Pyra

Bangkok

Best tsukemen in the country. Also ramen.

Best museum to see Thai contemporary art by local artists.

Use the AIS Super Wifi for the fastest internet in the city. Ask for the password from your AIS user friends.

Pyra's Guide to Bangkok

Andrea Martina Specchio

Venice

My favourite place to have breakfast or 'merenda' (afternoon break). This tiny pastry and coffee shop is where I always start my day when I am in Venice. I discovered Tonolo many moons ago when I was in town often to visit my friends who were studying here. Every time, I cannot resist getting at least two pastries, if not more. 

My local restaurant crush! The food is WOW and the menu has a lot of veggie options. I love the warm atmosphere and the wooden walls, so I recommend booking a table inside.

This little old fashion bar is the king of 'tramezzini' – fresh sandwiches stuffed with different ingredients and TONS of mayo. This is my favourite lunch spot and my place-to-go to grab a 'tramezzino' for my trip back home before leaving Venice.

If you love books (and the smell of old books – something I could die for) visit this historical shop. A maze of bookshelves, vintage armchairs, old posters, retro postcards and tons of other random stuff – including a couple of resident cats!

Come here to have wine and fresh sandwiches with cold cuts. This is a spot where locals have their daily 'ombre di vino' (little glasses of wine) from 6am to 8pm… Venice rules!

Come here to hang out in the University campus area. Opt for a spritz at Bar Rosso or the 'cicchetti' ritual (aperitif in Venice style) at Ai Do Draghi. 

Just another excuse to go to Venice. Every other year, from April to November, Venice becomes a living exhibition of contemporary art with worldwide artists exhibiting their works in different areas of the town. The theme for 2022 is 'The Milk of Dreams': artists were asked to think of creative ways for a more sustainable coexistence between us as individuals and the universe we inhabit. 

An Insider's Guide to Visiting the Venice During the Biennale

Labdi

Nairobi

A little bougie, but you get to have breakfast with giraffes

Labdi's Guide to Nairobi

BOY SODA

Sydney

I love this spot! The edge of the cemetery falls away into this big panoramic view of the ocean and it reminds me how small I am! It’s such a beautiful contrast of life and death and it’s humbling to feel like you’re standing at the edge of the world. The sheer size of the cemetery is breathtaking, definitely a special location. 

There is something so local and comforting about Marrickville Bowling club. A lot of rehearsal spaces and hole-in-the-wall recording studios are on the same street so I love going there and watching the sunset as drunk people play bare foot bowls like it’s ten-pin and running into local artists. They’ve had amazing shows there and their live setup is weirdly amazing for how lowkey it is.  They also do a bomb nachos!

They make Banh Mi’s here in lightning speed plus it’s cheap and so so delicious! Super fresh salads and fresh bread, it’s *chef kiss*, just be prepared, people queue around the block! Definitely my go to spot if I'm working or frolicking around the area, because it’s a small, family-oriented business and I get the feeling the food is made with a lot of love! (There’s also super tasty Vietnamese iced coffee right next door to them!) 

Irreplaceable store, easily spotted by the window full of vintage kicks, or their beautiful dog Jazzy who greets everyone at the door! They have a crazy selection of new and vintage kicks and heaps of vintage tees, jackets, workwear, and accessories. There are a few vintage stores in Newtown but I trust Irreplaceable so much for their good taste, so I know I’m always finding that thing I didn’t know I needed in there. There’s also really good size range in everything so I always want to spend my whole pay check on vintage Carhartt pants! 

We’re blessed with a bunch of great vinyl stores in Sydney. If you’ve got a couple of hours to kill, nothing better than flicking through old vinyl racks looking for a gem. I always find great Jazz and soul records in here, and if you’re a producer who loves crate digging it’s a goldmine.

Everybody loves a cocktail but this bar is disguised as an old butcher’s shop so it’s fun and usually very intimate and cosy to hide away in! Friday night cocktail hour is calling your name! From memory they have freshly squeezed apple juice which I love with Fireball! 

Exploring Sydney with BOY SODA

Anomalie

Montreal

One of my favorite small venues in the city. It’s a non-profit organization that has music, dance theatre, exhibitions amongst other tings. I’ve played here several times and I went to several events here and the ambience was always on point

To me, this is the best music venue in the city to see your favorite artist play. Great acoustics, beautiful architecture - I’ve seen so many insane shows here and especially after being to similar sized venues in other cities, this is the one.


I love pubs, and this one is pretty much right next to l’Astral and Métropolis, which means that during jazz fest season (or summer for that matter) this is pretty much the go to spot. It’s technically a tavern - food and drinks are always on point and this is my vibe for a night out

Another great venue with absolutely stunning architecture. In some ways it feels like a smaller metropolis, it’s beautiful and I especially like it’s layout - I’ve seen several memorable shows here too

Located in my Pointe Saint-Charles (my old neighborhood in the south-west, love this area so much), this place is gorgeous. The cocktails and atmosphere are incredible, and the people who own it also own one of the best pizza places in town (in my opinion, fight me)

This is my favorite mid-sized venue in town. I might be biased cause it’s definitely associated with my years studying music in Cegep (something in between high school and college here in Quebec), but I just have so many fond memories of this spot, both playing and seeing shows, that I couldn’t not include it on this list. They also own the smaller but equally awesome Casa Del Popolo across the street.

Anomalie's guide to Nightlife / Music Venues in Montreal

Tato Giovannoni

Buenos Aires

A staple on the World’s 50 Best Bar list since just after their opening, Florería is currently number 5 in the world, reflecting the huge growth on the Argentinian cocktail scene. The new menu is inspired by colonies and native towns, and from that, my favourite is Yamanas. Old Tom Gin, blue spirulina, earl grey, rose hip and patagónico king crab with pine mushroom bitters.

Probably one of the only bars that you can go to experience the golden era of Buenos Aires. Go here for the classic; a Clarito, the Argentine twist on the dry martini.

This relatively new bar from the younger generation of Argentinian bartenders is a great place to end the night. Trendy, hip music is played here throughout. Ask for a Milkisilin.

The third bar from the Ginoteria family, this new bar is in Chinatown, and in safe hands of old guard bartender of Pablo Pignata. It’s the only fast food style bar in Argentina, serving up gin & tonics, negronis and dry martinis. Fast, easy, simple and full of good vibes.

The newest bar from Ines De los Santos, this bar has great ambience and interiors, with a beautiful bar and food from Maximo Lopaz May. Inspired by French Vietnamese culture.

Also on the World’s 50 Best Bars list is Presidente. It’s super trendy and elegant, and a great place to go at any time of the day. Their list of signature and classic drinks is fantastic.

A must for any visit. Danzon was the bar that helped to nurture new talent and put Argentina on the world stage again for cocktails. The bar opened in 1998 and it’s still an amazing place to go. It was also the first wine bar in Argentina, with a beautiful restaurant, great cocktails and modern deco. My first job as a professional bartender was here.

This fantastic space plays tribute to tiki culture, run by Ludovico de Biaggi, one of the youngest new talents. It’s the same group as Danzon - great food, good music and always full of energy.

This amazing venue pays tribute to all the Argentinian classics. The owner is strict with what he serves and that’s just one of the reasons we love him - you’ll find no beers and no sodas here. Ask for a Ferroviario, or any classic you fancy. It’s a great place to start the night in a beautiful part of Buenos Aires.

Latin America's Top Mixologist Shares The Best Cocktail Bars in Buenos Aires

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.



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.

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

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

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

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

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

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