Bata, Equatorial Guinea. Seen by Sandra

Social life is not a major activity in Equatorial Guinea. Restaurants and bars where one (the expat community mostly) can meet and enjoy a social moment together are rare. On the other hand, tourism is not really a motive to come here and entering the country may be a tough and long thing to do. However, if you are lucky to experience a trip of some kind down here, here are a few places I’ve discovered since my arrival.

For a proper French meal by the sea, you can go to Le Kalao. A sweet little restaurant on the Paseo. The owner, Philippe is a lovely and friendly French man. Together with his wife they are happy to see new faces and welcome you even for just a cup of coffee or a drink during the day. The menu is simple, fresh, familiar and reasonably priced (the equivalent of an average priced meal in France) the dishes are quite large so be sure not to fill your stomach before you go. There are about a dozen bottles of wine of each color. Champagne and other alcoholic drinks. It is also the only place I have found with a proper Nespresso machine for coffee and Clooney lovers. Also, there is Wifi ~ Open all week except for Tuesdays.

North of Bata you will find the Utunde resort with Les Pagaies restaurant and bar. Hotel (huts) on the beach with a pool and pleasant, more local style food to order. The owners are a French couple who have traveled through the continent for over 20 years before landing in Guinea and opening this resort. If you make it there and go spend a day at sea, go by to see the Monkey. ~ Tel. 56 62 37

Another beach corner North of Bata on Bome Beach, is the Farm. A nice beach corner full of people on Sunday with quite a big restaurant to fill your needs over lunch or brunch. Don’t expect to be served quickly, so make sure to order at least an hour before you actually wish to eat. Apparently the Paella is to be tried out (may take over an hour to prepare so be patient). A nice corner for a weekend trip.
Another culinary corner is the Villa Celotti restaurant at the General Works housing village. An Italian company that opened an Italian cafeteria restaurant. Big, quite cosy with some sofa’s, rugs and family like tables for 6. The menu is simple (pasta, pizza, meat and fish dishes, a burger… Some for take away). You have the choice between the menu or the cafeteria dishes of the day. There is a bar. A proper bar with chairs and many, many bottles. Champagne, wine and more or less all the alcohol you may want. There are also two TV screens for game nights or just to crash and watch. You will kindly be handed the remote to play with. Make sure to be friendly and share.

Two other places to have a drink or a meal are the French Cultural Centre café and the Spanish Cultural Centre café and snack bar. Both by the sea, letting you have a drink while looking over the ocean and meeting acquaintances and  friends randomly passing by.

Paris, France. Seen by Alex

Alex has recently moved to Switzerland. Zürich. We, his friends, still wonder why… I suppose there is a part of mystery in each one of us and we should simply accept, and go visit !

When asked about his favorite new places in his favorite new home, he gave one of his favorites… in Paris.

Chez Léon, A traditional grandma-and-grandpa style French bistro, with the classic red-and-white checkered tablecloth, garlic sausage, smoked hareng and the hard boiled display eggs on the bar.

The cuisine is just like home. Basic, classic, tasty dishes. Loud. The ambiance is friendly and the smiles are on (yes, those still exist so take them while you can !!) ~ 5 Rue Isly, 75008 Paris, France. Tel : 01 43 87 42 77

Bucharest, Romania. Seen by Dan

Barcelona, Spain. Seen by Emmanuel

Emmanuel left Paris almost a year ago for the Barcelonian sun, tapas and playa. Who could blame him !? A city that wakes up at midnight and goes to bed by the time our alarm clock rings, shuts down for siesta’s half way through the day and spends its free time by the sea eating fresh shrimp and patatas bravas.

We haven’t seen him back in Paris since he left… That must be a sign.

So, where does Emmanuel go ?

The best and most unexpected bar. Pipa Club. It’s located in an old apartment, at the third floor of the building. To go up there, you’ll have to ring the bell and go upstairs. The bar is originally a club where you can smoke the pipe, so you can see plenty of them displayed everywhere. The club also organizes tango classes one a week, which take place in the living room. ~ Plaça Reial 3

Want some tapas in a crazy atmosphere? At Txakolin you’ll find some traditional tapas from Andorra, which you have to choose directly at the desk. Just grab as many as you like, the waiter will know how many you have eaten at the end by counting the toothpick that you have in your plate (each tapas is picked with one). Oh, and the place is most of the time full, so expect to each standing at the counter. ~ Avinguda Marquès de l’Argentera 19

One of the best vegetarian restaurant you will find! Biocenter. Healthy and tasty food at a bargain price. If you go for lunch, you can choose a menu with all you can eat buffet + soup or gazpacho + a big plate to choose from the menu + dessert. In the evening you’ll get a nice atmosphere and the same great food. You can also enjoy some art exhibition around the restaurant. ~ Carrer Pintor Fortuny 25

Paris, France. Seen by Sandra

As seen by a nomad world traveler and Parisian by adoption.

After days, weeks, months and years spent in what is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Paris, I have come to spot some places that are amazing to me, unknown to others and worth knowing if you appreciate turning away from the traditional guide book, the typical “trendy” spots and turn towards the personal unknown.

Some of my personal places :

Best Italian Pasta restaurant in my opinion – Procopio Angelo. A true Italian Chef who knows his flour and vegetables like no one else. Take away traiteur and restaurant. Small (very small, 24 seats to the most so make sure to book for lunch and dinner services at 19.30 and 21.30) Fresh homemade pasta. Change of menu / sauces almost every day. The prices are more than reasonable (8€ – 22€). My special treats : The Burrata is simply amazing ! The dishes… every day will offer a new delicatessen, so all is practically fabulous. The Tiramisu just makes you want to have more of it and well… basically I’m in love with this place as you may have understood. ~ 89 rue St. Honoré, 75001, Open Tuesday till Saturday

For a great Martini Bar (snack & restaurant) there is the Fumoir. Right behind the Cour Carrée of the Louvre, this cosy bar, with probably one of the actual bars I really enjoy sitting at, will offer you quite an impressive choice of Martini cocktails and other alcoholic treats (ask for the honey vodka, it’s delicious). The view is that of an amazing Louvre, the Seine river and the wooden Pont des Arts. ~ 6 rue de l’Amiral de Coligny, 75001

If you are looking for that traditional French wine bar, do not miss out on Les Pipos. A small (expanding as we speak) “bar de quartier” situated in the 5th, a street away from the Pantheon. The meat dishes are excellent, the homemade French fries are fabulous, the cheese is fantastic and the wine list, well… Go try it out and let me know what you think. Make sure to book if you go on a weekend night or you may get the French attitude of “sorry, no more room, goodnight” thrown at you. They may come through as cold (Bruno, the main waiter really) but it’s a friendly place I’ve been going to for the past 15 years or so. ~ 2 rue de l’école Polytechnique, 75005, Closes on Sundays

Champagne, who doesn’t like champagne ? OK, some don’t, but overall, we all love and worship champagne. Champagne is like water… Well, almost like water but it could be… For those of you who like to feel those bubbles drifting down your throats, try the Flûte Etoile Champagne Bar, a step away from one of the cities most (according to the world) beautiful avenues, the Champs Elysées. This small and cosy bar offers you over 100 different champagnes and appetizers to go with your glass. Every Wednesday night there is live Jazz music to go with your champagne and your friends. Some say it’s my second home… I may agree and say it is. ~ 19 rue de l’Etoile, 75008, Open Monday till Saturday