Hands-down, flat-out, no-foolin’…. this is THE quintessential American diner. It’s a bit dingey but way way retro cool. Except it was built before retro was invented and they haven’t touched anything since. Booths, the curved counter, the hopeless bathroom, endless near-undrinkable coffee and service staff provided by central casting. The food comes with the package. It’s 50’s Amer ... Read More

Make your way to Oporto in Portugal. Pay 2 euro and catch a 20 minute train ride out to the fishing village of Esphino (Esh-Speen-Noh). The train station there has been ‘under repair’ for going on 3 years and shows no real sign of completion. Figure a way out through the ‘temporary’ entrance, walk across the road and wander into the coffee bar of Café Cristobel. This is a workers coffee ... Read More

Sitting up at the top of Europe, just across the Baltic from Finland and butting up against the St Petersburg end of Russia is the hidden gem, Estonia. The capital is Tallinn, a city surrounded by the oldest fortress wall in Europe (dating back to 1100AD) but also a city blessed with the most comprehensive wireless internet networks on the continent. Old Town is simply a joy to behold. Filled wi ... Read More

Actually it’s not really a single arts festival. It’s the arts festival, the fringe, film, writers, folk and goodness-knows-what-else festival all on at once. The atmosphere is absolutely electric and to be honest breakfast in Edinburgh at that time is really only about two things. Firstly, it’s a kind of late dinner for those still on their way home. And secondly it’s a jump start for r ... Read More

Cafes don’t get much better – or more iconic – than this Vancouver legend. It’s situated in the heart of Vancouver’s coolest street (Commercial St) and regularly tops polls all round the world as a great place to hang out. It has it’s own gallery (a new opening every third Sunday – all welcome) and a 60 seat theatre that shows a bewildering range of work. As well as the best notice ... Read More