Desta French

United Kingdom

London

Whenever I’m in the mood for Ecuadorian food, this is the spot. You have to try the ceviche there.

Costa Azul

Latin village is like stepping into an actual indoor market in Colombia. I love it. It's filled with small local Latin businesses currently In litigations with the council who are trying to close it down so they build flats there. What’s new. 

Pueblito Paisa

Where I go for hair/nails. Really good empanadas and gossip. Run by my friend, STEPHANIE SANTIAGO, who is also a very talented Colombian, London-based Soul Artist.

Stephanie's Multicentre

Nice cocktails, food and a place to pick up a @LATINOLIFE magazine with all the latest news on Latin culture in the city.

Latin Groove

Every Latino In London knows La Caleñita. It's a famous bakery where you can find all kinds of cheesy breads and yumminess.

La Caleñita

There are a bunch of places to eat here and really feel the culture living alongside other ethnic communities which is so nice to see. You have to have a cholada from Brixton Village. It's tropical fruity icey buffness, you have to try it to understand.

Brixton Village

La Vida Loca is another mini Latin Mall consisting of hairdressers, barber shop, nail parlour and masseuse on one floor and a Colombian bakery/restaurant along with other multi services for the community.

La Vida Loca

Similar Guides

Discover London's Latino Spots with Desta French

O Thongthai

Thailand

Bangkok

I love their book selection and gallery space. Moreover, I love the food at Aksorn by chef David Thompson on the top floor.

Central: The Original Store

Art Resources offers bespoke homeware from bespoke frames, skateboards, humidor and jenga cases. Basically you can customise anything you want there.

Art Resources

Southern Thai food at its finest. Order Southern Thai-style hot and spicy yellow curry soup with young coconut shoot and sea bass, stir-fried stink beans and prawns with Kapi shrimp paste, stir-fried lump crab meat with fresh chilli.

Khua Kling Pak Sod

FV stands for fruit and vegetable. The interior is one of a kind. The concept of the store starts from unwanted. For the products, they use local seasonal organic produce. I love the lamduan Thai flower-shaped cookie and mangosteen juice.

E-Sarn or northeastern cuisine. Order dry aged tougeus, larb kon muang (minced beef or pork with northern spice) and yum Kkanom jeen pork jowl (fermented noodle with fried pork jowl and pla la salad).

100 Mahaseth

If you are visiting Bangkok, you must try kakigori Thai tea and my usual spot is After You at Silom Complex because it's just steps away from BTS Saladaeng station. It’s the place that you should visit with a few friends, so you can order many things to share.

After You Dessert Café

A new restaurant and bar owned by the talented Chef Pam. The restaurant is in the Chinatown area and the food is Chinese inspired. I cannot wait to try Chef Pam’s new restaurant and hang out at local bars in Bangkok Old Town.

Restaurant Potong

Exploring Bangkok With Jewellery Designer O Thongthai

Paurro

Mexico

Mexico City 

The No System House is a spot created by people that are deeply involved in the underground music scene in Mexico. It’s a great DIY space that hosts different events like album release parties, ambient happenings, art exhibitions, and parties with great local artists. It also has a space for rent to practice your DJ skills, record a set or a radio show and do live streaming. 

No System House 

This club is a staple and an institution in CDMX’s nightlife. The night to go is on Fridays for its HI-NRG night and you should really get ready to do some serious dancing. There is a community going there for years to compete in the middle of the dance floor which makes the vibe of that place incomparable. There is nothing like that anywhere else in Mexico City  

Patrick Miller

This spot works as a rehearsal space and a music production studio during the week. However every Thursday they host events in the afternoon with DJ sets from local artists which are also streamed plus beers and mezcal for sale. It’s a great plan if you want a taste of the emerging electronic music scene. 
 

Salas Roma

Club Colima is a small but very cute bar/club with great cocktails, great sound and a very diverse program of mostly local DJs every week. The spot is inside a delicious fried chicken sandwich spot called Frito y Cruel so you can get some food there if you get hungry. The vibe feels like the next-door bar where all your friends go and the music range goes from cumbia to afro beat to house and a little bit of techno too. 

Club Colima

Salón San Luis is a time capsule to the romantic Fichera years of modern Mexico. This ballroom with 73 years of tradition is a complete experience with a live salsa and cumbia band, beautiful and skilled dancers, old-school bottle service, and red velvet with mirrors all over. I always feel nostalgic after leaving, it’s legendary. 

Salon San Luis

This is a spot with three floors with different atmosphere’s to hang out, eat and try different flavors of Pulque. The top terrace has commercial music, on the second floor they host different DJ’s every night and the first floor has cumbia, salsa, hip hop, and a more eclectic vibe. 

Pulqueria los Insurgentes 

Funk is an electronic music club hidden in a basement located in Colonia Condesa. Its sound system and lighting are amazing which makes every night memorable. Its music programming is pretty diverse musically with a great combination of national and international talent every night. You definitely can’t miss this one. 

Fünk Club

The Best Clubs in Mexico City Selected by Paurro

Burro Studio

Italy

Milan

It looks like a beautiful greenhouse but it’s a restaurant and a bar. A piece of heaven in Milan

Lubar

Plants, gin, more plants, gin again but mixed and special gin. Well, it’s not just that. The food? Amazing. The place? Beautiful. Your date could fall in love here - but beware, it may be with the gin

The Botanical Club

You know the tiny winery full of antique, super rare bottles in a small town in Tuscany where you can sip extraordinary wine and take a bite of homemade bruschettas? Ok this is the thing, but in Milan

Cantine Isola

We present you your new food addiction: cotoletta alla milanese. Try it here and your transformation in a real local will be completed by saying 'uè grazie figa' instead of a regular thank you at the end

Antica Trattoria della Pesa

Brunch. A sunny day, the nature surrounding you, the comfort food. It’s not an Instagram picture, it’s this place. Make a call and remember to book a table to enjoy your brunch in the garden!

Erba Brusca

Someone - well, pretty much everyone - say they make the best pizza in Milan, the only one that tastes like a ticket for Naples

MARGHE

The place in Milan for contemporary art since 1954. Exhibitions of international artists happen all the time, so you can’t miss

Padiglione D'Arte Contemporanea

Hangar Bicocca

For the last 25 years Fondazione Prada has championed contemporary art and culture through its innovative and experimental program. A visit is mandatory not only for the exhibitions and stunning architecture, but to IG story your time at Bar Luce which will make it seem as if you're in a Wes Anderson movie

Fondazione Prada + Bar Luce

It's a mainstay in the streetwear scene since its launch in 1989. If you’re a real streetwear addict this is basically a pilgrimage destination

Slam Jam

Burro Studio's Guide to Milan

Arrival at One

Hinge


The granite boulders at both Shoreditch Park and Mabley Green offer great outdoor bouldering right in the heart of London. These boulders provide both an urban bouldering venue and art installation, chosen from a quarry in Cornwall and brought to London by the artist John Frankland. These boulders offer an exciting alternative for those looking to climb on some rock without the increased cost of travelling to a crag. Plus, their permanent nature offers the consistency that indoor climbing cannot, since indoor problems are changed every two weeks. Free to use year-round, these spots are perfect for climbers of all levels, making it a fun space for beginners to join and connect with one another. 

Mabley Green & Shoreditch Boulder

Muro Climbing Gym in Peckham is a great spot for climbers of all abilities with one of the lowest costs to participate, making it super friendly for beginners and those looking to try something new. Its unique range of Japanese holds make it distinct from other climbing gyms in London and its spraywall — at 20, 30 and 40 degrees — allow for endless board problems for all abilities. Climbing on the spraywall is a super social way of climbing and allows for everyone to be trying problems in the same area, together. They’ve also got a comp wall which allows for more modern-style problems and is a fun switch up from the spraywall.

Muro

The Hackney Wick Community Sauna, run by ‘Community Sauna Baths’, is a lovely place to relax after a climb or a run. They have several saunas located throughout London, all of which are super affordable compared to many others. They also offer temperature-controlled ice baths, which are great for in-between sauna sessions. Additionally, they host a variety of workshops and classes throughout the month. It's the perfect way to unwind and feel like you're not in the city, even if only for an hour.

Hackney Wick Community Sauna

Just south of London, there are several Sandstone climbing destinations. While the climbing quality may not compare to what you'd experience in the Peaks or North Wales, it’s a fun day out from London if you're looking to try outdoor climbing. The spots are beginner-friendly but also offer a range of grades for all abilities. A few venues provide guided sessions where you'll learn to set up top ropes and belay. You can reach them by public transport followed by a short walk. It makes for a great summer day trip! Harrisons Rocks is a favourite.

Harrison's Rocks

Knees Up in Hackney is a cafe, community space, and retailer that hosts a variety of events each month, including regular runs, chess clubs, yoga, and strength workshops. Located on Hackney Road, the naturally-lit space is perfect for working or hanging out. The staff are super friendly, and the coffee and food are always delicious, with a fresh batch regularly rotated. The retail space is well curated, featuring magazines, books, activewear, and lifestyle products. 


Knees Up

Pockets, the Hackney spot where the queue starts building from 11AM (breakfast falafel?). Pockets removes any decision fatigue by simply stating the menu as ‘FALAFEL’. Get there whenever you can, and don’t feel ashamed to beat the queues and have falafel for brunch at 11AM. You will not be disappointed. 

Pockets

Chalk Your Hands and Go: Where to Climb in London with Arrival at One 

Renegade

United States

Oakland

Nike

Lake Merrit is a go-to route for many community members who live in the neighbourhoods surrounding the lake. It’s perfect for easy running––it’s flat, each loop is about three miles so you can do as many as you want—and it’s beautiful. Many birds call Lake Merritt home, which is special in such a downtown area. It’s also the centre of the city for the diverse people of Oakland––our place to gather, to sit on the grass and watch the sunset, to listen to music, to ride our bikes, to run around. 

The lake is gorgeous first thing in the morning and with the last bits of light in the evening. I never admire the energy of Oakland as much as I do when I’m on the lake. 


Lake Merrit

Laney College is the site of Renegade’s track nights. Between 50-100 runners from all over the Bay gather here Wednesday nights for a track workout. Runners of all ages, experiences and abilities are in pace groups together, getting each other through a tough session. 

Laney College Track

This is a cafe owned and operated by the Diaz family, who are generational coffee farmers in Mexico. The owner of Proyecto Diaz is Fern Diaz, and his father, Genaro Diaz, is a roaster and distributor. Both run with Renegade every week. Their cafe is spacious and great for both co-working and socialising. It also sells a host of curated items including snacks, drinks, candles, and ceramics. 

Proyecto Diaz

A community day-to-night gathering space with a focus on coffee and wine. This is a place where politics, culture, and revolution is at the centre of discussion. They also offer weekly events ranging from guest speakers and community organising, to DJs and dancing.

Kinfolx

This is a small man-made lake at the base of the hills of Oakland. Tucked away, it’s about a mile around its perimeter, perfect for walking, running, and fishing (it used to be a popular swimming place, though that's unfortunately no longer allowed). It’s a great starting place for a run with routes into the Oakland neighbourhoods of Rockridge and Montclair close by. It’s also a lovely spot to meet friends at for a picnic. If you’re there in the late afternoon, the eagle that has made Lake Temescal its home is usually hovering above the lake looking for fish. 

Lake Temescal

This is a bakery with pastries that incorporate Asian flavours. It’s such a good example of combining culinary traditions, something that Oakland is exceptional at. They change out their flavours (both sweet and savoury!) often, so each visit is a brand new experience.


Bakesum

Bombera in the Dimond District is like visiting our ancestors; it feels like coming home. A restaurant by chef Dominica Rice Cisneros and historian Carlos Manuel Salomon in the 2024 Michelin Guide, Bombera should be top of the list of what to eat in the Bay Area. What an honour it is to have this place in Oakland. 

Bombera

This specific route is one the Renegade community’s favourite trails in the park. Redwood Regional in and of itself is a gem. It reminds you how Oakland truly has it all. As you climb up Park Avenue and dip back down into the Redwood canyon to the park, all the sounds of traffic fall away to footsteps on dirt, birds chirping, and the wind in the trees. It's a refuge atop the city.   

Redwood Regional Park

Oakland’s home movie theatre. With a retro marquee and an iconic light display, Grand Lake Theatre is what you think of when you think of Oakland. Personal tip: go on weekend nights before the movie begins, and you can listen to an organ player! 

Grand Lake Theatre

Renegade’s Favourite Spots to Run and Relax in Oakland

Varnrable

Ethiopia

Addis Ababa

A place for organic homemade Ethiopian food and tella, a traditional brew. Tella is brewed in households, usually in the rural areas, and consumed on a daily basis. But tella's legitimate status has been fading away, losing its place to mass produced beer and imported liquor. In Selo everything is homemade, from the injera to the tella. Ingredients are collected from local communities, creating an authentic and sustainable culture around Selo. The energy is inclusive and warm, the food is fresh and tasty, and there is a variation of tellas to try out!

Selo

Shifta offers a wide range of delicious Caribbean, vegan and African food. The food I had there was super tasty! It's vibrant and filled with local creatives. A great place to eat, drink and hang out all night, having good conversations or just listening to the music. 

Shifta

Fendika Cultural Center is the perfect place to take in traditional music, and at the same time enjoy traditional food and drinks in a chilled environment. There are performances every week and the place is filled with soul and good energy. Everything is traditional and relevant. I went there to soak up some local jazz one night and that was a beautiful trip.

Fendika Cultural Center

This is a club concept, making electronic parties at different locations and with differenct DJs. They are reimagining rave culture in the modern day Addis Ababa. These parties are some of the highlights in the club scene and are happening once a month. 

Zoya

A traditional restaurant in Addis Ababa where you can experience cultural performances while you eat local food. From around 7.30pm there are musicians, dancers and singers performing traditional acts from different tribes around Ethiopia, while wearing outfits from the different regions. All your senses are being stimulated while being in a beautifully decorated room with traditional design and art. 

Yod Abyssinia

The perfect way to get out of the city, and it is only a short car ride away from the centrum. There is a great view over the city and you're able to take a walk in nature. The park itself is how we know most parks to be, but if you wander more up, in the mountain, there are small villages; more raw and beautiful nature. 

Entoto Park

An institute of Ethio jazz in its historical location, owned by the legendary Mulatu Astatke. This place features some of the best jazz musicians live in raw sessions. 

African Jazz Village

Explore Addis Ababa's Cultural Scene with Nova Varnrable

Germany

Berlin

Found in Berlin-Charlottenburg, this restaurant serve delicious Ethiopian fare and is open to dine at and for curb side pick-up.

Addis Abeba Restaurant

African Food Festival Berlin brings to you the best of healthy delicious African fare. Breaking the gap between street and haute cuisine. Bringing the rich variety of authentic African food from grill to sea to vegan.

African Food Festival Berlin

A 100% vegan African-Italian restaurant offering amazing creative breakfasts and Sunday brunches. Zero waste and plastic-free.

Ataya Cafe

When strolling through the African quarter in Wedding, you quickly get the impression that you have ended up in the streets of a small African town. The restaurant, owned by Suzanne Saitz, serves authentic Cameroonian food that's open 'til late.

Bantou Village

Found in Reinickendorf, BaoPab offers tasty homemade food from burgers to grilled fish. One of the hot spots in the area. Also hosts jazz nights with cocktails.

BaoPab

Baraka is an amalgamation of Moroccan, Egyptian and Arabian food. Expect mouth-watering dishes like the traditional soup called Harira, that is usually served during Ramadhan, and the usual dips like baba ghanoush and hummus.

Baraka Restaurant

Since its opening in 1993, the Africa House, led by the sociologist, Oumar Diallo, from Guinea Conakry, has developed into an institution that is recognised beyond the capital's borders as a place for transcultural encounter and political education.

Afrika Haus

Experts in all hair textures, specialising in relaxers, texturizers, cutting & colouring.

Ebony & Ivory

Centrally located in the heart of Berlin Wedding, Salone Market is a multi-cultural meeting point. You can get both tropical and African food and drinks, as well as typical West African dishes (e.g. rice with peanut sauce, fish with plantains) at moderate prices. They also offer freshly ground classic coffee specialties. Main courses are available from €6 and the drink prices are cheap.

Salone Market

Founded by Femi Oyewole, Black Brown Berlin is a community directory and platform celebrating their culture and community in Berlin. They aim to shine the spotlight on Black and Brown excellence throughout the city by providing a range of thoughtfully curated content aimed to inform, connect, and serve the black and brown community.

Black Brown Berlin

Found in the ever-cool Kreuzberg, this vegan shop serves homemade banana bread in different flavours, from cream cheese, white chocolate and walnut to cream, nougat and hazelnut. For now, they offer a pick-up service where they bake twice a week and orders can be collected on Friday and Tuesdays.

Bananas&Breads

This sustainable, handmade lingerie brand offers sultry pieces made out of left-over pieces of chiffon and silk in red, white, purple and many more. Sets made to order.

Pamplemousse

Found in Berlin-Neukölln, this West African kitchen serving delicious dishes like tilapia, jollof rice, fried yams and a special dish of banku (fermented corn and cassava dough) served with groundnut soup and mixed meat. They also have many vegan and vegetarian options.

Didi Pa

Based in Berlin, this hair stylist is an expert in creating gorgeous braids and crowns on POC hair.

Laika Zuri

For designer Soji Solarin, his clothes are a tool to playfully challenge the preconceptions of black identity. In his collection 'Negro Cowboy', he addresses the cowboy - a landscape in which the black narrative has definitively been written out - with playful graphic tees and structured denim chaps.

Soji Solarin

Black-Owned Businesses in Berlin

Alanis Forde

Barbados

This is located opposite the Garrison where Gold Cup Horse racing takes place. So you're seeing more than one cultural spot and right around the corner is a bunch of food places. So you know, all in one there. 

Barbados Museum & Historical Society

There's pottery places and there's an art gallery. There's some food places as well. It's very cool. It's a walkway away from the port and from where the cruise ships dock.

Dre's Bar Pelican Village Craft Centre

This recently opened in 2021 and there are these benches that these artists were commissioned to create. There's also this beautiful like brick wall with different last names of people in Barbados. I think Rihanna visited it on one of her last visits here. So it's a cool little historical heritage like brick wall. But if you're from Barbados you can find your last name.

Golden Square Freedom Park

The Art Scene in Barbados with Alanis Forde

Hawai'i

Owner and head instructor, Dharma Shay, opened the gym which specialises in functional fitness, athletic training, personal training, nutrition guidance, HIIT, post-natal exercise classes, youth athletic training, strength and conditioning, Olympic lifting, jiu-jitsu, and stand up martial arts. This is a great gym on the big island with highly trained and professional staff.

The Brave Fitness

Owners, Randy and Gabby, opened their locally-sourced restaurant on the Big Island in 2011. They have delicious options such as blackened ono sandwiches, their Da Aina burger with a fantastic avocado cream sauce, lilikoi cheesecake or their tropical dreams ice cream. They also have an online shop selling their signature Kona Ketchup, Hawaiian Fire Sauce, and Mauka Mustard at great prices. Vegan friendly!

Rebel Kitchen

A beautiful studio in Kailua Kona that offers vinyasa, power, yin, restorative, and meditation classes.

The Yoga Nest 

A family-operated hearty, healthy, soul restaurant serving delicious, organic food in the heart of Lihue. The menu consists of Kauai-grown traditional soul food staples such as collard greens, candied yams, fried fish, and fresh baked cornbread.

The Greenery Cafe

Opened by two best friends, Chase and Mercedes, Pau Hana offers a high-quality mobile bar service for any event, celebration or reason to have a great time with delicious drinks in hand without having to worry about your guests desires.

Pau Hana Pours

After receiving her cosmetology license in 2009 from Western Beauty Institute in Van Nuys, California Raquel with her Los Angeles-native hustle and island girl heart is living out her dreams in Maui. In 2017, Raquel became a Curl Coach Educator for DevaCurl. While curly hair is a passion of Raquel's she also loves to style, colour, and cut all hair types. She has an online shop carrying various hair products as well.

Raquel Noriko Curl Studio

A wonderful artist who tattoos around Maui and Kauai Island. He specialises in black and grey, Polynesian tribal, and ornamental work.

Justin Blake Tattoo

Qiana, a native New Yorker, from Red Hook, Brooklyn and her husband from Southern Italy opened Sale Pepe - Maui’s authentic Italian restaurant. Their pastas and artisan Italian pizzas are crafted by a certified pizzaiola with fresh, local ingredients in classic and creative presentations. Paired with the enjoyment of a fun, social wine bar atmosphere you cant find anywhere else on the island.

They are open for business.

Sale Pepe

This teahouse has multiple locations across Oahu inside various Sand People and Down To Earth retail stores. Founded in 2015, Kye Teahouse was established on the foundation of Going Back to Nature. Their ingredients are grown in Hawaii & picked only at the peak of freshness. It's one of the reasons why their tea taste so incredible. All of the packing and shipping materials are biodegradable & environmentally sustainable.

Kye Teahouse

Chef, Lamont Brown, showcases locally-sourced ingredients on a worldly platform, with emphasis on Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine. Visit their restaurant in Haleiwa for the perfect date night, or a great time with friend.

Maya's Tapas & Wine Bar

Owner, Soufiane Bouharkat, grew up in Paris and opened his first cafe there. Later moving to Oahu, he opened Le Crepe Cafe in 2009. He creates a bright and enthusiastic Ohana environment for everyone to experience and strives daily to provide his guests with fresh, natural ingredients that not only taste good, but makes you feel great as well.

Le Crêpe Café

Locally-owned scuba diving company located in Honolulu, Hawaii. Manny will take you on incredible diving adventures and leave with an experience you'll never forget! Check out his website for a list of activities and price.

Manny's Diving Adventures

Husband and wife team, the Bensons, whose roots are from Louisiana, were inspired by the Hawaiian Islands, which they decided to make Oahu home and open a mouth-watering deli.