It offers Italians a time to relax and have a little nibble while waiting for the traditional dinner time of 9:00.  For the tourist, it offers a great way to tide over hunger while waiting for local restaurants to open, which normally is not until at least 7:00.  Aperitivo also gives someone who is inexperienced in Italian food a great opportunity to try a large array of different appetizer and side dish type foods without actually committing to ordering a whole dish.

KITSCH (1 and 2)

Kitsch is an outstanding destination for aperitivo, so popular they opened a second location on the other side of Florence. Now, as long as you are in the northern part of the city center, you are within 15 minutes walking distance from Kitsch.  The décor is exactly as you would imagine with having such a name.  These are places made for relaxed fun and good food.  The list of specialty cocktails is astounding and the juices are squeezed fresh in season, with a strawberry frappe that makes any margarita or daiquiri an instant dessert.

FUSION BAR

This is the place to see and be seen after work be the beautiful people of Florence.  The prices on cocktails for aperitivo average 12-14 Euro and rather than elbowing your way through a crowded buffet line your cocktail server or bartender will replenish your plate throughout the evening with artfully created and delicious hors d’oeuvres.  The secluded location, tucked within the Lungarno Suites hotel, combined with an ample patio for the summer and proximity to the absolute center of the city make it a perfect way to end a day and begin an evening.

SEI DIVINO

The name is a bit of a play on words, and it is both divine and overflowing with wine.  The selection of wines here is extensive compared to most,  the cocktails here should be passed up for wine that any of the owners or bartenders are more than happy to talk about, the cocktail servers in general have a more limited knowledge.  The food for aperitivo has theme nights at the beginning of the week and is solidly Tuscan Thursdays through Saturdays.  The pasta dishes and rice dishes on these nights are not to be missed.  Rotating art displays complement the atmosphere and are unusually good, which makes sitting back with a big, proper piece of stemware for sipping on that Super Tuscan all that much more pleasurable.

NOIR

The name belies the location, but is fitting for the décor.  Situated on the northern side of the River Arno with full sun exposure, the mood is anything but black.  With fairly ample seating indoors for those that arrive early, a limited number of outdoor tables and “table” for dozens comprised of the wall along the river, this is one busy location. The food is typically Tuscan all week and is refreshed continuously throughout the evening.  Cocktails over wine is definitely the right choice to make here and the crowd is lively, animated and young.

SLOWLY

In the heart of the city center, only five minutes walking from the Uffizi or the Duomo, lies Slowly.  Which aptly describes the manner in which the food is prepared, slowly and seemingly with great love.  The advantage of being open for lunch as well shows in the food, the sauces that are slow simmered and meats that have been braised for hours reward the post work Florentines that patronize this “oh so near all things shopping” location.

INDIAN

Banjara – 6th St, 1st Ave.

This sumptuously decorated restaurant in the East Village’s Curry Row might well have its reputation tarnished by its neighbors – the area’s known for cheap, mediocre Indian cuisine. But despite its low prices, Banjara’s romantic setting and phenomenal food make it one of the best Indian restaurants in the city, and one of the best bargains overall.

Tamarind, 92nd St, 3rd Ave

Located bizarrely in Yorkville, a random destination for an Indian restaurant, this kitschy-classy restaurant, decorated in vibrant turquoises and oranges, offers Upper East Siders an oasis of exoticism in the middle of an otherwise unexciting neighborhood. The food is great, the prices reasonable, and the fig ice cream worth a trip in and of itself.

MOROCCAN

Cafe Mogador, St. Mark’s Place between 1st and 2nd

This Moroccan cafe in the heart of the East Village has a hip clientele of brunching twenty-somethings, newlyweds, and a generally up-and-coming crowd. The food – especially the tagines – is savory and sweet enough to merit hours spent in the hipster-harem-decorated room, sipping glass after glass of mint tea.

BARBES, 36th St. between 5th and Madison

A higher-end Moroccan place, this midtown restaurant is spacious, elegant, and slightly “chill-out” cool, appealing to trendy and well-heeled businesspeople for lunch or dinner. With a more consciously French colonial influence than Mogador, Barbes’s fusion of pate and tagine on the menu betrays a sophisticated attempt to experiment with cross-cultural and colonial palates.

VIETNAMESE

LE COLONIAL, 57th St Between Lexington and 3rd

Politically correct it may not be, but this French-Vietnamese restaurant is nevertheless a marriage of tastes out of Marguerite Duras. Le Colonial attempts to recapture the romance of “Indochine,” and its evocative cuisine and 1920’s-inspired decor nevertheless provide a perfect night out in this idealized oasis of history.

By Tara Isabella Burton

1) Pier Luigi, Piazza dei Ricci
Although curious tourists now frequently flock to this upscale classic, located on a scene pedestrianized piazza near the Campo dei Fiori area, the local clientele – Rome’s greats from actors to diplomats to Italian government officials – remains loyal, and with good reason. The food is phenomenal, made all the better for its simplicity: rather than meaningless “innovation,” the pastas, seafood, and meats here are allowed to taste of their natural flavor. When that flavor comes from fresh Italian produce, the results are splendid. The staff is especially friendly, and quick to recognize a regular.

2) Settimio’s, Via dell’Arancia
This trendy restaurant near Piazza del Popolo and the Corso is known for its influential businessmen and fashionable glitterati who dine here at lunch and dinner alike. The food is slightly more creative than at Pier Luigi, but still retains a sense of being “proper” Italian food, rather than over-innovative “fusion” cuisine. Ideal for people-watching.

3) Scarpone, Via di San Pancrazio
Less expensive than the first two, Scarpone is located in the charming, leafy residential area of Monteverde Vecchio. Sporting a spacious indoor room and a lovely, large garden, Scarpone is an ideal family restaurant, with delicious food (try the risottos!) that is refreshingly unfussed. The antipasti bar is also legendary, with an enormous selection of cold goodies that can serve as an appetizer or, for those who can’t resist their pleasures, a main meal.

4) Trattoria La Moretta, Vicolo della Moretta
Simple and inexpensive, this charming checkered-tablecloth establishment near the Tiber River – with a lovely outdoor seating area onto the quiet piazzetta – is an ideal spot for a tranquil lunch. The fettuccini with porcini mushrooms is amazing, but the place’s real star is the enormous risotti ai crema di scampi. Be warned: their bread basket of warm, fresh-baked flatbread, might just fill you up before the meal.

5) Perilli, Via Mamorata
If you’re a brave eater, willing to try Roman specialties (which involve, shall we say, the less common parts of animals), come to this Testaccio staple. Anywhere in the Testaccio neighborhood has excellent traditional romanesco fare, but Perilli is famous for its osso bucco, tripa alla romana, and other organ-meat dishes.

By Tara Isabella Burton

1) Le Fille de L’O, off Quai St. Michel
It should be touristy – a restaurant on a boat overlooking Notre Dame cathedral, but somehow the clientele remains predominantly French, and the quality consistently local. Fresh fish – the “fantasie de saumon appetizer in particular is highly recommended” – and exciting side dishes (ie, black rice) abound here, but nothing makes this restaurant as special as the view: the boat is an oasis of calm overlooking the cathedral and river. Best of all, it’s not particularly expensive, either.

2) La Buvette des Marionettes, the Luxembourg Gardens
This inexpensive mostly outdoor cafe benefits from some of the best scenery in all Paris – the elegantly colorful Luxembourg Gardens.  But the vistas are rivaled by the crepes – the delicious “Simple” – with ham and egg or cheese- and decadent “Complete” – all three! -are staples of a good Parisian diet. Order a bottle of rose and spend the day in this idyllic spot.

3) Le Basilic, Rue des Abbesses
This restaurant, located at the corner of Rue Lepic and Rue des Abbesses in Montmartre, puts the neighborhood’s tourist traps to shame. Decorated in the style of an old rural inn, with hearty food to match (and a specialty in seafood), Le Basilic isn’t as cheap as its country counterparts, but it’s well worth the price.

4) A Picnic, the Seine
For an inexpensive option worth ten times its price, stop at the traiteur (takeout place) on Rue Buci in the 6th arrondissement and purchase one of their succulent roast chickens. Abandon restaurants altogether and head down to the riverbank for a finger-licking, bone-gnawing picnic.

5) Allard, Rue des St. Andre des Arts
Extraordinary traditional French cooking in the picturesque 6th arrondissement – Allard may not be cheap, but it is decidedly special. The prix-fixe menus for lunch or dinner manage things somewhat, and with a succulent array of meats, vegetables, and desserts to choose from, this is a place for a lengthy and relaxed family meal.

By Tara Isabella Burton

1) The Grand Cafe
Love it or hate it, this opulent expression of Art Deco finery on the High Street is Oxford’s most visible outlet for extravagance. Its cocktails are excellent – if pricey (a 7-11 happy hour brings down the price to 3.75 GBP for most cocktails), and although the popularity of the place does mean that there’s a bit of a wait for drinks and seats later on in the week or evening, it’s well worth a stop on the cocktail-bar-crawl.

Photo by flickr's manray3

2) Raoul’s
The widest selection of cocktails in Oxford, averaging 5-6 pounds each, Raoul’s cocktail menu combines Oxford classics with inventive takes on every drink you can imagine. The posh, black, minimalist interior – spread out over three evenly crowded floors – and unobtrusive chillout beats all combine to make this Oxford’s poshest cocktail venue. Located on Walton Street, in the upscale neighborhood of Jericho.

Photo by flickr's nibblepig

3) The Duke of Cambridge
Sleek and elegant without being as cold or self-consciously modern as Raoul’s, this Little Clarendon Street staple has a happy hour designed to show off the newest and best in Oxford fashion on Oxford’s most beautiful and willing models. The drinks, however, are the real star here – inventive without being too out there. The limoncello take on an elderflower collins is highly recommended.

4) Kazbar OR Cafe Coco
Located on the generally more bohemian Cowley Road, these two establishments across the street from each other would be better suited for Jericho. Both owned by the owner of the Grand Cafe, it’s worth stopping at the delightfully kitschy Cafe Coco (note the mannequin in the bathtub and old-school travel posters) and the exotic Kazbar (a generally Moorish theme, with Spanish sangria and tapas and a few remnants of Aladdin’s lamp scattered here and there.)

5) Angel’s
Another Little Clarendon favorite, the bright red decor and dessert-sweet cocktails make this an ideal spot for a romantic engagement. Two floors spread out this generally crowded venue; the first floor is more relaxed, while the basement has a “clubbier” vibe. With a later happy hour than the Duke of Cambridge and a slightly less conservative feel, Angel’s is the place to let loose and splurge on a deliciously frothy “Tiramisu” cocktail – or several!

by Tara Isabella Burton

1. Waikiki Parc Hotel, Honolulu, HI 808-931-6643

The beach, the surf lessons, the roof top pool, the city skyline all for…well check their website for the latest specials. I just saw one for as low as $129 a night and that’s pretty unbelievable if you saw the rates not so many months ago.

2. Aqua Waikiki Wave, Waikiki Beach, HI 866-971-2782

Near the International Marketplace and just one block to the beach, it’s a great deal with rates starting around $110 a night. You can even save 20% more booking a couple months in advance from their website. With two restaurants (American and Chinese) on site and free wifi throughout the hotel, you don’t have to break the kids piggy bank for little extras either. Check out the reviews here

3. Wai Ola Vacation Paradise, Lahaina, Maui, HI 800-492-4652

This is a vacation retreat. Romance or parties. You can rent individual units and all have their own private entrance. Some have a private deck with ocean views. Units are on special for as low as $169. You can even rent the whole place, all the units for $995. If you do and have an extra room, let me know and I’ll be there!

4. Aston Kaanapali Shores, Lahaina, HI 808-667-2211

ResortQuest or Aston, the names seems to change in Hawaii more often than the pool furniture but the price and quality remain. Just do your research and searches under both names. A few websites seem to have both names for the same place. This is a family friendly condominium type hotel. Current limited time specials at the moment of writing were down to $133 a night but you should be able to find something between $150 and $200 most of the time now. Free wifi throughout, newspapers, free tennis all add on some value each day compared to some other hotels that charge $10 for every little thing. And that brings us to…

5. Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa, Kailua-Kona, HI 808-930-4900
We have to put Hawaii in perspective with the standard chain you’ll find in Hawaii. This is a Sheraton, over 500 rooms, lots of chances to pay for extra things, etc. This is a fine hotel with just what you would expect from Sheraton. They are almost always a good experience. But to use this one as an example of what to watchout for: Their website proudly displays the lowest room category with a rate of $360 a night. But then you search some real dates and the lowest rate is $179. That’s quite a difference to take advantage of right now. But this is a Sheraton so they charge a rather lame $12.95 for internet access and but they have a free clock radio and coffee maker. Lots of other big places do the same. I just don’t think they should.

You’ll find some similar bargains at other big-have-a-fruity-drink-and-get-lost-in-corridors-hotels so please shop around if the ones on this list didn’t grab you and make you want to run to the airport. The Pacific Ocean is waiting for you. Don’t forget to sign up for a three hour tour but keep walking if the big guy wears a blue shirt and calls himself Skipper.

Or you could save even more money by just staying home and watching Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five-O but your tan won’t be nearly as nice.

Jules Undersea Lodge, Key Largo, Florida

The oldest running underwater hotel deserves to be at the top of the list. Although built in the 1970’s as a research lab near Puerto Rico, it moved to Key Largo and opened as a lodge in 1986.

You either have to be a certified diver or go through a three hour course to go down to your room for the night. They also offer diving excursions and training as an additional amenity option. Your room is stocked with air, showers, air conditioning, stereo, tv and great underwater views. Dinner and breakfast are provided at your door…or hatch.

Utter Inn, Vasteras, Sweden

Is it art or an inn? Well you can sleep in it and it looks great. You don’t have to dive for this one. You actually just climb down a ladder to your room below the water line. On top, it’s a offshore buoy. Underneath the buoy is your simple and sparse room. It is only one room so book it far in advance. Drive ups are not available. Price is around $250 a night.

Hydropolis, Dubai

If there is a challenge out there in building, Dubai will be doing it. This is a ridiculously expensive luxury resort built on the ocean floor, 66 feet below the surface in the Persian Gulf. When fully completed, it will have a land station with a see-through train tunnel going into the water and below to the hotel. With 220 suites, it will be the first of it’s kind, each suite with clear glass around the sleeping and bathing areas. This company plans to build them all over the world as well. According to their website look for them in Monaco and New York as well as places without water like Munich and London. I look forward to seeing an underwater resort without the water…wait, we have those. They are called hotels.

Poseidon Undersea Resort, Fiji

The Poseidon is a 5-star resort opening off of Fiji. You will enjoy this one much more than the passengers of the 1970s movie. And you won’t have to climb any upside Christmas trees to get back out. You’ll have your own submarine instead! The resort also built it’s own island, the Poseidon Mystery Island, for guests to explore. Price is set to start at $1500 a night.

Huvafen Fushi, Maldives

This one is an honorable mention in that you have to arrive by boat or seaplane and you sleep above the water but the hotel spa is underwater and truly unique. So it’s not sleeping underwater but it’s the first underwater spa and it looks amazing. I’m ready to go.

So if you are looking for something different and expensive, check out some of these underwater hotels. If any of these larger resorts actually open and are successful, I’m sure we’ll be seeing many more of them around the world.

The area around Napa and Sonoma, California is one of those that you really can enjoy any time of the year. The weather is always decent and the colors and scenery change by the season. The time of your visit will depend on if you want to be there around harvesting, what kind of processes and tours you may want to take in or the different colors that span to the horizon. And of course, the price may vary accordingly to the popularity of that time.

There are a great many fine little inns and bed and breakfasts around the area that are worth a stay on one of your visits. But if you want a truly special journey to this wine country, or if you are only getting to come here once, you may want to look closer at the places on my list of the five best hotels in the Napa and Sonoma area. These are all great and you can’t go wrong at any of them. You can also vary your budget quite a bit with these. You can spend anywhere from two hundred dollars a night to seven hundred dollars a night at these top places.

Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford CA

On 33 acres of groves and vineyard, you can find peace and privacy here. With a little under 50 rooms and a couple cottages, it is small but not too small. A restaurant and bar are on site as well to provide everything you need in your getaway.

Calistoga Ranch, Calistoga, CA

This is run by the same folks at Auberge Resorts who run the number one place on my list, Augerge du Soleil, among a handful of others. Here again we have just under 50 cottages with cedar shingles to remind you of camp and summer places of your youth. Set on 157 car-free acres, you can do yoga in the morning, sit in a mineral pool, tour a wine cave and relax in the privacy of your cottage or in front of an outdoor fireplace. And you can do it again the next day or perhaps have a choice of spa treatments.

Hotel Healdsburg, Healdsburg, CA

With 55 rooms, a restaurant and a bar, this country inn is very close to around sixty vineyards in the nearby countryside. Staying here puts you in the center of many shops, restaurants and galleries in Healdsburg as well. At less than half the price of the first two places listed here, it is both a great deal and location for visiting the area.

Carneros Inn, Napa, CA

A choice of 86 cottages and three restaurants awaits you here in wine country. Overlooking the vines, you can enjoy your own tin roofed cottage and relax on the porch. The design was inspired by the local countryside which includes silos, barns and ranching cottages. This Inn falls into the mid price range on our list.

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa, Sonoma, CA

If you want something bigger and maybe with a brand name behind it, you can try this new entry into the area. As always, Fairmont provides a high level hotel experience here with 226 rooms, a spa, golfing, two restaurants, three lounges and it’s own source of thermal mineral water for it’s treatments. This is one of the most affordable luxury option on my list right now at well under $300 a night.

Vintners Inn, Santa Rosa, CA

No, I haven’t had too much wine while writing this. I just have a number six on a top five list of wine country hotels. But who could blame me if they took a look at the 10 million dollar renovation put on top of this small resort estate. With only 44 rooms, two restaurants, a bar and a brand new spa, you can have your wine retreat here for the lowest cost on this list. At harvest time, in the fall, you can even watch the process from your room.

A Very Recent Vampire History

With the waves of vampire tales over the last few decades, it seems like a good time to look at where the modern day action is these days. I love ghost stories so this topic is also of great interest to me. Whether you are just interested in vampyres or if you may actually be a vampyre, there are some cool places to visit and find others of your kind. And by the way, there are two spellings for a number of reasons depending on which particular angle you believe in. First off, I should mention Forks, Washington as the setting for the popular “Twilight” book series as well as New Orleans for the classic novels of Anne Rice. Forks is one of the rainiest cities around and that made it a great choice for the series. It has also revived the small town. The Forks chamber of commerce is taking advantage of all the attention.

The subject of vampires can still be a very serious matter, especially in small localities where vampire superstition is still strong and sightings or claims of vampire attacks still occur frequently. Some stories still make headlines such as in Romania where a family recently dug up a corpse, tore out the heart, burned it, and mixed the ashes with water in order to drink it. Or near Venice, Italy where a 16th century corpse was recently discovered with a brick in her mouth. Now known in news stories as the Venice vampire, this tactic would cause the vampire to starve and not be a shroud eater.

The Vampyre and Numbers

Just because a book series is set somewhere does not mean that there are actually a bunch of vampires running around the streets. Fans and tourists yes. So I took a look at the actual numbers of population, clubs, groups and cult sites in the world and came up with this non-scientific list. This is the modern world so I’m not including Transylvania or Slovakia. There just isn’t the numbers to support vampire activity in those particular places any longer. I’m not including Wall Street either, which hosts another form of blood sucker these days that are not nearly as much fun.

The Top 30 Modern Vampyre Cities in the World

1. London, England
2. Toronto, Canada
3. Chicago, Illinois
4. Los Angeles, California
5. Atlanta, Georgia
6. New York City, New York
7. Houston, Texas
8. Melbourne, Australia
9. San Fransisco, California
10. San Antonio, Texas
11. Brisbane, Australia
12. Manchester, Great Britain
13. Seattle, Washington
14. Rockingham, North Carolina
15. Las Vegas, Nevada
16. Prague, Czech Republic
17. Rome, Italy
18. Stratford, Connecticut
19. Brockton, Massachusetts
20. Savannah, Georgia
21. Berlin, Germany
22. Oxnard, California
23. Charlotte, North Carolina
24. Detroit, Michigan
25. Sydney, Australia
26. Edinburgh, Great Britain
27. Cairo, Egypt
28. Mexico City, Mexico
29. Bucharest, Romania
30. Venice, Italy

So there you have my list. Do you know of any bloody hotspots that I missed? I’m sure some of the best aren’t plastered all over the internet and they shouldn’t be either to retain any sort of realism. The photos are all taken by myself, as part of my own dark interests, in various Eastern Europe locations.

Alexanders

Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece
Everyone from business people to politicians and artists can be found here.

Rooftop Bar at the Glenn Hotel

110 Marietta St NW, Atlanta GA
Great views of downtown with comfy outdoor furniture.

The Bar
Ritz-Carlton Boston, Boston, MA
A great mix of local students, Beacon Hill residents, tourists and guests of the hotel.

Plaza Bar
Marriott Plaza Hotel Buenos Aires, Argentina
This hotel was built in 1909 and is still a landmark meeting spot today.

Bascule Bar

The Cape Grace, Cape Town, South Africa
From locals to an upscale crowd of guests, you’ll love the waterfront views.

The Bar

The Peninsula Chicago, Chicago, IL
A young crowd of late twenty-somethings fill this hip Chicago spot.

Felix

The Peninsula Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Kowloon
This famous spot with both locals and visitors from around the world takes up the top two floors of the Peninsula Hotel.

Lobby Lounge

Four Seasons Hotel, Houston, TX
Mix of business people to sports fans, upscale locals and the opera crowd

Last Bar Opened
Las Vegas goes through many trendy hotel bars. The hottest is usually the latest started by a celebrity team or at the latest hotel resort. This growth has slowed lately so some have lasted a little while now such as ghostbar at the Palms, Red Square at Manadalay Bay, Tryst at The Wynn and the list goes on.

Claridge’s Bar

Claridge’s, London, England
Now a lively spot in London, you can find celebrities, hotel guests and upscale locals here.

Roof Top Bar at the Standard
The Standard, Los Angeles, CA
Something is cool again with great looking young people in downtown Los Angeles.

Velazquez Bar
Hotel Ritz, Madrid, Spain
From royalty to the rich, this landmark has been here since 1910.

Falstaff Bar
Grand Hotel et de Milan, Milan, Italy
From locals to tourists, you find a comfortable mix here.

D’Lounge

National Hotel, Miami Beach, FL
There are many great bars on Miami Beach and this is one of them with a vintage feel complete with Art Deco.

Rose Bar

Delano Hotel, Miami Beach, FL
A popular and yes rose colored, yet comfortable bar.

Alexandrovsky Bar
Le Royal Meridien National Hotel, Moscow, Russia
A great mix of business people and politicians spend the evening here.

Vier Jahreszeiten Bar
Kempinski Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Munchen, Munich, Germany
If you’re looking for a crowd of old business men, this is it.

Bemelmans Bar

The Carlyle, New York City, NY
A mix of old and young, locals and tourists makes for a good crowd interested in the piano music.

Cellar Bar

The Bryant Hotel, New York City, NY
One of the coolest (and underground) bars in New York if you can get in.

Bar Hemingway
Hotel Ritz, Paris, France
Hemingway’s favorite bar brings in business people and tourists for a diverse crowd looking for something more diverse.

Top of the Mark
InterContinental Mark Hopkins, San Francisco, CA
A mix of tourists and business people, from young to old, make up a diverse crowd.

The Terrace

Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle, WA
This great tech city hosts this watering hole for business people and tourists alike.

Cloud 9

Grand Hyatt Shanghai, Shanghai, China
International business people and tourists as well as some local Chinese fill up this bar on the 87th floor. If you go to Shanghai, stop by here.

Club 22

Windsor Arms, Toronto, Canada
A mix of business people, celebrities, locals and tourists who can get in make this a cool place with the younger crowd.

Off the Record Bar
The Hay-Adams, Washington DC
From White House workers to press reporters, this hosts a younger crowd of people in the know.

Widder Bar

Widder Hotel, Zurich, Switzerland
Hip and upscale locals meet after work here.