Tag Archives: good value for money

Dec 16 2011
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Europe, Italy, Milan

D Magazine Outlet

Everyone knows bargain hunting can be very rewarding. Especially in an expensive city such as Milan, great deals on high-end brands will make your trip worthwhile. D Magazine Outlet has three stores, two of which are located within Milan’s Golden Triangle and one a little further away on Via Forcella. If you have time and don’t mind going out of your way, try the latter. This store appears to have the best items and is relatively quiet and well-organized. All stores have racks that are labeled by designer so you can save time by skipping the ones you don’t like or just sprint towards your favorite one right away. Designers include – but are definitely not limited to – Galliano, Prada, Gucci, Burberry, Helmut Lang…and prices are usually around 50% off. How can we resist?! Be aware: outlet shopping requires a great deal of patience and perseverance. But, wouldn’t a pair of Lanvin peep toe shoes marked down to $250 make up for that?

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Dec 08 2011
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Europe, Italy, Rome

La Gelateria Frigidarium

Ice cream lovers, seek no further! Everyone knows Italian ice cream is the best in the world so when in Rome…do as the Romans do. The Romans’ favorite place to get their gelato is by far La Gelateria Frigidarium, a little place close to Piazza Navona. The choices are endless, the prices are reasonable and the ice cream is just to-die-for. What about fondante dark chocolate, creamy pistachio or their specialty Bacio, meaning “kiss”? Expect to stand in line around certain times but that just makes the whole experience so much better. (What is it about standing in line that makes us want it even more??)

  

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Dec 07 2011
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Europe, Italy, Umbria (region)

Il Tempio del Gusto

Located in the heart of Italy’s Umbria region, Spoleto is often chosen as a base to explore the area. It’s a charming, quiet little city located on a hill’s slide with its own ancient Roman acquaduct. But most of all…Spoleto houses one of Umbria’s best restaurants, Il Tempio del Gusto. This family owned restaurant is small and intimate inside but also offers outdoor seating. As Umbria is known for its mushrooms, black truffles and wild game, many of the dishes at Il Tempio del Gusto contain just that. Pair it with a glass of local Sagrantino wine to fully embrace the Umbrian experience. Owner Eros Patrizi is a passionate chef and carefully prepares the tasty and beautifully presented dishes while his wife Manuella cares for her guests in the most attentive way. An evening at Il Tempio del Gusto feels warm, welcoming and will prove to be the ultimate gastronomic experience at a reasonable price. Reservations are advisable, especially during weekends and/or in summertime. Do you want to take some Il Tempio home with you? They also offer classes from the Master himself.

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Dec 05 2011
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New York, North America, United States

Perry St

New York’s far West Village has been rapidly changing for the past decade – famous architects are bringing luxury residential buildings to this neighbourhood along the Hudson River. Culinary guru Jean-Georges Vongerichten chose the right moment in 2005 to open up a sleek restaurant in one of the modern glass buildings overlooking the river. Perry St draws both its upscale “neighbours” from the surrounding buildings and food lovers willing to take the cab ride down to this westernmost fringe of the West Village. Perry St has a serene and elegant atmosphere and it’s one of the few restaurants in NYC where you can actually have a quiet conversation. It’s classy and upscale, but not stuffy. The interior is cool, with soft whites and modern, simplistic furniture. The New American food is absolutely delicious (as we expected…) but prices are reasonable (surprise!). Check out the website for any special deals they might have, such as the current Autumn promotion: a prix fixe dinner menu for $38. Perry St is the ultimate place to impress your date, out-of-towners, or anyone else you wish to share the Hudson views with while enjoying quality food. Make a reservation now.

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Dec 01 2011
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Europe, Madrid, Spain

Naia Bistro

Naia is an enjoyable bistro that is highly recommended by locals but fortunately not (yet) overly mentioned in tourist guides. It’s located on a charming cobblestone square in the Latin Quarter of Madrid. The outside terrace is very inviting and most groups tend to linger until late in the evening. Inside seating is just as delightful, with wooden floorboards and mismatched chairs to create a cosy, rustic ambiance. The menu boasts wonderful Mediterranean dishes such as foie shavings with Ruby port reduction, red tuna tartare with avocado ceviche and monkfish over truffle and egg risotto. Portions are generous and the food is presented beautifully – definitely not what you would expect for main courses that are all under € 20! These people definitely know their foods, which might explain the periodic table of food on the window… Make a reservation to avoid disappointment. You don’t want to miss out on that Cheesecake de “Oreo” now, do you?

  

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Nov 18 2011
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Asia, Bangkok, England, Europe, France, London, Moscow, New York, North America, Paris, Russia, Thailand, United States

UNIQLO

The Japanese textile company UNIQLO is quickly becoming New York’s hottest retailer. Be sure to pay a visit to the brand’s flagship store in Soho to stock up on your favorite basics. Every (basic) garment you could possibly need can be found here and they are all made from the most huggable fabrics such as cashmere and merino wool. The best part is that it’s SO cheap that you can’t leave the store without at least one item. You can get a basic V-neck cashmere sweater for as little as $89,50 or a longsleeve natural skin T-shirt for only $12,90. With all those neat piles of colorful and touchable items, you’ll feel like a kid in a candy store! The good thing is that you don’t necessarily have to make the trip to one of the 3 New York stores since UNIQLO is also coloring the streets of London, Paris, Moscow as well as many Asian countries.

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Nov 16 2011
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Barcelona, Europe, Spain

La Fonda

The expression worth waiting for definitely applies to this Barcelona classic! Since La Fonda does not accept reservations you are most likely joining the queue outside in order to get a table. For years this has been a popular place amongst locals for its cheap and tasty dishes, elegant interior and pleasant atmosphere. Even though La Fonda is located in the touristic Gothic Quarter and carries English menus, this place is far from touristy. Their specialty is Paella Mixta but all other Catalan classics they serve – all under ten euros – are worth trying too. Whether it’s because you get your money’s worth or the fact that you’re thrilled to finally get a table – an evening at La Fonda always turns out to be a success. To improve your chances, avoid the busiest times (between 9:00 and 10:00PM) to cut your waiting time.

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Nov 06 2011
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Europe, Italy, Milan

QC Terme Milano

OK, going to a spa might not be the first thing on your list when visiting Milan. At QC Terme Milano however, you will feel like a Roman goddess (or god for that matter) in this beautiful building surrounded by 16th-century walls. So you can actually consider this a cultural outing. Besides the large number of pools, jacuzzis, saunas and steam rooms, Terme Milano has a beautiful Spanish garden with hydroactive mineral baths. Between massages and dips in the pool, there are tempting buffets of fresh fruit, cheeses and juices to keep you going. This is not the most fashionable or trendy spa in town but the great location combined with friendly rates makes this a top choice. Instead of spending an entire day plunging, scrubbing and relaxing in the spa, you can also opt for a quick massage after a hard day of…well, shopping.

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Nov 04 2011
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Barcelona, Europe, Spain

Bar Cañete

Bar Cañete is the perfect escape from all Rambla tourist traps. After shaking off all persistent – if not aggressive – restaurant owners you quickly flee into this quiet little street to discover tradional dishes in a great old-school decor. Most seating is directly at the bar, which forms the heart of the very long and very narrow restaurant. The lack of tourists just makes everything so much better. High quality food, the friendliest staff of all Barcelona and a perfectly organized chaos. Although at the bar you’re not able to look directly at the rest of your party, there are so many other details that catch your gaze. All dishes are tapas size and are prepared right in front of you where you have a full view of the kitchen. Their specialty is (shell)fish but the few meat dishes they serve are mouth-watering too. No wonder this place has become one of the most popular Barcelona restaurants in such a short time!


 


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