Alessio Christian Melis

Café Korb has been doing the Viennese coffeehouse thing since 1904, but there’s nothing dusty about it. Tucked near Stephansdom, its 1960s interior – all velvet booths, brass-studded chairs and wonderfully patinated lamps – has hosted everyone from newspaper readers to artists and eccentrics, with Susanne Widl at the helm since 2000. Come for an old-school breakfast, a proper Wiener Schnitzel or a slice of apple strudel, then make a detour downstairs to the Art Lounge, where Günter Brus, Peter Weibel and Peter Kogler have left their mark. Even the futuristic bathroom is worth a peek – yes, really.

For bread this old, Bäckerei Grimm has remarkably little interest in resting on its laurels. Bread has been baked on this Kurrentgasse spot since 1536, making it Vienna’s oldest continuously operating bakery, with the current Maderna family at the helm since 1962. The selection runs from sourdough loaves to gluten-free and specialty bakes, but we’d make a beeline for the pretzels: crisp, chewy and, in our book, the best in the city

If your idea of a good afternoon involves a little less sightseeing and a lot more staring at photographs, make a beeline for WestLicht. Founded in 2001, Vienna’s photography museum occupies a former glass factory turned lofty exhibition space, where changing shows range from major names like Vivian Maier and Ernst Haas to overlooked gems from Austrian photography. There’s also a permanent collection of around 360 cameras, including the world’s first commercially produced camera. And on Thursdays, stick around for its Hai Bar, named for the two sharks keeping watch behind the counter.

Forget your average flower shop: Blumenkraft feels more like an art gallery where the exhibits happen to be alive. Sculptural bouquets fill the striking concrete-and-steel space, alongside a photography exhibition that changes annually.

Founded in Vienna in 2012, paper republic makes refillable leather journals by hand, using vegetable-tanned Tuscan leather and natural European paper. Head to its Sonnenfelsgasse shop to choose your cover, add refills and have your initials embossed on the spot

What started as a small family restaurant near the Su Gologone spring in 1967 has grown into one of Barbagia’s most iconic stays. Today, three generations of the Palimodde family run the hotel, with Giovanna’s maximalist eye behind its colourful, ever-evolving interiors. Sardinian art and craftsmanship are everywhere, from hand-embroidered textiles and ceramics to woodwork and jewellery, much of it created by Giovanna and her team of artisans in the hotel’s six Botteghe d’Arte and sold through Le Botteghe di Su Gologone. From sipping colourful herb-infused cocktails and enjoying finger food at Magico Tablao bar, overlooking the spectacular Gennargentu at sunset, to one of their dining experiences inspired by the region and its Blue Zone, Su Gologone is one of our favourite celebration of Sardinian craftsmanship, food and culture.

Thick-cut sourdough toast piled high with spicy sucuk, tahini, pistachios and juicy figs, paired with a vibrant matcha latte and freshly squeezed orange juice. Gorgo Lunchroom on Staringplein is putting a fresh spin on comforting Anatolian flavours, serving some of the city's most exciting lunch dishes.

An overload of Catalan deliciousness lands on Bar Bocata’s little white tables and bar, where bowls of spiced olives are ready for snacking while you wait for potato tortilla, Iberico ham croquetas and pa amb tomàquet. Barcelona has no shortage of tapas bars, but Bar Bocata is the one we’d happily cross town for – even if it’s just for another round of croquetas.

Don’t let the overly cool crowd behind the draped curtains put you off. Otsu brings a  calm Japanese twist to the Catalan capital, with minimalist interiors and wooden trays loaded with rice bowls topped with shaved bonito fish and coffee broth, kimchi and egg sandos, and a jujube date matcha latte that’s worth the trip alone. The daily pastry selection is another reason to come, displayed like edible art on a vast white marble table dotted with candles and frehsly cut flowers.