Singapore 

Perfect for a date night, pre-drinks before going out-out, catching up with friends and discovering new DJs, old heads and undiscovered tunes. It’s a sociable hub for music lovers, creatives and friendly faces. It’s not open late so I’d recommend not after 8pm if you want a good shift. They serve Pan-Asian fusion food and cocktails, the menu is mouthwatering! Ask for Dean Chew, one of the co-founders of the label Darker Than Wax runs this place. He’s a sweet, sweet soul.

Perfect for a casual catch up with your friends. The crowd is a lot of East-siders – so some really laid-back people. The sunset is beautiful around the East Coast, it feels really nostalgic, so I’d say [pull up] at 7pm just before the evening sets in. They serve beers and spirits, as well as some hard-hitting Thai food. The spot is run by a really chill older couple, I used to work here actually!

The vibe is perfect for if you’re craving some authentic Chinese seafood whilst having a catch up with some friends and family. This is the place you need to hit up. Almost exclusively local Singaporean folk and longtime Singapore residents. It’s definitely a hidden gem. The stingray, fried rice and sambal kangkong are my go-to dishes. If you haven’t tried stingray, it has a soft meat texture that essentially melts in your mouth.

It’s affordable dim sum, so the vibe is perfect for any occasion! You have hundreds of options and insanely quick service. The place is almost always local Singaporeans – another hidden gem. You should order lime juice with sour plum, xiao long bao (Shanghai soup dumplings), siu mai, fried prawn dumplings, wanton, crab meat sauce with mantou. Basically anything, to be honest. I could order everything twice over.

It’s the perfect place to end your night out. I’d always end up here after the club with a group of friends. I'd say the crowd is a mix between people who want to watch football and drunk club-goers. Order the roti prata with fish, chicken, lamb curry or dhal if you’re vegan or vegetarian.

You can get to the island by hopping on a ferry for under 20 Singapore dollars (SGD) from Marina South Pier. I’d recommend the 10am ferry so you get a full day out. Definitely bring your own food and water to St John’s Island because they don’t sell any!

It’s super affordable to get to Pulau Ubin – it costs under five SGD for a single trip. You can get a bumboat at Changi Point Ferry Terminal which usually takes around 15 minutes. You can also bring your own bicycle here or rent one when you’re there. It’s also a good shout to bring your own water and snacks even though you can find food there. My favourite thing to do is kayaking along the mangroves – surreal.

Jhumka on Where to Go in Singapore

Valeria Chrampani

Athens

A beautiful centre for a walk, running and even picnic. There are sometimes events and free concerts! Worth a visit

The best Chinese restaurant in Athens. Bit far from the centre but worth the visit

Good and cheap burgers in Central. The best food after a night out

Fave outlet ever ✌🏻 I found amazing deadstock pieces for 1-2€

Vintage store at Eksarxia. You can find treasures sometimes ✌🏻

Thrift store in the Centre, you need to search well for clothes but you will find at least one piece that u like x

V qt boutique, everything from Athenian Designers

I visited this place two months ago and it was incredible! There's a library with rare fashion books/magazines and art books and it's decorated with furry WALLS and the whole floor is pink!

Good vibes, and you can chill- have a drink on the street outside the bar

Best ice cream and fab decoration! You should visit

You should try the red curry chicken with cherry tomatoes. One of my fave restaurants in Athens

Stylist Valeria Chrampani Guide to Athens

Ruf Dug

Manchester

It's now the premiere club in Manchester. It’s an old mechanics building in Salford in an absolute Wasteland - uber drivers are scared to go down there! But it’s just this amazing, world famous place now. It’s a great club that goes all the way through til the morning, sometimes the next day. They just champion anything that isn’t normal. Any night is a great night there because it’s all about the venue and the crowd.


It’s the crowd that makes it special for me, and for a while there it was the only spot in Manchester you would go to.


This place was like an atomic bomb that decimated the entire Manchester nightlife scene and that needed to happen. They had signed up all the good DJs so no one else could book them so it forced Manchester’s music scene to look inwards again, not to be booking names but to booking parties, to bringing communities together and developing parties within the local music DJs. 


It‘s not a michelin star yet but it should be. It’s run by a local chef from Manchester called Sam Buckley and they grow all their veg and leaves on top of the car park just next door so they’re sustainable. It’s in an old coffee warehouse and they have about 9 tables, with the kitchen right there, so you’re in and amongst it all. It’s a classic 12 course tasting menu, whichever chef is cooking your food will bring it over and tell you the story about it. It’s just really next level food!

It's the best Chinese pancake. You’ve got the egg, spring onions and the pancake and you just fold it up. It’s right in the middle of the city by the metro link - it’s an old ice cream/hot dog vendor and these guys have just taken it over. 


Ruf Dug's Guide to Manchester 

O Thongthai

Bangkok

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

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

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.

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).

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.

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.

Exploring Bangkok With Jewellery Designer O Thongthai

Melbourne

Share a gukbab soup with a pal. Dump the rice in when it rocks up, adjust flavour with pickled shrimp and sauces.

Best ramen in the city, though the childish will use the long lines as an excuse to argue. Show up at 3pm for quickest seats at a table.

Book ahead, order the "shao long bao" and go hard on the chef's recommendations.

Visit with a group of three or more and ask for the pork set. Kimchi jjigae is included.

My favourite Thai street food in the CBD can be a bit tricky to find because it's literally in a carpark.

Quick Indonesian. Can't go wrong with a balado or a bakar. Get a combo and ration the teh for spicy moments.

Best char siu bao and dou sha bao if you need a cheap snack on the go.

The fit-out is stunning, but so is the broth. Go easy on the hot sauces and remember, mild is still spicy in the Sichuan universe.

Outstanding Korean fried chicken, and it's open late.

Melbourne’s Best Spots for Asian Food by Yeo

Michelle Li

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!

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Amsterdam

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

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!

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!

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!

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

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.

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

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!

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.

Arakaza on Where to Go in Amsterdam During Dekmantel Festival

Yuki Matsuda

Tokyo

It's a venue that has one of the best sound systems.

They are open until 3 am and they have the best late night food to take my mind off.

They always have really cool exhibitions and events.

I just love their authentic and very spicy Chinese dishes. Sometimes after doing a gig you just wanna eat spicy food with your mates.

Owned by one of my friends who has a very good taste in music.

It's a second hand book store. They have many great art books.

Tokyo with Yuki Matsuda

This is the spot for anyone who is serious about tea. The owner Amanda is a real authority in the tea world. She has been appointed by the Chinese government as the European ambassador of Pu-erh tea. Formocha also does traditional tea ceremony and the upstairs seating area is a real oasis within the Jordaan area. They specialise in tea from China, Taiwan and Japan.

Is a 'by reservation only', vegan ramen restaurant - don't be put off by the 100% plant based ramen. It is incredible.

The real ones in Amsterdam know this is THE late night dining spot. Tell me where else you'll be able to get a Hong Kong-style typhoon shelter fried lobster and some Tsingtaos in the AM's.

An amazing Korean florist, they also host workshops on floral arrangement techniques.

Hands down the best Chinese supermarket in Amsterdam.

Assort is a Japanese hair salon with locations all over the world. The staff are the best and are extremely creative.

Great Filipino bakery, their ube cake is banging!

A hidden gem, some of the best sushi in Amsterdam. They also make their own ice cream.

Honestly one of my favourite spots in Amsterdam, really tasty Malaysian food. Everything on the menu is great but their Sambal Lady Finger's (Okra), Laksa and Hainanese Chicken Rice are must haves.

Asian-Owned Businesses in Amsterdam

Wiki

Chicken spot. Local. Fire food. Everyone just be skating and kickin' it outside there.

Couple of locations. It’s reliable and a good slice.

Been going there since I was a kid, it’s still there which is good to see.

Wiki’s Hit List: The Best Places to Eat in NYC

Ghetto Gastro

Highbridge is a neighbourhood in the Bronx that's connected to Washington Heights in the Upper Manhattan by way of the pedestrian high bridge. The blending of cultures across this physical landscape is rich and the patties have a nice sweetness and a spicy punch. They also take some time, because you'll need to ferment the plantains for the filling for up to one week, which adds a tangy depth to the flavour.

For $4 or $5, any short-order bodega cook can style it how you like it, but the classic build is ground beef cooked down with white onions and American cheese, then topped with tomatoes and shredded lettuce on a hero or roll. Like a lot of foods that emerge from neighbourhoods and cultures where many are systematically deprived of wealth, the chopped cheese is a blue-collar dish, [with] it's social complexities. As the class makeup of the Bronx and Uptown has shifted to attract the richer, whiter populations in recent years, the chopped cheese found its way into the hands of folks who didn't grow up on it like we did but rather often "discovered" the sandwich, and, naturally, loved it. 

This place opened as Brother Roy's Green Garden in 1983 at a different location (it's always going to be Brother Roy's to us), but the juice bar is a beloved, Black-owned gathering place that promotes health and wellness. For youth used to seeing smoke shops and liquor stores on countless corners, this West Indian spot is where you find like-minded people knowledgeable about nutrition. Brother Roy's is across from an elevated train, facing the New York Housing Authority's Gun Hill Houses. The energy is chaotic on the streets. In the shop it's like an oasis. You smell fresh fruit. You hear patois that reflects Caribbean roots. 

The hood Chinese restaurant is ubiquitous in Black hip hop culture. For decades, references to dishes have appeared in song lyrics; there's even a brown and green Timberland boot that's been dubbed "beef and broccoli". The tan joints are called "sesame chickens". These are not the spots where you look for traditional Cantonese dumplings or classic Sichuan noodles. You're gonna find chicken wings next to egg foo Yung. Chinese sweet tea served in plastic quart containers. Everything comes in a to-go box because even if the spot is large enough for tables and chairs, you're probably not staying long. 

A popular seafood restaurant in City Island, across the street from Johnny's Reef, these restaurants have a serious cult following. 

Ghetto Gastro’s Top 5 Restaurants in New York City 

ANONIE

The silkiest noodles. Hope you have a strong grip.

Next door to Mala Project. If you are feeling cheeky get the Mala Beef Rice Noodle.

If hugs were a food, it would be pho from Hanoi House.

Get the braised meatball noodle soup. The eight spices crispy tofu is a must.

I am really bad with spicy food. But I’ll eat the rice cake hot pot from Her Name is Han through tears if I have to (I want to).

Let’s not forget about ramen. Try the thin rye noodles like Tokyo Shio."

NYC’s Best Noodle Spots with Anonie

Naomi Accardi

Milan

Where we all get our hair done (they are great at crazy colors).

The tattoo shop of the “cool” kids of Milan. I don’t go here but they do cool residencies sometimes.

Similar to five guys in style but it’s not a real fast food chain. It was opened by somebody in the Milan scene. Nice burgers, cool environment.

Chinese restaurant I love. Mad cheap, AWESOME Food.

It's a coworking/restaurant and hang out spot, they make open sandwiches that are banging (it’s in Chinatown).

Incredible Tuscan food (a bit expensive but definitely worth it).

Cheap home made food, cash only. Like grandma’s kitchen.



Typical Milano food, I bring all my guests here for real local food (higher end but worth the money).

Iconic streetwear store and distribution company in Italy.

Best magazine and book selection (close to Prada foundation).

They make their own gin, the owners used to work in fashion and design. It’s an incredible place for late night drinks.

Vintage/flea market + lots of food trucks, music. It happens once a months but they have now extended it to every weekend. It’s set in an old factory - you need LOTS of time here.

It's a squatted building where they organise different art shows, photography exhibitions, different music nights. The worst stuff goes on here but it’s a staple in Milan culture. It’s very fun!

Naomi Accardi's Guide to Milan

Paris

We are a Parisian music label, good wine is essential to our work. You’ll find that here.

We love this wine bar with a diverse and musical crowd. Unexpected nights here have led to some of the most exciting music collabs in Paris.

This is a special place to take visiting artists. It’s a speakeasy bar that uses screens to imitate an actual busy train snaking through the Indian countryside, with passengers hopping off and on. Disorienting in the best way! Great cocktails and tapas.

One of our favourite places to catch up on music and unwind off-hours. You’ll always run into someone working in the music scene here.

A great industrial-style bar where you’ll find conversations flowing on music, politics and culture. Gives Berlin vibes.

A floating café and botanical library. Our favourite escape to, surprisingly, turn off the music, chill out and read.

An absolute hidden gem! We look forward to any excuse to pop in this restaurant for excellent Armenian food that doesn’t break the bank. A constant temptation just around the corner from our office.

We love the natural wines and ever-changing menu at Des Terres, where they are passionate about engaging.

This is one of our favourite Chinese restaurants in Paris. The plates and drinks endlessly move overhead, and it’s hard to not 'over order'. A must-visit for authentic vibes, hot delicious food and pure satisfaction.

A Guide on Where to Eat and Drink in Paris by InFiné

Goldlink

Washington, D.C.

Quite expensive tbh. Family owned and the food is incredible.

This be smaccin off. It just never open late.

It’s the most touristy spot on earth. I don’t eat there, but everyone who passes through does.

Super lowkey Hispanic restaurant. Also has good brunch.

One of the best DMV Carryout to exist. Fight me when you see me if you don’t agree.

It’s for blacc people, by blacc people. Shit so fire and it’s good for you.

For people trying to be absolutely healthy.

Eating in the DMV with Goldlink

Phony Ppl

They serve Trinidadian food and whatever you get you cannot go wrong. With your rotis you can get tamarind sauce, chicken, pumpkin and pepper sauce if you like spice. If the line is long do not be discouraged, it's worth the wait. Get doubles and aloo pie too.

If you're feeling doughnuts, these are great.

In the Bushwick area our homeboy owns this store for clothing. He recently did a Paris Fashion Week too.

Everybody knows about Central Park, but this even better. You can play soccer here and at the back of the park there's a drummers circle with hoola hoopers that you can get involved with.

These guys close at around 2 in the afternoon because they distribute their product all around town. They make different fresh fruit combinations like mango and cranberry muffins and then the next day it'll be like pineapple. They sell out all the time.

If there are any musicians who wanna know where to go - come here. They have the kind of selection on sale that is specifically for working musicians and people wanting to buy stuff.

A lot of our guys get a lot of work done in here. If you're trying to get inked up they're super trustworthy, super nice people and very talented.

Phony Ppl's Travel Guide to Brooklyn

London

Silk Road has been a mainstay on the London Chinese restaurant scene and certainly remains the best option south of the river. Its Xinjiang-style Sichuan dishes have been consistently numbing mouths and burning tongues for well over a decade now. Although the mountains of long dried chillies have been somewhat curtailed for the less capable spice palate of the clientele, even these more accessible iterations of classic, home-style dishes are delicious in their lashings of black vinegar and hot oil. Our order has been remarkably unchanged for a long time. Order lamb skewers, pork and black fungus fried beef dumplings, cucumber salad, home-style aubergine, home-style cabbage with rice and luxury noodles.

Nestled in a corner of a Brutalist estate courtyard, Zeret always offers a convivial welcome and setting. Tafe Beleynah, the matriarch of this unassuming Ethiopian restaurant, will encourage you to order from the sharing platter, with a view to reordering your favourite options. Portions are ample however, so maybe take note of firm favourites and plan your return with new familiarity of the menu. The platters are arranged on injera – a fermented flatbread designed to grip and dip at the various lashings of vegan and meat stews. Cutlery is not provided as standard (although probably available; not that we’ve ever felt the need). Eat with your hands, get tactile; feed yourself and each other. Order the meat selection or vegan selection with an Ethiopian beer.

Grove Lane Deli, as we know it, feels like something from a Richard Curtis Movie. Any Camberwell coffee devotee has made GLD part of their daily routine, and if Jackie Chan was right and "coffee is a language in itself", then Danielle – the owner and baker – speaks with great fluency. The coffee, pastries, well-curated selection of posh, dry goods and natural wines make for fun shopping when you fancy a treat. Order the chicken focaccia sandwich (if it hasn’t sold out), burnt milk cookie and coffee. We write this in memorandum of GLD's former self. As of July 2024, it is going through a mysterious transformation – so watch this space.

We first happened upon Betty's just after they had opened. The owner, Andres, thrust plates of his flamed grilled chorizo and potatoes smothered with salsa verde into our hands, before cordially ushering us through the door past the haze from his daring curbside barbecue. We sat and heeded advice to opt for the sopa del dia – a broth rich in beef collagen and punctuated with bright vegetables, paired with the recommended plump long grain rice and avocado that somehow tasted of something beyond the water usually wasted in its cultivation. Not soon after we’d perched, the fire brigade showed up with something to say about Andres’ barbecuing practices. Some light-hearted bribery with grilled meats and good hospitality reassured them, but now you can find Betty's barbecue on less flammable ground at the Camberwell Farmers Market every Saturday from 11am. Order sopa del dia, avocado and rice, empanadas and the BBQ on Camberwell Farmers Market every Saturday.

A fairly new addition to Camberwell, Delly's has a cracker of a lunchtime deal. Lunchtime main and two sides and a drink for six [pounds], but if I could tempt you away from the efficiency of the meal deal, then go for their beef patty. An incredibly short and flaky pastry with an invitingly umber hue instead of the standard brilliant yellow. Encases a filling that I’m convinced is a repurposing of their stewed oxtail. Whatever it is, it’s delicious and blows Greggs’ steak bake out of the water at a savvy £1.50.

South London’s supreme ocakbasi spot, FM Mangal is a shining example of fire and flame cookery. Although recently renovated and stylised to something akin to a provincial Essex Instagram fever dream – complete with a faux flower statement wall – the grill still burns with great genetic skill and prowess. Work your way through the chef specials, grab yourself an Adana kebab; the bafflingly good sumac grilled onions and the bread is moistened to perfection with meaty juice run-off to mop it all up. Order the FM Mangal chef's special:  lamb beyti aubergine.

Lockdown sandwich maestros are slinging their playfully named sub-roll bangers from bustling pub destinations: the Grove House Tavern and The White Horse in Peckham. Their lunchtime executive solutions, once the saviour of working from home isolation, are still out for delivery daily. We worked alongside these fellas for a good while and gladly scoffed their sandwiches on the regs – and without fatigue. Don’t miss their evening menu either, perfectly calibrated alongside fun and pint sinking. Order literally any sandwich.

An unassumingly credible Dominican food spot. Despite its name, we would recommend to flip the menu and ignore the breakfast. As far as South American food goes, expect lots of fried meats piled high on a plate. This is a real great alternative to the fry-up if you’ve had a few too many beverages the night before. Order the empanadas, parrillada and the pollo a la canasta.

The obvious caff in Camberwell to nurse a hangover would be Rock Steady Eddies, but we prefer to drag ourselves a bit further up Coldharbour Lane to Johnnies. A sensory overload at every turn, this diner is the perfect spot for people watching. At peak times there’s a queue out the door but wait it out if you can. [You'll be] well fed for around a tenner. Order the full English.

Theo’s pizza is one of the closest replicants of Neopolitan-style pizza we’ve come across in London. We spent the best part of a week in the Italian centre of pizza, consuming 17 pizzas in five days, so we got a decent grasp of what was good and how it should be. Although that pizza pilgrimage is still definitely unrivalled, Theo’s does pretty damn well and, if anything, their pizza fritta comes the closest to the Italian original. Aside from strictly pizza authenticity, Theo’s works well as a restaurant with scope outside of their main commodity. Their sharing plates of mortadella, guindilla peppers and puffed fried dough nuggets are a great way to limber up before the main event. And there’s that tiramisu that’s just about perfectly formed and available for takeaway if the gluten overload has rendered dessert a bridge too far. Order the sharing platter, calzone and tiramisu.

Many of us have a very precise configuration of what to order at the British-Chinese takeaway. Regularly passed down a generation, these precisely recited orders become admitted into a kind of British oral history. Van Hing can cater to cravings for the classics, like salt and pepper dishes and Singapore noodles, while also hosting Vietnamese-style offerings as well. Van Hing does what it does and it does it well. You shouldn’t expect modern ‘elevated’ Pan-Asian fusion cooking or the like here; it’s a good, solid choice for cheap and quick eats. Order the sea-spiced aubergine.

The steady decline of the independent boozer is a sad marker of hard times. As pub chains and monopolies swoop in across south London, the essential soul of a good pub is being lost to the sterile formula of the modern gastropub nightmare. This is why we revere places like The Hermits Cave. It may not be the most comfortable or the best equipped, but it does have character. There’s no food offering here, but you’re invited to take your pick from the bounties of Camberwell New Road and eat it in the pub, with local hotspots like Silk Road, FM Mangal or Theo’s to accompany your pint.

Toad Bakery, formerly Frog Bakery, has dominated a market saturated with laminated baked goods. Toad’s creativity in the field is refreshing and despite the cost of butter soaring to almost crisis levels, they never skimp. In a conversation with the lovely owners, Rebecca and Oliver, they admitted that butter was their chief expenditure after staffing costs and it shows. Their Hawaiian spin on a Danish with ham hock and pineapple has been a firm favourite. Their innovative and daring combinations will have you pushing the boundaries of your tastebuds on your morning commute. Regular queues out the door are a sure sign of something good. RIP Frog, long live Toad.

Huong Vi Viet had big boots to fill, stepping into the premises of its now neighbour Silk Road. [This is] a family-run and orientated restaurant with multi-generational staff bringing warm hosting and authentic feeling dishes. The offering spans from the rice noodle to salads of the same extraction, soups and pho (we all know and love), but [the menu] eclipses the usual Anglified plod with some real home-style flourishes. Come hungry as the aunties in the kitchen are here to feed with great maternal instinct. The attentive staff will recommend the best dishes to your taste – we love the bún chả nem Hanoi.

Cutie Pies on Their Top Food Spots in Camberwell, London

David Roelen

Berlin

The Black Lodge is an intimate, Twin Peaks inspired, bar which is always decorated with beautiful bouquets that contrast the dark walls and the smoky mix of a shady Berlin crowd. You’ll find a nice selection of beers and well done cocktails, served by a really nice team. 

Apparently run by the owners of Balck Lodge, Bar Brutal has all the things that remind me of the wild times in early 2000’s Berlin Mitte. The right mix of good drinks (long waits) and people who occasionally use the bathrooms for literally everything but their intentional function.

This West Berlin 1980’s relic is so unique that I have a hard time describing it. It’s kinda trashy, kinda kitsch but then just cool at the same time because of its realness. In no-covid times Kumpelnest was always packed with the most eclectic crowd and there was always a vibe. The perfect stop-over on a wild bar night when you need to dance to a Madonna song before moving over to one of the big clubs.

This is a real “Kneipe”, an Eastern German worker’s bar. The Service (usually two middle aged women) draught the beer and prepare simple meals in the small kitchen. It’s one of those places that smell like the hundred thousand of Beers that have been served, blended with old wooden floors. Love to come here whenever I’m in Mitte and have no plans afterwards.

Do De Li is located around the corner from where I live and I have been walking past this restaurant for many years until one rainy night about 3 years ago. It’s worth mentioning that when we entered the place for the first time it looked different than now. It was this cozy, kinda dark, typical Chinese family restaurant with one major difference about it. The walls were covered in framed drawings, showing fantastic beings, drawn in small squares consisting of parallel lines. The nerdy kind of drawing if you know what I mean. They turned out to be drawn by the owner’s 11yo son who is highly gifted and has waaay beyond average IQ. 

Who else is highly gifted here, is the chef. All dishes are extremely tasty and well cooked. The Mapo Tofu is bomb and what’s absolutely outstanding for me are the fried noodles (side dish).
If you go, also try one of their beautiful teas i.e. Rose Tea, the smell is just beautiful.


I won’t say much about W.
Just this: If you are in Neukölln and have a desire for a good Pizza, W is your place to go. It’s simply Berlin’s best Pizza. Period.

The 2nd Chinese restaurant in my neighbourhood that deserves attention. Sitting on a corner in the middle of Kanstr. (Berlin’s Chinatown), it has big windows that give way into the neon light bathed restaurant. Vibrant and delicious, Aroma is my favourite Berlin late night restaurant where one can eat delicious food until 3am, every day. We usually come here after a late screening in the cinema and never get tired of it. The Water Spinach and Pork ribs Salt and Pepper are amazing.

Late Nights in Berlin with Dl Roelen

A dim sum restaurant in New Cross. I go here with my family a lot. There’s a really pretty fountain and ornaments as you walk in, and they remind me of my mama and yeye's (grandma and grandad’s) house.

These are some homemade dumplings in southeast London! There’s an artist called Jianbo, you have to check him out – this is his mum's page! 

It’s the classic Chinese supermarket. We used to go here as kids and it had loads of Chinese White Rabbit sweets. My mama used to give them to us when we left her house on Fridays.

So, so, so yum. I had the spiced corn and tofu dumplings and they were so delicious. It's cute for a little lunch time snack – and vegan friendly!


I’ve yet to try this myself but I have heard from my sisters and friends that this is a really great spot. It’s a Cantonese restaurant on Gerrard Street.

Another family favourite, this place is always so, so busy! Lots of people from Hong Kong that live in the UK go there which is a good sign! Food is always delicious here.


Josie Man on Hong Kong-Style Spots in London

Los Angeles 

Mori's new sushi spot does the best omakase! Founder Mori is a Michelin starred chef who makes his own plates and ceramics and even grows his own rice. We adore him! The quality and dedication to sushi is seriously present, and every dish from the house tofu, to the soy sauce blends, and rice chosen, shows his legacy.

Market Song is a must hit small, bustling stop for updates on traditional Thai street foods. Go to Jitlada for super authentic best hole in the wall. It's a fun spot.

San Gabriel Valley is a Chinese neighbourhood with over 100 incredible food spots which are all amazing. But if you had to pick one make sure you hit up Chengdu Taste.

Make sure to order the Bento boxes from Hayato. They bang.

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