Nothing holds such recurring promise as the advent of the weekend. When the working week ends, the luxury of the weekend stretches before us like a blank canvas. We can fill it up with all manner of activities or we can luxuriate in its expansive emptiness. With its anticipated advent, planned gaieties and its announced end, it follows the rhythm of life. There’s nothing so sad as the regret of a ‘wasted weekend’, and nothing quite as pleasurable as one filled with good food, charming company and interesting adventures.

As travelling cooks, writers and cultural connoisseurs we’ve had the good fortune of eating, talking and cavorting our way through a great many good (and bad) weekends, and we’ve pondered the practicalities and philosophy behind them. Here at Art of the Weekend we’d like to share our best weekends with you, and the ideas, events and characters that inspire them, because it’s not the how and where of travel that makes it special, it’s the people you meet and the experiences you create that make for that unique mise-en-scene. To that end travelling well is something of an art form.

No painting encapsulates the notion of a perfect weekend more than Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. It delights us with its air of possibility and familiarity. Likewise Art of the Weekend lives in the realm of the possible, taking you each week on a carefully curated excursion to an inspiring place. Just like Seurat we have been meticulous about the details, teasing out the secret histories and character of each place to give you an inside view of our favourite destinations. And for those with more time, we hope our weekend nuggets provide both inspiration and a bite-sized treat in any longer itinerary. That way you’ll never be caught, National Lampoon-style at the Louvre:

“Honey, it closes in 15 minutes and there are 100,000 works of art to see. Cumon!”
Clark Grizwold, Food Additive Designer on his European Vacation

Note: We are not a travel agent. Consider us your independent, personally researched, interactive notebook on how to travel well. We can connect you with the chefs, artisans, homeowners and creators you read about on this site and we work with them to craft unique experiences. We’re happy to offer more unbiased advice on your travel plans if you need it.