Michelle Li

United States

New York City 

The best tofu in town. Growing up I used to eat sweet rice cakes every morning for breakfast, this place takes me back with their bai tang gao. It comes in different flavors but I like to stick to the classic white sugar one!

Fong On

Bring a spicy friend. You choose your ingredients and they throw it in a Chinese dry pot together for you with the perfect blend of spices. The atmosphere inside is so cozy and nostalgic, as if you were in a Wong Kar Wai movie.

Mala Project

Lil store big bites. I love their chicken biscuit sandwich with gravy and cole slaw, if I'm feeling extra treat-y I'll grab a bag of beignets and eat them at the park on Forsyth Street.

Cheeky Sandwiches

A nice place to end a day in the Lower East Side. This cute coffee shop is the kind of place you go into for a snack but then see the table beside you eating something yummy so you end up having a whole meal."

Round K

So many good classic Szechuan plates here. Another spicy spot to bring a friend, Chinese food is for sharing so the bigger the group the better because you can try more dishes.

Szechuan Mountain House

I used to work retail down the street in college and this was my go-to lunch spot. Their moussaka lunch special is SO special and the baklava is self-serve from tiny drawers that hold sheets of them. It's a light airy cafe that if you can snag a seat, do it and sit for a bit.

Pi Bakeries

They're famous for their beef noodles but on days that I miss home I like to go in and just get a cucumber salad and lu ro fan, my comfort food.

Ho Foods

Malaysian breakfast! I love to go and get a bunch of snacks, sweets, and cute fancy toasts.

Kopitiam

This well-curated shop has pieces that are quirky and unique, they inspire you to want to break out of your style comfort zone and try to wear some more color or a new silhouette. It's a very persuasive store.

Sincerely, Tommy

An LES (Lower East Side) institution at this point. A lot of NYC girls are always shopping here for their oversized wool coats, blanket scarves, and plaid blazers. There are a lot of knick knacks and familiar brands, but you'll always find some new designer from Europe in here.

The Frankie Shop

My go-to for when I'm in a bind and need to pick up a cute gift for a friend. Also a great place to go if you're looking for special home goods.

Coming Soon

The purveyors of finding great younger brands and designers. I always pop in this store when I'm looking for some inspiration for upcoming shoots, it's a great way to see what is up-and-coming in the fashion world.

Café Forgot

Similar Guides

NYC's Best Spots to Eat and Shop by Michelle Li

Chef Brendan Eades

United Kingdom

London

Taking care of where we source our meat is important now more than ever. Ethical Butcher help with just that, carefully sourcing meat which isn’t damaging the environment rather helping it. EAT LESS MEAT, SOURCE BETTER QUALITY!

The Ethical Butcher

A company helping to battle one of our biggest battles in the industry FOOD WASTE! Taking vegetables and fruit that are deemed as non-sellable and making sure it doesn’t go to waste really is a genius idea which should be highlighted and seen more across the whole food sector.


OddBox

A company which started as a social enterprise who we work closely with here at The Conduit who supply us coffee in reusable containers where they focus on helping to battle homelessness in the UK through training and employment. They also plant a tree for every bag of coffee sold through the Eden Rainforest Project.

Old Spike Roastery

Cacao free chocolate! The chocolate industry is a dark one with hidden corners but this new and innovative idea through @drjohnnydrain is incredible making chocolate guilt free knowing that it's coming from sustainable food sources!


WnWn Food Labs

Eating organic beans, pulses, grains is our way of eating less meat and still getting all the protein we need. British grown and working closely with the farms and certified with the soil association.

Hodmedod

My current workplace and somewhere that I am really proud of the food that we produce. I am using what I learnt at Silo in a new way, and it’s exciting to do it for a new audience in central London's Covent Garden.


Warehouse

A former workplace and a restaurant shaping the future of the industry, a place that’s a beacon of light in the industry and a leader in sustainable restaurants, they also cook killer food too!


Silo

The Best Sustainable Stores in London

Isaac Kimbugwe

Netherlands

Amsterdam

When I first moved to Amsterdam from London back in 2014, the first people who showed me the ropes in the city were Daily Paper co-founders Hussein Suleiman, Jefferson Osei, and Abderrahmane Trabsini who grew on to become my family. In 2016 Daily Paper’s first flagship store opened and since then has served as more than just amazing clothing, but also a hub for ingenious people from all walks of life to come together, hang out and share similar passion points. What makes this place unique is that you'll always feel welcome and directly get to know the people behind the brand.

Daily Paper Store

Foam is an internationally renowned Amsterdam museum that exhibits all genres of photography in a beautiful canal-side setting on the Keizersgracht. The museum presents ever changing exhibitions and all kinds of photographic genres are shown, such as historical photographs, art photographs, news photos and fashion photographs. As well as displaying a wide variety of works, it acts as a creative hub where photographers can meet and participate in forums and symposiums. I first fell in love with this place when my good friend Mirelva Berghout, who is project cordinator at Foam invited me to enjoy a special viewing of the exhibition Gordon Parks - I Am You.

Foam

What you might get to know from me is that I’m all about supporting friends and their ventures, no matter the industry. You’ll most likely catch me hanging at friends' stores, offices, exhibitions, restaurants etc. This usually takes me over to Mendo located in the Berenstraat, which is one of the 9 Streets in the heart of Amsterdam. My close friend (Gunifort Uwambaga) is the publisher and co-owner.
Mendo is a candy store for book aficionados. It has a comprehensive stocklist of streetwear and fashion coffee table books that are both super informative and look great out on display. As I’m always in and out of London and Paris, my last pick up was the collection of ‘The Streets of…’ It's a series of books that offer a contemporary take on the classic city photo-book and contain: The Streets of: New York, London, Amsterdam and Paris. 

Mendo 

The Fitting Room is home to one of my favourite contemporary fashion and streetwear brands, ØLÅF Hussein, who marries technical features and sharp minimal silhouettes. Located in Amsterdam’s bustling 9 Streets shopping district, this beautiful space is on the ground level of an early 17th century warehouse with existing wooden ceiling beams, herringbone flooring plants and comfortable furniture. This is all intended to give the store the feeling of a living room and embody the timeless design of the modernist movement.

Olaf Hussein 

To be honest, Amsterdam Chinatown is one of the areas of Amsterdam I dread to go simply due to…. tourists, yet I find always myself there for Zeedjik 60. A multi-brand store of Amsterdam's finest young and independent labels: Bonne Suits, The New Originals, SMIB and Secluded Clothing

Zeedijk 60

Best pancakes in town and another cool spot I and my friends like to hang. You can find a signature Daily Paper pancake on the menu as well. 

MOAK Pancakes 

A Tremaine classic… a wavey 1.5 with the grain, skin fade and a beard shape up. At the back of the Daily Paper store you’ll find a barbering concept titled Day Studios. It's a one of a kind full men's grooming experience. The store is redesigned to emphasise a concept where fashion and barbering come together to give you a 360 experience. 

Day Studios

Personally for me the South-East of Amsterdam is a refreshing view of the city that I feel many have not had the pleasure to visit and explore when they come here. Amsterdam Bijlmer is a place where different ethnicities not only understand the challenges that face them, but unite and help each other which reminds me of how I grew up in South London. With a mix of 100,000 residents from 150 ethnic backgrounds, predominantly African and Caribbean, I really feel at home whenever I’m here. Every Saturday the Ganzenhoef Bijlmer market takes place and I like to come here and get my African ingredients and flavours. There are also a number of Afro-Caribbean salons and stores catered to black hair and skin in the area where I like to pick up my oils and creams. 

Ganzenhoef Market

8 Places to Hit Up in Amsterdam with Daily Paper's Isaac Kimbugwe

Emerald Rose Lewis

The Marshes in Hackney are big, beautiful, green and diverse. It's the best spot for dog walking, running, playing football, picnics, forest raves, Summer bevvies, right by the canal, it's the best.

Hackney Marshes

Ten87 Studios at the High Cross Centre in Tottenham is where I make music. The best place to create and get the job done!

Ten87 Studios

This isn't the most obvious choice of pub for a lot of people, but I like it because it's a central spot for a lot of my pals and community. It's close to a lot and you're bound to see one of your pals if you pop in for a pint. 

The Star by Hackney Downs

The Haggerston area on the canal is precious to me because it's where some of my family live on boats. My Dad is a boat builder so I've grown up in and around boats and on the water.

Regent's Canal

It's the best club in London right now, enough said.

FOLD

Great spot for listening to records, great DJs and drinks and socialising. I've thrown two EP launch parties here. Lovely spot, great DJ booth too, one of my favourites.

All My Friends

My local football stadium, my second team after Arsenal, great classic burger van burger at half time, UP THE ORIENT!

Leyton Orient

Kingsland High Street, home of my current favourite Turkish wrap. My order is the chicken shish, all the trimmings, extra pickled chillies, garlic sauce, chilli sauce.

Sömine

Currently my favourite restaurant in London, really great space tucked away and I’m not joking when I say I want everything on the menu every time. Great cocktails too.

Acme Fire Cult Dalston

Emerald Rose Lewis in London

Mohammad Gorjestani

San Francisco 

Loquat explores the the flavours of Iraqi Jewish heritage and is the brainchild of my homie Tal Mor, who is behind Four Barrel Coffee and The Mill with Josey Baker Bread. Loquat is built from love and intentionally sourcing all of its ingredients, many of which are from Palestine. My favourite thing is the boureka plate with the house harissa and zhoug. Don’t sleep on the salted chocolate babka either.

Loquat

I low-key think this is the best bar in America. The combination of community, food and drinks is unmatched. I get creatively inspired here with what Nicholas Torres and his team does. The cocktails span the imagination, and I especially appreciate the low ABV drinks. I would get the bartenders choice of cocktail and definitely get the hen of the woods mushrooms.

True Laurel 

This is a special special place run by amazing people. You can’t beat the vibe – it is unequivocally San Francisco. 20 Spot is a restaurant inside the old Force of Habit record store, it’s run by Bodhi Freedom who is a Frisco OG. I recommend just sitting at the bar with a flatbread and anything else that looks good on Alejandro’s (the chef's) menu and letting Bodhi pour you a glass of what he’s feeling that night.

20 Spot

Isa and Kenzie used to work on farms before opening this spot that serves the most incredible tamales and bowls. Everything is amazing, but I go with the Hugo Street Retreat with a breakfast cookie to enjoy on a walk around one of the best neighbourhoods in the city.

Yo También Cantina

24th Street is my favourite street in San Francisco and there’s nothing like it or La Palma in the world. I go with the Taco Sonora and I grab some queso and salsa for the fridge on my way out.

La Palma

The best coffee in America is in San Francisco (sorry Portland) and Grand is one of my favourites. I love the two locations on Mission Street and I love everything this place and its owners represent as a community business. I love their espresso and usually go with an eight-ounce Americano or a Gibralatar (don’t call it a Cortado!).

Grand Coffee

When I first moved to San Francisco I lived in the Richmond, and I discovered this tiny spot that changed how I think about how food is made and that small is better. Pizetta makes a few pizzas a day based on what's at the farmer's market. I usually get whatever pizza is on the menu, a slice of flourless chocolate cake, and an espresso that takes me back to 2007 when I used to just sit at the bar and write.

Pizetta 211

Anybody telling you San Francisco is dead, just bring them here on the Friday or Saturday night. Probably the most fun place to dance in the city, and while I admittedly avoid the dancefloor, I do appreciate the natural wine, top shelf DJ and music curation that makes this place bump.

Bar Part Time

There’s a few great dive bars I was thinking of for this list, like Lone Palm and 500 Club, but I’m putting Wazema [down] because in addition to being around the block from me, and it being a historic San Francisco business, they also serve Ethiopian food every night 'til 10. I order the sampler plate and enjoy a little fernet after, and hit the pool table in the back.

Club Waziema

I go to bat for Gallardo’s as the best brunch in the city. It’s only on the weekends, but it's worth the wait for their birria served with their tortillas and fixings.

Gallardo’s

Sunset Squares Foodhall is where you can go watch a game and choose between Sunset Squares Pizza (sourdough pizza), Namu Stonepot (Korean-inspired fare), Filipino food (Uncle Tito’s) and a really amazing curation of beer and wine. I go for the Pub pizza, and I add olives and gardiniere for the first half of the game.

 Sunset Squares Foodhall

The Palestinian diaspora in San Francisco is one of the most special things about the city. Biet Rima is a family business that makes you feel at home every time you eat at either of their two locations. I usually go with their chicken shish tawook plate, the mezze platter – and don’t sleep on Samir’s bread.

Beit Rima

Few places in San Francisco have the room feeling that Zuni does. I always go back and forth between Bix and Zuni as my favourite old-school vibes. But Zuni takes it for me because when I first moved to the city it was the late-night meals I had here after my shifts that shaped my love for food. The move here is to grab a seat by the bar, get a martini, order the chicken, and patiently wait for it enjoying their Caesar salad. Classic and perfect.

Zuni Café

Where to Eat and Drink in San Francisco, According to Mohammad Gorjestani

HighSchool

Australia

Melbourne

If you’re out west and feeling peckish, look no further than Fresh Chilli Deli. Sitting right in the heart of St Albans town centre, it’s a local staple and an unofficial meeting point for breakfast, lunch, or even an early dinner goers alike. There’s plenty of seating out front, perfect for demolishing your banh mi the proper way, that is, immediately after purchase. It is a light, healthy banh mi, with an innovative fried, crispy caramelized onion curveball that adds a sweet crunch you won’t see coming. An unami, somewhat gamey but not too oily banh mi with just enough fresh bird’s eye chilli lining the base of the bread to make sure the product lives up to its name. 

Fresh Chilli Deli 

Luke’s is part of the new school of gentrified banh mi spots, but don’t let that put you off. Served in tiger bread and brimming with fried shallots, this vietnamese roll ain’t for the faint hearted. It’s substantial, very filling and borderline gluttonous — the kind of banh mi that will silence the fiercest of hunger. It’s heavy, rich, maybe not the healthiest but definitely the most delicious - and all for the fair price of a flat tenner. The meat is cooked to perfection, tender and juicy, and the vegetarian options are impressive, with eight different choices for the non-meat eaters. Sure, there’s usually a pretty major queue out front, but that’s just proof it’s the real deal. Grab yourself a coffee from Brunetti’s a few doors down and wait it out because Luke’s banh mi is most definitely worth it.  

Luke's

As soon as you walk through the door, you know Bun Bun Bakery means business. Freshly baked baguettes cool beside bread ovens out the back, a Buddhist shrine behind the counter holds a banh mi offering shrouded in incense smoke, and a production line of staff assemble each sandwich with specialiaed precision. Bun Bun keeps it traditional — no frills, no gimmicks, just quality ingredients and recipes perfected over the years. Their salad game is unmatched: plentiful and fresh. The use of ghee instead of butter or mayo adds a unique richness you won’t find anywhere else. Each type of banh mi is slipped into a different coloured bag depending on the protein you opted for — a small but satisfying touch indicative of Bun Bun’s care and attention to detail.

Bun Bun Bakery

We’re starting with a classic. N. Lee Bakery on Smith Street in Collingwood has been holding it down since 1991. Every good banh mi starts with good bread and N. Lee has the best in the business - baked fresh on site, with a superbly crisp crust and a soft, fluffy centre. The perfect ratio of pâté, mayo, and hoisin blends into a heavenly creamyness, offset by the pickled julienned daikon that runs throughout. It’s simple and clean, a staple, an everyday banh mi, a banh mi that never gets old. Local tip: Pick up a fresh detox salon juice from Sonsa Market next door, perfect collab with any N. Lee banh mi.

 N. Lee Bakery

At first glance, To’s banh mi might seem pretty stripped back - maybe even unremarkable - but a closer look (and bite) reveals something quietly brilliant. The baguette is sprinkled with sesame seeds, with a touch of cracked pepper inside for a subtle kick. Coriander takes centre stage, and yesterday’s bread is cubed into croutons adding an innovative and resourceful crunch. To’s is reliable and consistent — it has everything you want in a banh mi and nothing you don’t. It’s the kind of roll that keeps you coming back again and again.

To’s Bakery & Cafe 

“Silence the Fiercest of Hunger” -  Melbourne’s Best Bánh Mì Spots With HighSchool

If you've got a minute between morning shows, pop into Reference Point. Stockists of independent publications, host to exhibitions and events, and nestled right under the Dazed Mag Offices. Grab yourself a copy of the latest Boy.Brother.Friend while you're there.

Reference Point

Well it's all in the name. Not JUST another store, this Shoreditch space brings together creatives from fashion and lifestyle, art and music, featuring a fab lineup of designers, evening functions, and a library of Blackness by PRIM.

Not Just Another Store

Cute little boutique restaurant in the heart of Soho, run by my fab friends Missy and Gabe with the best curated menu. It's a modern American dining experience like no other - while you're there make sure to try the Devilled eggs.

Rita's 

Well this is my favourite stop off of them all, because personally... I love eating cake. Situated on the first floor of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane this is the perfect spot for a bit of bouj, serving high tea with a twist by the best baker in London. Very Bridgerton darling.

Lily Vanilli Afternoon Tea

When fashion parties are done but the night is still young, head over to Colour Factory. It's the precursor to the afterparty and home to some of London's best clubnights and live music. 

Colour Factory

Miss Jason's Best London Fashion Week Spots

Egypt

Cairo

The best restaurant at the moment for local dishes with craftsmanship. In less than a year, it has taken the lead from Kebdet El Prince with its big variety and rich, heavy flavour. Their high quality food is meant to make you cry. For the best strategy to try everything, you have to starve yourself in advance, but it's worth it! Go with a friend, start with molokhia, then jump to the nifa (softest sheep meat) or moza (lamb shank). Then you can share stuffed vine leaves with trotters, mombar (fried intestines stuffed with rice), some tarb and a dish of rice me’ammar (baked with heavy cream in the oven). To finish off, maybe add in a small stuffed pigeon, because why not!

حجوجة

I’ve tried so many Korean restaurants in different countries, but so far Cairo’s Gaya is the winner. Big portions and nice service, big up to Shenouda! I always have kimbap and tteokbokki (rice cake) as an appetiser before jumping to the jeyuk bokkeum (Korean spicy pork) or beef bulgogi with fried rice with pork. It’s one of the few places in Egypt that serve pork. You can also try the pork belly or the ribs, they’re great. Don’t fall for any offer to try another Korean restaurant in Cairo, it’s a waste of time and money.

Gaya

For years, El Sharkawy – with its millions of branches – have dominated the brain and liver market in Cairo. But then came Awlad Ta2ta2 to up the game. The freshest fried brain and liver, a perfect mix of crunchiness and softness. Don’t forget to squeeze heaps of lemon on it. You can order by kilo or simply go for sandwiches – they bake their own baladi bread. Order it with tehina (or ’tahini’ in hipster jargon), pickled tomatoes and eggplants. They also have fish, but if you want great fish, Cairo isn’t the right city. But you can try their herring salad if you like smokey, salted fish.

Awlad Ta2ta2

Back to starvation mode, you need to be prepared. El Gomhoureya is best known for its stuffed pigeons; they’re soft so you can even eat the bones, and the rice is well spiced. Next, try their giant moza or 1 ⁄ 4 kilo (a bit more I guess) of nifa. Don’t finish all of the pigeon soup. Save half of it to dip the nifa or moza in it, to make it extra soft, greasy. I’m not a fan of kabab and kofta, but they have good sogu’ (sujuk). El Gomhoureya never fails to make me feel high on good food, I always leave with a smile on my face.

El Gomhoureya 

This is hardcore! The best fasakhani in Cairo; the place selling fesikh. Fesikh is one of the oldest food traditions in Egypt, it’s basically aged marinated mullet fish. If you like a strong funky smell and taste, Shaheen will be your heaven. Don’t let the innocent pink colour or the soft meat of the fish fool you, it’s overpowering but delicious. Buy the fish and cut the head and tail with a sharp knife. Then cut it from the bottom so you can split it in two parts and squeeze lots of lemon – and good luck! The high amount of salt will dry you out, so it’s recommended to drink lots of water and cola, of course, and take a day off because it will make you sleepy. Disclaimer: make sure the fesikh is fresh, otherwise it will have serious implications.

Shaheen Caviar

There’s a koshary place in every corner in downtown, but Abou Tarek stands out. Koshary is a bomb traditional dish made by a mix of three types of pasta, rice, lentil and fried onions. It’s always fresh, and what makes it unique is the tomato sauce, garlic sauce and other mix of spices. It’s relatively expensive compared to many koshary places. If you’re a vegetarian or vegan and visiting Cairo, Abou Tarek is your spot, next to tonnes of foul (fava beans) and ta’meyya (falafel) places you can find around every corner in Cairo.

Abou Tarek

They lied when they said pizza is Italian. With all respect to Italian pizza, especially the Neapolitan, every country in the Mediterranean has got its own version of pizza. Egypt is known for its fetir, a pie that’s similar to burek. Next to Dina Farms’ wide range of savoury fetir, the meshaltet pie is outstanding. The flakey layers loaded with butter go best with side dips of mesh (aged cheese), honey, cream, feta cheese and black honey (molasses). Don’t miss their milk with dates and milk with chocolate, they’re the richest.

Fetiret Dina Farms

Despite the abundance of shawerma spots in Cairo, it’s hard to find a good one, so you just go with the flow and settle for average places. EL Hamra Street is one of the few good ones, it’s prepared the Syrian/Lebanese way. Unfortunately, most of the places serving Egyptian shawerma are below average because they add too much tehina, parsley and mint and less meat. They’re also overpriced. So EL Hamra Street is the right choice. Don’t forget to try the sujuk shawerma, it’s really special.

EL Hamra ST. Restaurant

I’ve been a big fan of Kahlawy for 20 years. Kahlawy is a small food cart located downtown, known for its delicious liver, sujuk and corned beef sandwiches. It’s always crowded so be patient. It’s also a good indicator of the rise in prices and the economic crisis in Egypt, as the price of their sandwiches has jumped from one EGP to 10 EGP over the years. However, this never stops me from grabbing a bunch of sandwiches every now and then.

El Kahlawy

Best known for their rice milk (top it with cream, honey and a scoop of ice cream), mahallabeya, ashoura and sweet koskosi (kouskous). It’s one of the oldest places selling nice desserts with high standards. They come up with new inventions every couple of months, so you must try their new mesakhsakha, which is a heavy version of tres leches. Try also their cheese and dairy products, especially their mesh.

El Malky

A Guide on Where to Eat in Cairo By Abadir

CHAII

Los Angeles 

This is always the first Persian food place I stop at when in LA, Attari Sandwich shop! It reminds me of Iran, so it’s very special to me since I don't often get to experience that. To start off, you have to try the mouth watering Eggplant dish (Kashke bademjan) then any of their delicious sandwiches - my two favorites are Sausage and Tongue. They have an amazing menu filled with yummy Persian food that you can enjoy in the cute outdoor area. Persian cream puffs (Noon Khamei) is a MUST for dessert.

Attari Sandwich Shop

The name says it all! When you go to Saffron and Rose Ice Cream shop in Westwood you must try the ice cream that the shop is named after, the Saffron ice cream. Mixed with pistachios, I don’t know anyone who could dislike this signature Iranian Ice Cream flavor, it’s a must try.. 

 Saffron and Rose Ice Cream

Feeling a little fancy? Then Darya restaurant is the place to go to have an amazing dinner. My favorite dish is Zereshk Polo Morgh (Persian Barberry rice with chicken) OR ANY of the dishes. If you’re new to Persian food then get a few different dishes and share. Some nights there is live music to enjoy while dining at Darya Restaurant.

Darya Restaurant

Iran has such a rich culture and a long history in arts, music and traditions. Stores like Ketabsara (ketab = Book) are much needed to keep the Persian culture alive. I can never get enough of walking in a store that carries that much depth in the art and history.

Ketabsara bookstore

This is definitely the spot to go for a casual hang out with your friends where you can enjoy Shisha food and board games. Open until 3am most nights and until 5am on weekends this is the perfect place to end up after going out for dinner to the movies etc. I think of this place as somewhere nice and chill and if I lived in LA I imagine i’d become a regular here. Shisha (Ghelyoun) is a big part of Persian culture. In Iran, my family always would have the Ghelyoun going after lunch or dinner over a cup of tea and snacks. It’s not about smoking, it's more the fact it brings everyone together.

The Spot

I went to Cafe Glace with my cousin and my friends for the first time in 2019 when we were in LA to shoot music videos. Everyone is so lovely here and the food is amazing. I’ve had their gourmet Pizzas and sandwiches. Don’t forget to order some Chai (tea) after your meal. In Persian culture, we drink tea a lot. First thing in the morning, before and after meals tea is something that is always being made and poured into your glass. We also believe that tea is great for the stomach after meals to help with digestion.

Cafe Glace

If you’re looking for some quality hair products including amazing hair extensions and wigs then look no further, my uncle's store Santee beauty in Downtown LA. I love visiting my family when I'm in LA and my uncle has had so much success at his store in downtown where many celebrities go to get their hair  products from.

Santee Beauty Center

Explore Los Angeles' Persian Spots with CHAII

Ana Clara Watanabe

Brazil

São Paulo

Pinacoteca de São Paulo is a museum dedicated to Brazilian Visual Art. With an emphasis on Brazilian production from the nineteenth century to the present day, the place also dialogue with the cultures of the world by collecting, studying, preserving, exhibiting and communicating its collections to promote the public’s experience with art, stimulate creativity and the construction of knowledge. Founded in 1905 by the São Paulo State Government, it is the city’s oldest art museum.

Pinacoteca

SESC is a non-profit Brazilian private institution that makes available Education, Health, Culture and Recreational programs and events and well as provides Social Assistance to workers and their dependents. Since its foundation, Sesc has contributed to socioeconomic and cultural development in Brazil through social and educational actions and a wide variety of services that encourage the exercise of citizenship.

At SESC you can do anything for a really affordable price. You can have a good meal, visit a nice exhibition or even watch a special concert for a R$10. Some SESC's in São Paulo have pools, gyms and a few activities for you and your family/friends.

SESC Bom Retiro

Casa do Povo means “house of people” and that’s literally what they are. It’s a place that provides many cultural activities for those who can afford. You can find there sewing classes, social activities like Empreendedoras Sin Fronteras, choral, dance lessons, meetings and a really comfortable place to spend the afternoon learning, listening and meeting nice people.

Casa do Povo

The old building of the "Sorocabana Railroad" is now "Sala São Paulo", home of the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra and one of the most important concert and event venues in the country.

Designed by Christiano Stockler das Neves in 1925 ―a period when the city, stimulated by coffee and the railway, was growing at a fast pace― the building, marked by the sobriety of the ornaments and details of the Louis XVI style, would only be completed in 1938, when the urbanization of São Paulo was already characterized by the presence of automobiles, minimizing the use of trams and trains.

Sala São Paulo

One of my dearest friends once told me about this place where a couple of Korean immigrants serves their traditional family recipes. They don’t speak Portuguese very well, but the place, their energy and the food makes you feel like home.

황토길 맛집 / Hwang To Gil Restaurant

Good price and one of the best Korean foods that I ever tried. Really worth it to visit and it’s also located near to the best fabrics and trims stores! They don’t have a website, but you can get more infos at their Instagram page.

Choyee Coffee and Restaurant

José Paulino is a famous fashion street where you can find clothes and accessories from several different brands and designers. It’s a street where you can visit a fancy shop, a shop that has another 10 shops inside of it, buy clothes on the streets... It’s really worth it the visit ‘cause you can find anything there, meet brands that you may never heard about but with well-made pieces, clothes for a popular price, things that are trending right now…

This part of the town has already suffered a lot of “bad judgments” ‘cause a lot of immigrants work in this part of town in bad conditions, so be careful and ask from where and how that piece was made.

José Paulino Street

If you’re looking for a good meal in a good and beautiful restaurant, here’s your place. Darê is one of the best Korean cuisines that I ever tried, and they have two options: the first one, where you serve yourself at a table with cold and hot Korean food; and the second and “fancy” one, where you can check their menu with more different options.

Darê

The Chef Paulo Shin revisited the mix between the traditional and the modern Korean Cuisine. “We privilege the cozy and casual experience, with the commitment to bring a meal with the care of the production taught by Dona Myung (Paulo’s mom), the flavor that refers to the Korean roots and the experiences of different refinements.