Few hotels will serve as a more idyllic escape from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo city centre than the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo.
The spaciously designed sanctuary is like a breath of fresh air in the buzzing and busy metropolis, with the rooms, which occupy the top nine floors of the Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, rated as some of the most spacious in the city - a far cry from the popular but cramped capsule rooms that many visitors stay in to save on time and money. Plus, you don't get floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Imperial Palace, Shinjuku and Ueno districts in a capsule.
When it comes to dinner, you'll be spoilt for choice as the hotel boasts not one but three Michelin-starred restaurants in Sense, Signature and Tapas Molecular Bar, and it's the latter you simply cannot leave without trying. Thanks to the likes of Heston Blumenthal and Hervé This, molecular gastronomy has become the food fad du jour in the West, but this restaurant is totally experimental for Japan and has been a resounding success. The achingly stylish venue will see you gushing (yet again!) over the views from the 38th floor and leave you weak at the knees as you try a 20-course meal - with the show-stoppers, the Spider crab and Jamón, and the misleadingly named Snow, which is, contrary to its name, not frozen precipitation, but a to-die-for peanut mousse sprinkled with nut brittle.
The hotel is situated in the buzzing historic business hub of Tokyo, Nihonbashi, so you'll be surrounded by must-visit hotspots, such as the Tokyo International Forum which is full of shops and restaurants.
But between all the high-rises, you won't haveto look hard to find historic attractions, including the traditional Shitamachi district. Plus, the main Tokyo Station is just a stone's throw away, if you're considering travels further afield.
Details
2-1-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Tokyo, 103-8328 Japan
+81 (3) 3270 8800
www.mandarinoriental.com/tokyo
The Printworks, Manchester, UK
If you find yourself in the UK's must-visit city of the moment, Manchester, make its top entertainment venue, The Printworks, your first stop. With a plethora of restaurants, bars and clubs spread out within the venue, you won't fall short of something to do, whether it's hitting the exclusive booths of luxe club Entourage, soaking up the laid-back atmosphere of Norwegian Blue bar, or a night spent dancing away to your favourite band (boyband The Wanted and indie lads Big Pink are recent performers!)
+44 161 829 8000 | www.theprintworks.com
Mikla, Instanbul, Turkey
When it comes to ultimate locations, you'll struggle to find anywhere as breathtaking as Mikla, with its picture-perfect views of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn from the terrace. Enjoy a few drinks at the bar (the Strawberry purée martinis are spectacular) and then make your way out to the terrace for dinner. When it comes to the menu's standouts, the Pistachio-crusted lamb chops and Grilled grouper with vegetable terrine are well worth trying, just make sure you book a table. Oh, and newsflash, 's Nyree got engaged there. Stamp of approval!
+90 212 923 5656 | www.miklarestaurant.com
