Spots
Because good music is also good life. Here is a non-exhaustive inventory of my tips from the four corners of the world: where to eat, sleep, dig, chill or just wander…
Paris18
Eat
- Freddy’s: Because you’re never disappointed and the value for money is exceptional (go as a two or three at most: you eat at the counter). →
- Brasserie L’Européen: Because we’re fans of pure Art Deco brasseries. →
- Chez Omar: A great couscous in a brasserie setting, right in the Marais. →
- L’Avant Comptoir de la Mer: Because Éric is always there. →
- Bouillon République: Because sometimes it’s nice not to lose a kidney when you go out for dinner. →
- La Taverne de Zhao: This one, but also all the others in Paris. A bib is mandatory for the biang biang noodles. →
- Higuma: Because it’s a classic and the Miso Set is unbeatable. →
- Hokkaido Ramen: Excellent ramen. →
- Urfa Durum: The best Kurdish sandwiches in the neighbourhood. →
- L’Esquisse: A lovely neighbourhood bistro with a great selection of natural wine bottles. →
- Soma Sando: Delicious sando and perfect service. →
- Le Verre Volé: For the sausage and mash. →
Listen
Dig
- Betino’s Record Shop: Betino is probably the most charming record dealer I’ve ever met: always listening, never jaded, never condescending. A role model. →
- Heart Beat Vinyl: Melik is probably the Parisian record dealer with the rarest records, and therefore the most expensive… →
- Superfly: There’s always something to find at Superfly, even though we miss Manu a lot. →
Perpignan10
Eat
- Baston: The undethroned, undethronable canteen. Just perfect. →
- Mamenakane: For Japanese perfection built around the local terroir, on and off the plate. →
- Lady Jaja: Small plates and good bottles. →
- Manat: Nothing to add: una combinación perfecta! →
- Le Mas Chabry: For the garden and the grills. →
- Yegg: Because sometimes (not often) you eat with your fingers. →
- Restaurant Jean: Simple, efficient, consistent. →
- Tokyo Menya: For ramen cravings. →
- La Mangeoire: For the sweetbreads. →
- L’Émile: The quality of simplicity and authenticity. →
Ibiza14
Eat
- Can Gourmet: The best sandwich in town. →
- Flotante: The place for a morning bikini (the Spanish toasted ham and cheese). →
- Can Vicent per Pedro i Mari: At Cala Carbó: the best bullit de peix on the island. →
- Galicatessen: A direct line to Galicia: the best pulpo a la gallega ever. →
- Chidas: For the tacos and the mezcal cocktails. →
- Casa Lhasa: The best natural wine restaurant on the island. →
- Rebrots: Top spot in Portinatx, excellent value for money. →
- El Zaguán: First discovered in 1991, and nothing has changed: tapas de toda la vida. →
- Chiringuito Cala Xuclar: Our favourite chiringuito. →
- Can Limo: The best ceviche on the island. →
Drink
Dance
Barcelona23
Eat
- Bar Cañete: A must. Two people max and the counter is compulsory, just like the squid sandwich and the gambas con mollejas. →
- Taktika Berri: Impeccable Basque cooking and super dry service: it has its charm. →
- Envalira: As unlovely in the decor as it is stunning on the plate: the best arroz in Barcelona. →
- Guzzo: For a proper dinner with music. →
- Els Pescadors: In summer, on the terrace, with any fish. →
- Napoli Centrale: Zero decor, it’s all in the pizza. →
- Señora Dolores: We love the whole menu, but if only one dish were left it would be the warm mojama with potato aioli. Exceptional. →
- Trikini: The bikini sandwich in all its forms, fire cocktails and a deliciously kitsch decor. Perfect. →
- Cervecería Catalana: The quality of tradition. →
- Bar Celta Pulpería: When you crave pulpo a la gallega. →
- Robata: Very good Japanese and quality cocktails. →
- Gresca: Chic tapas. →
- Bar del Pla: When you’re hanging around the Born and in a less snobby mood than Bar Brutal. →
Go out
- Oblicuo Hi-Fi Bar: Very good sound system, futuristic decor, quality DJs, a crowd that doesn’t much care. →
- Two Schmucks: Very good cocktails and a top old-school hip hop playlist. →
- Bobby Gin: Because the perfect gin tonic doesn’t exist. →
- Lascar 74: Exclusively for the Sunday pisco disco, with ceviche and pisco sour. A must. →
- La Paloma: Because the room is crazy, and so is the company that handles security. →
- Curtis Audiophile: For the welcome and the warm crowd. →
- La Marula: Because there should be more clubs like this. →
Vienna6
Eat
- Albert: Perfect. Mario Bernatovic is a wonderful host, on the plate and at the party. →
- Gasthaus Wolf: Traditional cooking, neighbourhood-bistro style, for regulars. →
- Skopik & Lohn: A classic brasserie with a disarming ceiling. →
- Kojiro Sushi: Best sushi in town. →
- Kiang Dine and Wine: Tapas, worldwide style. →
- Kikko Bā: The izakaya, Viennese style. →
Cadaqués7
Eat
Marseille4
Go out
- Yuzu: The perfect combo of a very good bistro table to share and an audiophile bar powered by Palladium Audio. A very good line-up. →
- Platine Café Disquaire: Thibault works wonders in the kitchen with twisted classics, surrounded by a lovely selection of records and a very pleasant sound system. →
- Les Lumières: A lovely selection of plates to share with pretty natural wine bottles, in slow-life mode. →
Sète6
Eat
- Brasserie Bar Tabac du Quai d’Orient: For the dish of the day: book ahead. →
- Paris Méditerranée: For the squid and soubressade risotto. →
- Les Demoiselles Dupuy: For the spot, the plate, and because we always hope to bump into Lady Bee. →
- L’Ananas: For the wonderful rougail saucisse. →
- Brasserie La Ressource: For the skewers in the evening. →
London14
Eat
Go out
- The Haggerston: Because the jazz jam sessions are legendary, and the bar is a very welcoming place to rest. →
- Total Refreshment Centre: A fierce defender of jazz that makes you dance. →
- Club Makossa: A properly sweaty club. →
- Jazz Café: Legendary, with perfect programming. →
- Spiritland: For the sound system and the quality of the programming. →
Lisbon14
Eat
Listen
Berlin9
Eat
- La Bolognina: Because the pasta is to die for, and the boss is an excellent DJ! →
- Zola: For the pizzas and the canteen vibe. →
- Ming Dynastie: For the cooking, the choice and the rotating trays. →
- Life Berlin: Because the ramen is delicious. →
- Zur letzten Instanz: To eat the local cooking. →
- Louis Café Restaurant: For the Austrian decor and, naturally, a top Wiener schnitzel. →
Split4
Pont de Molins1
La Clusaz2
Champéry1
Annecy1
Istanbul2
Palma de Mallorca5
Eat
- La Rosa Vermuteria: An incredible selection of 100% homemade tapas, sublime croquetas, a top-class chuletón. Flawless. →
- La Rosa Catalina Vermuteria: The little sister of La Rosa Vermuteria, with the same menu and, optionally, DJ sets by Nacho Velasco. →
- Mercat Tramuntana: A very good address for lunch, a pretty terrace, fresh produce. →
- Little Jarana: A natural wine bar with tapas to share. →
- La Vieja: A no-fuss Michelin-starred restaurant that reinvents Mallorcan cuisine. →
Gruissan2
Eat
- La Cranquette: Julien Privat is a genius: he can do everything in the kitchen, even cocktails made in an ice-cream machine. The wild clams sautéed in sumac butter are to die for. And on top of that, he pours well… →
- Le Café Raisin: A café for grazing from morning to night, a smiling welcome, a pétanque court, a lovely music selection. Spot on. →
Corrençon-en-Vercors1
Costa Brava1
Montenegro9
Eat
- Grill Basta ParmaBudva: For orgies of grilled meat. →
- Konoba PortunBudva: For the checkered tablecloths and the gambas. →
- L&MBudva: The cheapest gamba risotto in the world. →
- Cap-Cap 2 BakeryBudva: For the late-night burek (yoghurt is mandatory!). →
- MiskoBojana: Because we have rarely eaten fish this good, and the spot is insane. →
- Restaurant ContePerast: To feel like James Bond (don’t forget to bring your Bond girl). →