50 Secrets from 10 big cities

View from the tube The London Olympics 2012 is taking over the city and the venues now have their own viewing tube that are made of recycled shipping containers and painted neon green. The second floorviewing platform at Greenway offers a panoramic view of the Olympics stadium while you have cappuccino at the café.

Fabric market: A small detour off Oxford Street will take you to Berwick Street, the fabric mecca of London. The small alleyway is a feast for your eyes as you can spot fashion designers rummaging through organza, chiffon and satin in an array of colours. Perhaps you want some real French Chantilly for that perfect reception sari?

Hair botox: Remember those lunch botox treatments? Well Daniel Galvin is doing the same for your tresses as he boosts that chemically fried mop with Vitamin C to cleanse it of product build up and pollution leaving it silky—all at a bargain rate of ￡17.

Breakfast: A converted Barclays Bank, The Wolseley takes its breakfasts very seriously and is the place to be seen on a Sunday morning or any morning for that matter. Tuck into a full English spread or nibble on a chocolate croissant. The Wolseley takes you back to the grand European breakfast houses, where time stood still and you still got your news through the paper. At Piccadilly;

Patisserie Tucked away in the ground floor of Harrods, Laduree is a little bit of Parisian heaven. Famed for their iconic macarons, the patisserie’s al fresco restaurant is a perfect place for a brunch in spring or summer while shopping in Knightsbridge. Choose from dishes such as Summer Truffle Omelette and Smoked Salmon éclair.

Singapore

Live acts: Crazy Elephant at Clark Quay is Southeast Asia’s premier rock‘n’roll venue. But what really sets it apart is the number of young artists who have emerged from here because of their Sunday Blues bar, where anyone who can strum a tune can get up on stage and perform.

Breakfast Wild Honey is all about breakfast, be it the Japanese Omelette Ball or the Yemen Malawach Roti. Belgian, Swiss, English and italian, it’s about the most important meal of the day, all day. They don’t take reservations, so be prepared to wait. .sg

Market tour if you’re tired of noodles and are in the mood for some Lebanese or Turkish food, go to Arab Street. You will see the minarets welcome you into an older version of Singapore where the walls are crumbling. The market is also full of antiques and fabric shops.

Outdoor theatre The Fort Canning Park is one of Singapore’s most historic landmarks and a favorite venue of The Singapore Repertory Theatre. Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night will be on from April 25 to 20 May. Restaurant: named and conceptualised around Lewis Carroll’s eccentric White Rabbit from the classic, Alice in Wonderland, this converted garrison church serves a modern take on classic French cuisine and other comfort food (read macaroni and cheese). The quirkiness continues as the church is accompanied by its own ghost stories. .sg

Paris

Market: Marche Des Enfants Rouges in Les Marais is the oldest covered market in Paris. What is more Parisian than listening to an accordionist while sampling Lamb Tagine on a Sunday afternoon? it is popular with the locals so get there by 1.30 p.m. it is on Rue de Bretagne and close to multiple metro stops.

Art fair: nuit Blanche, literally ‘white night’, is a night-long treat for lovers of art. The city morphs into de facto galleries as museums and art centres remain open free of charge through the night. The party then spills out into the street as performances and themed social gatherings. On October 6 this year.

Neighbourhood tour: Originally a fenced-in village outside Paris, that overlooked the now underground, Bièvre river, La Butte aux Cailles district is a village-like oasis with narrow cobblestone streets and Art nuevo style houses. Start your day on Rue Daviel where Little Alsace and Little Russia showcase worker’s villas built to resemble traditional buildings in northern France and Russia.

Shopping by appointment: So you want more than just Louis Vuitton or Chanel? At your doorstep is the most elite shopping experience, Paris by Appointment Only, be it handmade ceramics or haute couture.

Cultural zone La Bellevilloise is an independent cultural centre that began as a Parisian co-operative. Built in the art deco style, today it is a hub for new and old artists and designers. At night the café-restaurant, built in the middle of an ancient olive garden, comes alive with jazz and acoustic music.

rome

Wine bar: nestled in the folds of Rome’s historic centre, Etabli is a swanky wine bar that attracts the city’s ‘iT’crowd. Beamed ceilings, antique wrought-iron chandeliers, and white walls give it a distinctively Mediterranean feel that is echoed in the menu. At Vicolo delle Vacche.

Hotel: Tucked away in beautiful gardens that are filled with pink bougainvillea is the atmospheric Aldrovandi Villa Borgese, a personal favourite. The rooms are large and airy. it has a Michelin-star restaurant called Baby.

Bag boutique: Everything Jackie Onassis touched turned to gold and so it was for Saddlers union and the iconic bucket bag. Founded in 1957, it may have repositioned itself but it remains faithful to its roots by producing masterly crafted leather. new boutique at 11 via Margutta.

Headwear: Berets, bowlers, trilbys or top hats, Fratelli Viganò is the place to go if you’re into headwear. Go there even if you are not, just for a glimpse of hats resembling the leaning tower of Pisa. Via Marco Minghetti

Pantheon by night At daytime, the temple is swarmed with tourists you have to climb over to even get a glimpse of some of its raw beauty. The trick is to come at night. Bathed in an eerie yellow glow the massive structure comes to life and can leave you breathless in its simplicity. Have dinner at one of the open-air restaurants nearby.

Montreal

Antiques store: An absolute delight is the store called Aunt Sadie’s Antique & Art Gallery. While a lot of the antique shops on notre Dame feel like they could double for your grandfather’s dusty attic, this antique shop is clean, smartly laid out and well stocked. Collectors who specialise in a certain vein of collectables rent glass cabinets to display their artefacts.

Cheese store if you love cheese, you must visit La Fromagerie Atwater in Atwater Market. it offers more than 700 cheeses, with a special emphasis on Québec artisan cheese.

Local food: A local favourite, the bison sausage can be eaten plain, without sauce or mustard. Some may find it a bit too spicy but that aside, it is a filling treat. Locals say it’s best washed down with a cherry cola. Eat from stalls at Jean Talon and Atwater markets. You can also find a bison burger here.

Restaurant The lively Salle à Manger has a large kitchen that’s open for all to see, and a windowed meat cooler prominently placed at the back of the dining room (its large picture window proudly showing off its treasures). And once you see the menu, you can understand why. The menu is divided into three main sections—appetisers, mains and deluxe mains meant for a group. Perfect for an early dinner before you go off to a concert or a play. and www.columbia.edu/about_columbia/ walking_tour.html

Linear park Move over Central Park, Hello High Line. This little gem of a conservation effort is a public park on a historical freight rail line that runs through Manhattan’s west side. History buffs can join the weekly Tuesday walking tour with the High Line Docents to get an insight into this unique park’s history and architecture. Otherwise just take a book or the iPod—maybe both.

Piano showroom: Just a left at the stunning Bergdorf Goodman window dressing on Fifth Avenue will take you to one of new York’s most loved bookshops, Rizzoli, as well as the pianist’s heaven, The Steinway Hallthe flagship store of Steinway & Sons. You are allowed to wander through three floors of wood-panelled rooms that house their finest Boston and Essex pianos. Tel: +1 212 246 1100

Train ride: The number 7 train, otherwise known as The international Express that connects Midtown Manhattan with flushing in Queens, one of the most diverse counties in the uS. Most of the stops are in Queens and as you travel you go through irish corner in Sunnyside, Thai food in Woodside also known as‘Little Manila’, South Asia along Roosevelt Avenue and the subcontinent in Jackson Heights.

Jazz bar: if new York conjures up images of a smoky basement, a long delicate cigarette, a tall drink and a jazz band playing into the night, then head to Blue Smoke and Jazz Standard. Begin your night upstairs with award-winning Sticky Memphis Baby Back Ribs, Chipotle Chicken Wings and a margarita. Then head downstairs to sample the best jazz new York has to offer.

Hong Kong

Heirtage village: Sam Tung uk Museum, a 200-year-old walled village, is a startling contrast to the urban city at its doorstep. The three rows of restored houses display period furniture, handicrafts and agricultural equipment.

Island tour: Cheungchau Island, also nicknamed the dumbbell island, is a short ferry ride from Hong Kong’s central district. Its perfect for swimming and a lovely day out for the family. Catch ferry from Central Pier 5.

Thai food It is rare to find a restaurant that you would visit more than once in a one-week visit. But that’s not unusual with Lil Siam, a rather nondescript place that serves excellent Thai fare at a pocket-friendly price. It is always packed, so be prepared to wait. .hk

Art walk Join curators, artists and connoisseurs as they descend on Hollywood Road for the annual Art Walk on March 14. Galleries serve wine and hors d’oeuvres while Hong Kong’s strong expat and international art community blend in with tourists to create one big street party.

Dress making: The cheongsam is one of the most perfect dresses and is the epitome of understated elegance. Its secret lies in its cut, which is why buying one in a market will never fit the way it should. So make your way to Linva where Mr. Leung will make you one that will fit like a glove. 38 Cochrane Street, Central.

Barcelona

Cycle tours When too tired to walk in Barcelona, ask for steel donkeys, also known as bicycles. You cover more ground and also visit forgotten dusty corners in the village-like district of Gracia, or the old-industrial ruins of Poblenou. www.

Restaurant: At Dans Le noir, you can’t see what you eat, you only taste. You are helped by visually impaired waiters and have to grope for your food. A bit unnerving, as some say, but an experience you may want just for some novelty. www.barcelona.

Ferrari ride: The Circuit de Catalunya—the racing track of Spanish Grand Prix just outside Barcelona, offers you the opportunity to get behind the wheels of a Ferrari 430 while a professional guides you on how to take the bends. Write to for details.

Literary tour: The Shadow of the Wind by Carolos Ruis Zafon, set in the Barcelona of the 1950s, is an iconic magic realism novel about a boy who is taken to a secret cemetery of forgotten books and finds one that changes the course of his life. Pretend to be a character and follow in their footsteps while exploring 20th-century Barcelona as it once might have been. Write to for details.

Wine tasting: Like to develop your knowledge of wine? Or maybe just try some of the best wines around? Sommelier Gael Le Bec offers tailormade tasting in the comfort of your hotel room or holiday apartment. All you need to do is decide what kind of tasting you would like to do and let Gael do the rest. Write to gaellebec@ for details.

Sydney

Picnic spot: Local Sydneysiders can be seen flocking to Ku-ring-gai Chase national Park during weekends, baskets and swimwear in hand to spend the day throwing frisbees, chasing dogs and sailing. There are a number of hot spots including Akuna Bay, popular for sailing and marine activities, Apple Tree picnic area, which is more secluded and Bobbin Head, perfect for fishing. 25 km north of Sydney.

Boutique hotel: Imagine waking up to views of the Sydney harbour as the sun shimmers off the water just below you. This is because you are staying in a converted pier right above the water. Sebel Pier One follows a nautical theme. .au

Organic food cafe: Focusing on using only what is locally produced, some from their own garden, Thelma& Louise is bursting with character as Bette Davis adorns the wall and everyone seems to know everyone else. Perfectly located on the water’s edge, it is a good place for breakfast. .au

Australian fare The breathtaking views at Quay are only the beginning of what will be a glorious feast of melt in your mouth pork belly and shaved cuttlefish that honestly look too beautiful to eat. .au

Beach: Forget the overcrowded Bondi and head to Balmoral beach in north Sydney. It has the best views of Sydney Harbour national Park. It’s ideal for a quick swim and takeaway fish and chips at sunset.