London Hotspot Find: Experimental Cocktail Club
EXPERIMENTAL COCKTAIL CLUB, LONDON CHINATOWN Positioned across 3 floors of an old Chinatown townhouse is the London edition of the Experimental Cocktail Club, a prohibition bar offering shi-shi Londoners a sophisticated way to start off (or end) their evenings. The people lingering outside could be mistaken for those waiting in line for Chinese food next … Continue reading
NYC Hotspot Find: Tooker Alley
TOOKER ALLEY, PROSPECT HEIGHTS This understated, yet quietly quirky artisanal cocktail bar serves up undoubtedly stylish tipples, which they evidently take very seriously. Just take a peek at their multi-page old-timey style menu which offers readers insight into the history of what they’re drinking as well as the bar’s manifesto which is to be “consciously … Continue reading
NYC Hotspot Find: Baby’s All Right
BABY’S ALL RIGHT, WILLIAMSBURG If you’ve been following me on the Instagram, you’ll know that I’m often hanging out at the gigs, DJ sets and live music events of my favourite musicians and artists. So I guess you could say I know a thing or two about what makes a live music venue stand out … Continue reading
Adelaide Hotspot Find: Clever Little Tailor
CLEVER LITTLE TAILOR, ADELAIDE Downtown Adelaide is in the midst of reforming its nightlife scene and Clever Little Tailor is the boutique drinking den that appears to be leading the way. Walking along the once deserted, now up and coming Peel Street, you’ll notice the city’s laneway culture developing rapidly in the same way we … Continue reading
NYC Hotspot Find: Extra Fancy
EXTRA FANCY, WILLIAMSBURG If I really think about the establishments popping up around Williamsburg one theme comes to mind – not so fancy and extra fancy. It’s a veritable hodgepodge of highbrow, lowbrow, cheap, expensive, dive-y and upscale and Extra Fancy is a bar/restaurant nodding its head to this wonderful characteristic of Williamsburg. Don’t let … Continue reading
NYC Hotspot Find: Cameo Gallery
CAMEO GALLERY, WILLIAMSBURG Hidden away like a speakeasy behind a Williamsburg restaurant is Cameo Gallery. A performing arts centre known by locals for its freshly curated events calendar hosting indie and dance music acts like Quadron, Frankie Knuckles, Benji B, Nicolas Jaar, Maurice Fulton and Joe Goddard just to name a few. Best Bit: The … Continue reading
The Curators: Style Influencer Jamala Johns’ Harlem Hotspots
One of my favourite things about New York City is its patchwork of interesting neighbourhoods, all unmistakably different from each other, full of cool hotspots waiting to be discovered. So, for this edition of The Curators, I wanted to put a spotlight on Uptown’s ever-evolving neighbourhood, Harlem. This convivial neighbourhood is home to some of … Continue reading
The Curators: Globetrotting DJ Lefto on The World’s Best Clubs
For this edition of The Curators I’m very excited to introduce to you one of my all-time favourite deejays and biggest music inspirations – Lefto. This man, a globetrotting musical tastemaker, is known for his special knack of uncovering fresh talent, new genres and the latest releases within his mainstays hip hop, jazz, soul, and … Continue reading
NYC Hotspot Find: The Leadbelly
THE LEADBELLY, LOWER EAST SIDE This charming cocktail bar is the brainchild of the guys behind The Fat Radish and its interiors you could say are the lovechild of mid-century Europe and vintage Americana – think carefully selected interior embellishments like old vinyl, vintage suitcases and a curved copper bar. Each night, The Leadbelly serves … Continue reading
The Curators: Belinda Humphris of Claire Inc. on Designer Vintage Fashion and the Best of Adelaide
About 5 years ago (to my delight) I stumbled across Adelaide based eBay seller Claire Inc. who had the most exquisite taste in designer vintage clothing. Belinda Humprhis, the founder of Claire Inc. has since grown the business into an online fashion destination for shrewd, well-dressed ladies searching for high-end vintage clothing – admittedly she … Continue reading
NYC Hotspot Find: Mother’s Ruin
MOTHER’S RUIN, NOLITA I can’t quite put my finger on what I like so much about this bar. Sure, it’s airy, the cocktails are nice and there are these big beautiful windows you can sit by in the summer time… But there’s something else about it that makes me wonder why I don’t go more … Continue reading
NYC Hotspot Find: Elsa
ELSA, EAST VILLAGE Bright and airy with a stylish balance of old and new. Think clean white walls, Edison bulbs and vintage sewing machines. Best Bit: Start early when it’s still light out and enjoy sitting under the big beautiful skylight https://www.facebook.com/elsabarnyc 217 E 3rd St, New York, NY 10009 (917) 882-7395 … Continue reading
NYC Hotspot Find: Attaboy
ATTABOY, LOWER EAST SIDE Some of the ex-Milk & Honey crew saw a great opportunity when the bar uprooted and moved up to their midtown location. They stayed on and re-opened the space as Attaboy, keeping all the best of Milk & Honey but saying goodbye to the slightly pretentious reservation policy. Best Bit: No … Continue reading
NYC Hotspot Find: Angels Share
ANGELS SHARE, EAST VILLAGE I’d say with conviction that they make the best cocktails in the city. Hopefully you score a seat in one of the booths by the big beautiful windows but if not, the handsome Japanese bar men make sitting at the bar a pretty good consolation prize. Remember the only way in … Continue reading
NYC Hotspot Find: Von
VON, EAST VILLAGE A low key East Village local with rustic all-wood interior that could be reminiscent of an old bar in the South of France. The bar attracts a well-dressed downtown crowd that skews creative. Best Bit: There’s a small-room club downstairs where you can dance off all the wine you’ve consumed. http://www.vonbar.com/ … Continue reading
NYC Hotspot Find: Torst
TORST, GREENPOINT Scandinavia meets Brooklyn. It had to be done one day and what better time than now – while NYC’s recent love affair with Scandinavian cuisine and Danish styling is coming into full fledge. Best Bit: They manage to really elevate beer by serving all of their 21 brews in refined Danish glassware. http://www.torstnyc.com/ … Continue reading
NYC Hotspot Find: Sake Bar Decibel
SAKE BAR DECIBEL, EAST VILLAGE Located in what I like to call Little Tokyo on 9th Street East Village, this place could easily be named best sake bar in NYC. Look out for the illuminated “On Air” sign (it’s the only way you’ll know you’ve arrived) and walk down the wooden stairs into what feels … Continue reading
NYC Hotspot Find: The Narrows
THE NARROWS, BUSHWICK It’s narrow (like the name) and the 1920s Deco inspired interiors will compel you to imagine the cast of Mad Men drinking here – only in reality you’ll more likely be drinking with the local Bushwick crowd who are more hipster than Mad Men. Best Bit: There’s a back garden where you … Continue reading
NYC Hotspot Find: Kinfolk Studios
KINFOLK 90 WYTHE, WILLIAMSBURG Wythe Avenue is very quickly becoming the go-to nightlife street in Williamsburg for young Brooklynites and edgier Manhattanites. Right across from the Wythe hotel stands Kinfolk 90 Wythe – a spot that seamlessly combines bar, restaurant and club in an intimate yet vibe-y way. Best Bit: The space. It’s the kind … Continue reading
NYC Hotspot Find: Wythe Hotel Rooftop
WYTHE HOTEL ROOFTOP, WILLIAMSBURG NYC does cool hotel bars like no other city and the Wythe Hotel rooftop is no exception. Start the evening with dinner at Reynard and ask the staff if you can skip the line for post dinner drinks. Best Bit: Best view of Manhattan and a high coincidence of spying on … Continue reading
Athens Hotspot Find: Oinoscent Cellar & Wine Bar
OINOSCENT: CELLAR & WINE BAR, STNTAGMA If Greek wine is as much of a mystery to you as it has been to me, head to Oinoscent – the first of this kind of new-school wine bar in the city. The staff here knows their wine and will give you well informed recommendations by the glass … Continue reading
Athens Hotspot Find: Key Bar
KEYBAR, PLAKA Located in downtown Athens, in the historical center, Keybar is one of the city’s most vibrant hot spots frequented by all of its most understated and stylish pretty young things. Just check out their website to get a sampling of the atmosphere and crowd. Best Bit: Vintage styling, people watching and well curated … Continue reading
Amsterdam Hotspot Find: The Butcher
THE BUTCHER This place opened the week we left Amsterdam. There was plenty of buzz going on – everyone was excited to see a new all night gourmet burger joint open with a secret invite only cocktail bar behind a nondescript door. I wonder how long it’ll stay “invite only” in little ol’ Amsterdam 🙂 … Continue reading
Amsterdam Hotspot Find: Paradiso
PARADISO A truly world class music venue. If you’re in Amsterdam even for the weekend check their schedule for any acts you want to see. Make sure walk up to the top floors and enjoy the impressive view of the stage and the sea of fans. Best bit: The acoustic quality in this venue makes … Continue reading
melting butter 