This is the perfect place to read a book while you enjoy a good coffee and a tasty and organic piece of cake. They also do a delicious brunch.

The Barbican Estate is a residential estate that was built during the 1960s and the 1980s. An icon of Brutalist Architecture the Barbican Estate is an unique and complex real life experiment; a city within a city. The main focal point of the estate is the lake and its neighbouring terrace. High above and behind the terrace is the Barbican Centre, the largest performing arts centre in Europe. I really rate their visual culture exhibitions (for instance, Jean-Michel Basquiat and the Bauhaus) and live concerts (Nils Frahm and Ryoji Ikeda). Love it!

Impressive, brutal – a must.

Open 6 days a week (closed on Saturdays), La Trailita (it's a food truck, but before their current truck, they were just a small trailer) serves some of the best tacos and quesadillas in Chicago, including tons of vegetarian options. They are open year round (even when it gets cold!). There is another taco truck across the street at the intersection, so make sure you're going to the right one (it's in front of a convenience store). I believe it's run by some ladies from the church it parks near. Recommend their tacos al pastor and potato quesadillas. Salsa is very tasty but very spicy!

Vietnamese streetfood – on another level! Great natural wines too.

An island dedicated to art. Chichu Miseum, Lee Ufan Muséum, Benesse House build by Tadao Ando hosting art pieces by James Turrell, Claude Monet, Cy Twombly, Lee Ufan, Walter de Maria, Yayoi Kusama...  Mind blowing. 

Art deco brasseries in the 1st near by the Comédie Française

The warehouse in Stockwell has an extensive range of papers and boards, the perfect place to source the ideal surface for drawing or printing. Knowledgeable and helpful staff make John Purcell’s the best place to stock up on art papers in London.

Living space where a concept store, cafe, restaurant and flower shop. Perfect for a morning of work or an informal meeting, a nice brunch with live music ... In his concept store you can find the latest design trends selected by Jaime Beristain.

This tiny family-run Japanese restaurant right at the Naschmarket serves great authentic Japanese food. No matter which dish I tried, I loved every single one of them. Plan a little waiting time, they have only 6-9 seats, but it’s worth the wait.  By the way, take a look at the building, it’s the famous Majolica House by the famous Jugendstil architect Otto Wagner.

This medieval vault (attributed to Fernando Gallego) is one of my favorite places in the city to think. Set in a dark chamber, with only this piece on display and soft classical music playing on the background, colors seems to start changing every minute you spend there. By the time you leave the room, you will feel like you just returned from a different era.

The second coffee shop has to be Kaffeine. Having only recently come across this one, I was certainly impressed and they may even have the best coffee I've had, since a short stay in Portland, Oregon.