Mixing Business With Pleasure

Getting Deals Done While Having Fun

Mixing business and pleasure successfully in Montreal, Madrid and Miami.

by Michael McLellan

Mixing business with pleasure comes naturally in the cases of the beautiful and interesting cities of Montreal, Madrid, and Miami.

Montreal

The old buildings and crooked narrow streets may have a European feel, but the trendy hotels, hip shops and high-end restaurants make Montreal feel quite modern. Meet clients for lunch in the Mile-End neighborhood, where boutiques and restaurants line Avenue Laurier and Boulevard Saint-Laurent. Or after a morning meeting, stop for steak frites at the bistro-style L'Express (3927 rue Saint-Denis, 514-845-5333).

For a dinner atmosphere removed from the busy downtown scene, try Troika. One of Montreal's finest Russian restaurants, Troika is located in a basement at the end of Crescent Street, and promises a relaxed dining experience with Russian and French versions of seafood, beef, and chicken.

In downtown Montreal, an exquisite place to stay is Le Petit Prince (1384 avenue Overdale, 877-938-9750). This hip hotel sports Wi-Fi, flatscreen televisions, large whirlpool tubs, breakfast and terraces.

Madrid

Tapas are ubiquitous in Madrid and are served throughout the city. Calle Cava Baja (near the Plaza Mayor) is home to many traditional and popular tapas restaurants such as Casa Lucas (Calle Cava Baja 30, 34-91-365-0804), a spot for tortilla española (potato omelet). For the Basque version of tapas (called pintxos) try Txakoli (Calle Cava Baja 26, 34-91-366-4877).

For a relaxed place to meet or kill time before a meeting stop at Café Diurno (Calle San Marcos 37, 34-91-522-0009). This coffee shop has fresh muffins and croissants, plus it's a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Impress business associates with a reservation for dinner at Pan de Lujo (Calle Jorge Juan 20, 34-91-436-1100). The restaurant features striking interior design, inimitable appetizers and entrees like poached snapper with baby veggies. Casa Lucio (Calle Cava Baja, 35, 34-91-365-8217) is a more traditional spot for huevos estrellados (broken eggs) and solomillo (steak).

Several boutique hotels operate in downtown Madrid such as Hotel de las Letras (Calle Gran Via 11, 34-91-523-7980) and AC Palacio del Retiro (Calle Alfonso XII 14, 34-91-523-7460).

Miami

Miami remains a fun place to visit and the city doesn't immediately seem like a great place to do business, since it is such a vacation destination. Yet the abundance of high-end restaurants and hotels make it easy to mix business with pleasure.

Meet associates at downtown Miami spot Indigo (100 Chopin Plaza, 305-577-1000). The business power lunch favorite, located in the lobby level of the InterContinental MIAMI hotel, is well known for its unmatched buffet and spacious dining area that is elegant enough to conduct serious business.

Inside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, try Azul (500 Brickell Key Dr., 305-913-8254) for Mediterranean and Asian cuisine. The restaurant features grilled lamb, hamachi, beef sirloin, an incredible wine list and panoramic views of Biscayne Bay.