DESTINATIONS • January 2018
Surprising city escapes for 2018
When it comes to urban getaways, less obvious spots can be packed with the best surprises, says travel journalist Rachel Truman
Nashville, US
Music is in Tennessee’s bones and there are hundreds of venues, from the Ryman Auditorium and Tootsie’s to the Bluebird Café and Station Inn. Even the tiniest bars have live bands. It’s not all country and clicking cowboy boot heels though – Nashville has found its groove with a big indie, blues and DJ scene. Away from touristy Broadway, there are plenty of hip hangouts in trendy East Nashville and on-the-up Gulch and Germantown. The city is also dishing up good food – try ex-Noma chef Ryan Poli’s intimate The Catbird Seat.
Don’t miss: Getting your feet tapping at Robert’s Western World, a wonderful venue/bar/store on Lower Broadway.
Williamsburg, New York, US
Manhattan may have the big hitters, but those in the know have been heading across the bridge to Brooklyn’s super-cool north neighbourhood for years. Bedford Avenue is awash with art galleries, bookshops and boutiques, and Williamsburg has a fantastically eclectic restaurant scene and a host of quirky bars (tattoo-parlour-turned-cocktail-lounge Hotel Delmano is a find). Plus, there are stylish places to stay, including the Wythe Hotel and the William Vale.
Don’t miss: East River State Park, a lovely waterfront space, and Saturday food market Smorgasburg, open from April to October.
Limoges, France
This unsung city in central France is a delight with medieval pockets, cobblestoned streets, riverside walks and a thriving craft community. The home of fine French porcelain, it was also the birthplace of Renoir. Pretty, half-timber-clad buildings cluster around Rue de la Boucherie, the old butchers’ quarter that’s now an eating and drinking hotspot. Try the renowned Limousin beef and other meaty delights at Les Petits Ventres. Then peek into tiny Chapelle St-Aurélien before visiting the grand 19th-century central market, lined with porcelain tiles and stuffed with local delicacies.
Don’t miss: The Adrien Dubouché National Museum for an insight into Limoges’s porcelain history.
Turin, Italy
This manufacturing powerhouse may not be the first Italian city you think of for a weekend jaunt, unless you’re into Fiat and football, but prepare to be amazed. It has cool cultural spaces, delicious cuisine and a rich architectural heritage. As the country’s first capital, Turin is graced with elegant boulevards and Baroque piazzas and palazzos. Fuel your perusals with a bicerin (the city’s hot-chocolate-and-espresso drink) in one of the many opulent cafes (try Caffe Fiorio) or tempting pasticceria on Via Lagrange.
Don’t miss: Sample the chocolatiers’ creations, particularly the giandujotto, made using Piedmont hazelnuts.
Durban, South Africa
Cape Town is not the only South African city where you can surf before having a sundowner while overlooking gorgeous sands. Durban sits on the Indian Ocean coast and delights travellers with its warm waters, long beaches and relaxed tropical vibe. As well as a revitalised beachfront, the port city has extraordinary art deco architecture and street art, plus an eclectic music scene. But for all its hip credentials and burgeoning craft food movement, you won’t want to forgo Durban’s famous curries.
Don’t miss: A wander down Florida Road near Morningside, the city’s best eat street.