A shave and a good cigar
La Quinta, Calif. - Snips and stogies are on offer at Havana Club Cigar Lounge, the newest amenity at La Quinta Resort and Club. It's the ultimate men's hideaway with the services of an old-fashioned barber shop and the indulgent feel of a high-end smokers' den complete with walk-in humidor, private cigar locker and large-screen TVs (one is mounted high enough for those guests who simply must watch the latest game – even while being groomed). After a cut, shave and neck massage, retire to the outdoor patio with a dry martini. Here you can puff on one of 14 types of cigars from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras – the most expensive will set you back $54 (U.S.). LaQuintaResort.com
The bubble bar
Paris - On Dec. 1, Hilton Arc de Triomphe will welcome the festive season with Bubble in Paris, a champagne bar that's shaped like a giant snow globe. Artist Jean-Hugues de Chatillon, a set designer for the Paris opera and ballet, designed the fantastical five-metre-tall translucent dome. A flute of Taittinger and a perch at the all-white bar costs €25 (or $34), but you won't be able to stay all night. The bar accommodates only 35 revellers at a time. The bubble pops Jan. 15, so expect it to be a popular place. hiltonarcdetriomphe.com
Spooky Selfridges
London - Selfridges is putting a fashionable spin on the macabre. Dead Cool, the storewide Halloween display, is a series of pop-up shops featuring everything from an exclusive line of Swarovski crystal-encrusted Dr. Martens to designer mini-dresses adorned with sequined bats and skeletons. A highlight is a thrift store curated by British Vogue contributing editor Bay Garnett. Her hand-picked selection of vintage outfits is inspired by the wardrobes of style mavens Dusty Springfield, Janis Joplin and Elizabeth Taylor. selfridges.com
Only in New York? Pity
New York - Serious tea drinkers are bound for Brooklyn to sample the exotic blends at Bellocq. The atelier is the antitheses of mass-market tea drinking, replacing generic bags of orange pekoe with an extensive selection of artisanal leaves from around the world. Sip on a cup of Afghani Chai (Indian tea, red poppy flowers, spices), Noble Savage (black tea, juniper berries, Douglas-fir tips, blue cornflowers) or White Peony, and learn ideal brewing techniques. Once you've settled on a perfect blend, buy a bag of leaves and filters to take home. bellocq.com
Special to The Globe and Mail