CONCIERGE PLUS

Bruno Verjus's credo is to select the finest ingredients and cook them with humility and the utmost respect. This remarkable character was previously an entrepreneur, blogger and food critic. Behind the counter that demarcates the open kitchen, he waxes lyrical about his suppliers and his desire to take a back seat to the artisans who produce what he then cooks – on that note, when it comes to either the recipes or the ingredients, the chef considers himself to be a "middle man". Everything is made to order, with garnishes and sauces designed with just one thing in mind: to elevate produce without distorting it.

Quintonil has only been around for a decade, according to the annual rankings, and is already a second-year top 10 contender, with a menu made from fresh, local ingredients with "traditional Mexican flavors."

Cyprus - the famous island of Aphrodite, has been attracting travelers for thousands of years. A hospitable country with friendly people, excellent climate, gentle sea, architecture of different eras and styles, and excellent cuisine - all this is Cyprus. Luxurious beaches, marked with the Blue Flag of the European Union for cleanliness and safety, deserve special mention. During a tourist trip to Cyprus, you can climb Mount Olympus, visit the dead city of Famagusta and ride donkeys.

Bulgaria's pleasingly laid-back capital is often overlooked by visitors heading to the coast or the ski resorts, but they're missing something special. Sofia is no grand metropolis, but it's a modern, youthful city, with a scattering of onion-domed churches, Ottoman mosques and stubborn Red Army monuments that lend an eclectic, exotic feel. Excavation work carried out during construction of the metro unveiled a treasure trove of Roman ruins from nearly 2000 years ago, when the city was called 'Serdica'. Away from the buildings and boulevards, vast parks and manicured gardens offer a welcome respite, and the ski slopes and hiking trails of mighty Mt Vitosha are just a short bus ride from the centre. Home to many of Bulgaria's finest museums, galleries, restaurants and clubs, Sofia may persuade you to stick around and explore further.