Discover Monocle's favorite places to stay, eat, shop, and visit across France. Following Spain: The Monocle Handbook is the third title in premium series of country-focused guides. France: The Monocle Handbook presents Monocle's favorite spots across this sunny nation, from Paris and Marseille to Basque Country and Corsica. Discover innovative retailers and charming hotels, as well as leading museums and galleries--and, of course, a vineyard or two. The book also introduces the smartest areas to move to, plus advice from the plucky entrepreneurs who've already set up shop. It's time to see this varied country afresh.
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- 2024
- 2022
The Monocle Book of the Nordics
An exploration of design, business, food & fashion
- 240 pages
- 9 hours of reading
Exploring the vibrant realms of Nordic design, business, food, and fashion, this book delves into the unique cultural elements that define the region. It highlights innovative approaches and influential figures shaping the Nordic landscape, offering insights into contemporary trends and traditional practices. Through engaging narratives and striking visuals, readers are invited to appreciate the aesthetic and functional aspects of Nordic creativity and lifestyle.
- 2022
The best photo assignments from the Monocle archive, published to mark the magazine’s fifteenth anniversary. The first issues of Monocle magazine hit newsstands around the globe in 2007. At the magazine’s core was a pledge to commission all original photography—capturing the world on film, on the ground, and in the moment. The cover of that first issue featured a Japanese helicopter pilot from the country’s defense force, taken as part of a ten-day reportage assignment for both photographer and writer. In the years since, Monocle has continued in its pursuit of documenting the world through its unique lens: from embassies and residences to world leaders and cultural stars. Each issue has featured a dedicated photographic section celebrating lesser-known locales, obscure events, and curious characters through truly outstanding photography. Alpine wrestlers, Syrian outposts, French legionnaires, pasta makers, game show hosts, and private members clubs have all graced the pages. The Monocle Book of Photography draws on the best of these photographic stories from an archive a decade and a half in the making. A handsome, linen-bound edition with the highest quality gloss paper and printing, the book also features supporting text about the photo assignments and the stories behind them, including firsthand accounts from the photographers.
- 2020
The Monocle book of Japan
- 304 pages
- 11 hours of reading
The Monocle team celebrates the endlessly fascinating and culturally rich country of Japan.
- 2018
Meet the artists shaking up the cultural scene and leaf through this literary hub’s many libraries – did someone mention the Moomins?
- 2018
Beirut
The Monocle Travel Guide Series
Beirut is a Mediterranean destination brimming with adrenaline, optimism, and a vibrant populace that embraces high jinks. This travel guide explores the city's urban panache, showcasing its unique character. Experience a blend of cloud-scraping hotels, Ottoman-style palaces, and modernist apartments, while discovering small fashion labels and innovative shop owners reimagining traditional handicrafts. Indulge in local cuisine at favored eateries, savoring mezze and a soothing glass of arak. For moments of relaxation, choose from top-notch Lebanese hospitality, whether in a luxurious five-star hotel or a cozy family-run guesthouse. The allure of this seaside capital is undeniable, inviting you to immerse yourself in its lively pace and the Mediterranean. The guide draws on insights from Monocle's extensive network of bureaus and correspondents worldwide, providing a comprehensive understanding of cities and their offerings. This expertise has been distilled into a series that celebrates the best of global travel.
- 2018
Melbourne
- 148 pages
- 6 hours of reading
With its picturesque terrace houses, vibrant cultural scene, and an abundance of trendy coffee shops, it's no surprise that Melburnians often declare their city the most livable in the world. Coupled with a top-notch food scene and a nearby wine region, visitors may find themselves agreeing. This travel guide will take you through favorite laneways, innovative galleries that are transforming the art scene, and stunning examples of modernist architecture. You'll discover independent retailers offering desirable Aussie-made souvenirs and a curated selection of the best cafés, restaurants, and bars for enjoying a perfectly brewed flat white, delicious cuisine, and a light, peppery pinot noir. While Melbourne's weather can be unpredictable, with the saying that the city experiences four seasons in one day, there are countless reasons to explore its streets, regardless of the conditions. The magazine behind this guide, Monocle, has a global network of bureaus and over 30 correspondents in cities from Bangkok to Bogotá, along with a dedicated team of reporters based in London. Their extensive knowledge of urban life has been distilled into this travel guide series.
- 2017
The Portuguese capital is a collage of cultural influences and visual imagery. Allow us to guide you through this eminently liveable and fast-changing city. Like the seven sun-dappled hills that overlook the sparkling Rio Tejo, Lisbon has had its ups and downs. Nevertheless, the plucky city has always bounced back and today it’s positively thriving: well-travelled residents and foreign talent are opening smart businesses behind every other crumbling, azulejo-covered façade. Most visitors spend their time in the historic old town but we’re going to take you further afield. We’ve combed the cobbled streets to find the best bacalhau, the creamiest pastéis de nata and the sweetest ginjinha. We’ve visited museums dedicated to everything from horse-drawn carriages to cutting-edge technology and discovered daringly modern architecture among red-tiled townhouses and baroque churches. Our favourite hotels range from a refurbished 15th-century palácio to a glossy guesthouse, while the retail we rate includes a family-run glove-maker and a snappy bookshop with an in-house gallery.
- 2017
San Francisco
- 146 pages
- 6 hours of reading
Karl the Fog may never be too far away but who doesn’t enjoy a bit of moody mist? Pull on some layers and head for the city’s sprawling hills. Poised on its Californian peninsula, San Francisco is an energetic enclave with a storied libertine history, undeniable entrepreneurial fervour and vibrant cultural patronage. It may be known for its thriving technology sector but look beyond the numbers and you’ll find a dynamic urban offering, complete with easygoing charm and dramatic natural beauty. The Monocle Travel Guide to San Francisco will help you navigate the varied and rolling cityscape, from the unhurried beachside allure of the Outer Sunset to the psychedelic hippie haze still prevailing in the Haight-Ashbury. We’ll direct you to the glitziest art deco cinemas, round up our favourite forward-thinking retailers and show you where to enjoy everything from freshly shucked oysters to a jam-packed burrito. Of course, we’ll also point out some first-rate early 20th-century architectural marvels, drop by one or two well-stocked wine bars and show you where to break a sweat – in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge, no less.
- 2017
Hike up your lederhosen and get a move on in München. Munich is the capital of one of the oldest states in Europe so naturally its affinity with tradition runs deep. Yet, as well as having one foot in the old world, this southern German city has another firmly planted in the new – and that’s part of its undeniable charm. This happy balance, along with a strong and stable economy, encourages entrepreneurialism, attracts big business and is increasingly fostering creativity. The Monocle Travel Guide to Munich will help you navigate the cross-section of history and modernity. We’ll point you in the direction of our favourite emerging and established familyrun hotels and steer you towards the lively kitchens serving the best Bavarian classics. We’ll also map out the postwar modernist structures and rococo landmarks worth seeing and recommend where you should grab your culture fix, from a Florentine-style 19th-century villa to a former power plant. Of course, no tour of the Bavarian capital would be complete without a stopover (or two) at one of its jolly Biergärten – just be sure to pick up your Tracht from one of the city’s specialist retailers first.



