Monica Suma

If you’re looking to discover the next ‘it’ wine region, it may be time to book that ticket to Romania. Gault&Millau launched the first guide dedicated to Romanian wines, covering 152 wines from 63 wineries. With some 180,000 hectares of vines and scenic backdrops blessed with auspicious land, Romania is fifth in terms of vineyard surface in the EU after Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, and sixth in terms of wine production.

At first glance, Bucharest may be hard to define. The enormous Palace of Parliament gets the most attention as the second-largest administrative building in the world, but it’s far from what constitutes the everyday local life. Dig a little deeper in Bucharest’s walkable neighbourhoods, with their period architecture and pockets of hidden glory, and you’ll find an eclectic mix of old and new, arts initiatives aplenty and an ever-growing foodie scene.

Monica Suma speaks to Vlad Niculescu, the man behind the peerless Anthony Frost Bookshop, now part of Cărturești & Friends.

This October marked the opening of The Museum of Recent Art (MARe) in Bucharest, the first private museum to open since 1910. The museum features a permanent exhibition of Romanian art from the 1960s onwards, as well as temporary exhibits of Romanian and foreign artists. With over 150 pieces, MARe offers a unique perspective on the challenges Romanian artists faced during and after the communist regime.

Alina Iancu promotes Romanian wine tourism. Having travelled across Romania visiting over 70 wineries, she founded CrameRomania.ro in 2014 and Revino.ro two years later. She speaks to Monica Suma

Far from the communist utopia first-time visitors conjure upon visiting Bucharest—the 1,100-room Palace of Parliament topping the agenda of iconic sights to tick off—Romania’s capital is everything you didn’t expect. Here, century-old Byzantine churches straddle Belle Époque palaces on Calea Victoriei, the city’s most famous artery, in a sublime mix of old and new, East and West.

Table Mountain, white-sand beaches, rich history and cosmopolitan culture and cuisine have long lured people to visit Cape Town, but today the Mother City's African art scene is proving to have pulling power. And it's not just the new Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa – the continent's largest museum opening in over a century – but also an exciting (and ever growing) number of pioneering art institutions that is impressing art lovers.

Mădălina Andronic calls herself ‘the folklore-loving illustrator’. She talks to Monica Suma about her work, and getting lost on Bucharest’s historical streets.

Monica Suma meets George Panaitescu, Business Development Director and one of the co-founders of the éclair stores leading the sweetest French Revolution.

Lonely Planet Pathfinder Monica Suma recently explored Jordan’s cinematic sights, from Amman’s red-hued hills to the ancient city of Petra, and the desert of Wadi Rum – punctuating her journey through this fascinating country with compulsory breaks for delicious falafel and cardamom coffee!

After 12 years away, travel writer Monica Suma on what she loves about the Romanian capital.

When Greek islands are mentioned, Santorini sunsets and Mykonos alleyways instantly come to mind – an exalted portrait of summer perfection. But for a slice of Greek bliss without the crowds, your best bet lies in Syros, the administrative capital of the Cyclades group and one of its smallest islands.

Designer Andrei Ignia doesn’t just transform vintage objects – he’s also helping to transform his city’s creative scene.

You might have come to see exactly how big the Palace of Parliament is or to admire Bucharest’s rise to belle époque fame, but the Romanian capital isn’t just about major sights. This is a city that rewards the curious explorer, its canvas of contrasting architectural styles reflecting a dramatic history.

The first JW Marriott hotel to launch in Europe is the epitome of luxury. The JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel raises the bar of hospitality in the city from its prime location facing the colossal Palace of Parliament.