Who better to guide you round a city than the people who live there? We ask a ballet dancer, a curator, a chef and the most famous design duo in the world to take us around their home towns - San Francisco, Tokyo, Sydney and Milan. The Shanghai-born ballerina Yuan Yuan Tan joined the San Francisco Ballet in 1995 and became its principal dancer two years later. She gives the lowdown of the best of the Bay Area. San Francisco is not hot, so if you don't mind fog, the best time of year to visit is summer. Stay in the Clift Hotel (495 Geary Street, tel: 1 415 775 4700; www.clifthotel.com ), a surrealist blend of old and new designed by Philippe Starck. For brunch, try the dim sum at Koi Palace in Daly City (365 Gellert Blvd, tel: 1 650 992 9000). My favourite museum is the Asian Art Museum (200 Larkin Street, tel: 1 415 581 3500; www.asianart.org ) - one of the largest in the western world devoted to Asian art. Next, go to the Marina for some shopping. Check out the boutiques on Chestnut and Union Street, then pop in to Pluto's (3258 Scott Street, tel: 1 415 775 8867; www.plutosfreshfood.com ) for an organic salad. After lunch you might want to go for a walk in Golden Gate Park and, if it's a view of the city you are after, head to the Golden Gate Bridge. If you like browsing round markets, try Trader Joe's (various branches, tel: 1 415 863 1292; www.traderjoes.com ) and Whole Foods market (1765 California Street, 1 415 674 0500). If you prefer to while away the afternoon in a spa, I recommend Spa Radiance (3011 Fillmore Street, tel: 1 415 346 6281; www.sparadiance.com ). For something, either catch a film at the AMC 1000 on Van Ness (800 231 3307), or go to the opera house where I perform - it's on the same street (tel: 1 415 621 6600; www.sfwmpac.org ). For dinner, there are two options: Narai, a Thai restaurant at 2229 Clement Street (tel: 1 415 751 6363), or Tanuki, a Japanese restaurant at 4419 California Street (tel: 1 415 752 5740). My favourite bar is Absinthe (398 Hayes Street, tel: 1 415 551 1590). And the best quick getaway? Napa wine country.