Regina Chow - Singapore Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle & Travel Blog: Europe

8 Beautiful Starbucks Stores Around the World (One of them is in Singapore!)

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Starbucks is the largest coffee chain worldwide and although it doesn't serve the best coffee (sorry Starbucks fans!), it is always very comforting to be able to spot a Starbucks from afar in a foreign land, especially in China. :)

And you'll be surprised.

Many of these Starbucks stores are architectural marvels in their own right too.

I was amazed to find not just one, but two very beautiful Starbucks stores in Nanjing alone. There are many other branches around the world that fit the bill just as well, and today I'll be sharing where all these gorgeous stores are located. If you are a Starbucks fan, be sure to put these on your bucket list! Even if you're not a fan, I assure you that these stores will make excellent backdrops for your travel photos!

1. Laomendong, Nanjing (China)


*Starbucks at Laomendong exudes an oriental vibe and resembles an old shophouse in ancient times.*

2. Nanjing 1912 Bar Street, Nanjing (China)

Believe it or not, this is not Europe. We are still in China!

3. Galeries Lafayette, Paris

Sitting here gives you a bird's eye view of the opulent decor (and all the merchandise - which is really bad for the pocket!) // Image Credit: Starbucks Newsroom

4. Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai (United Arab Emirates)

Loving the Middle Eastern decor and vibes at this one // Image Credit: Wikipedia Commons

5. Tukwila, Washington (USA)

Starbucks Drive-thru made from four shipping containers. Pretty amazing right? // Image Credit: Starbucks Newsroom

6. Fukuoka, Japan

A magnificent work of art by architect Kengo Kuma // Image Credit: Starbucks Newsroom

7. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Can you believe this gorgeous hipster store used to be a bank vault? // Image Credit: Starbucks Newsroom

8. One Rochester, Singapore

If you are a Singaporean and don't know about this yet, here's another spot you can check out this weekend! // Image Credit: Flickr (Choo Yut Shing)

Have you come across other Starbucks stores that are just as beautiful? I would love to hear from you so do leave a comment or drop me an e-mail at regina.chow@gmail.com!

**All images in this post belong the author, unless otherwise stated**

Travel: Street Food in Copenhagen

Friday, January 22, 2016

When it comes to food in Copenhagen, I have to admit that traditional Danish delicacies such as herring can be an acquired taste, but the street food and pastries are definitely among the best in their league.

Aside from the famous 2-Michelin star restaurant Noma (impossible to get a reservation unless you book early), here are 3 interesting places for good food and pastries that I would personally recommend.

Papiroen Street Food (Paper Island)

Indulge in street food, people watch and soak up the sun outdoors with a group of friends at Papiroen (Paper Island) along Copenhagen Harbour.

Why is it called Paper Island? The building once served as paper storage for the Procurement Association of the Danish Press, but the raw halls have since been transformed into a place where colourful trucks and vans serve up a dazzling array of street food from all over the world. These street food vendors are temporary occupants whose lease will be up in end 2017, so do visit Paper Island while you still can!

Papiroen (Paper Island)

Colourful trucks selling street food & coffee

Basking in the sun along Copenhagen Harbour

Website:

http://copenhagenstreetfood.dk/en/

Cinnamon Buns at St Peders Cafe (Sankt Peders Bageri)

St Peders Bageri/ St Peders Cafe

Delicious pastries at the oldest bakery in Copenhagen

I have never been a fan of pastries, but St Peders Cafe changed my mind for good. Cinnamon rolls are the highlight of Copenhagen's oldest bakery (founded in 1652) and you instantly know why when you sink your teeth into its fluffy goodness.

Having cinnamon roll at 730am (totally worth waking up for!)

Words fail to describe how incredible it is to have a piping hot crispy cinnamon bun on a cold morning.

Piping hot cinnamon rolls, all ready to fly off the shelves!

Their cinnamon rolls are also known as Wednesdays snails, with over 4000 of them flying off the shelves every Wednesday!

Address:
Sankt Peders Stræde 29
1453 København K

Contact No.:
+45 3311 1129

Royal Smushi Cafe

Royal Smushi Cafe

Royal Smushi Cafe is a popular spot in town (even Oprah has visited this cafe!) known for its reinterpretation of the Smorrebord, an all-time Danish staple. Smorrebord is essentially an open-faced sandwich, typically with rye bread as a base and loaded with toppings like herring and the works.

Bite-sized Smorrebord, also known as Smushi

Royal Smushi created its own version of beautifully crafted bite-sized Smorrebord, lovingly termed Smushi. You can pop a few of these delectable goodies into your mouth and try all the different flavours without feeling overstuffed. I love the guilt-free experience. Oh, and did I mention that the cafe itself is just as captivating? It is hard not to fall in love with the whimsical decor and those Arne Jacobsen Ant chairs!

Address:
Amagertorv 6,
1160 Copenhagen

Contact No.:

+45 33 12 11 22

If you're interested in reading more about my adventures in Copenhagen, click here for my previous post on Travel: 5 Sightseeing Spots in Copenhagen.

Have a great weekend ahead! I'll be heading to Tibet tomorrow, and keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed that I wouldn't be hit by altitude sickness. Please keep me in your prayers ok?

Travel: 5 Sightseeing Spots in Copenhagen

Sunday, October 11, 2015

6 Beautiful & Underrated Places In Europe

Monday, May 11, 2015

Cities such as London, Rome, Venice and Paris immediately come to mind when we plan our holidays in Europe, but if you prefer to take the road less travelled, here are 6 other breathtakingly beautiful places that you could visit based on my personal experience.

1. HUESCA, SPAIN

The province of Huesca located in northeast Spain is home to beautiful mountains, verdant valleys and pristine rivers. All natural and virtually untainted by commercialism, this is a dream come true for adventure seekers and nature lovers. You can easily drive there from Barcelona Airport.

Check out the Sierra de Guara region if you enjoy activities such as rockclimbing, canyoning, caving, hiking or wildlife watching.

During our last visit, we stayed at Rodellar, a quaint village situated above the Muscan gorge in the Sierra de Guara National Park. Rodellar is also one of the most famous places for rockclimbing in Europe.

You can read more about JW's rockclimbing experience in Rodellar below:

Climbing Natural Beyond Singapore

For a change of scenery, you can also head to a medieval city called Alquezar (30km from Rodellar by car). You can read more about our visit to Alquezar below:

A Day in Alquezar, Spain

2. BARCELONA, SPAIN

I hesitated about placing Barcelona on this list as it is after all the most popular tourist destination in Spain, but when I speak to people around me about their travel plans in Europe, this city hardly ever seems to be on their radar.

If you love beautiful yet distinctive architecture, Barcelona is the city to go. The fantastical buildings designed by Antoni Gaudi are exactly what fairy-tales are made of and you will never see architectural marvels of this nature anywhere else in Europe, or in the world for that matter.

Here are some of his signature works that you have to visit:

Park Guell

Casa Mila

Sagrada Familia

For more photos and information on the places to visit, read my previous posts below:

Palau Guell & Park Guell

Casa Mila

Casa Batllo

Sagrada Familia

If you are a history buff or if bullfighting is your cup of tea, you could also visit the Monumental Arena and Museo Taurino (bullfighting museum). Bullfighting may be banned in Barcelona (since 2012), but this slice of history serves a reminder of the arena's past glory and provides great photo opportunities.

For more information, read my post below:

Bullfighting in Barcelona: Monumental Arena & Museo Taurino

3. CESKY KRUMLOV, CZECH REPUBLIC

Everyone talks about Prague and how gorgeous it is as a city, but did you know that there is an equally picturesque (if not more) by the name of Cesky Krumlov in the South Bohemian Region of Czech Republic?

Both Prague's Castle District and Cesky Krumlov are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Everything seems to come to a standstill at Cesky Krumlov as you are instantly transported back in time. The little town looks just a medieval town complete with locals dressed in medieval costumes. A day-trip to Cesky Krumlov is usually recommended but personally, I would recommend staying a day or two just to soak in the beauty and to take time to explore its breathtaking surroundings.

For more information on places to visit in Cesky Krumlov, do read my posts below:

Curious Sights in Cesky Krumlov

I Left My Heart in Cesky Krumlov

4. EAGLE'S NEST, BERCHTESGADEN (GERMANY)

Eagle's Nest, otherwise known as Kehlsteinhaus, was built by the Nazis on the Kelstein mountain above Berchtesgaden (located at the German Bavarian Alps) in celebration of Hitler's 50th birthday. It was meant to be a holiday home and Hitler even had his own private route leading up from the city to the mountains.

While Hitler hardly visited Eagle's Nest, it is now a tourist hotspot primarily due to its mesmerizing scenery, which only gets better as you move up the mountain. Perched atop a mountain, Eagle's Nest is surrounded by a confluence of white fluffy clouds that lay atop the city. You can easily book a day trip there via Munich (Germany) or Salzburg (Austria).

For more photos and information, you can read my post below:

Eagle's Nest

5. INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA

Innsbruck is known for being a winter sports center and the city has hosted the Winter Olympics on several occasions. If you enjoy skiing or snowboarding, this is the place to be in winter, but even if these activities are not the least enticing to you, the panoramic scenery is bound to set your heart aflutter. Here's a short video clip that I took when I was there some years ago:

For more photos and information on places to visit, do read my posts below:

Innsbruck Mountains

Innsbruck Alpen Zoo

6. SALZBURG, AUSTRIA

Salzburg's Old Town (Altstadt) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is renowned for its baroque architecture, set against the backdrop of alpine surroundings.

Classical music lovers would also know that Salzburg was the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. I can still recall how I excited I was just before I stepped into Mozart's home, also known as Mozart's Geburthaus.

For more photos and information, you can read my post below:

Salzburg's Old Town & Mozart's Geburthaus

If you are a fan of popular movie musical The Sound of Music, you can also book a day trip to visit all the filming spots. It was also here where I discovered the very scenic Mondsee Lake, a beautifully serene lake overlooking lush rolling hills.

For more photos and information, read my post below:

The Sound of Music Tour

It has been a while since I last visited Europe and it is high time that I revisited this continent to explore other cities that I have yet to tick off my bucket list.

Meanwhile, I hope that my personal experiences detailed in this post would provide you with some useful tips and inspiration if you are planning a trip there.

Have a great week ahead!