Until 24 December

Hypermarché, Hamburg

Concept store, bar, stage for cultural events… Hamburg’s 24-hour Hypermarché is far from your typical festive pop-up. Designed by talented local studio PARAT, and run by Louise and Florian Kunth of super-cool events agency Here We Go; Hypermarché is a splendid attack on your senses, with DJs, performers, exhibitions and installations accompanying the carefully curated selection of fashion, lifestyle and interiors goodies that are on sale…

Hypermarche: until December 24th, Osakaallee, 16 20457 Hamburg

Until 5 January

The Vest is History

Miss vinyl, Super-8, cigarette advertising and vests? James Wright, the owner of super-cool Covent Garden store Mint, does and The Vest is History is him taking the power back. Soon to open a Dalston outpost of his successful vintage store, Wright has curated a joyfully tongue-in-cheek installation that asks whether mass-consumerism is damaging design, or whether we’re simply suffering from design-sentimentality as we grow older. With forgotten gems from advertising, fashion, art and entertainment; The Vest is History is a delightful diversion from nativity plays and supermarket scrums…

The Vest is History, curated by MINT: 16th December – 5th January 2012, 71-73 Stoke Newington High Street, Dalston N16 8EL

Until 24 December

Dezeen’s Temporium

If you’re still endeavoring to snap up some last minute treats, architecture and design website Dezeen’s The Temporium – back for its second season – is a one-stop Christmas shop for anybody on a strict diet of design. With a whole bunch of gifts, jewellery, art, watches, books and homewares from established and up-and-coming designers and brands from around the world, this Seven Dials pop-up is one of the capital’s most stylish…

Dezeen presents The Temporium: until 24th December, 65 Monmouth Street, Seven Dials, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9DG

Until 3 January

Food Lust: Shock Candy, Brooklyn

Offering a tasty antidote to the traditional festive window displays, Naomi Huth – founder and curator of the Where Am I gallery – has taken over a whole block of storefronts, just one block away from the Brooklyn Museum, for her gallery’s debut exhibition; a curious mingling of contemporary art and candy. Featuring works by Huth herself, along with Claire Lieberman, Matt Schwartz, Martha Rich, and Lorelei Ramire, there’s Jell-O sculptures, paintings of vintage recipe books and mouthwatering photography; and what’s more, it’s accessible art too, with most of the works available for less than $500…

Food Lust: Shock Candy, on view until January 3rd 2012 at Classon Ave at Lincoln Pl, Brooklyn (24 hours/7 days)

Until 31 December

Hard Poems in Space

If you’re looking for a total diversion from the ‘season of goodwill’, this collaboration between Nektar De Stagni and Gallery Diet in Miami’s design district should provide all the visual-distraction you require. Bringing together artists and designers to make functional pieces, it deals heavily in that fine line between product design and art and is a welcome arty respite from Santa hats and elves…

Hard Poems in Space: until 31st December, Nektar De Stagni Shop 155 ne 38th St. Suite #102 Miami FL 33137

Since 14 December

BrewDog Camden

We wrote about their “cold-war chic” Scottish pubs earlier this year, and now the mildly-deranged duo – who are behind “the world’s strongest beer”, packaged in stuffed animals – have launched an invasion on England; starting with this just-opened Camden outpost. If you’re looking for shelter from the crazed last-minute shoppers who are flooding the streets, and like your beer strong and agressive, then this is your pub…

BrewDog Camden is now open at 113 Bayham Street, Camden, London, NW1 0AG

24 December & 27 December

Underground Christmas at Brunel Museum

Birthplace to the London Underground and a former fairground and shopping arcade, The Grand Entrance Hall to Brunels’ Thames Tunnel – a chamber some 50ft across – was forgotten and inaccessible for 140 years. Reopened last year, the curious subterranean space now plays host to sporadic events such as this, a festive tour of the underworld with your host recounting stories contributed by the likes of Jo Brand, Michael Palin and Zoë Wanamaker…

Underground Christmas: Christmas Eve 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and Tuesday 27th December 7.15pm at Brunel Museum, Railway Avenue, London SE16

Until 18 December

Tiffany & Co. Christmas Windows

On a final note, if you find yourself hankering for a little bit of Christmassy elegance from yesteryear, pop your head into the enchanting little frames that adorn the windows of Tiffany & Co.’s lavish Bond Street store. It’s all kinds of snowy fairytale, winter wonderland and very New York; and who knows, you might just come away with a little blue box for your loved one? Told you it was a fairytale…

Tiffany & Co., 25 Old Bond Street, London, throughout the holidays

The Restaurant/Bar/Lounge with small kitchen serves breakfast and German-Italian fusion cuisine, individually designed rooms are well appointed and there is a roof terrace open during the summer months. 25Hours describe the experience as ‘style at an affordable price’ and with rates from 105 Euros a night even through these uncertain economic times, this is a design hotel which can really be enjoyed by all.

Elegantly appointed bedrooms have the typical luxurious amenities including flat screen television and sumptuous bedding, but it’s the detail that really sets The George apart, Eames rocking chairs and chesterfield arm chairs provide each room with a character and warmth that might see you missing the vibrant culture on offer in St. Georg.

If you do manage to drag yourself from the luxury of your snug and sample some of the local nightlife, you can always unwind at The George’s light-flooded rooftop spa, a feel good oasis in Marrakesh Style, situated on the sixth floor of the hotel and featuring a sauna, relaxation room and a partially canopied terrace with a view over St. Georg. Throw in a sophisticated bar and DaCaio, their Italian restuarant, and you have a perfect slice of gentlemanly English tradition in the heart of Hamburg. The George Hotel, Perfect.