Home to Melbourne's bohemian set, the suburb of Fitzroy is a great mix of art galleries, studios and specialist bookshops

Venice Beach makes for a great escape from the uptown uptightness of Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Shop for art, hit the beach, then eat at some of LA's best restaurants

This vibrant eastern Sydney suburb is famous for National Trust-listed architecture, boutiques and the excellent Paddington Markets

Largely inhabited by a Cape Coloured community that was spared segregation under apartheid law, the ramshackle suburb of Woodstock runs from the docks to the foot of Devil's Peak mountain, east of the city

This giant metropolis is always looking for the next trend. Mirror-tiled former brothels are interspersed with cool bars. Be warned: it starts late – and goes on all night