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Posted: 25 Nov 2013 02:00 AM PST

Top drinking spots with bird's eye views of one of the world's greatest cities

London does pubs and pints famously well but you can increasingly add rooftop bars to the superlatives list, too.

True, summer lasts only about two weeks here but that hasn't dampened the enthusiasm for an alfresco cocktail or two -- most of these spots are open year-round with outdoor heaters and cozy blankets if you want to leave the sheltered inside space.

These 10 panoramic places will be among the best perches in town for New Year revels.

Queen of Hoxton, East London

Queen of Hoxton -- upper crust.Located in the heart of Hipsterville with an uninspiring view of surrounding office blocks, this rooftop is a magnet for East London's creative crowd.

There are fire pits and a toasty tipi in winter and BBQs, frozen cocktails and guest DJs when the sun is shining.

Screenings of cult films sell out in hours, so keep an eye on the bar's Facebook and Twitter pages to score a coveted ticket.

Food and drink menus change with the seasons. Right now the Pumpkin Spiced Cider ($8.80) and DIY toasted marshmallows ($1.60) hit the spot.

Queen of Hoxton, 1-5 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, EC2A 3JX; +44 20 7422 0958; open daily, year-round

Radio Rooftop Bar, central London

Indoor glass atrium and warming cocktails make this a top winter spot.A newcomer to the city's rooftop scene, Radio is among the swankiest.

It's the crowning glory of a five-star hotel that was once the headquarters of the BBC.

Ten floors up in the heart of Theaterland, the wide terrace either side of the glass-walled bar lets you tick off most London landmarks.

A cosmopolitan post-work/pre-theater crowd mingles with well-heeled hotel guests, so you should dress to impress (no sportswear allowed for men).

Seasonal cocktailslike the Autumn Sundown with Gin Mare, vanilla, basil and apple ($19) are great.

Radio Rooftop Bar, 336-337 The Strand, Aldwych, WC2R 1HA; +44 20 7395 3440; open daily, year-round

Madison, City of London

Saintly sipping with St. Paul's in the background.Sipping is a spiritual affair at this City of London bar, with a large outdoor terrace overlooking the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral.

There are 150 different wines to choose from and a good range of beers, spirits and cocktails. But the signature drink is a Pornstar Martini with vanilla vodka ($17.60).

The mini-cheeseburgers with blue cheese and bacon ($14.40) are a manageable bite with drink in hand or you can take a table at the classy restaurant serving up European fare.

Come 5 p.m., it's wall-to-wall City boys, while the weekend attracts a mixed crowd of tourists and locals.

Madison London, 1 New Change, St Paul's, EC4M 9AF; +44 20 8305 3088; open daily, year-round

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Boundary, East London

Boundary: British weather-proof.Sitting atop a converted Victorian warehouse, this is one of the city's most stylish rooftops.

Wicker chairs and white cushions create a relaxed Mediterranean vibe, while the new weatherproof pergola means the infamous British weather won't bother you one bit.

Classic cocktails are all around $15, or there are pitchers to share. The zingy Rooftop Garden with lemon vodka and apple brandy ($38) feels appropriate.

You can nibble on olives or go for something more substantial from the all-day menu of seafood, char-grilled steaks and salads (available until 9.45 p.m.).

Boundary, 2-4 Boundary Street (entrance on Redchurch Street), Shoreditch, E2 7DD; +44 20 7729 1051; open daily, year-round

The Big Chill House, King's Cross

Creative student types call this place home in increasingly cool King's Cross.

This large Victorian pub in King's Cross is a maze of different floors, with funky decor, rocking DJs and sweaty 20-somethings from nearby Central Saint Martins College predominating.

There's a good selection of craft beers, spirits and cocktails, plus tasty bar bites such as chili popcorn prawns with sweet chili dip ($6.50).

The rooftop closes at midnight on the weekends, but downstairs stays thumping until 3 a.m.

Big Chill House, 257-259 Pentonville Road, King's Cross, N1 9NL; +44 20 7427 2540; open daily, year-round

Vista, central London

Vista ... has a sweeping one, especially come New Year's Eve.Perched on top of The Trafalgar hotel in Trafalgar Square, the newly refurbished Vista has one cracker of a view -- and one of the best New Year's parties in town.

The ambitiously priced drinks list is dominated by Champagne and creative cocktails.

The Movista is a blend of Jamaican rum with a touch of cherry wine and fresh lime juice, topped up with soda ($19).

With its monochrome furnishings and sophisticated air, Vista attracts a suited-and-booted crowd and cashed up tourists looking to escape the hubbub below.

The Trafalgar, 2 Spring Gardens, Trafalgar Square, SW1A 2TS; +44 20 7870 2900; open daily from April to October but also open on New Year's Eve for the Thames-side fireworks display; $7 cover charge after 4 p.m.

More: 7 hot new London hotels

Upper Deck, Southwark

Being British, this rooftop bar comes with cream tea and scones.Opened in April 2013, this terrace overlooking the Thames has glorious views of Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and World War II warship HMS Belfast.

Considering it's in prime tourist territory, prices are reasonable, with more than a dozen wines on offer, plus bottled and tap beer and the usual spirits.

You could embrace all things British with a cream tea -- scone, clotted cream and jam ($8) -- or share a local cheese board with fruity chutney and artisan bread ($23).

You're unlikely to hear a local accent during the day, but come evening time it's packed with post-work punters.

Upper Deck, HMS Belfast Visitor Center, The Queen's Walk, Southwark, SE1 2JH; +44 20 7403 6246; open daily from March to November

Dalston Roof Park, East London

AstroTurf meets gritty inner city.There's no real view (unless you count a sloping roof of solar panels), but this AstroTurfed pop-up atop a four-story former factory is the ultimate hipster hangout and a great stop to plan for once winter clears away.

It's not as pretentious as it sounds, though, with a casual neighborhood vibe and DJs, stand-up comedy and classic films.

A team of local volunteers tends to grow-bags of herbs, fruits and veg that are blended to make yummy cocktails (from $10).

There's also well-priced wine, beer and cider served in plastic cups and a changing line-up of street food stands.

Dalston Roof Park, 18 Ashwin Street, Dalston, E8 3DL; +44 20 7275 0825; open daily from May-September; one-off membership fee of $5

Frank's Campari Bar, South London

Multi-story car park becomes hipster central.Who would've thought a multi-story car park in a nondescript South London suburb could be the site of one of the capital's coolest bars?

Part sculpture project, part seasonal pop-up, Frank's is one of the biggest -- and cheapest -- rooftops in town.

You can choose from Campari cocktails($8), local Meantime beer ($7) and a simple wine list -- it's just white, red or rosé at Frank's.

Then there's grilled sweetcorn ($4) to munch on while you admire the city skyline, including the Shard skyscraper, from afar.

Frank's, Level 10, Peckham Multistory Car Park, 95a Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST; open Wednesday-Sunday during summer

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Kuala Lumpur shopping: 10 best places to bag a bargain

Posted: 24 Nov 2013 02:00 PM PST

With more malls than you can shake a shopping bag at, KL is Southeast Asia's retail capital

From the massive malls that line Bukit Bintang to the backstreet stalls of Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur is a shopaholic's dream.

But if you're in town for only a few days, deciding where to start can be rough.

Here's a look at the top 10 places to shop in Kuala Lumpur.

The Curve

The Curve is a popular venue for KL expats. Its most recent foreign import? Johnny Rockets. It might be located way out in west KL, but The Curve beats many of its competitors with its indoor/outdoor layout, range of al fresco dining and pedestrianized walkways.

Add to the mix Kuala Lumpur's only Ikea, as well as an adjoining Tesco, and you have the most family-friendly mall in town.

This explains why it fills up on weekends with parents pushing strollers.

But there's still ample room to shop.

For eating, almost every Malaysian favorite can be found, including branches of Pappa Rich, Little Penang Cafe and Secret Recipe.

The Curve, 6 Jalan PJU 7/3, Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor; +60 (0)3 7710 6868

More on CNN: World's 12 best shopping cities

Mid Valley Megamall

Mid Valley Megamall, open in 1999, is one of the world's largest retail spaces. While it can't match Bukit Bintang malls for high-end luxury, Mid Valley is one of KL's most popular malls for its abundance of affordable shopping -- not to mention a huge array of stores and restaurants (430 and counting), 18-screen cineplex, large Metrojaya and Aeon department stores and exhibition center.

There are two food courts, but those in the know head to Oasis on the second floor, where the prices are cheap, and food more authentic.

If you really need an upmarket fix, you can walk across the connecting passageway to The Gardens Mall.

Mid Valley Megamall, Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Kuala Lumpur; +60 (0)3 2938 3333

More on CNN: 10 best islands for a Malaysia holiday

Royal Selangor

If you're into tin-based alloys -- and who isn't? -- Royal Selangor is the go-to joint for pewter in KL. A huge tankard -- with what appears to be foam overflowing from its brim -- stands at the entrance to the head office of Royal Selangor, one of Malaysia's most iconic companies.

At the KL visitor's center, you can learn how to make your own pewter dish at the School of Hard Knocks (RM60).

If you just want to explore, there are free guided tours that take you through the company's history (it was founded by young Chinese pewtersmith in 1885), the science behind making the alloy and a factory tour.

Naturally, there's a gift shop for those who want to pick up a souvenir. This is a shopping list, after all.

Royal Selangor Visitor Centre, 4, Jalan Usahawan 6, Setapak Jaya, Kuala Lumpur; +60 (0)3 4145 6122

More on CNN: Malaysia travel: 10 things to know before you go

Berjaya Times Square

New York has one, as does Hong Kong, so it only makes sense that KL -- arguably Southeast Asia's shopping capital -- has a Times Square.

Highlights include Malaysia's largest indoor theme park, split between family-friendly and adult-only rides; a Taipei-style night market on the third floor, complete with flashing neon signs, manholes and food stalls; and the Grand Musical Stairs, where you can pretend to be Tom Hanks in the movie "Big," as you make your own music on giant keys.

All this and much more in what claims to be the world's ninth largest building in terms of floor space.

Berjaya Times Square, 1 Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur; +60 (0)3 2117 3111

Petaling Street Market

"These Rolexes are a steal!" It might be a little cheesy, with its Disney-esque Chinese arch and blue covered walkway, but Petaling Street Market, the heart of Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown, buzzes with life.

Here you'll find a variety of tourist trinkets, T-shirts, electronics and DVDs.

As soon as you veer off the main strip, you enter a warren of backstreets where hungry locals go to fill up on bowls of asam laksa, Hainan chicken rice and mee goreng.

Eating on plastic stools next to crates full of squawking chickens, it's a good pit stop before heading back to to the maelstrom for more haggling over bargain goods.

Petaling Street Market, Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur; +60 (0)3 9235 4800

More on CNN: Malaysia's top 40 foods

Central Market

Central Market, a one-stop venue souvenir shopping. Opened in 1936, though a wet market has stood on the site since 1888, KL's Central Market has seen it all.

While once the art deco building was full of stalls selling meat and produce, since the mid-1980s it has promoted Malaysian arts and culture.

The interior is split into themed areas representing the country's diverse population, which include Lorong Melaya, where shops sell Malay handicraft; a replica of Malacca's Jonkers Street; and Little India.

The adjoining Kasturi Walk features an array of food stalls; the Annexe Gallery is a center of contemporary arts.

Central Market, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Kuala Lumpur; +60 (0)3 2031 0399

Peter Hoe Beyond

Despite not having a website, and its out of the way location, Peter Hoe Beyond is on the hit list of every visiting shopaholic.

Run by the eponymous Malaysian designer, this warehouse store, which occupies the second floor of the Lee Rubber building sells a huge range of unique pieces -- housewares, silverware, furniture, clothing -- either designed or commissioned by Peter Hoe himself.

The in-shop cafe sells delicious slices of cake.

Peter Hoe Beyond, 2/F, 145 Jalan Tun H S Lee, Kuala Lumpur; +60 (0)3 2026 9788

Suria KLCC

For those who judge malls by the height of the buildings that sit on top them, Suria is a clear winner. Suria KLCC is close to the top -- or should that be basement -- of KL's shopping greats.

This luxury mall occupies the bottom six podium floors of the Petronas Twin Towers, and their 170-meter-high Skybridge.

It has everything from luxury goods to everyday items, including branches of Parkson, Isetan, Cold Storage and Marks & Spencer, a fantastic food court, a cineplex, a huge branch of Kinokuniya bookstore and a fun-filled Science Discovery Centre and aquarium.

The adjoining KLCC Park has water fountains and a two-acre playground.

Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Kuala Lumpur; +60 (0)3 2382 2828

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

If Suria KLCC has a rival in the upscale shopping stakes, it's Pavilion.

Since early 2012, the two malls have been connected by an air-conditioned walkway, which makes getting between the two a breeze.

Pavilion is as much known for its dining as its shopping, with a range of casual places (Fish & Co., Din Tai Fung, Madam Kwan's) and fine dining restaurants, such as Al-Amar (Lebanese cuisine) and Spice of India.

Where it really wins is with its location -- it's at the top of Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur's most famous shopping street, lined with a dozen different malls.

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur; +60 (0)3 2118 8833

More on CNN: How to do Malaysia ... and get it right

Malaysia Year-End Sale

It's not a venue per se, but Malaysia's annual Year-End Sale (that's YES, for short) is the best time to find bargains in Kuala Lumpur and the country at large.

Running this year from November 16 to January 5 under the slogan "My Extreme Shopping Addiction," shopping malls and markets throughout the city offer huge discounts -- up to 50% off selected items -- as well as Christmas concerts, carnivals, clearances, fairs, exhibitions and lucky draws.

For a full list of events taking place from KL to Kelantan, Selangor to Sabah, visit the Tourism Malaysia website.

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