A quirky-yet-classy cafe bar down a quiet city-centre side street, with inventive, knowledgeable staff and a cracking gin menu. Grab an outdoor seat on a fine day or people-watch from inside when it rains; check the cocktail of the week and one of the Mediterranean platters.
A guided night out through hand-picked bars in Hanoi’s buzzing Old Quarter, with a shot or beer included at each stop before the group heads to a headline club. A fun, easy way to turn strangers into friends and see the nightlife with a local leading the way – the organisers note it’s LGBTQ- and POC-friendly.
A quiet square most of the week that becomes one of Sao Paulo’s coolest spots every Saturday, when an antiques-and-everything market fills it up. Graze traditional food from all over Brazil, hunt for vintage finds, browse the galleries around the square – and stay for the live chorinho band in the afternoon.
The oldest dargah in Delhi, the tomb-shrine of the revered Sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki in historic Mehrauli, near the Qutb Minar. More than a mausoleum, it’s a living sanctuary where devotees of many faiths come to pray – a rare, peaceful place where Delhi’s traditions meet. Visit respectfully.
About as local as Tallinn gets – a no-frills cellar bar out in the up-and-coming Kopli district, well beyond the tourist trail of the old town. It’s rough around the edges, but the barman is famously friendly, the local beer is good and the prices feel frozen in the 90s. One for adventurous drinkers after the real thing.
The terrace of ETH university and a favourite student hangout, this south-facing platform gives a lovely panorama over Zurich and its old town. Ride the historic Polybahn funicular up from Central, then sprawl in the sun with a picnic – there’s a student bar (BQM) just below for a quick bite.
One of the oldest bookshops in Thessaloniki, a charming little place near the White Tower specialising in foreign-language literature – English and German titles alongside guidebooks, maps and histories of the city. Check the board outside for upcoming events.
Tango runs deep in Buenos Aires, but the magic of La Glorieta is that it’s all locals – ordinary people gathering under the old bandstand in Belgrano to dance for the pure love of it. Turn up on a weekend evening for a free, genuinely moving open-air milonga; there’s a class by donation half an hour before if you want to join in.
The beating heart of Bologna’s nightlife – a street of cheap, unpretentious historic pubs where students and locals gather over a beer or glass of wine and endless conversation. Strolling its length is the surest way to feel the city’s free-spirited after-dark scene; by day it’s full of restaurants and pizzerie too.
Nairobi’s main souvenir market, right in the city centre, packed with dozens of stalls selling wood carvings, drums, soapstone, Maasai jewellery and clothing, alongside flower and food sections. It’s one of the best spots in Kenya for African crafts – come ready to browse and bargain.