Tanaka Fuego

United Kingdom

Manchester

London

A beach that holds many of my childhood memories. It is such a special spot with a great beach. From high tide to low tide you can go for a splash about or a decent swim. It's pretty well known so it gets quite busy during summer but if you go off peak it's not chaotic at all. 4-6pm is the best time for me, you can enjoy the gentle breeze of the day winding down.

Southend on sea

Not my favourite place but the people are more open minded. You can book swimming sessions for £6. Its family friendly and good for both beginners and those that want to do laps. There are also loads of activities to test out if you want to have fun and let loose.

Willen lake

Manchester is a place I love to go to, from the accent to the shore-  its a place that reminds me of being a kid. Chorlton water park is great for a paddle, and fun with friends. Like most of my other spots it isn’t remote, amidst the crowds you'll see dogs roaming free or a group of cis men having a lads summer so with this in mind I wouldn’t suggest coming down here alone, bring a pal or two and find a little spot to relax by the water. While you are there, hit Didsbury Park for a spot of bird watching. Its just a bus ride or a 30-40minute walk away.

Chorlton Water Park

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Embrace the crowds and stay afloat with Tanaka Fuego

De Schuurman

Netherlands

Amsterdam

This is a good one! It's a night club, but not only that - they host more events during the day too. 

Skate Cafe Amsterdam

This is a Japanese Ramen spot that might be my favourite place to eat ramen. Nice people, and it has an arcade inside! The whole restaurant is anime oriented and I'm an anime watcher so that's fun

Molly's Arena

Amsterdam North has "plek", which literally translates to 'spot'. It is a chill spot next to the water with some bars and community hangouts. Perfect in the summer fr. 

Pllek

There's many of them, this one's downtown - as I'm not in Amsterdam that often it's an easy pick to chill and smoke weed. 

Bulldog Amsterdam

For when I make beats and I hang around the city. Plus, it's the only studio I can smoke in which is a major plug for making beats.

Top Notch Label

Hanging Out in Amsterdam with De Schuurman During Dekmantel Festival

Florentino

Cafe Sanjuan in Stockport is just 10 minutes on the train from Manchester's city centre. It’s the only Colombian spot in Manchester run by a lovely family and the food is as authentic as it gets. While it’s also an important hub for the Colombian community in the area, they are super welcoming of anyone wanting to try something new. Their weekend specials are something to behold.

Cafe Sanjuan

Growing up in Manchester I've seen a drastic change in the city centre. As gentrification continues in and around the area, finding a down-to-earth spot to have a drink and snack without getting your head blown off by generic Top 40 music surrounded by hoards of yuppies has become next to impossible. Peste feels like a sanctuary away from that, you can browse records, books and cassettes while having a bevy or a hot chocolate – and it's peaceful. When it’s busy, it’s always good people too. Definitely recommend it for pre-drinks, or if you’re in Sunday chill mode, this place is the one. They invite local favourites to play on the weekend too.

O! Peste Destroyed

Pho No. 1, just opposite the main post office depot, lies on a road with a number of different Vietnamese spots. All of them have their own particular charm and great food, but I find the people running Pho No. 1 to be lovely people. Not only are all their mains to die for but one of the ladies in there has started to organise raves. I love to go in, get a spicy vermicelli noodle soup and get a little update on how it's all going.

Pho No. 1

Kabana is a Sunday classic. I was introduced to this spot of Joey B's and Samrai's (basically if DJs had club music parents, these guys are that to me) and I’ve never looked back. It’s a legendary spot. The nehari on Sunday is to die for.

Kabana

The raspberry Danish is amazing. Its got very popular so you have to queue up but it is worth it.

Campanio Bakery

Maybe one of the only true 24-hour spots in Manchester. This place is super important to workers working throughout the night and has been running since 1999. A classic after-the-club spot but also, the food's great, it’s worth going anytime.

Al Madina

Chicken Run in Moss Side makes these chicken splits that are to die for. Going down in the summer, ordering one and then walking down to Alexandra Park is something I’ve really enjoyed in recent years.

Chicken Run

Pho Cue holds a special place in my heart. Not only is the name very tongue-in-cheek but the food is also ridiculously good. Located in Chinatown, what it does best is serve up exciting takes on Vietnamese dishes. Everything on the menu is incredible. Definitely worth the trip.

Pho Cue

Where to Eat and Drink in Manchester According to Florentino

Nightmares on Wax

Spain

Ibiza

Most people when they come to Spain, they want Paella. Well, this is the best paella on the island. One of the main reasons why is because a lot of the people make their paella and use rabbit as their stock, I don’t know how comfortable people are with that.... I’m not a fan personally. But they use chicken stock which makes it next level. They do a mixed seafood paella, but the lobster paella is the one and it’s not crazy expensive. It’s in the North of the island and isn’t crazy beach prices.

Pou D’es Lleó

Been around for around 16 years now and it’s an organic Italian restaurant in San Lorenzo. You need to get the parmegiana (which is always slightly burnt on the outside and is incredible). The steak is literally the best steak on the island and that’s a big quote, I know. The setting and the ambiance there, it’s always on point. I’ve never eaten a meal there and been disappointed.

All the produce is organic, the ambience, you’re in a citrus garden and it’s just beautiful. You have to book as well, you can’t just roll up! Their cafe is good during the day, they do focaccia with goat's cheese if you’re not lucky enough to get there in the evening.

La Paloma

It’s well known for its Asado, or Argentinian BBQ, the meat and everything is great but the biggest surprise is their tomato salad. It’s a meat spot but it’s really all about the tomato salad which is a bit mind boggling. I’m trying to find out how they’ve done it because it’s just tomatoes and onions! It’s like, how can you make tomatoes and onions taste so incredible? Beautiful setting, really nice garden.

Balàfia

This is in a really nice village, the best village on the island, I believe. It’s like a fairy tale. There’s a plant-based restaurant there called Wild Beets owned by a guy called Cliff. All their juices and smoothies are amazing. One of my favourites is the juiced smoothie made up of cashews, dates, banana and açai. That one is amazing. But their protein bowls are just amazing, all their bowls are, including their buddha bowls.


Santa Gertrudis, I’d say just go for the experience and just to be there. They have one of the oldest bocadillo restaurants on the island, they make their own bread and sandwiches. You do have to queue because everyone tries to go there. If you don’t want to go for a full meal, that’s the place to go.

Santa Gertrudis

This restaurant is on Cala d'Hort beach, and it’s the only beach you can see Es Vedrá totally clearly from. It has amazing seafood, all of their selection is really great. Es Vedrá is a small island off of Ibiza, it’s not inhabited but there’s a lot of mysticism around it. They says it’s the third most magnetic place on the planet, so the energy down there is really nice and it’s a beautiful beach to go down to and a very different side to Ibiza to experience.

Es Carmen

This is a brand new place and is in San Miguel. It’s like a café/deli. It’s more a Mediterranean-Asian fusion but they also serve Italian. All amazing food, amazing desserts. They also have a menu where you can order things 24 hours in advance, like flambéd sushi rolls. San Miguel is a little bit old school, there isn’t as much going on.


But this place has appeared, there’s a new pizza place that has appeared and is going through a bit of a shift at the moment. This place isn’t on a main street, they don’t have a sign up! I ended up driving up and down the street just to try and find it. The food is amazing for a new spot, so I want to support them and I want them to do well.

Es Raconet

Nightmares on Wax’s Guide to the Best Food in Ibiza

Estelle

United States

Los Angeles 

Healthy coffee shop in the heart of Leimert Park - the best place in Los Angeles to be.

Harun Coffee, Leimert Park

A little outside of the norm beach scope, but popular as its cleaner than Santa Monica.

Zuma Beach

Healthy vegan and non-vegan eats in South LA. Also, West Indian food and general fare.

Swift Cafe

Brunch on a Sunday with LEGENDARY DAMON - the perfect COVID compliant rooftop brunch. Gorgeous scenery, great music - good private vibe.

Harriet's Rooftop Bar

SHABBAAAA - the best monthly reggae party in LA. Period.

Los Globos

Best day to go is on a Saturday morning 8-12pm. There are ALL kinds of fresh flowers at wholesale prices. Sort of an LA ritual when you get an apartment or house here; you buy your fresh flowers from the flower market.

LA Flower Market

Monthly HUGE vintage and new artisan market, in “Pasadena”; sort of a village Los Angeles to me.

Rose Bowl Stadium

LA with Estelle

Oshun

New York City 

Historical market on 116th adorned with gorgeous textiles, jewelry, art, and African-American Culture. Favorite vendors: the fabric stores & the waist bead tables

Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market

Upscale rooftop bar and restaurant in LES with a millennial touch. Beautiful view of NYC. Favourites on the menu: Any of their delicious cocktails!

Mr. Purple

Our favourite hangout spot, right in the centre of NYU. Lowkey kinda sketchy which is cool because anything interesting can happen! Very close to all kinds of food

Washington Square Park

Fun Nigerian restaurant with a dinner table inside an authentic Lagos-style taxi! Favorites on menu include: efo, akara, and egusi

Buka

Cute & small African boutique shop. Everything from clothing, to purses / backpacks, accessories, and interior decoration - this is our go to spot for gifts and fly statement pieces

WAGA African & Ethnic

KITH

Falafel sandwich w hummus for $4. Deliciousssssss

Mamoun’s Falafel

Oshun's Top Tips for NYC

Kelvin Tayler 

New Zealand

Auckland 

A slice of Brooklyn in Auckland courtesy of the Dylan’s, Brian and Leo! Go for the New Yorker or do a Kelvin Custom with Pepperoni & Crumbed Chicken.

Sal's Pizza

The fashion heart of Auckland, it’s the 1st stop the local Britomart subway station. It’s a hub that reliable for multiple needs.

Commerical Bay

For the Bohemian Pacific Rim shopping vibes of Aotearoa, Helen and the team has custom jewellery, incense and even furniture for your spiritual retreat.

Buana Satu

The 1st Latin American gourmet restaurant with prawn tacos to die for! Chef Luis and Ana will show you the Mexican goods.

Besos Latinos

Let L.U.C.A lace you with finest designer and vintage threads. As a DJ his mixes played in store and available on Soundcloud! Search up L.U.C.A

The World is Omni

Kelvin Taylor's Guide To The Best Food Spots In Auckland

Niia

My favourite late-night chic cocktail spot. Sometimes I'll get up and sing a song if I'm drunk enough.

Dresden LA

A secret, tiny restaurant that reminds me of NYC. Best breakfast ever

Croft Alley

McCall's Meat & Fish Co.

Uncle Paulie's Deli

My go-to Italian spot. You sit outside and feel like you're in Italy.

Speranza 

Understated jazz club where you'll often catch insane musicians.

The Baked Potato

I highly encourage getting stoned and seeing this strange and amazing museum.

Museum of Jurassic Technology

Arguably the most iconic music and movie store ever.

Amoeba 

Explore LA With Niia

Mexico

Mexico City 

During Covid-19 Seo Ju Park and Sofia Acosta, both from Mexico City, started their Kimchi project because they felt Mexico City lacked a good Kimchi and K-Food project.

Mama Park 

Dooriban is a dark kitchen family style K-food project by Mamá Park, using Seo Ju Park's mom's recipes for the best Korean food experience.

Dooriban

Makan is a Singaporean bites and wine bar space owned by Singaporean-born Maryann and her Mexican partner Mario.

Makan

Founded by Thai-born Somsri Raksamran and her Mexican husband, Galanga Thai is one of the most known Thai restaurants in Mexico City.

Galanga Thai

Tachinomi Desu is one of Mexico city's coolest bars offering a large array of Sakes from Japan and some even made in Mexico. The bar is part of Edo Kobayashi's group. Edo is a Japanese-Mexican who owns several of the city's most iconic Asian spots.

Tachinomi Desu 

Bao Bao is a Taiwanese eatery owned by Taiwanese-Panamanian Kathy Fong who opened this spot to best represent the diverse gastronomy of this tiny Asian island.

Bao Bao

Vietnamese restaurant chain that opened in 2019 and now has three open restaurants in Mexico City and one upcoming in Cancún with Mexico's best Vietnamese food.

Pho King

Go upstairs to the little steak Japanese joint they run. It’s a hidden entrance to the side of the actual restaurant and kind of an insider thing.

Masala y Maíz

Asian-Owned Businesses in Mexico City

Black-owned vegan food spot in Amsterdam southeast with flavourful Surinamese dishes. The bowls are bomb and the vegan pom is a must-try!

Yemaya Vegan Corner

A family-run vegan restaurant fusing Jamaican and Caribbean dishes with Japanese dishes. I love their Jamaican plate with plantains and the owners are too sweet!

TerraZen Centre

Newly open at one of my favourite clubs in Amsterdam, Garage Noord. Authentic Sichuan food with fab cocktails and a terrace as well. The club opens at midnight so you can burn the calories off with a dance!

Sichuan Territory

Also known as 'the queen of johnnycakes', which are Caribbean snacks. You can find her stand in multiple locations in southeast Amsterdam. Tip: they also do vegan johnnycakes with different fillings!

Yvette’s Kitchen

Authentic Ethiopian restaurant. Great for sharing meals, especially the injera with all toppings. They also have great fruit-flavoured beers and coffee.

Abyssinia Restaurant

Ghanaian restaurant in Amsterdam southeast. You can’t go wrong with the jollof, plantains or kelewele. African restaurants are very rare in Amsterdam so I’m always looking forward to supporting any new spot.

Delish Delicacies

Non-profit art space with great exhibitions and curation focusing on queer and Afro-diasporic communities.

Motormond Amsterdam

A Black-owned event space in southeast Amsterdam facilitating its direct community by hosting small parties, panels and ballroom functions. We love to see it!

EFE Venue

Being a part of the ballroom community, I notice how hard it is to have access to spaces to practice or get together. Cultural centre Nowhere has facilitated its space to the community for many years. There are classes every week from members of the Dutch ballroom scene as well as organised get-togethers by The Living Room.

Foundation Nowhere

Arakaza on Where to Go in Amsterdam During Dekmantel Festival

The New Originals 

A social incubation breeding ground for creatives, entrepreneurs end residents of Amsterdam South-East, in the outskirt of the city.

Kazerne Reigersbos

A cultural clubhouse for creatives, with one of the most diverse, obscure, interesting (and everything in between) daily programming that reflects the city of Amsterdam.

Sexyland World

A unique historical archive of inspiring conversations, activities, and literature. Find the archives and artefacts that are the legacy of Black Dutch writers and scientists located in the building of Vereniging Ons Suriname.

The Black Archives 

One of the most Authentic Thai Snackbar in the city! Get the Oyster chicken with white rice.

Thai Bird Snackbar

Amsterdam’s local market of the East side. You need to get the Turkish Pizza at a bakery named Bakkerij Kardas.

Javastraat | Dappermarkt

We worked with Stedelijk Museum for quite some time now, within the museum you have the Blikopeners. This is a group of young creatives in Amsterdam and every year a new group is being selected. They always need to come up with their own programme within the museum, it's always fun to visit their exhibitions.

Stedelijk Museum

In Oscam there is a Black manifest exhibition named: "Pirri Tifi", by @applecheekyo and @jonathanhoost, the exhibition is live until January 2022.

Oscam

Explore Another Side of Amsterdam with ‘The New Originals’

A chilled lunch spot that won't break the bank! It's a cute little cafe with a casual hint of colourful tapestry and great Moroccan food that stays true to the culture. It's hard to pick a favourite but I'd definitely try a tagine, of course.

Angel Tagine 

Open everyday apart from Sunday, this market is an extension of the busy Portobello Road Market. It has different traders on different days, but on most days you can find it full of stalls selling tagines, spices and Moroccan decor. If you ran out of luggage space during your trip to the country, you can easily find the same fare in this market.

Goldborne Road Market

A high-end experience if you're willing to part with some £££. It's got a smart casual dress code and offers up an environment for people to enjoy a truly authentic Middle Eastern dining and drinking experience. Although it's predominantly Lebanese cuisine, they offer up a growing menu of Moroccan dishes alongside some weekend entertainment, along the lines of belly dancers and DJs playing music from the MENA region.

Mamounia Lounge 

Sorry men, but this one's for the ladies only. It's a highly rated spa that offers a lot of treatments you'd find in real Moroccan hammams. Think Rhassoul clay scrub and exfoliation with kessa gloves, including a relaxation area served up with Moroccan mint tea, naturally.

Casa Spa

Authentic Moroccan takeaway based in Bethnal Green and serving the majority of the central and east London areas. Fun fact: I actually met the owner in the back of an Uber and he was telling me how there were virtually no Moroccan cuisine options on our favourite delivery apps. Small menu and insanely good prices. I'd recommend the zaalouk and Moroccan wings in particular.