They always seem to know everything: the best places to eat, the quickest route to the airport, who can get a tomato juice stain out of your suit jacket before the big meeting. Hotel concierges operate as professional answer-men, dispensing insider knowledge about their particular cities to a steady stream of needy Road Warriors. With that in mind, we've turned to some of the best concierges in Miami Beach, New York City, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, and London for a few of their top tips.

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THE PENINSULA HOTEL
NEW YORK CITY
AMY BOWMAN

Best way to kill an hour: "Take a stroll through Central Park, visit the zoo there, maybe even rent a bicycle for the hour. Or, if the weather isn't so good, go to Bergdorf Goodman for the best shopping and customer service you'll ever find."

Best restaurant on an expense account: "Alain Ducasse is fantastic - if you can get in. It's the most decadent meal in New York. If you can't get in there, try Le Bernardin, which has the greatest seafood. I've never heard a bad thing about them."

Best lunch on the run: "One of the best kept secrets is a little trattoria called La Vineria, which serves the most amazing little pizzas."

Best place to close a deal: "Veritas has great food and the best wine list in town."

Best place to go after hours: "Lotus is my favorite. It always has a good crowd and good music. The door policy can be tough, but we can always get you in there."

Best place to buy a suit or dress: "Brooks Brothers opens early. The one at 53rd and Fifth Avenue sells women's clothing as well as men's."

Best place to buy a gift for the spouse: "Barneys has all of the coolest new designers and a big selection of everything from sunglasses to formalwear."