A good concierge is worth their weight in Amex Gold. Whether you seek tickets for Barça at the Camp Nou or or somewhere to eat that hits the sweet spot between cult (read: queues) and chintzy – it’s worth making a trip to the front desk the first thing you do when you arrive at your hotel (after opening the minibar, that is). In the spirit of generosity, MR PORTER has done some of that lobby legwork for you, by speaking to five of the best concierges from five of the best hotels on the planet to get their insider advice on getting the most from a weekend break in their particular cities. So what is the most important question to ask before you get back to your miniature bottle of Johnnie Walker?

“Whether you come to London on a budget or money is no object, the first thing that I would recommend is to gain a perspective on the city.

“London is huge and has many attractions from one end to the other. But what makes it different are the beautiful green spaces. We have eight million trees in London, making the city itself the world’s largest urban forest – 47 per cent of Greater London is green space. Even if you are in the centre of Soho, there will always be a little green space that you can get some peace and quiet.

“Without good planning, it is easy to waste a lot of time travelling. I would suggest that your first day is taken up with an open-top bus ride. This cheap and cheerful journey around town will make sure you see all that London has to offer and give you an idea of where you would like to visit.

“The best thing to do in London is to eat. One of my favourite venues is a new place is near our hotel, the Market Hall in Victoria. It’s built in the abandoned bays of Victoria’s Terminus Place. There are lots of amazing food stalls that started out as street-food stalls. My favourite is Monty’s Deli, where you will find the best Reuben this side of New York. It, too, originally started life as a one-day-a-week market stall in a street market in Bermondsey.”

“Mumbai is unlike most other cities. It is vibrant and full of energy. It is a major hustle and bustle, but you will fall in love with it.

“You can’t miss the Mumbai-by-dawn tour, which our desk runs at 5.00am. Getting up that early to see this lively city waking up gives you a deeper cultural insight into the real Mumbai, one that goes beyond the glossy glass facades and urban boardrooms. It helps you to understand and experience the underbelly of this magnificent city, and see what makes Mumbai tick.

“There’s also the khau galli walk, where you can explore the fresh and fragrant spices of the spice market. Of course all visitors must try the famous Mumbai kebabs and kulfi, too. At night, visitors should take a midnight bicycle ride of the city.”

“The most important lesson I learned when I came to New York was not to fight the city by insisting on doing things my way, but rather to listen to it and accept it on its own terms. The moment I realised that was when I fell in love with New York.

“Here’s a good tip: take the Subway while you’re here. It’s probably the fastest way to get where you’re going and you’ll get there with real New Yorkers. And when you do catch a cab, chat with your taxi driver. He or she won’t have ‘The Knowledge’ (you might actually have to help with directions), but will probably be from somewhere like Burkina Faso or Honduras; listen to their stories and you’ll learn something about this amazing city you wouldn’t know otherwise. And please try to see the city from the water if you can (even on a $2.75 ferry ride) – it’s breathtaking.

“No two cities are alike, of course, and most cities have something that makes them special. But the biggest reason I love living in New York is that it’s such an international place, and in many ways not particularly American.

“It’s also long been a rebellious and chaotic city. Even back when we were New Amsterdam, the other colonies thought we were out of control. You can of course get a good burger here, but if you're looking for Americana, you might want to try Chicago or St Louis instead. This is New York.”

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“For guests who have never been to Paris before, the first thing I would do is give them our Le Bristol Paris map of the city. It’s so useful. It was created by our team to highlight the city at her best.

“A perfect day in Paris would go something like this: breakfast at Epicure with unlimited slices of pain vivant and French viennoiseries. Then, hire a classic car such as a Citroën 2CV to (re)discover the must-see monuments and places of Paris. Head to Montmartre to get an overview of Paris from the hill, before visiting the city’s most famous brasseries in Saint-Germain – Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots. Then, visit the Eiffel Tower. Book it beforehand with your concierge if you want to get the chance to taste a glass of champagne from the very top. Last but not least, take dinner at Girafe for its breathtaking terrace with unbeatable views of the tower.

“Crowds are inevitable in Paris, so I try to secure private visits to museums or attractions, so the magic of Paris can be our guests for just a moment.

“Getting lost in the city is also wonderful. When walking through the small winding streets with cobblestone paths, it’s easy to feel like we are in an old movie. The covered passages of Paris are the best thing to do on a rainy day. I particularly like La Galerie Vivienne, and you can taste very good wine at the cellar Caves Legrand.”

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“For those who visit São Paulo, the tip is to get to know all the best that the city offers – whether via a guided tour or just by exploring. Head to Paulista Avenue – it’s one of our most one of the most important areas, the home of several museums and cultural centres and the city’s best restaurants.

“Ibirapuera Park hosts a planetarium, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Oca gallery, the Ibirapuera Auditorium and the Biennial Pavilion. A great way to see the park is by hiring a bike.

“For more offbeat fun, hit Vila Madalena: the most bohemian part of the city. There are many hundreds of bars and galleries as well as the best graffiti and street art in Brazil. Not to mention a very famous free fair on Saturdays, Praça Benedito Calixto.”

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