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THE WORLD’S BEST


OK - who needs another BEST list? You do—if it drills down to the three best selections in each city, comes with details and insider tips found nowhere else, and helps you turn a good experience into a great one. Go ahead. NIGHT+DAY your way to the best…



Best See-and-Be-Seen Bars

Have a favorite people-watching bar in every port? We know that’s code for people-meeting, and these bars are the absolute best in their respective cities for making connections with like-minded others.

Best City Tours

One of the best ways to see a city is through insider eyes, and the top tour guides know every nook and cranny of their stomping grounds. From jet ski tours of Miami, to cemetery walks through New Orleans, to Los Angeles literary excursions, we’ve compiled here the very Best City Tours in the world’s coolest destinations.

Best Outdoor Dining

The view might be of the skyline, the surrounding coastline, a romantic interior courtyard, or simply your date backlit by the cityscape. Whatever the venue, summer is the time to dine outdoors, catch a breeze, and relax as if you are on vacation, even if you’re in the city you call home.

Best Local Food Specialties

New York? Pizza. San Francisco? Dungeness crab. Mexico City? Tacos. Los Angeles? Food trucks. What better way to explore the world’s coolest cities than through the foods they are best known for? Here are Night+Day’s hotlists for the destination dishes (and one beverage) that define our favorite places.

Best Summer Nights

Hot summer nights are about to get hotter. From sexy rooftop pool parties to epic outdoor music festivals to picnics by moonlight with live jazz or fireworks, Night+Day’s Best Summer Nights highlight primo nocturnal events for the beautiful, balmy evenings ahead.

Best Annual Charity Events

Start with one part fundraiser. Add a celeb-packed guest list. Throw in some live music from Stevie Wonder, food from Thomas Keller and Charlie Palmer, or a silent auction with Louis Vuitton goodies or tennis lesson from Andre Agassi. Season to taste with black ties and cocktails. You’ve just whipped up one of Night+Day’s Best Annual Charity Events, some of the hottest parties on the social calendar.

Best Brunches

At the end of a weekend of frivolity, urbanistas need to unwind over brunch—to fortify themselves for the shopping or museum-hopping ahead. Whether your version is caffeine-fueled or “hair of the dog,” these top brunch spots will fill you up, allow you to de-brief with friends, and help you gently transition back to your Monday world.

Best Fine Dining

No matter what style of fine dining you prefer—from that of the molecular–gastronomy whiz, to the latest Le Cordon Bleu–trained chef who re-invents the local scene, to the tried and true haunts that have earned the moniker “classic”—you will fine in these shortlists the pitch-perfect restaurant for a singular night on the town.

Best Power Lunches

The days of the three-martini lunch may be gone, but some restaurants still buzz with the sound of wheels and deals in motion. Discreet alcoves hide the quiet rendezvous, suitably imposing menus impress VIP clients, and exquisite waterfront views set the scene for a celebratory toast. These power playgrounds attract all breeds of movers and shakers—from high-profile politicians and finance execs to media moguls and entertainment royalty.

Best Sizzling Steakhouses

Say goodbye to your grandfather’s steakhouse, and say hello to see-and-be-seen buzz, Russian novel–sized wine lists, and molecular mixology. These sizzlin’ steakhouses also deliver prime cuts in a thousand permutations of meaty perfection—from grass-fed and dry-aged to adobo-rubbed and pepper-crusted. Chophouses have never paired porterhouses and panache so well.

Best Holiday Shopping

It’s time to talk shop. Whether you have a dozen trendy gal pals, hipster cousins, or tradition-loving in-laws, these city-specific guides to the Best Holiday Shopping will solve all your gift-giving dilemmas.

Best Museums

These can’t-miss museums offer an array of attractions designed to mesmerize art addicts and curious gallery-goers alike. Distinguished by their modern art masterpieces, architectural triumphs, oddball collections, or undeniable cool factor, these are the best-in-class museums in the world’s hottest cities.

Best Late-Night Eats

Night owls rejoice! Whether that quick drink before dinner turned into a three-hour minglefest or the rigors of clubbing have left you craving a proper re-fuel, these after-hours kitchens will delight discerning palates and cosmo-coated bellies alike. From midnight dinners to pre-dawn feasts, these Late-Night Eats are all worth keeping your eyelids raised a little longer.

Best Live Music

The world’s coolest cities have live music scenes that come in all shapes and sizes. The common denominator is that they deliver an outstanding evening of great music—be it blues, Latin, soul, funk, jazz, rock, indie-pop, or something in between. These are our hands-down favorites.

Best Spas

When the going gets tough, the tough get scrubbed, steamed, massaged, wrapped, and anointed with essential oils. With specialized treatments ranging from hot stone massages, to seaweed facials, to full-body detox treatments, the perfect urbanista oasis doesn’t get better than these upscale spas. Ready, set, ahhh…

Best Trendy Tables

Cutting-edge décor, creative food, pedigreed chef, and see-and-be-seen ambience combined with A-list clientele gives these best Best Trendy Tables the elusive “it” quality that has the in-crowd fighting for reservations.

Best Weeknight Fun

Nobody nails the weekend’s can’t-miss nightlife like Night+Day. But what if you’re feeling feisty mid-week? Forget about quiet evenings curled up with your Kindle—we’re giving you prime picks for Weeknight Fun around the world. Hump day will never be the same!

Best Singles Scenes

Single in the season of love? Our writers name the best Singles Scenes (with couples cordially invited) in the world’s coolest cities—think of it as romance with a buzz, on Valentine’s Day or any day.

Best Neighborhood Shops

From world-class art to locally designed jewelry, we’ve tracked down the best shopping in the world’s coolest cities. Find that last-minute holiday gift or take home something memorable for yourself.

Best Performing Arts Festivals

Music, dance, theatre, and performance art headline the cultural calendars in all of Night+Day's cool cities. We combed through dozens of annual performing arts festivals worldwide, and here are the best of the best.

Best Weekend Getaway Hotels

Even the most devout urbanista needs some downtime. Here are our top picks for weekend getaway hotels—all destinations in themselves, and within 100 miles or so of the world's greatest cities.