Discover : Our travel guides

Daryl Horn 01/09/2021 Daryl Horn 01/09/2021

City Break in Copenhagen

Back on the Green List, Copenhagen is a wonderful city break destination for foodies and lovers of European culture. A relatively short distance for UK travellers, our ‘Discover : Copenhagen’ destination guide explores the Danish food scene, cool shops and places of interest.

With the news that Denmark is now on the ‘Green List’ of destinations for UK based travellers (as of August 2021), it seems like the ideal time to talk about Copenhagen. It was one of the last overseas trips we made prior to having our son and despite it being freezing cold (it was early March), we loved our stay here. Flights from Gatwick get you to Copenhagen in a little under two hours, and a train for the airport to the city centre is as straightforward as it gets.

Hotel

We stayed at Hotel SP34, a stylish accommodation based in the Latin Quarter. It has a lovely bar/lounge area, dripping with Hygge vibes and although the rooms are on the small side, it is in a marvellous location.

Food scene

A short walk away is the Torvehallerne Food Market; a buzzy indoor food hall which houses some of Copenhagen’s best local culinary creatives. A great option for breakfast or lunch on the go.

For our first evening meal we booked a table at the award winning, über trendy Høst. Innovative Scandinavian cuisine with a focus on seasonal ingredients cooked and plated with creative elegance. The evening set menu is full of surprises and requires an open mind, whilst the overall experience is a real taste of modern Danish dining. We’d advise booking a table in advance of your trip to avoid missing out!

Scallops at Høst, complete with scandi foliage!

For something a bit less ‘out there’, but equally as groovy, head to Kodbyens Fiskebar for delicious seafood and cocktails, in the old meat packing district. The fish and chips are a delight!

Explore

A trip to Copenhagen is not complete without exploring Nyhavn, with its fishing canal and iconic colourful buildings. Definitely fertile ground for #content! The bars and restaurants are a bit touristy here, although there is a fabulous street food market nearby, with a wide range of cuisines. Grab a bite and sit by the docks for wonderful views of the water.

We discovered a real treasure trove nearby; Posterland has an incredible selection of art prints by famous and independent artists from all over the world. Did we acquire a print of Miami to take home with us? I can confirm that yes, yes we did…

If you are after a more designer shopping experience, the pedestrianised ‘Strøget’ has all the usual international brands and some cool native stores, including home decor heaven Hay House. Just place a cap on your credit card limit before entering!

View from Dronning Louises Bro (Queen’s Bridge)

All things considered, Copenhagen is a delightful, charming, stylish city which is easy to get around and has a fabulous food scene. Surrounded by water, it can get very, very cold in the winter months, but wrapping up warm and strolling around can be very romantic. Ideal for a weekend getaway.

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Copenhagen Nyhavn Vintage Style Travel Print

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Daryl Horn 17/08/2021 Daryl Horn 17/08/2021

Family getaway to Pollensa, Mallorca

Pollensa is a fabulous destination for holidaymakers and families in search of a more serene, authentic experience of Mallorca. The old town and the port have plenty to enjoy, with stunning mountain scenery, pretty streets and sandy beaches.

If you’re planning on a late summer getaway to Mallorca with a young family, you cannot beat Pollensa. Situated in the quieter Northern tip of the island, away from the package holidays and high-rise hotels of the southern towns, Pollensa is surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. The old town is full of attractive narrow streets and has an impressive main plaza lined-with cafes, restaurants and bars.

A few kilometres away is Port de Pollensa with has some lovely beaches and a great selection of beachfront and harbourside restaurants and bars. The region is famous for its’ mountainous landscape, popular with cycling enthusiasts who flock here for the incredible cycling routes. Each time we have visited Pollensa we have stayed in both by the beach and close to the Old Town. Both are lovely and have their merits, which we will cover below.

The Old Town:

The old town is a labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets and locally-run cafes and shops. Find your way to the impressive Plaça Mayor (main square) which is surrounded by a plenty of restaurants and cafes, perfect for a spot of breakfast, lunch, tapas or an evening meal. As the night falls, the square becomes quite busy with young children playing, whilst their parents enjoy a sundowner. The Old Town is lovely for an evening stroll to work off that paella and share an ice cream. Just off the square are the famous Calvari steps; climbing to the top is challenging but certainly worth the effort. You will be rewarded with spectacular views of Pollensa and there is a charming little cafe at the top of the steps for much needed refreshments.

During our first visit we stayed with family, renting a large, rustic villa on road Ma-2202. There a many rental villas and apartments in the neighbouring roads of the old town. Ours was a 5 minute drive to the old town and although close enough to walk, the surrounding roads are not exactly pedestrian-friendly. Not ideal for young children or a buggy!

Port de Pollensa

Port de Pollensa, is a straightforward 20 minute drive north from the busier tourist town of Alcudia. It has a fantastic stretch of sandy beach with small playgrounds at either end, toilet facilities and cafe’s. Even in the height of summer, we found there was plenty of available sun loungers (rentals) and space. There are number of restaurants and convenience stores along the seafront, plenty of which offer takeaway services, if you don’t want to give up your spot on the beach! Our favourite restaurant by the beach is Swing; a family-run restaurant with friendly staff, plenty of outdoor seating (including high chairs) and a fantastic menu of tapas, fresh seafood and of course, paella. There are no ugly high-rise hotels here, but plenty of discreet holiday rental apartment buildings, ideally situated for families.

When you reach the north end of the beach, you’ll find the marina with luxury yachts and sail boats bobbing on the sea. The pedestrianised waterfront is lined with cafes and restaurants to cater for all tastes. Most have plenty of outdoor seating where sea views can be enjoyed. Our favourite breakfast spot is Cappuccino Grand Cafe, an upscale, bistro vibe adjoined to Hotel Sis Pins. Grab a table on the terrace and enjoy the sea views, while sampling the extensive menu. Good quality pastries, sandwiches, some healthy options and every type of eggs you can hope for. Their Eggs Benedict is the stuff of dreams.

Overall, Pollensa is a lovely part of Mallorca for holidaymakers of all ages and particularly ideal for families with young children looking for a more serene experience. We preferred staying close to the beach, for its’ amenities but the old town also has so much to offer, with a bit more of an authentic feel. It’s easy to see why people return here year after year, and we hope to visit again soon.

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Pollensa Mallorca Vintage Style Travel Print

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Daryl Horn 11/09/2016 Daryl Horn 11/09/2016

A Long Weekend in Valencia

Many people have written about 'The Big Two'; Barcelona and Madrid, which are rich in culture and understandably very popular destinations, but we decided to write a blog about our own favourite Spanish City, Valencia.

Having visited several times together, Spain is one of our favourite short-haul travel destinations, here at Places & Spaces Art Co. Many people have written about 'The Big Two'; Barcelona and Madrid, which are rich in culture and understandably very popular destinations, but we decided to write a blog about our own favourite Spanish City, Valencia.

This port city is situated on the South-East coast of Spain and is the country's third-largest. It is very easy to get there, with direct flights from many International airports and reasonable prices (returns from London Gatwick are around £80 if you select your dates wisely). It is home to some magnificent architecture, old and new, exceptional food, a vibrant bar scene, as well as a huge beach next to the port. In our opinion it has some of the best aspects of Barcelona and Madrid, but on a smaller scale and isn't swarming with tourists.

In this blog, we will highlight some of Valencia's most appealing features and make suggestions of things to see and where eat, stay and play over a long weekend.

Getting There and Getting Around:

As previously mentioned Valencia has an international airport with regular flights to and from major European cities. It is possible to get a train from Barcelona which is further north along the East coast of Spain and takes around 3-4 hours. From the airport, it is very straightforward to get a metro to the city centre and takes around 30 minutes. The ticket machines usually have an English language option and the metro itself is modern and easy to navigate, if you know where you are headed to. If you're feeling flush and cannot deal with public transport, a taxi to the city centre can be at least 40€. Honestly, the metro is a good facility, cheap and not anywhere near as busy as the London underground.

Where To Stay:

This really depends on the nature of your trip. I would classify the city in two main areas: The Old town/city centre and The Port/Beach area. If you want to spend your time sightseeing during the day and bar-hopping in the evening, there is a lot more going on around the city centre. If your intention is to relax and top-up your tan, with a more chilled bar/restaurant scene, then the port/beach area is perfect. It is quick and easy to get from one area to the other by metro (15-20mins) or by Taxi (10mins, around 15€), so it is possible to enjoy both areas over a long weekend. There are plenty of reasonably priced hotels, though you may want to consider an apartment rental, which can be superb value. For a wide range of clean, modern, 'luxury' apartments in great locations, checkout: http://www.valencialuxury.com/es/

Safety:

In our experience, Valencia seemed perfectly safe to walk around on foot by day or night. The usual common sense applies when visiting any foreign city, but the pickpocketing and street prostitution that are commonplace in parts of Barcelona and Madrid do not seem to be present here. If visiting in Summer months, note that the temperatures regularly reach 35-40 degrees. When we visited in early August the temperatures would sometimes reach 30 degrees at midnight, so protect yourself from the sun when walking around during the day and drink plenty of water!

Things To Do:

Jardines del Turia / City of Arts & Sciences

Running through the city centre and down to the port are the Jardines Del Turia; a beautiful park built within the dried out river bed of the River Turia. If you are staying anywhere around the city centre it is hard to miss the Turia. It snakes around the North of El Carme (the old town) and along the east side of the town, down towards the port area. It sits beneath many small bridges and roads throughout the city and there are many entry points from street level. If you want to walk or cycle down to or from the City of Arts & Sciences, but avoid the roads, this is a very pleasant route to take.

You really cannot miss the City of Arts & Sciences, as the huge space-age museum buildings and concert hall are visible far into the distance. The whole complex is a testament to modern architecture and a juxtaposition to most of Valencia's typical old Spanish charm. Even if you don't intend to visit the museums, aquarium, cinema, or see an event here, it is well worth visiting and having a stroll around the grounds as the architecture is truly impressive. Having spoken to locals it seems like some of them object to the fact that so much of the city's resources were poured into the project, when the country clearly has wider economic issues. However, as a visitor, it is top of the list of things to see in Valencia and there is nothing else like it in Spain.

Mercado Central, Plaça de la Ciutat de Bruges, s/n, 46001

One of the many reasons to visit Valencia is for the food. It's where the Paella was invented and has a vibrant tapas bar scene. So it stands to reason that the food market is one of the best in the country. Valencia benefits from year-round sunshine, although it can be uncomfortably hot in the summer months. Thankfully the Mercado Central, located in the old town, is indoors and a nice, cool destination for a stroll around the food stalls. Here you can sample local delicacies such as 'Horchata' - a refreshing, fruity drink made from ground almonds and other, nuts and seeds. As well as fresh fish, meat and vegetable counters, there are many deli-style stands if you want to pick up some cured meats, cheese and bread for a picnic.

Plaza Ayuntamiento and surrounding architecture

The city centre is home to some impressive old cathedrals and plazas. There are lots of interesting buildings and beautiful fountains to enjoy and Plaza Ayuntamiento in central to most of it. It's a good starting point to a self-guided tour of the city centre and old town.

Malvarossa Beach

The beach to the east of the city, adjacent to the port is nothing short of epic. It's probably the widest, sandy beach we've seen in Europe and you won't have any problems finding a spot by the water. Along the Southern end of the beach, where the port ends and the beach begins, are a number of bars and restaurants with outdoor seating, along the picturesque promenade. Perfect if you fancy cooling off and getting a spot of lunch. There are also a number of public toilets along the beach and medical centres, just in case of emergency!

Food & Drink

To be honest, if you enjoy tapas it is hard to go wrong in Valencia. Most tapas bars in and around the old town have a great selection of simple, but well-prepared tapas and pinxos (bite-size tapas portions on a cocktail stick). Washed down with a cold beer or local wine, as you hop form bar to bar. What more could you ask for? That said, there are a few restaurants that are worth seeking out as they excel in certain local delicacies. Below are some suggestions:

La Pepica, Paseo Neptuno 6 (Malvarossa Beach)

Founded in 1898, La Pepica is the go-to restaurant for a traditional Valencian paella. As mentioned previously, the Paella originates from Valencia and La Pepica is a favourite with the locals. It's usually busy during lunchtime and in the evening (paella is traditionally a lunchtime gig), so it would be wise to make a reservation to enjoy your meal on the outdoor patio facing the beach. If your luck is out, there are other nice alternatives along the promenade.

Destino 56, Paseo Neptuno 56, (Malvarossa Beach)

There are a few cocktail bars along the promenade of Malvarossa Beach, with outdoor seating. The vibe by the beach is more laid-back than the city centre. Destino 56 has a good selection of drinks, bar food andambient and commercial dance music playing til late.

Sidreria El Molinon, Carrer de la Bosseria, 40, 46001 València

There are so many tapas bars in and around the old town, but this one came highly recommended. Its small wooden bar, with giant jamon legs, being freshly sliced to order is always a good sign. This tapas bar is usually quite busy, so you may need to prop up the bar if the tables are taken, but at least you are closer to the jamon! The place is known for it's selection of Spanish ciders (sidras) which are theatrically poured from a height from bottles into 'copas'. This helps to aerate the cider, enhancing the flavour. Neither of us are connoisseurs, but this cold, dry, crisp cider was the perfect accompaniment to the delicious selection of tapas we ordered. There were no frills with our dishes; rustic tapas with bold flavours, cooked simply. The jamon melted in the mouth, the padron peppers salty and juicy, the patatas bravas were perfectly crisp and covered in smoky, tangy bravas sauce. Exactly what you want from tapas.

Cafe Negrito, Placa Del Negret,

Located in El Carme (the old town), Placa del Negret is one of Valencia's popular town squares. It has a few bars located around the perimeter with plenty of tables in the centre. Cafe Negrito can get very busy, so it's tricky to get a table after 10pm. This may sound late, but Valencian nightlife doesn't get going until after midnight. This is a good spot for cocktails and people watching, before heading to one of the towns more pumping venues.

Radio City, Calle Santa Teresa, 19

When wandering through the streets of the old town past 10pm you will have club flyers thrust toward you, by promoters offering you drinks deals and free entry to bars and clubs. It can be easy to be enticed into venues only to find that they are completely empty, as most them are before midnight. Radio City is one of the old town's better late-night bars, with live music and live flamenco acts on various nights of the week. It is small and can get very crowded, but has a friendly, mostly Spanish crowd.

Summary

Valencia may not be as popular or quite as rich in cultural history as Barcelona or Madrid, but in our opinion it has a comparable food scene (which we've barely covered), better beaches and it is easier to navigate the nightlife. It is generally cheaper too and has better year-round weather, making Valencia one of our top European destinations for a long weekend.

Shop our Valencia print

Situated at the end of the former riverbed of the River Turia, lies the architectural splendour of the City of Arts & Sciences. For all of Valencia's traditional Spanish charm, this modern, cultural park is a visual highlight.

Giclée printed on lightly-textured, high-quality 285gsm Platinum Etching paper, for a gallery standard finish

30x40cm prints have no border allowing the artwork to fill a 30x40cm frame.
40x50cm prints have a white border (the actual artwork measures 34x45cm) suitable for larger frames.

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Daryl Horn 05/06/2016 Daryl Horn 05/06/2016

Printspiration

What inspired us to start-up Places & Spaces Art Co.? Read on to find out...

Why we do it

The inspiration for starting-up Places & Spaces Art Co. came from our road trip around California and Nevada, in 2015. We’d already visited some amazing countries and cities over the previous ten years together, but there was something so cool and diverse about this trip. From the beach-life of Venice and Santa Monica, to the mountains of Yosemite to the winding desert roads of Death Valley. We saw and photographed so many incredible sights and we wanted to create our own unique mementos of this trip. Upon returning to London, we began to create our own collection of travel art, based on our shared travels and inspired by vintage travel posters and collage artists such as David Hockney.

Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood

Our first stop was Hollywood, home of so many iconic sights and a melting pot of celebrity culture, faded glamour, with a sleazy underbelly. Luxury hotel, Chateau Marmont is across the road from an old-school strip club, which are both a short walk from the legendary Viper Room and Comedy Store. All flanked by palm trees reaching-up to that flawless Californian sky.

In our Sunset Blvd. print we wanted to bring together the sleaze and glamour of Hollywood, by combining several of the landmarks we visited and bringing them together on one print.