the city enjoying drinks at sunset. But if you are not staying in the colonial suite, you can still enjoy the hotel’s spa and indoor heated pool located in the former storage rooms of the tobacco company. There’s free Wi-Fi, fabulous Etro bath products and all the luxurious amenities you would expect from a hotel of this caliber right in the center of Barcelona.

Hotel 1898
La Rambla 109
Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 552 95 52
www.hotel1898.com
Follow on Twitter: @hotel1898

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Here’s another unique place to stay in Paris: 6 Mandel, a chambre d’hôte located in a 19th century hôtel particulier with a view of the Eiffel Tower on the avenue Georges Mandel in the 16th arrondissement. The mansion and its beautiful garden were restored by Jean-Christophe Stœrkel, who uses the building for art exhibitions and culinary classes. Many of the fabrics in the chambre d’hôte were designed by Philippe David, a well-known textile designer whose prints are based upon his own hand-painted art work (see the article about Philippe David on Shopplr). In the garden, one finds chairs by Renaud Vassas. I like 6 Mandel because it is the antithesis of staying in a hotel. You will be the only guest and have a lot of privacy, but you won’t feel isolated because 6 Mandel also functions as an art gallery.

I found a video of 6 Mandel at www.interieurs.fr (in French only). Here is an article about 6 Mandel on Toutpourlesfemmes.com (in French). The chambre d’hôte costs 270 EUR per night (they charge an additional 30 EUR for breakfast). There is Wi-Fi and TV. If you want to reserve, go to the www.6mandel.com and fill out the reservation form.

6 Mandel
Naturelei/Jean-Christophe Stoerkel
6, avenue Georges Mandel
75116 Paris
+33 1 42 27 2793
www.6mandel.com

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The Embarcadero has long been San Francisco’s culinary Bermuda Triangle: overpriced-touristy-bad food. So when Plant Organic Cafe (which I keep calling Planet Organic, after the London-based organic grocery, not affiliated with the SF restaurant) opened two weeks ago, I thought it was too good to be true. Plant Organic joins La Mar Cebicheria, Epic Roast House and Waterbar in their crusade to end the Embarcadero’s culinary drought.

I went to Plant Organic (the restaurant part) for lunch to see for myself if, finally, the locals have a lovely place to eat by the water which serves good, healthy food at reasonable prices. I was not disappointed and indeed it’s now one of my favorite places to eat in this part of town.

• Vibe: airy, simple decor, high ceilings, lots of wooden tables; at lunch, so far, mostly locals; there are tables outside by the water but eating inside is okay too because there’s a lot of light.
• Pros: very delicious healthy food – my favorites are the thin-crust pizza (specifically the mushroom-mozzarella-Parmesan pizza which is very light and savoury) and the quinoa with sauteed vegetables in a ginger-miso sauce. The grapefruit-mint juice is superb; it reminds me of limonana, which is a lemonade and mint drink served in Israel. They serve vegan dishes as well.
• Cons: service is a bit confused (but still friendly) because they just opened, so give it some time. Better get there now before it becomes a tourist trap.

Across from the restaurant is the cafe/takeaway where you can get Blue Bottle coffee, salads, sandwiches and small desserts. The restaurant is much less expensive than La Mar, Epic and Waterbar, which makes it more appealing during these tough economic times.

Plant Organic Cafe
Pier 3 The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94111
+1 415 984 1973
www.theplantcafe.com

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There are many Italian restaurants in San Francisco, but only a handful serve food that competes with what you find in a very good restaurant in Italy. So, I was thrilled to find Farina which serves Ligurian (and Italian) cuisine. I dare say it may just be the best Italian restaurant in the city. Here’s why:

• The Proscuitto San Daniele and burrata (fresh cheese made from mozzarella and cream) appetizer was excellent and it was served on a very delicious focaccino bread;
• The gnocchetti with fresh tomato sauce and olives was savoury and spicy with what seemed to be a hint of ginger;
• The testaroli with porcini mushrooms, garlic and parsley is possibly the best pasta + mushroom dish I’ve ever had in the city;
• They have a wide selection of Italian wines, especially the Barbera d’Alba which is my favorite; they have Barbarescos, too. Many restaurants in SF carry a meagre selection of Italian wines.
• They have many different kinds of grappa, again unusual for San Francisco (except for the grappa bar at the Hotel Intercontinental).
• They serve limoncello, another rarity.
• The semifreddo alle mandorle was divine – it had bits of caramel and cherry – an unbelievably delicious combination.
• The pastas were all hand-made and as they were primi piatti (first courses), the portions were as they should be for primi piatti. I did not get around to ordering the secondi or the pasta with pesto which seems to be their speciality (maybe next time, and there will be a next time because this restaurant is now in my Top 5).

Farina is located in a very large “industrial” space with high-ceilings and a lot of light, giving you the luxury of space unlike many restaurants that cram people into a tiny room. The metal tables have an “old cafe” look and feel, but everything is very modern. The service is very good.

Farina
3560 18th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
+1 415 565 0360
www.farinafoods.com
Book online with Open Table

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If you were in Barcelona ten years ago and came back for a visit, you’d never recognize the Raval district. Once populated by squatters, prostitutes and drug dealers, it’s now a trendy, up-and-coming area, and like the neighboring El Born, it is attracting designer boutiques, wine bars and expats buying expensive apartments.

But because El Raval had always been the home of  Barcelona’s “alternative scene”, it still retains a gritty, bohemian character. So I’m not surprised to find a new 186-room design hotel called Hotel Barcelo Raval in the neighborhood that locals and visitors once shunned.

The location is perfect: it is on a beautiful tree-lined street and is within walking distance from El Born, which has a lot of good restaurants, tapas bars and wine bars, especially around the Plaza Santa Maria del Mar. The hotel is close to the Plaza Catalunya and the Boqueria market (which one must not miss). They have a swimming pool and bar on the roof, so if you don’t feel like hanging out on the beach (which is only 20 minutes away), you can sip cocktails and take a plunge while enjoying a 360-degree view of the city.

Hotel Barcelo Raval
Rambla del Raval, 17
Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 320 1491
www.barceloraval.com

Check out our Google map of Barcelona hotels and the map of our favorite Barcelona restaurants.

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