InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

Although the Swedish capital of Stockholm is a fairly small city, its cultural activities abound. The Old Town, Gamla Stan, is roughly 750 years old and full of historic sites and museums. The newer section of the city, Södermalm, is full of youthful vigor and nightlife extraordinaire. Here are some Stockholm activities that are sure not to be missed.

Skansen
Founded in 1891, Skansen is a park-like open air museum featuring life in Sweden across the ages. You’ll find live folk dances and music, period costumes, zoos, and original 18th century farm houses.

Centralbadet
Health clubs and spas have always been popular in Scandinavia, and Stockholm is home to one of the best. Centralbadet, a relaxing haven for over 100 years, provides spa treatments, swimming pools, saunas, yoga sessions, and gym equipment. Spend an hour or spend a day!

Sosta
Enjoy a quick mid-day fika, or coffee break, at Sosta. An Italian-style espresso bar, Sosta is a great place to pick up a pastry and a quick pick-me-up in traditional Swedish fashion.

F12 Restaurant
A meal at F12 is an experience all unto itself. Chefs Paul Svensson and Danyel Couet are the masterminds behind a menu that quite literally mixes the old with the new. Mix and match your own meal by choosing from two separate menus: Tradition and Innovation.

When travelling, sometimes it is fun to book a tour bus and see all the usual sights. But what about the more hard-to-find things that make a city unique, or even odd? Here is a bit of our favourite kitsch in Budapest:

Golden Eagle Pharmacy Museum
See how alchemists and pharmacists worked in bygone eras. Housed in Budapest’s first pharmacy, this museum features fascinating bottles and equipment that date back to the Renaissance.

Cave Tours
Although Turkey is famous for its thermal baths, many travellers forget about the caves these waters have formed. You’ll find fascinating formations and colors, and a breathtaking view of nature in its glory.

Cotton Club
The Roaring Twenties are alive and well at the Cotton Club. The sultry ambiance, extensive liquor list, delicious menu, and rousing stage revues are not to be missed.

Although many of Athen’s restaurateurs speak very good English, you’ll find a more authentic dining experience if you know the ingredients of a dish and can order in Greek. Here’s the scoop in some local fare:

Tzatziki is a delicious spread comprised of yogurt, cucumber and garlic, and salt.

Try Tiro Salata and you’ll find a flavourful, fresh, and sometimes spicy cheese salad.

Psito is a famed Greek lamb dishes: roasted leg which is generally served with potatoes.

For a great pork dish, have a taste of Kontosouvli, which is choice cuts roasted rotisserie-style.

Midia is fresh mussels steamed in white wine and generally served with lemon.

Rega is not to be missed, but is an acquired taste: strong smoked herring drenched in olive oil.

Film festival aside, Cannes is a little city with a big heart and big excitement. Whether it’s the beach, a dining or shopping getaway, or a romantic weekend, Cannes is a sampling of European charm. Here are a few great things to do:

Dinner at Au Bec Fin
This casual yet delicious cuisine is Provence done the old fashioned way. The portions are generous and hearty and the atmosphere is quaint. Make sure to make a reservation!

Sand and Sun
Rent an umbrella or cabana and enjoy the French Riviera’s sunbathing.

Watersport
Tired of lounging? Take some time off the beach and in the water. Your concierge can arrange a waterskiing, scuba diving, or parasailing excursion.

Shopping at La Croisette
This shopping district is not only a beautiful coastal stroll, but a great place to pick up your favourite designer items, like Coco Chanel. For a more unique experience, stop in a few of the local boutiques.

Adventure
For the more intrepid traveller, try one of Cannes gliding fields. You’ll see some of the most fantastic views of the Alps, urban areas, and the coast.

Dinner, drinks, or theatre? It’s normally a difficult decision, but in Chicago you can do them all and still be in by midnight. Here’s how:

Adesso
Grab an early and sustaining evening meal at the delicious Adesso. This charming eatery features down-home Italian fare, with everything from polenta dishes to pastas, and their fresh-off-the-grill steaks and poultry. Word to the wise: their brunch is stunning also.

Court Theatre
Chicago’s Court Theatre has a full season ahead of them, so there will be much to choose from in the coming months. Their shows generally start at about 7:30 pm, so make sure you get your tickets early.

When in Hamburg, you must try some of the authentic German fare. Many of the restaurants that dot the city are historic, having been open and in service since the 1700s.
Here are a few that are not to miss, from the traditional and trusted to the eclectic and odd.

Deichgraf
This cosy restaurant is situated on the harbour in a former warehouse from the 17th-century. It’s well-known for its relaxed atmosphere, its quick lunches, and candlelit dinners. Make sure to reserve a table by the window with views over the harbour and canal and enjoy the spectacular view.

Groeninger Brauhaus
There’s probably nowhere else in the world where you can have your own barrel of beer on your dining table. In addition, they feature wonderful traditional meals and an expansive buffet. Check out their translated page here.

Old Commercial Room
Known since 1795 as ‘the home of the sailors’. It serves genuine north German cuisine, including their famous “labskaus” (a north German speciality of corned beef, potatoes, herring, onion and beetroot) served at the captain’s table.

They also feature great music from the 1960s and 1970s. The owner has a collection of over half a million records.

Dialog im Dunkeln
This may be the most unusual restaurant in the world. For the adventurous diner, Dialog im Dunkeln’s blind staff provides guests with guided tour through dark rooms ending at the bar in total darkness, treating them to a surprise four course dinner.

InterContinental ANA Tokyo’s Chief Concierge, Shinobu Momoi, shows us the wonder that is her hometown.

Each couple has their own unique way of celebrating their new life together, and for good reason, many choose a relaxing trip to the beach. The Tahitian island of Bora Bora is one of our favourites, with its miles of sugar sand, turquoise waters and delicious dining options. Here are a few things to do:

A Day at the Spa
Without ever leaving the hotel, be rid of the jetlag and the hubub of the “big day” with a relaxing treatment at our own Thalasso Spa.

A Picnic on the Beach
Simple? Yes. Romantic? Of course. Your concierge can point you in the direction of a tasty light lunch to take with. Don’t forget a blanket and a bottle of wine.

Scuba Diving
Enjoy the sights from below the surface. Bora Bora is home to a myriad of tropical underwater creatures. For the more fearless lot, a shark dive is fascinating.

Dinner at La Villa Mahana
Delicious French cuisine with a twist of Polynesia. This tiny gourmet spot is a wonderful place for a romantic, intimate dinner and a glass of celebratory champagne.

The restaurants of Guadalajara show an amazing amount of variety when it comes to traditional Mexican cooking. Here are a few of our favourite stops:

Adobe
Set in the quaint Tlaquepaque area of Guadalajara, Adobe features exceptionaly good Mexican cuisine prepared by a well-known chef. Our favourite menu item is the mole: a cross between salsa and gravy made from chocolate, various peppers and spices, then poured over chicken. In addition to the restaurant itself, the surrounding neighbourhood is extremely pedestrian friendly and showcases a number of wonderful boutiques and galleries.

Fonda San Miguel
This colonial-style restaurant is located in a beautifully renovated former Carmelite convent. In addition to delicious eats like warm, homemade bread, the building houses shops and boutiques selling fine handicrafts. Be sure to bring a camera and to ask the manager for a tour. The architectural sights are not to be missed.

Karne Garibaldi
Karne Garibaldi is not only recommended but awarded they are the Guinness World Record winners for the fastest service of Mexican food. Put them to the test, but be prepared to be served immediately, if not sooner.

Prague’s restaurants are known for their abilities in not only down-home Czech fare, but also international cuisines. Here are a few of our favourites:

Kampa Park
Situated in a converted antique boat house on Kampa Island near the Charles Bridge, Kampa Park is an elegant and stylish restaurant with excellent international cuisine, Czech specialties and very good seafood. The guests can dine alongside the river on a heated, covered terrace.

Kolkovna
A combined restaurant and Pilsner Urquell pub located in a former postage stamp printing premises in the Jewish Quarter. Kolkovna is a relaxed, no frills atmosphere perfect for a casual night out. They also feature al fresco dining in good weather.

Mlynec
Mlynec is the first restaurant to get the Michelin Bibendum award not once, but twice. Guests are seated alongside the Charles Bridge and Gateway Tower and are treated to an array of International cuisines, fish and Czech specialities. The summer terrace allows sweeping views of the river and Charles Bridge.