106 | DESTINATION GUIDES More free monthly guides available at traveller.easyJet.com Amsterdam Netherlands polite waiting staff wear starched whites. Situated on the central Spuistraat, it’s the ideal place to take the weight off after a day at the museums. LIVE MUSIC The Sopranos PianoBar (11 Paardenstraat) But for the discreet velvet ropes, you wouldn’t know that this elegantly louche watering hole was open. Order a cocktail, pull up a pew around the grand piano and be entertained by one of Amsterdam’s upand-coming crooners. LATE & LIVELY De Bekeerde Suster (6 Kloveniersburgwaal) Originally a shelter for fallen women, this wellloved real ale pub now embraces the good times via an extensive menu of authentic Dutch tipples and some of the best chips in town. THIS MONTH SHOP Situated on glam PC Hooftstraat, the fl agship store for Supertrash devises elegant catwalk looks for women with common sense. Vertiginous heels come with a pair of coordinating ballet fl ats (supertrash.nl). SEE Not one for the faint-hearted, Amsterdam’s Torture Museum features a selection of medieval “instruments of NL HOTEL LEIDSEPLEIN ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ justice” such as the “fl ute of shame”, a heavy iron block into which thieves’ fi ngers were strapped (449 Singel). GO A short ferry trip across the IJ river from behind the Centraal train station, the industrial district of Buiksloterham has much to recommend it, including the Amsterdam botel (fl oating hotel). ESCAPE The 22km bank of the Zaan river boasts something for everyone, from the Zaanse Schans historic village with its working windmills to the Hembrug, a former military complex turned culture hub (zaanstreek.nl). NO WAY! The PC Hooftstraat has recently been declared the third best retail destination on the planet. Mark Smith A hotel surrounded by museums, shops and parklands, this is a comfortable stay, which also off ers designer interiors. From €110, book at hotels.easyJet.com. Antalya Turkey DIALLING CODE +90 CURRENCY TRY FLY FROM London (LGW) FROM THE AIRPORT TAXI Pre-book your taxi at easyJet.com. A local taxi costs TRY60. Bus No:202 runs from the domestic terminal to the city centre TRY4. Visit the Europcar desk for special easyJet rates. BON APPETIT UP TO €30 Meshur Adıyaman Çig Köftecisi (Varlık Mah, Teomanpaga Cadesi 92C, Bahçelievler) Come here for the çig köfte (delicious, spicy meatballs), a traditional eastern Turkish repast. You might also like to try another Turkish culinary delight available here, midye dolması (stuff ed mussels). Wash them down with salgam suyu, a non-alcoholic beverage made from beetroot juice. EXCLUSIVE Otantik Butik Otel & Restaurant (Barbaros Mahallesi, Hesapci Sokak, tel: 0242 244 8530) Fine dining in a traditional and romantic old Antalya setting. The menu provides local, Italian and international fl avours, and there’s a fi ne wine list. Try the fried ice cream. AFTER DARK LOW KEY Piano Bar (Divan Talya Hotel, 30 Fevzi Çakmak Caddesi, tel: 0242 248 6800) Cocktails are served against the spectacular backdrop of the Beydagı mountains. Relax to soothing music with a drink. LATE & LIVELY Indigo’s Pub (Ramada Plaza, 22 Fevzi Çakmak Caddesi, tel: 0242 249 1111) On Wednesday and Thursday nights this is the only place to hear good jazz and blues. If you’re into oldies, the band will stir your memories and heartstrings on weekend nights. THIS MONTH GO A visit to Antalya must include a Turkish bath, and Sefa Hamam is an ancient institution bearing traces of Roman and Selçuk architecture (32 Barbaros Mahallesi, Kocatepe Sokak, Kaleiçi). NO WAY! Antalya has the fastest growing population in Turkey: in 1927, it was 17,000; now, it’s well over a million. Jon Stigner Asturias Spain DIALLING CODE +34 CURRENCY € FLY FROM Geneva, Lisbon, London (STN) FROM THE AIRPORT TAXI Pre-book your taxi at easyJet.com. The fare to Oviedo is about €53, Gijón €45 and Avilés €23. The Express bus runs hourly from 6am–11pm to Oviedo and Gijón. Tickets: €7.50. There are less frequent buses to Avilés (alsa.es). Tickets: €1.40. BON APPETIT UP TO €30 Gepetto (22 San Bernardo, Gijón, tel: 985 351 109) This buzzing, cosy pizzaand-pasta place just off the atmospheric Plaza Mayor serves excellent Italian staples with panache. EXCLUSIVE Casa Maravilla (Ferrero, tel: 985 878 046) If you fancy splitting a seafood paella in a small, cliff top restaurant while enjoying the sea view, Casa Maravilla is for you. As its name suggests, the food and the setting are marvellous. Splurge on seafood and fi sh to your heart’s content. Rice with lobster is the speciality. In winter it’s only open for lunch at the weekends. AFTER DARK LOW KEY Carpe Diem (22 San Bernardo, Avilés, tel: 984 831 715) Trendy, busy wine bar in the centre of town off ering one of the best selections of wines in Asturias, with free tapas to boot. LATE & LIVELY Gato Tuerto (1 Nicanor Piñole, tel: 985 341 544) This chill-out bar in central Gijón becomes a stylish club for thirtysomethings when the sun goes down, off ering cool music, cocktails and dancing. THIS MONTH GO Paseo y Jardines de Begoña, Gijón is a busy central square lined with restaurants, cafés and bars and home to the Jovellanos Theatre. The adjacent square hosts the attractive San Lorenzo church. NO WAY! Not only does Asturias provide the perfect habitat for the brown bear, a unique species of fallow deer, golden eagles and more, it’s also home to a special breed of mountain pony, the Asturcon. Karen Thomas
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