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The Urbanist
the urbanist

The Urbanist’s Guide to Approachable, Unusual Hikes

 Avoid the day-tripper crowds at these expert-recommended trails. By Nikita Richardson
the urbanist

The Urbanist’s Guide to the Beaches of New Jersey

 How to best navigate everything from parking to beach tags. By Kayla Levy
the urbanist

The Urbanist’s Guide to Tucson

 Sonoran Desert chiles, full-moon-brewed beer, and grocery-store-heiress antiques. By Elizabeth Thompson
  1. the urbanist: san juan
    Where the Locals Would Stay in San Juan If They Weren’t LocalAvailability is high and prices are much gentler than before the storms.
    By Kathleen Squires
  2. the urbanist: london
    Kew Gardens, Margate, and Other Escapes From LondonFive brilliant day trips, each less than two hours from the heart of the capital.
    By Christine Ajudua
  3. the urbanist: london
    Week 9: London Is a Grand Old Dame With a Hip New AttitudeThe city boasts some of the world’s best design, fashion, art galleries, theaters, and restaurants, but always makes room for the up-and-coming.
    By Coco Khan
  4. the urbanist: london
    Go Deeper: What to Read, Watch, and Download Before Visiting LondonOur list of essentials includes a detective series starring Idris Elba and a zombie apocalypse flick.
    By Coco Khan
  5. the urbanist: london
    Where the Locals Would Stay in London If They Weren’t LocalFrom stately townhouses to a floating hotel, these suggestions suit a range of styles and spending habits.
    By Christine Ajudua
  6. the urbanist: london
    Don’t Leave London Without Trying These 8 Essential DishesBeyond fish and chips: A quartet of food experts wax lyrical about four British classics and other dishes unique to contemporary, cosmopolitan London.
    By Christine Ajudua
  7. the urbanist: london
    London’s Best Watering Holes, According to Star Bartender Tony ConigliaroThe ‘Heston Blumenthal of drinks’ picks his favorite bars for top-shelf Martinis, natural wine, and no-frills cocktails.
    By Christine Ajudua
  8. the urbanist: london
    Where the Founders of The Gourmand Eat and Drink in LondonDavid Lane and Marina Tweed’s go-to breakfast nooks, old-school oyster bars, and proper English pubs.
    By Christine Ajudua
  9. the urbanist: london
    My Favorite End: An Art Curator’s Guide to West LondonSeeking inspiration with Ben Moore, founder of Art Below, a public-works project that brings art to billboard spaces in underground train stations.
    By Coco Khan
  10. the urbanist: london
    My Favorite End: A Novelist’s Guide to North LondonErin Kelly, best-selling author of crime thrillers The Poison Tree and He Said/She Said, goes to bat for her beloved quadrant of the city.
    By Coco Khan
  11. the urbanist: dubai
    The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Dubai, According to LocalsA proper haul includes Arabian incense, camel-milk chocolate, and a made-in-the-UAE sandboard.
    By Laura Coughlin
  12. the urbanist: dubai
    The Best Day Trips From Dubai: Sharjah, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and MoreWhen you need a change of scenery, visit the cultural capital of the UAE, snorkel with turtles, or ride the world’s longest zip line.
    By Laura Coughlin
  13. the urbanist: dubai
    The Bottoms-up, Balls-out Thrill Seeker’s Guide to DubaiSkydiving, dirt biking, and other ways to terrify your mother.
    By Laura Coughlin
  14. the urbanist: dubai
    The Best Shopping in Dubai, According to a Fashion DirectorExpect luxury out the wazoo at the world’s biggest mall, but also bohemian ceramics and collectible sneakers.
    By Kerry McDermott
  15. the urbanist: dubai
    Where the Locals Would Stay in Dubai If They Weren’t LocalCue the art-stuffed rooms, glass-paneled pools, and dynamite rooftop lounges.
    By Laura Coughlin
  16. the urbanist: san juan
    Trapeze Lessons, Sketch Shows, and Other Things to Do When It Rains in San JuanA wet day needn’t spoil your vacation. When the clouds burst, in-the-know locals explore cultural centers, art-house cinemas, and sketch comedy shows.
    By Kathleen Squires
  17. the urbanist: cape town
    Where Cape Town’s Hottest Chefs Eat OutIncluding their go-to spots for crispy hake tacos, curried oysters, doughssants, and authentic boerewors sausage.
    By Sarah Khan
  18. the urbanist: barcelona
    The Bartender’s Guide to Barcelona’s Booming Cocktail SceneFor much of its natural history, the city was stuck on three drinks: beer, wine, and vermouth. Not anymore.
    By Jackie Bryant
  19. the urbanist: barcelona
    How to Shop Like a Local in BarcelonaTake advantage of a homegrown shopping scene with a costume designer, interiors guru, and top chef as your guides.
    By Jennifer Ceaser
  20. the urbanist: cape town
    A Top Sommelier’s Lowdown on the Western Cape WinelandsThanks to a temperate climate and fertile terrain, Cape Town is surrounded by distinct wine regions. Here’s how to tell them apart.
    By Sarah Khan
  21. the urbanist: bangkok
    Where to Rummage for Vintage in BangkokThree throwback obsessives share their lists of go-to scouting spots for military jackets, embroidered caftans, rare vinyl, and taxidermied ostriches.
    By Andrew Parks
  22. the urbanist
    Introducing the UrbanistA new pop-up travel blog from New York Media, covering ten remarkable cities in ten action-packed weeks.
    By Ashlea Halpern
  23. the urbanist: bangkok
    Week 1: Bangkok, the Most Underrated City in Southeast AsiaTo give it a fair shake, you need at least five days — long enough that you won’t spend your whole trip sitting in traffic.
    By Andrew Parks
  24. the urbanist: barcelona
    A Lazy Day in Poble Sec, One of Barcelona’s Liveliest NeighborhoodsActress Rachel Lascar has called the area home for nearly a decade. Here’s where she likes to hang out.
    By Jennifer Ceaser
  25. the urbanist: cape town
    What Travelers Should Know About Cape Town’s Water CrisisThe city is battling an unprecedented drought, but don’t cancel your vacation plans — just be more conscientious.
    By Sarah Khan
  26. the urbanist: san francisco
    Where Star Bartender Nicolas Torres Drinks in San FranciscoThe cocktail slinger behind Lazy Bear and True Laurel loves classic margaritas, natural wine, and a grimy-good dive bar.
    By Aislyn Greene
  27. the urbanist: beijing
    To See Chinese Punks Lose Their Minds, Hit Up These Beijing LivehousesThe capital’s biggest musicheads on their favorite metal bars, grimy rock clubs, swanky jazz haunts, and more.
    By Jamie Fullerton and Paula Jin
  28. the urbanist: cape town
    Week 4: Cape Town Is Crazy Beautiful — and Buzzing With Creative EnergyYes, there are mountains you must climb and beaches you must bask upon, but the beauty of the Mother City is not merely skin deep.
    By Sarah Khan
  29. the urbanist
    San Francisco After Dark: The Perfect Night Out for Every PersonalityAn event planner, two chefs, and a drag queen lay out their multi-stop itineraries for an unforgettable evening.
    By Aislyn Greene
  30. the urbanist: honolulu
    Hike a Volcano, Volunteer on a Taro Farm, and Other Ways to Escape WaikikiWhen you’re full up on Honolulu, head for the hills. And by hills we mean volcanoes.
    By Ligaya Malones
  31. the urbanist: beijing
    Craft Beer Is a Big Deal in Beijing Now — Here’s Where to Drink ItAccording to Debbie Ma, a traditional Chinese medicine doctor and member of the Beijing Homebrewing Society.
    By Jamie Fullerton and Paula Jin
  32. the urbanist: san francisco
    The Best Day Trips From San FranciscoHalf the joy of living in the Bay Area is leaving it behind. Here’s where the locals go when they need to get away.
    By Aislyn Greene
  33. the urbanist: bogotá
    Where the Locals Would Stay in Bogotá If They Weren’t LocalTraffic in the Colombian city can be a nightmare, so choose your hotel wisely.
    By Nicholas Gill
  34. the urbanist: london
    My Favorite End: A Rapper’s Guide to East LondonJammz, a grime emcee and producer, makes the case for the area where he was born and raised.
    By Coco Khan
  35. the urbanist: oaxaca
    The Urbanist’s Guide to OaxacaZapotec rap, blue-corn tetelas, petrified waterfalls.
    By Megan Frye
  36. the urbanist: san francisco
    Where the Locals Would Stay in San Francisco If They Weren’t LocalThe city is home to the world’s most expensive hotel rooms. But there is hope for budget(-ish) travelers.
    By Aislyn Greene
  37. the urbanist: bangkok
    Go Deeper: What to Read, Watch, and Download Before Visiting BangkokOur list of essentials includes a breakout short story collection, a street food doc, and a hand-painted city map.
    By Andrew Parks
  38. the urbanist: bogotá
    Go Deeper: What to Read, Watch, and Download Before Visiting BogotáOur list of essentials include the lesser-known novels of Gabriel García Márquez, a Vice documentary, and a hip-rolling psychedelic cumbia band.
    By Nicholas Gill
  39. the urbanist: honolulu
    Poi Donuts and Other ‘Broke Da Mouth’ Desserts in HonoluluWe hope you packed your stretchy pants, because this city is delicious.
    By Ligaya Malones
  40. the urbanist: san francisco
    The Architecture Buff’s Guide to San FranciscoA construction boom is underway and it’s driven by tech dollars. These are the buildings you need to know.
    By Aislyn Greene
  41. the urbanist: dubai
    Week 8: Everything You Think You Know About Dubai Is WrongThe UAE’s most populous city shines in luxury and opulence. But it’s also wildly diverse and ripe with possibility.
    By Laura Coughlin and Kerry McDermott
  42. the urbanist: san francisco
    The Best Breakfast Spots in San Francisco, According to LocalsIn the birthplace of artisanal toast, the first meal of the day is not only the most important — it’s practically a religion.
    By Aislyn Greene
  43. the urbanist: bangkok
    Wild Elephants and Jungle Biking: The Best Day Trips From BangkokEven the city’s biggest supporters sometimes need a break. From a “green lung” getaway to a triple-waterfall park, here’s where the locals escape.
    By Andrew Parks
  44. the urbanist: barcelona
    Go Deeper: What to Read, Watch, and Follow Before Visiting BarcelonaOur list of essentials includes a Colm Tóibín book, a podcast about entrepreneurs, and Javier Bardem.
    By Jennifer Ceaser
  45. the urbanist: beijing
    Scuba Dive the Great Wall of China and Other Escapes From BeijingCreative getaways for history buffs, hard-core cyclists, and appreciators of outré museums.
    By Jamie Fullerton
  46. the urbanist: bogotá
    How to Shop Like a Local in BogotáAchiote, Afro-Colombian vinyl, or all-natural soap — whatever you’re on the hunt for, here’s where to find it.
    By Nicholas Gill
  47. the urbanist: bangkok
    Your Perfect Afternoon: What to Eat, See, and Do in Bangkok’s Old TownNeoclassical architecture, squid ink soup, and a secret diving center: Local artist Pomme Chan guides us through the city’s buzziest creative enclave.
    By Andrew Parks
  48. the urbanist: san francisco
    Week Two: San Francisco Is the Most Dynamic City in America Right NowThe tech boom forever shifted the landscape, but old, radical San Francisco isn’t going down without a fight. Travelers can experience both worlds.
    By Aislyn Greene
  49. the urbanist: honolulu
    Week 5: Honolulu Is a Real City, Not Just a Vacation DestinationWaikiki is still a hit with tourists, but an inspiring wave of homegrown entrepreneurship has thrust many other neighborhoods into the spotlight.
    By Ligaya Malones
  50. the urbanist: cape town
    Go Deeper: What to Read, Watch, and Download Before Visiting Cape TownOur list of essentials includes Nelson Mandela’s memoir, the Rodriguez documentary, and a handy local restaurant app.
    By Sarah Khan
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