What to buy the person who has it all….

Summer is a time for travel, whether it’s island hopping, beach lounging or city exploring, and one of the joys of visiting new places is discovering their food and drink culture. What’s better than an Aperol in the sunshine, some antipasti with a view or fresh street food from a hidden gem trader a local tipped you off about? Whether it’s a swanky bar or a delicious treat for pennies, we have scoured Europe to bring you some hot tips of tasty treats and places you should try, next time you’re in the neighbourhood… We’re often asked about Ibiza, and the island truly is brimming with great places to try. If you have children in tow, a lovely place for lunch is La Paloma, a bohemian oasis of calm surrounded by citrus trees. The food is fabulous, unpretentious but elegant, and there’s a small playground for little ones to explore whilst adults sit back and relax. Seafood fans should try Cala Salada for an impressive array of fresh fish dishes and huge paella pans. Reasonably priced and with a relaxed atmosphere, this restaurant is popular with locals and as such, in high season gets very busy, so we recommend getting the bus or arriving early to secure a parking spot. Regulars to the island will have seen local delicacy ‘Flao’ on menus everywhere – like a drier version of a baked cheesecake and usually flavoured with mint and/ or aniseed, it’s definitely worth tasting. For a more sophisticated menu, try El Chiringuito . Situated on a beautiful sandy beach in an elegantly refined setting, this stunning restaurant has upmarket dishes, including whole fish and oysters, but is relaxed, friendly and sociable. Children will love it too, due to the extensive and thoughtful children’s menu, and parents can relax watching younger visitors enjoy the beach. Palermo, Sicily, is a food lover’s paradise. There are far too many places to mention, we could do a blog on Palermo alone, but a gem that’s sure to whet your appetite is Bisso Bistrot – popular with locals and friendly to the wallet, this little restaurant is great for those with special dietary needs too, with vegan and gluten free options and a chef that loves to please diners. It’s a modern but chilled out location too, definitely one to check out! Or if you’re looking for something a bit different, try Eat With Fulvio – this friendly Supper Club is great for solo travellers or those wishing to meet new people, plus Fulvio is an excellent host, the food it fantastic and you can even learn from this local about shopping for and preparing the best Sicilian ingredients. When thirsty in Athens, the hottest cocktail bar right now is The Clumsies, which currently proudly sits at number 7 on the World’s Best Bars List. For dinner we’d recommend Cookoovaya, where innovative chefs use fresh, seasonal ingredients to make Greek cuisine in a friendly setting. Paris is always in our hearts and as all food lovers know, the scene there is sublime. A highlight for Sunday mornings is a wander through Marche Raspail, an open air food market popular year-round, offering everything from fresh produce to rotisserie chicken and patisserie. Bar Josephine at the Lutetia Hotel is an Art Deco haven, a beautiful frescoed setting where tuxedoed mixologists create stunning cocktails for some of the chicest clientele in Paris. Next time you’re in Manchester, we highly recommend heading to the Asia Bar at The Ivy Spinningfields, where Asian ingredients are used by expert mixologists to create deliciously different cocktails. A favourite from the menu is the Smoked Plum Boulevardier (a smoky twist on a classic – Kishinamien umeshu mum sake, Hibiki Harmony, Kamm & Son’s English Aperitivo and plum bitters) – delicious! Gothenburg is gaining in popularity for city breaks, perhaps due in part to its laid back atmosphere and lovely canal ways. The Lindholmen Street Food & Design Market is open every Saturday from 12-5pm and has a wonderful array of street food stalls that sit alongside contemporary arts and crafts sellers, making it a great place for a wander and a casual lunch. Try everything from fresh fish to gourmet burgers, local beers to an ever changing list of specials. Lisbon has been a star destination for a while and is still going strong. Perfect for weekends away, there is so much to discover here. Lovers of food markets should head to Mercado da Ribiera Time Out where visitors can graze on a variety of Portuguese specialities and international dishes, all prepared freshly (hot tips are ‘Monte Mar’ and ‘Henrique Sa Pessoa’). Serious foodies should book well in advance at previously mentioned chef Pessoa’s flagship restaurant Alma, a Michelin-starred hotspot with tasting menus, an incredible drinks list and excellent people watching! We’re always on the lookout for new places so for any questions, to share your hot tips or if you’d like to discuss putting together an itinerary, please contact us at info@thebbbook.com.

Many successful people travel a lot for work. Sometimes they travel alone, sometimes their families come too. Often their PA or other personal staff also travel a lot, accompanying and supporting the primary of getting things set up in their absence, or ahead of their arrival. To the uninitiated, this sounds very glamorous, a dazzling whirlwind of hotel rooms, room service and international travel. But to those who do this often, it can be anything but. You start to miss the space, cooking and creature comforts of ‘home.’ Long work hours and eating on the run mean your health can suffer and sleep becomes of primary importance. At BBB, we understand the needs of busy individuals and their superstar PA’s, so we have spoken to our various partners and want to suggest here our top solutions to create a ‘home away from home,’ whether that’s accommodation abroad, London residences for family or business colleagues coming into town, packing and removals services for longer travel or how to recruit the extra staff to make things work. We’re here to help, so if any of the below appeals or you have any other requests, however wild or weird, just get in touch with us at info@thebbbook.com We have a great number of contacts, listed in the app and otherwise, who offer reliable, well priced and first class services, many of whom we can secure preferential rates with. So get in touch and we’d be happy to help. A touch of glamour in La-La-Land… LA is a whirlwind of lights, cars, money and Hollywood stars. This is great, but when you’re there to work, you also need some calm. But this shouldn’t have to mean you miss out on the glamour entirely…

The Bungalows at the Beverly Hills Hotel were first introduced in 1915 to accommodate families that wanted more space and privacy and they remain an important part of the character of this iconic hotel. They are known the world over for their history with Hollywood royalty and colourful anecdotes, which include Elizabeth Taylor spending six of her eight honeymoons there, Howard Hughes living there on and off for over 30 years and Lauren Bacall and Marlene Dietrich each calling them home for over a year…

Bungalow 1 was a favourite place to stay of none other than Marilyn Monroe. She spent more time in this bungalow than any other, so it’s only right that the property’s thoughtful new design incorporates aspects of Marilyn Monroe’s life and whimsical elements reflective of her most celebrated movie roles. With curvy furniture, bright and abstract floor coverings, colorful travertine stones, and gold-leafed ceilings, this feminine space is both playful and sophisticated. Strong Jean Michel Frank influences pay homage to her use of his designs in her own home, including extensive use of parchment to envelop aspects of each room. The one-bedroom bungalow suite includes a living room with dining area, fireplace and half bath; master suite, full master bath and dressing room and private terrace. The main suite also connects to two adjoining bedrooms making it a three bedroom bungalow (2,620 sq. Ft.). Special features of this stunning property include a Chanel N°5 fragrance bar and bath amenities, a library featuring classic Marilyn Monroe films and books, a Marilyn Monroe Champagne Bath Bubble Experience featuring a Some Like it Hot bubble bath (Ceara pure Atlantic sea salt from the coast of Brazil and Sweet Orange and Grapefruit Oils), Marilyn’s Menu (available via in-room dining), inspired by an interview that appeared in the 1952 issue of Pageant Magazine. The hotel itself is located in the coveted zip code of 90210, within easy proximity of the business and entertainment centres of LA. Los Angeles International Airport is just 40 minutes away, and the Pacific not much further. Within the hotel grounds, guests are surrounded by 12 acres of tropical gardens and exotic flowers, giving an air of tranquility as a welcome retreat from the hustle of the city. Weekend escapes to Barrio Alto… Make The Lumiares your home away from home in Lisbon. In the heart of fashionable Barrio Alto, the hotel is stylishly designed and each of the 5 rooms apartment style room sizes, ranging fro Studio to Penhouse, features a kitchen, making relaxed dining at the end of a busy day possible across the property. For those who prefer not to cook however, the Lumi Rooftop has wonderful views and delicious cuisine, or take a walk to one of the many fantastic local restaurants. The hotel has free high-speed WiFi throughout, making working from the room convenient and economical. The hotel’s small but perfectly formed spa and fitness area offers an integrated health, wellness and relaxation haven with a selection of high quality spa treatments, sauna, steam room and fitness facilities. They have some of the best therapists in Lisbon on hand to deliver a broad range of treatments, so if destressing is a must, they have it covered. Family or colleagues visiting London? Four Seasons Residences London at Ten Trinity Square are a unique collection of ten luxury residential-style accommodations, located between the third and seventh floors of The Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity, just by Tower Bridge. With open-plan living areas, dining rooms, fully equipped kitchens and up to four bedrooms, the residences sleep 2-9 people and offer a new level of luxury living within the City of London. The stand-out accommodations – including the Tower Residence – offer extensive private terraces with stunning views overlooking the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. London’s leading designers, including Martin Kemp Design, LINLEY, Richmond International and Fox Linton, have created elegant and refined interiors with an individual style and character for each residence, drawing inspiration from the heritage building’s origins in the 1920s. Run away to the South of France… What could be more perfect than a private villa at La Reserve Ramatuelle this summer? Tucked away in the hills, right next to Saint Tropez, the villas are truly a hidden gem. There are just 14 private villas, all surrounded by pine trees and interrupted only by the tranquil sound of cicadas… Clinging to the hillside, nestled in large, fragrant private gardens, all the villas look out onto the infinite blue expanses of the Mediterranean. Each has its private heated swimming pool, some of them with a pool house: an azure blue oasis making a striking contrast with the subtle green shades of the umbrella-like stone pines and the silvery leaves of the olive trees. And of course that supreme sense of peacefulness, barely troubled by a playful breeze, that gives one the impression of being in a unique bubble of serenity. This is really voluntary exile… The villas have three to six spacious rooms ensuring individual comfort and privacy: en suite bathrooms for each room, a fully equipped dressing room… Whether as a family or among friends, this is a place designed for the sheer joy of being together. All are also fully serviced, including a dedicated housemaid, as well as private chef services and other bespoke options, to make each stay memorable and unique. Guests also have access to all the hotel’s facilities, including a wonderful Spa, three sumptuous restaurants and a private beach on the Plages de Pampelonnes. For all travel related enquiries, just email anna@thebbbook.com for quotes, special discounts, further suggestions and more. Need extra staff for holiday travel or visiting guests? Travelling also means leaving behind some of the facilities and comforts of home, whether that’s child daycare or Deliveroo. Perhaps the trip is for a project and a little extra organisational help is needed on the ground for an event or a meeting? Perhaps the children need supervising so the adults can relax, or perhaps everyone needs a break from the kitchen and a chef is desired? SORTED can take care of all of this for you. Some examples of placements might be:

• Nannies – travelling or on location 
• Tutors, so studies don’t fall behind on holiday 
• Private chefs – for a special dinner or a whole trip 
• EA, PA and VA services