InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

If you’re travelling to Athens and want to stray a bit off the tourist path, catch a “hydrofoil” ferry over to Aegina Island. In less than an hour’s boat ride, you’ll experience local life, sample the local Mediterranean fare, stumble unto ancient ruins, and of course, hit the beach.

Afea Athena Sanctuary
See the ancient sights and avoid the crowds by heading over to the Afea Athena Sanctuary.

Sandy Beaches
Walk in any direction on Aegina, you’re bound to find white sand and crystal-blue waters lined with eucalyptus trees. The stretches of beach that are most popular with visitors to the island are Aiginitissa, Marathonas, and Sarpa.

Restaurants
For such a small island, the array of restaurants is astonishing. Stop by Kiriakakis for some fresh-caught fish, crisp salads, and the perfect view of the Saronic Gulf. Don’t forget to enjoy dinner late, just as the locals do.

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.

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.

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.

If you visit Madrid for no other reason, come for the food! With options from international cuisines to traditional Castillian and Catalán restaurants, it’s a foodie’s dream. Here are a few of our favorites.

Casa Ciriaco
As the city’s most traditional restaurant, Casa Ciriaco serves typical Madrid cuisine the way grandmother would do it. It’s very much a local place but also a favourite with many of Spain’s intellectuals, royalty, painters and bullfighters. If you feel adventurous, try the tripe. It’s delicious!

Annapurna
This is considered to be the best Indian restaurant in Madrid. They offer 27 different types of curry, and their meatball dish with vegetables and cheese are outstanding. Reservations are highly recommended.

Botá­n
Located in the heart of old Madrid this is the oldest restaurant in the world, dating from 1725. Goya worked here and Hemingway wrote about it. Lovely food, incredible history, great atmosphere.

Cochinillo Asado, (roast suckling pig), is the signature dish. It’s extremely popular with both tourists and locals so book ahead.

Anybody find the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building, but the real New York is in the details. One of those details is the burgeoning neighbourhood of the Lower East Side. Originally an immigrant landing, the area still keeps the charm of its Latino and Asian roots. Until seven o’clock, after which it turns into a nightlife hotspot extraordinaire. Here are a few of the not-to-be-missed insider tidbits in New York’s Lower East Side.

Economy Candy
Stop by this old-fashioned, one-of-a-kind candy store to pick up a bag or bar of your old favourites, including wax lips, Razzles, Squirrel Nut Zippers and more. For those with less of a sweet tooth, their barreled selection of nuts and dried fruits is also astounding.

Dear:55
Dear:55 is a modern twist on the “same old, same old” vintage store. By mixing the old, like classic Vivienne Westwood, with the current, like Comme de Garçon, they’ve given the Lower East Side something chic to be proud of.

Tompkins Square Park
This park is technically located in the East Village, but it’s accessible to the Lower East Side by way of a few minute’s stroll. On Sundays during the fall, grab a hot apple cider from the farmer’s market and enjoy the changing of the leaves.

El Cibao
Located on the corner of Clinton and Rivington, this Latino-American restaurant is so local they don’t have a website. Featuring all of the Dominican traditions, like meats cooked a myriad of ways, soups, and grilled sandwiches. Ask for bistec con pimientos, arroz amarillo, frijoles y maduros. Or, pepper steak with yellow rice, beans and fried bananas. Either way you say it, they’ll serve it up.

Suba
Out of this world tapas, a wine list that is honestly amazing, and an atmosphere to compliment both. Now, top it off with some great service and you have yourself a night to remember. For a special treat, try the garlic watercress.

Istanbul has an interesting way of dealing with modernity. Being an ancient capital of the world there is a regal beauty in the architecture and monuments. On the other hand, having become an independent republic less than 100 years ago, it is a very young nation.

Because of this, most of Istanbul’s traditions pre-date the country itself. Here are a few tips on how to enjoy these traditions.

Food
The food is delicious though not varied. You’ll find a diet composed of mainly tomatoes, peppers and rice, seafood, chicken and lamb. The best way to try the local cuisine is to stay out of the more touristy, yet beautiful, Sultanahmet district and try a few of the eateries near the Galata Bridge.

Shopping
The Grand Bazaar is a must. It is bazaar-style shopping, so the vendors tend to carry a lot of the same merchandise. You’ll find spices, jewelry, pottery, carpet shops and the like. Don’t be afraid to haggle!

People
The people are extraordinarily friendly. They will go out of their way to help you. As most places, there are those who prey on tourist’s dollars. But as you stray further from the tourist attractions, the less you’ll find this happens.

InterContinental Boston’s Chief Conceirge, Marc Simoneau, shows us the sights in his favorite city.