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Adekunle Gold 

Lagos

Jazzhole is one of my favorite corners of Lagos. I can spend hours there, flipping through vinyls, sipping tea, surrounded by books and old sounds. It’s one of those rare places that still holds the soul of the city. You can find the best of the best Nigerian music classics in vinyls here. 

No matter where I travel, nothing beats the taste of home. Akanke Alamala is my spot for amala, gbegiri, and ewedu, hot and fresh. It reminds me of simpler times. They have 2 spots, I usually go to the one in Lekki and my favourite thing about this spot is that they also have traditional singers and drummers who go around to every table to perform for you. Apart from the food, the music here is A1. 

This place means a lot to me because it keeps our culture alive. Every visit feels like stepping into a living story, the language, the art, the drums, the spirit. It’s a space everyone needs to visit to learn about Yoruba history and culture when they visit Lagos. 

This is my family palace, my great great great ancestor King Kosoko was the King of Lagos in the 1800’s. The palace houses the Kosoko Memorial Museum and walking through it always feels powerful. It’s a reminder of my heritage, the resilience that I carry, and how much strength and legacy lives in my family history. This is my favourite place for inspiration and to gather my thoughts. 

After a long hard week, this is where I dance, unwind, and just have a great time with my guys. The music is always great, the crowd has style, and it’s just great vibes in Boho. Might be my favourite club in Lagos and my friend Fresh L runs the best nights there. 

Inside the Family Palace: Adekunle Gold's Guide to Lagos

Paris

My favourite Vietnamese coffee spot in Paris. If you want to experience authentic Vietnamese coffee in Paris, Viahe Caphe is the place to be. Mai and her team are passionate about sharing their love for Vietnamese coffee culture. I highly recommend trying the egg coffee, a creamy treat that will transport you straight to Hanoi.

For all the Amélie Poulain fans out there, this charming tea room is a must-visit. What I love most are their delicious homemade tarts. My favourite? The lemon meringue tart, which is simply to die for!

If you're into contemporary art, like me, then Lafayette Anticipations is a must-see. It’s not just an art gallery, but also features a café, a bookstore and a concert space. It’s the perfect spot to spend a creative afternoon in Paris.

Matcha lovers, this one's for you! Shodai Matcha is my go-to place in Paris for their cozy atmosphere and delicious Japanese desserts like chiffon cakes. It's the perfect spot for a quiet, relaxing break.

Looking for an authentic French meal? Bouillon République is the place to go. I love the traditional brasserie vibe, and the desserts are absolutely divine. Just be prepared for a little wait—it’s worth it!

As a huge fan of pop culture, I can spend hours at Album Comics and Momie Mangas. Whether you're into comics or manga, these stores are a treasure trove. I always find something new for my collection.

My go-to tattoo studio. If you're thinking about getting a tattoo, I highly recommend Landscape Tattoo. The team is super friendly and attentive, and if you're lucky, you might meet Pépin, their adorable little mascot.

For anyone looking for authentic Indian spices and products, Velan is the place to go. It’s my favorite spot for everything from incense to Ayurvedic essentials. A must-visit if you’re into Indian cuisine.

I’m obsessed with cream puffs, and Boulangerie Mamiche makes the best ones in the city. If you have a sweet tooth, this bakery is a must-visit. Trust me, you'll be hooked after the first bite!

As a longtime bubble tea fan, Xing Fu Tang is hands down one of the best spots in Paris. Their secret? They make their own brown sugar tapioca pearls in a copper pot, and it truly makes all the difference. Highly recommend!

Discover Paris Like Kokoprisci: 10 Hidden Gems You Can’t Miss

Tokyo

My favorite after hours venue. On weekends they have top tier after party line-up from 6-9AM. I love that the dj booth is visible from any angle. The dj booth is in the middle of the dance floor, and there’s a screen in the floor behind the bar that shows different angles of the dj mixing. 


The staff here is like family and are super supportive of the underground music scene. Also, they LOVE to party as well. It’s a narrow dance floor but the high ceilings and good sound system make me feel like i’m in a huge venue.

Futuristic vibe high-end art bar ran by Nanzuka contemporary art gallery. I love the interior design by Sorayama!! Sorayama’s futuristic robot art integrated into the furniture and decoration, alongside creative cocktails. 

A hidden fairy tale-themed bar and cafe. They have magical, potion brewery decor with hanging fairies and fairy dust. I love the unique cocktails with the touch of cotton candy. It feels like an immersive escape into a mythical world!

This bar makes cocktails based on the theme movies. They have a cocktail recipe for almost every movie I can think of and it's always spot on. Perfect place for a chill girls night out or date. The first time I went there I ordered my favorite movie "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind".

Record/Music bar/cafe. Pink neon lights and good vibe. A lot of artists tend to link up here.

Tokyo By Night: N2's Guide To The City After Hours

LADIPOE

A quirky afrocentric boutique hotel with a small gallery and a serious vinyl collection of vintage Nigerian music. They host an open mic night every Thursday and this is where I first began to hone my skill as a performer. The food is great too.

This was once a prison during colonial times, but it’s now a centre that celebrates art and culture. It’s home to quite a few festivals and live events, but Afropolitan Vibes is the one that offered me and many others a platform to perform to a big crowd of regulars.

It’s hard to describe hFACTOR. It’s this really cool space in the heart of Lagos Island. They often collaborate with different people to throw some amazing parties and you get to meet the most unique characters. It’s a completely different vibe each time.

It’s the tea for me. However, it is first and foremost a library of vinyl records, CDs, DVDs and books. The proprietors are also a great source of knowledge about Lagos, and Nigeria in general. Also, as mentioned earlier, the tea is excellent. I performed there once, as a member of a group called the Collectiv3.

So many of us have been excluded from places because of our fashion sense, musical leanings and unique way we present ourselves to the world, but at Island Block Party (and its progenitor - mainland block party), everyone is welcome. My favourite thing about it is the exchange of culture between dissimilar yet like-minds. It’s what makes this monthly party a must to attend. It’s also a great place for upcoming and established acts to perform.

LADIPOE's Guide to Arts and Culture In Lagos

Sylvia Pérez

Madrid

This viewpoint is built on a 110-meter-high lighting tower, constructed in 1992. It’s metal and has a somewhat dystopian feel. You take a panoramic elevator to the top and see a stunning panoramic view of the city. My favourite time to visit is at sunset to witness Madrid’s famous pink skies. The entrance fee is very affordable at 3 euros, but take note that it closes early.

A photography studio in the Carabanchel neighbourhood, run by friends of mine, feels like my second home since I’ve done some of my latest work here in Madrid. It’s a perfect size, fully equipped with all the technical gear you might need, and even has natural light if you want to use it. As a bonus, you can head up to the terrace to grab a coffee or smoke a cigarette between shots. The interior is amazing. If you’re in Madrid for a project, check it out!

This is an underground house in the garden of a property built by late brutalist architect Fernando Higueras. It was originally his studio but later became his home. It is now the headquarters of the Fernando Higueras foundation. 

You can arrange private visits by reservation or visit during the Open House Architecture Festival. It’s one of my favourite spots in the city and one of Madrid’s hidden treasures.


This gallery, which houses large-scale contemporary art exhibitions, is part of the Reina Sofía Museum in a separate building in El Retiro park. The park itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the museum is near the lake and the Palacio de Cristal. The stroll through the park and the gallery makes it well worth a visit.

It’s currently temporarily closed for renovations until Dec 2025, but usually it is open every day and free to enter.

This is the best-curated vintage clothing store in Madrid, with a finely selected range of designer vintage and archive clothing and collectables. Run by two brothers, Charly and Nacho, it’s a key spot in the city to get a feel for Madrid’s youth culture. You’ll find an international atmosphere where you can mingle with the city’s young and creative crowd.

This is a great place for an aperitif, lunch, or dinner, offering traditional tapas and dishes with a modern twist. The venue is traditional yet renovated, run by a young team that aims to keep the authentic vibe. It’s best to reserve a table in advance for meals, but no reservation is needed if you’re just stopping by for a drink. I’m a regular here and often hang out with international friends or hold casual professional meetings at this spot. If you come, you might even find me here!

This restaurant blends flavours from Eastern Mediterranean Arab countries. It has a cozy atmosphere where chef and owner, Heba Kharouf, will gladly explain each dish to you. It’s a place I’d bring someone if I wanted to impress them. The ambience is laid-back and international, with a mix of younger, modern customers and locals from the neighbourhood. I recommend booking in advance.

There’s no bar like Cock in Madrid. It’s one of the city’s oldest cocktail bars, dating back to 1921. Located on a side street behind Gran Víia, it served as the back door and secret entrance to another famous cocktail bar on Gran Vía, called Chicote. History is palpable here. Luminaries such as Buñuel, Dalí, Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner, and Frank Sinatra have all passed through. The bar has an Old English-style decor, with dark carved wood walls and waiters serving you with white gloves. It’s still a meeting point for Madrid’s creative elite today and is open every day of the week.

In Madrid, the aperitif, or pre-meal “vermouth hour,” is deeply ingrained, and there’s been a revival of pairing it with “Gildas” —a traditional pintxo from northern Spain. 

La Gildería specialises in Gildas, adding a signature experimental twist. You’ll find a wide variety of Gilda combinations (I recommend the sun-dried tomato, cheese, and basil) and an extensive selection of vermouths. The place has a contemporary, casual atmosphere, and reservations are not required.

This small, historic movie theatre with modernist architecture is located in the Anton Martín area, near the market of the same name. It’s now the home of the Spanish Film Archive. 

Besides the beautiful facade, I highly recommend going inside to watch a film and see the stunning restored blue main hall. Even the café at the entrance is worth a visit alone. They screen films from different eras in their original language. Be sure to check the schedule in advance. 

It’s a great plan any time of the year, with tickets priced at just 3 euros.

Walking along the Manzanares River always takes me to another time. It’s not a gushing river, but more of a biosphere reserve, with little water flow and lots of vegetation for birds and other species to nest. You can spot herons, ducks, and other birds. 

The views from Segovia Bridge are sick, offering a vista of the Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, and North Station, all surrounded by greenery and pink skies at sunset.

When you need a break, you can rest in the open space below the bridge or at the terrace kiosk nearby.

It is one of the best bookstores in Madrid with the widest selection of artist and photography books. Founded by Elena Ochoa Foster, it also functions as an exhibition space, editorial, and contemporary art consultancy. Though it’s not in the city centre, a visit is well worth the trip to get there. 

The new lab in Madrid to develop and print your analog images. They’ve just opened and are located right in the city center—perfect if you’re looking for convenience and personalized service. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re in town and need to get something printed!

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