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Weekly UpdatesBEST HOTEL
Gran Melia. El Gran Melia Caracas, smack on the Sabana Grande pedestrian mall, is a convenient locale: Not far from the financial district, near shops and restaurants and a few steps from a subway station. But more than location, the services and amenities at this luxury hotel are what keep business travelers coming back. The hotel's three bars and five restaurants are among the city's most popular for business meals and its Mediterraneo restaurant is Venezuela's No. 1 spot for power breakfasts. The hotel has 20 meeting rooms with a total capacity of 1,250, making it also a top choice for business conventions and conferences. Each of the 423 guest rooms is equipped with a long list of comforts, although the five executive floors boast the most high-tech amenities. Room start at US$110; the most expensive night is $1.500 for the push presidential suite. Avenida Casanova and Calle El Recreo, Sabana Grande. Phone: [58] (212) 762-8111. www.solmelia.com
BEST RESTAURANT
Lee Hamilton Steak House. This is a classic steakhouse, with exquisite cuts of beef and a vast. salad bar. The flank steak is among its most popular. Opened 45 years ago, the restaurant is an institution among politicians and business leaders and is a frequent choice for serious, but relaxed, meetings. At night, the bar is a magnet for executives before they head home, but the food is really what makes this place a standout. If you're not a meat-eater, the kitchen serves up notable soups and seafood--and you should always leave room for desert. Avenida San Felipe, at the corner of El Bosque, La Castellana. Phone: [58] (212) 263-8429/261-0511. www.restaurantleehamilton.com
BEST BUSINESS RESTAURANT
Mezzanotte. A panorama of Caracas fills the huge window of this unusual hillside restaurant. The menu has 45 Italian dishes--enough to make this one of the top spots for business lunches and dinners. At night, the view of the city below is breathtaking. Start with the cold antipasti--including carpaccio or smoked salmon or the warm appetizers like broccoli crepes, asparagus mousse or artichokes. From there, you move into salads, five soup choices, three risottos and an abundance of pasta, fish and meat. There are some executives who will tell you that the view and the ambience beat out the food, but the chef's been at this for 20 years and the crowds keep coming. Avenida Panorama, Centro Comercial El Mirador, Nivel 1, Lomas de San Roman. Phone: [58] (212) 993-6761/8228. www.mezzanotte.com.ve
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY
Atom Venezuela. Day trips, airline tickets, international reservations and even tours to Venezuelan destinations are available from this company. Centro Gerencial Los Andes, 9th floor, Avenida Romulo Gallegos at Avenida Las Palmas, Boleita. Phone: [58] (212) 234-9911. www.atom-ve.com
BEST ESCAPE
Los Roques. Head out to sea for some world-class diving, slip into a hammock on the beach or snorkel among colorful sea creatures at this stunning archipelago, a favorite weekend escape. More than 50 small islands make up this national park, which was set up in 1972 to protect beaches and coral reefs. Azure waters among the most beautiful in Caribbean lap at white sand. There are plenty of visitors, but distance from the mainland--50 kilometers--keeps the little islands from getting crowded. Venezuelan executives sail their yachts and sailboats to Los Roques to unwind. Aerotuy airline offers daily 30-minute flights from Caracas to the island of Gran Roque, and day tours aboard catamarans stop for snorkeling and beach time. Because it is a national park, Los Roques has no tunnels or official tourism infrastructure; small fishing huts have been fixed up and serve as private hostels.
BEST CULTURAL DIVERSION
El Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Caracas Sofia Imber. The eponymous contemporary art museum, named for its founder Sofia Imber, has 17 rooms, more than 21,000 square feet, and includes now more than 3,000 works, including Matisse, Picasso, Chagall and Miro. Parque Central, Zona Cultural.
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