Velvet

www.arcotel.at/velvet.htm
Oranienburger Strasse 52, 10117 Berlin, t +49 30 2787 53-0

Stylish design hotel in the middle of Berlin. All rooms have a complete glass facade at one of the rooms' walls which offers a great view.

The bathroom is in the middle of the room next to the bed, just separated by a transparent curtain. A very open atmosphere. (The toilet is in a separate room, though.)

I haven't tried the breakfast buffet, but there are plenty of places nearby that offer everything from coffeee to bagels and everything else.

The higher up you stay, the more you can enjoy the view out of the glass wall without anybody seeing you... Book a suite here if you take your girlfriend to Berlin.

A Small Guide to Lisbon

A Small Guide to Lisbon

A small but very nice guide to Lisbon by Delaranja. A very personal guide on how to get around Lisbon, where to go and what to eat. And I agree with everything Andre writes.

Monsieur Vuong

www.monsieurvuong.de
Monsieur Vuong, Alte Schönhauser Str. 46, 10119 Berlin-Mitte

You cannot book a table in advance at Monsieur Vuong and long queues on weekend nights make it easy to guess why. Also you will be placed at tables together with other people you don't know.

The menu offers only a small vareity of Vietnamese dishes. The main attration, however, is a menu with a choice of one starter and two main courses that is changing every other day and prepared freshly for you.

If you don't mind this concept, you will enjoy excellent Vietnamese cuisine in a vibrant atmosphere and for moderate prices.

Gartenbaukino

www.gartenbaukino.at
Parkring 12, A-1010 Wien, t +43 1 512 23 54

Movie theatre in the heart of Vienna. Nice 60-ish architecture and great movies. Seats more than 700 in only one theatre. Home of the 'Viennale' festival.

Jeu de Paume - Site Sully

www.jeudepaume.org
Hôtel de Sully, Place des Vosges, 62, rue Saint-Antoine, 75004 Paris

Changing photo exhibitions. Access through a small alleyway from the Place des Vosges, one of the most beautiful squares of Paris.

Until 14 January 2007: 'Joel Meyerowitz: Out of the Ordinary, 1970-1980'

From 30 January to 9 April 2007: 'Viva, a photographic agency'

Budapest

Never take a taxi at the platform of the train station. Let your hotel order one for you. The driver will be waiting for you on the platform holding a sign with your name on it. Prices from Kelety Station to the city center should be HUF 2,500 (EUR 12.00, December 2006).

Hotel Parlament

Hotel Parlament Budapest
Kalman Imre utca 19, HU-1054 Budapest,t +36 1 374-6000


Opened 2005, centrally located near the Parlament, moderate prices. Pleasantly minimalistic and stylish interior, small but nice area with sauna and Jacuzzi. Breakfast buffet also small but nice. Free internet in all rooms and two internet terminals in the lobby.

Café Kör

www.cafekor.com
Sas ut. 17, 1051 Budapest, t 311-0053

Modern traditional Hungarian cuisine, nice atmosphere, very moderate prices, very friendly service. Reservation highly recommended.