Serpentine boss Hans Ulrich Obrist dines at the River Café, gazes at the Zoo's aviary and can't resist a bookshop

I stayed at Sir John Soane's Museum for nearly a year. It could be quite uncanny, even a bit spooky at night, but it was unforgettable

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Home is …

Kensington Gardens. Whenever I’m here, I spend most of my time in the park. I go jogging at about 6 or 7am, head to the office early, and often hold my meetings as walks through the park. We also install exhibitions, build pavilions and host open-air concerts. In the summer, we often host events in the pavilion until 10 or 11pm. So yes, the park is very much alive, and it’s where I spend nearly all my time.

Where was your first flat in London?

My first time working here was in 1996, when I was invited to guest-curate the exhibition Take Me (I’m Yours) at Serpentine. It was a show where visitors could do everything you’re usually not allowed to do in a museum: touch the art, take things home. At the time, I had my first small apartment in London, on Crampton Street in Elephant and Castle. About 50 people had the key, coming and going from all over Europe. It was a place of constant exchange, conversations and impromptu meetings. Later, I guest-curated a show at Sir John Soane’s Museum. At the time, the museum had a guest room reserved for Soane scholars — there aren’t many of those in the world — and I was lucky enough to stay there, on and off, for nearly a year. It could be quite uncanny, sometimes even a bit spooky at night, but it was unforgettable.

Where would you recommend for a first date?