ANEESHA

India

Mumbai

The timing was a bit unfortunate as Subko opened its doors to people just 3 days before the national lockdown in March. Kudos to the team for staying strong and pressing forward and still being able to build a solid follower base over time. What I really like about this place is that it is the only coffee shop in Bandra that has enough space and a good vibe, apart from the fact that they have partnered with Daniel Trulson from Bread and Chocolate in Auroville, Pondicherry for all the bakery goodies.

I appreciate the fact that the focus likes on export quality coffee from across various estates and regions in India and how they also want to build a creative community shedding light to so many talented people in the country.

Subko Coffee Roasters

This is a neighbourhood bar run by two very dear friends. It came to life in 2013, which was also the year I had moved back home from the UK and was the only place that was playing interesting electronic music. I was so disappointed as I was unable to find any place in Mumbai that played good music and when I stumbled upon The Daily I was so glad! Over time we also threw some of the best parties and although not a big space the compact and tight-knit vibe definitely creates some magic! A venue that has interesting tapped the best of both worlds i.e. food and brunches as well as gigs on weekends - I would highly recommend the Ravioli and The Elysium cocktail, it’s a definite go!

The Daily All Day

Ah, I have such a special bond with Mount Mary Church. I went to a Convent school and although not Catholic, we always had the option to attend the mass if we wanted to. And I always landed up at church with the rest. I felt at peace every time I visited. My friends and I used to often drive down late at night and go light candles at the altar opposite to the church and sit on the steps, just chatting or in silence. I pick this spot as it has been an integral part of my growing up years and it’s location in a beautiful and quiet neighbourhood adds on to the charm.

Mount Mary Church

People are often surprised when they find out that I dig cricket. Another fact is, I can also throw down some Bollywood moves especially at a wedding. I guess not a lot of them have seen the Indian in me ;). Wankhede stadium has been home to some of the most amazing cricket matches I have witnessed. From One Day Internationals to T20, the electric energy of the crowd in the stadium is unlike any other. Witnessing a cricket game in Mumbai should definitely be on your list.

Wankhede Stadium

I went to college in the south of city which was a good 30-40 minute train ride from where I live. There is this old school Iranian ice cream parlour near my college that has been serving ice cream since 1953. The place is known for it’s freshest ice cream biscuits served as a thick slab sandwiched between wafer biscuits and wrapped in thin butter paper. Its most popular flavours, walnut crunch and kesar pista (Pistachios & Saffron) are also layered with bits of walnut and caramelised sugar. It’s a simple and humble looking place just the people who run it and they haven’t toyed around with their prices. This one is a hidden gem everyone must find.

K Rustom Ice Cream

Come here during Ramadhan! My best friend Nishrin is Muslim and every year during Eid she invites her close crew for a lavish Eid dinner. Something I always look forward to and super grateful to her for! Apart from that we also end up driving down to Mohammed Ali Road during Ramadan where you can get amazing street food and desserts. From Kebabs to Biryani to Malpua to Firnis to Nalli Niharis, everything is absolutely delicious.

Mohammed Ali Road

A viewer will definitely love the old world vibe of this place, especially the beautiful dated ticket windows. Gaiety Galaxy is a G7 multiplex, a place where I have grown up watching movies. Their Samosas are to die for and they used to serve us popcorn from Hoggers Park which had this authentic unique taste that one got addicted to! The most enthusiastic crowd is found here. The crowd doesn’t shy away from hooting welcoming and cheering on their favourite mega star during songs, special entries or major twists/suspense which unfolds. You may even find some dancing away in the aisles. You will find a lot of celebrities dressed down or wearing a Burkha often visit the cinema to see the reaction of the crowd to the film they are starring in. Of course we have a lot of modern multiplexes in Mumbai now but it is always fun to catch a movie here every once in a while!

Gaiety Galaxy Cinema

The best thing that I love about the Dome is the view. It overlooks Marine Drive and is a great place for brunch because you end up spending time until the sun goes down and that is the best part! It is a rooftop restaurant and bar, part of The Intercontinental Hotel on Marine Drive, so it is definitely one of the posh places. From sundowners to a quiet dinner with a loved one to brunch with friends, I definitely rate this as the go to bar if you’re in a good mood to treat yourself :)

The Dome

As I run a music and culture agency in Mumbai, I have spent a lot of time putting together artist tours. This is a studio space available for rent mainly for movies and ad shoots, but we have organised a couple of events here which have been exceptional and memorable. This includes the likes of Seth Troxler, Parra for Cuva & Juju and Jordash. A lot more heart and effort goes into such events because you are producing them from scratch unlike putting up a club night where a lot of things are already in place. Both have their charm no doubt!

Famous Studios

I know I have exceeded beyond 10 spots but I can’t not include The Yoga House in my list. This place conducts yoga classes and has a cafe on top and is the most peaceful place to spend your day. You could work out of here or read a book (I have also ended up taking a nap) that’s how serene this place is. I highly recommend their tartines and the max protein cottage cheese burger! All the health conscious ones are going to love this!

The Yoga House

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United States

Los Angeles 

Peruvian ceviche and amazing roast chicken.

Rosty

The best bakery in LA! The Canales and Almond Croissants are a must.

Proof Bakery 

Mom and Pop breakfast spot on York. No frills, just really good hearty breakfast. 

Delia's

Thousand Layer Pancake egg, cheese, basic and chilli. 

You need to try the Chicken Rice Porridge!

Bé Ù

Yonette Alleyne of Caribbean Gourmet’s hot sauce!

Atwater Farmers Market

Cycle there along the LA river and order the best breakfast in East LA.

Spoke Cafe

Food Joints in LA with Sisters of Sound

Chase & Status

United Kingdom

London

So iconic to British music and nightlife culture. So many memories and mad moments from over the years both as punters and as Chase & Status.

Fabric London

Probably the coolest antique store in London.

Pure White Lines Antiques

All about the “All In” Sunday roast sharing platter.

The Blacklock

Hands down the best Italian in London. Decor is on point too.

Glorias

Everything from street food and boutique stores but most importantly the record store inside - Stranger Than Paradise.

Netil Market

Just as good as Portobello Road but without the tourists!

Golborne Road

Many mornings spent here. Market Cafe for coffee and brunch before a nice stroll around London Fields.


Broadway Market

London with Chase and Status

San Francisco 

Head to Estela’s for the best veggie and meat sandwiches, and juices. Get one to go, before you take the bus/train out to Golden Gate Park to enjoy the rare beauty of San Francisco and the ocean. 

Estela's Fresh Sandwiches

Beautiful ocean beach with windmills, flowers, and animals. Tip: There’s a safeway and cafe a block away—grab food items to enjoy while you chill on the beach.

Bison Paddock and Dutch Windmill Golden Gate Park

This is an ace local in Lower Haight with cuts of all sorts and even some clothes. It’s a good spot to find out what the vibe is and what’s going on in the night.  Groove Merchants is another spot in the area that stocks rarities. 

Vinyl Dreams

Not only the nicest synth and electronic music gear store around, but also a very good selection of tapes, magazines, books. It’s located in an old-school Mexican part of town that packs a solid amount of shops, local treasures, and of course, beautiful Latin food. It’s a good spot to spend the afternoon, with plenty of cool places to chill and drink. 

Mission Synths

My favourite restaurant in SF for dinner. Tip - Chrysanthemum and duck salad is amazing, as are all grilled Izakaya smoked items. 

Rintaro

This is a piano bar on the edge of Mission and Castro. Here you’ll find old cats in tuxedos serving up stiff Martinis. It’s a killer way to start or end any night.

Martuni’s

A local electronic home base, I play (and drink) here a lot.  

Underground SF

Hosts both local and international talent and often open late on big nights, till about 3 or 4 am.

Find lots of local punk, garage, vintage nights in Outer Mission. It’s a very chill and less gentrified part of the city.

Knockout

Best Metal and punk shows around, plus a big patio in the backyard with food on any night. It’s in Oakland, but too vital to the local scene to miss on this list. 



Eli's Mile High Club

From Synth Shopping to Stiff Martinis: Kush’s Guide To San Fransisco 

Australia

Brisbane

It’s a Persian joint, the best food you’re going to get in Brisbane in my opinion. It’s in one of the suburbs that my mate used to live in and is an Arab spot that’s known by the locals.

Zeitoon

Zarraffa’s has the best coffee in Brisbane. I thought they had them everywhere but recently found out they’re only up here. It’s like a Starbucks but better.

Zarraffa’s

Blackbird is a classy joint: nice bar with a view of the Brisbane bridge and the river. It’s a good spot for people who have never been to Brisbane before. Good spot for a boujee drink.

Blackbird 

A French restaurant that’s open 'til like 12am, there’s not many in the city open that late. There’s a big Eiffel Tower on the roof. The food is really good; if you can’t afford to go to Paris go there.

La Dolce Vita

If you want to go for a nice run or walk hit Kangaroo Point, it’s along the river and you can see the whole city. It’s real nice. There’s a cliff that you can see the whole city from there too, there’s families doing picnics and shit. It’s real wholesome.

Kangaroo Point

You walk in and it’s a bar, but if you like games they have all the old arcade games like Pacman, Street Fighter, Racing Games. My favourite game is the basketball one but it’s real cool if you like games. I’ve been trying to crack Stacker for 15 years so if you crack it let me know, that shit’s rigged.

B. Lucky & Sons

If you want a space and a sauna place to relax, there’s a hidden one that not many people know about. There’s six separate spas, a cold spa, a sauna and a steam room with magnesium water.

Soak Bathhouse

If you want a luxury dinner or want to take someone out, you got to take them out to anything in James St. Hellenika is cool, they have a lot of shared plates and there’s a pool. It’s very moody.

James St.

So you did Soakhouse, you found a babe, took them to dinner; next step is you go to West End and you hit Anita’s. They have really, really good gelato and there’s a couple of them all around the city so you can close your date with a bang.

Anita's

Day1’s Date Spots in Brisbane

France

Paris

Nestled in the heart of Château Rouge, a predominantly African neighbourhood, you will fall in love with House Château Rouge. They design everything themselves, from backpacks and T-shirts to Bissap and Air Jordans from a recent Nike collaboration. The brand empowers artists from across the African continent and is challenging the perception of traditional ‘luxury’.

House Château Rouge

A regular spot for our Parisian community. L'embuscade serves up some of the most delicious Afro Vegan food. Inspired by West and central Africa, with some hints of Soul Food, L'embuscade serves up an Afro Vegan menu unlike no other. Everything takes good, but our favourite dishes are the Kentucky Fried Cauliflower and Doudou Jack Burger. The prices are low and affordable.

L'embuscade

Mama Jackson is located near Paris’ Gare de Lyon train station and is an all around ode to Black American culture. From the music playing over the speakers to the art hanging on the walls. Go there to eat some seriously tasty fried chicken - we recommended trying the Waffle Rasta Burger which is a delicious stack of fried and pulled chicken with plantain.

Mama Jackson

Présence Africaine is a pan-African quarterly cultural, political, and literary magazine, published in Paris, France, and founded by Alioune Diop in 1947. In 1949, they expanded to include a publishing house and a bookstore on rue des Écoles in the Latin Quarter of Paris, which has a multitude of incredible books centred around race and colonialism to (un)learn from.

Présence Africaine

GUMBO YAYA is a Southern American inspired halal restaurant in Paris. Serving up some of the best halal fried chicken in Paris, this restaurant is known and loved by Parisians and visitors alike.

Gumbo Yaya Paris

Jah Jah by Le Tricycle serves vegan cuisine but not only. You can also taste Jamaican flavors matching the two Rastafari founders, Coralie Jouhier and Daqui Gomis. Jah Jah gets inspired by the world as a whole and makes your taste buds travel across the world.

Jah Jah Le Tricycle

Long-stewed and spicy Caribbean, Creole and Cajun dishes. You can stay up late and dance here too.

Babylone Bis

Silwet is a sustainable slow fashion label which focuses on “silhouettes” instead of collections. “Silwet” is the Creole transcription of the French word “silhouette”. The name was chosen in tribute to founder Lenny Guerrier’s, Haitian roots.

Silwet

Baba Zulu is an incredible soul food restaurant. Order the Chicken and Waffles!

Baba Zulu

One of the best nail salon's in Paris for nail art.

Nail Xperience

Black-Owned Businesses in Paris

Tedman Lee

Hong Kong

Most famous dai pai dong on the island. Good vibes all around, drunk staff, good food, corny but awesome music on blast, all in a wet market...can’t ask for more

Tung Po Kitchen

Vintage shop with a unique and nostalgic selection of antique from the colonial days of Hong Kong along witVintage shop with a unique and nostalgic selection of antique from the colonial days of Hong Kong along with super rare vintage eyewear and vinyl recordsh super rare vintage eyewear and vinyl records

Select 18 / Mido Eyeglasses

Eaton Hotel

Go get a bowl of the famous Hong Kong styled cart noodles. There was a long heritage of street vendors during the 1950s in carts until they all got banned by the government due to hygiene regulations. Now they're all in shops

Wing Kee Noodles

The neighbourhood bar in Prince Edward where all the local creatives hang out at. Go and ask for a cocktail with yuk bing siu

Bound By Hillywood

The Private Label is stocked here along with a few other contemporary clothing labels from Hong Kong. Go get a cup of honey americano and look at some local designs

STILL HOUSE Haven

Amazing selection of vinyl records. Be sure to have a few hours to kill and be ready for long conversations

Vinyl Hero

Fusion diner designed by Sou Fujimoto with a dope vinyl music room

Potato Head

Tedman Lee's Hong Kong Spots

New York City 

Cafe con Libros (coffee with books) is an intersectional Feminist community bookstore and coffee shop. Through their choice of books, programming and great coffee, they endeavour to create a vibrant community space where everyone; specifically female-identified folx, feel centered, affirmed and celebrated.

Cafe Con Libros

LICHEN NYC is location in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It’s a design shop that’s helping to democratize design and proselytize more under-the-radar participants. Founded by Jared Blake and Ed Be the two have curated an exceptional archive of accessible vintage and contemporary furniture.

Lichen

Brooklyn Blooms was planted in 2017 in the neighbourhood of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn with a mission to serve it’s neighbourhood and the surrounding communities with uniquely curated blooms while maintaining sustainable practices.

Brooklyn Blooms

Harlem's 1st 100 percent African American owned craft beer bar. Their mission is to invest in their local community, to offer great beers "made by us and for us" and expand access and enjoy good times together, in their own way.

Harlem Hops

Brooklyn Clay Industries is a ceramics studio that holds pottery classes and workshops. The owner Reuben King, a native of Dominica, grew up with pottery-making as a time-honored tradition that he wishes to share and inspire creativity.

Brooklyn Clay Industries 

Byas & Leon is a heavy hitting local spot with distinct taste. They specialize in sustainable fashion & craftsmanship, while also serving as an Afro Caribbean cultural hub.

Byas & Leon

Half Moon BK

Founded by friends Shelby Macklin and Banna Nega in 2015, Glazed NYC is a community-based lifestyle brand focused on providing high quality, classic accessories that bridge the gap between function and glamour.

Glazed NYC 

Designed in Brooklyn and handcrafted sustainably with artisans spanning Nairobi to NY, these shoes give anyone who wears them an extra spring in their step.

Brother Vellies

A little more mainstream but they're all about Black excellence.

The Crabby Shack 

Owned and run by Telsha Anderson, this beautiful store is completely designed to cater to the women-identifying community in NYC. It also has fabulous clothes.

t.a New York

BierWax

Brooklyn's Best fried chicken! They are doing delivery or you can stroll down and pick up.

Peaches Hot House

Bed Vyne is an independent brewery, cocktail bar and liquor store in Bed-Stuy, BV feels more like a family cookout than your standard bar.

Bed Vyne

A social and wellness club designed to celebrate people of colour, online and in real life. It's one of the first coworking and social spaces curated by young people of color for other young people of color.


Ethels Club


Make Manifest is a retail and community space in the heart Bed-stuy Brooklyn. Designed to insure growth of local & independent businesses. The artistic platform strives for economic equity and an environmental consciousness.

Make Manifest

A well stocked wine shop determined to give Brooklyn quality wine at a quality price.

Happy Cork Brooklyn

Joloff Restaurant has become a local go to for Senegalese flavours made in Brooklyn.

Joloff

Cafe Rue Dix explores West African and French heritage through its food, drinks and decor.

Cafe Rue Dix

Haitian-American café and cocktail bar, CAFE ERZULIE, partnered with an existing flower shop so that both local businesses could flourish.

Cafe Erzulie

Ode to Babel is a small bar and lounge in Prospect Heights that has a become a true neighbourhood space.

Ode to Babel

Black-Owned Businesses in New York 

Vivendii

Nigeria

Lagos

Family owned gallery started by Ms Nike herself with some of the most amazing paintings, sculptures and other artwork in Lagos. Instagram heaven for all yall social media addicts. Real nice to just have reflective time away from the hustle and just appreciate art. It's fire

Nike Art Gallery

One of my favourite places in Lagos to go to. Pick a chilled day to pull up to the market to find amazing artwork, jewellery, painting, models, sculptures, leather products and a bunch of other fire shit. Cultural explosion all available for sale. Come with your bargaining shoes on because none of these cool pieces come without a fight

Lekki Arts and Crafts Market 

Exactly what it says it is, a centre promoting the welfare of the environment and its conservation. Monkeys and other animals running around and has Africa's highest foot path over the trees with amazing views. Great time with a bunch of people. Bring some food, drinks and have a picnic in the large open spaces

Lekki Conservation Center

Amazing Italian/Peruvian (I think) fusion restaurant/chill spot/motel lol. Spot of a vibe and some of my best ideas have come just chilling outside enjoying their sangria. They also have a bakery with some of the best donuts in Lagos NO CAP

La Taverna

An authentic Nigerian beach experience. Pull up with a bunch of friends and enjoy the serenity away from the crazy streets of Lagos. Either go full local and take a banana boat from some of the docks such as Bonny Camp or BICS in Lekki or take a boat/yacht from one of the beach clubs and enjoy the vibe

Tarkwa Bay

Shrine is one of the most authentic spots in the city, a celebration of Fela's life and everything he was about. Fire spot you can smoke, drink, eat and watch some amazing performances from artists including his sons, Femi and Seun Kuti

Fela Afrika Shrine

Late food spot open nearly 24/7. Top 3 best chicken wings in the city. After nearly every night at the club, pull up to Maroccaine