Spaghetto

Milan

Best movie theater in Milano. They screen really cool and diverse movies at literally every time of the day. Movies are not dubbed! You don’t have to hear your fav actors speaking with a weird Italian voice! Yes!! Another awesome thing about this place is that the lovely lesbian couple who run it got it from the local church. I have no idea how they manage to screen stuff like a death metal documentary there but I swear they do!

Illustration and comic book art museum. They have great exhibitions and workshops. The place where the museum is located is very nice. There is a cool funny statue, a little park with a tiny skatepark and a bar called Boom where you can enjoy happy hour sitting outside or on the rooftop.

The place is def not fancy and they only make pizza, but it's super delicious and it gives you an idea of what the Isola district used to be before hipsters and gentrification arrived.

It's a public swimming pool, but also a theater and venue that hosts various events. It's really a unique place, where beautiful 1930s Italian architecture meets contemporary art and happenings.

Triennale is home to the Italian design Museum and hosts some of the best exhibitions in Milano. They also have concerts and sometimes music events that start super late at night and in the morning. Outside in the garden there's a bar, amazing sculptures and a fountain by Giorgio De Chirico.

Probably the best gelato in Milano. Fucking amazing! Try salty pistachio!

It is the first fetish boutique in Italy opening back in 1998. Arianna and Martina are super nice and they have the best lingerie, toys and latex in Milan. What I love is that they also carry pin-up dresses and 50s inspired clothing.

Super fun and friendly place in the heart of Lambrate. They brew their own unpasteurised/unfiltered beer and have won many awards for it. They sell their craft beer to a lot of pubs in Milan, Italy, and abroad, but this is the original spot where it all started in the mid 90s.

I like Rob de Matt because food is good but it’s also a very cool concept/project. The association who runs it provides work and help to marginalised people. They have a big garden/outside area that is fantastic in the summer where you can have brunch outside in the weekends and they hosts lots of happenings.

If you love to be surrounded by books like I do, this is the place for you! It’s a wine bar/bistrot/second hand bookshop all together. You can go for lunch, aperitif, dinner or just drinks. They host poetry readings, stand up comedy nights, little concerts and you can take your drinks outside in the nice little square.

Spaghetto's Guide to Milan

CHAII

Los Angeles 

This is always the first Persian food place I stop at when in LA, Attari Sandwich shop! It reminds me of Iran, so it’s very special to me since I don't often get to experience that. To start off, you have to try the mouth watering Eggplant dish (Kashke bademjan) then any of their delicious sandwiches - my two favorites are Sausage and Tongue. They have an amazing menu filled with yummy Persian food that you can enjoy in the cute outdoor area. Persian cream puffs (Noon Khamei) is a MUST for dessert.

The name says it all! When you go to Saffron and Rose Ice Cream shop in Westwood you must try the ice cream that the shop is named after, the Saffron ice cream. Mixed with pistachios, I don’t know anyone who could dislike this signature Iranian Ice Cream flavor, it’s a must try.. 

Feeling a little fancy? Then Darya restaurant is the place to go to have an amazing dinner. My favorite dish is Zereshk Polo Morgh (Persian Barberry rice with chicken) OR ANY of the dishes. If you’re new to Persian food then get a few different dishes and share. Some nights there is live music to enjoy while dining at Darya Restaurant.

Iran has such a rich culture and a long history in arts, music and traditions. Stores like Ketabsara (ketab = Book) are much needed to keep the Persian culture alive. I can never get enough of walking in a store that carries that much depth in the art and history.

This is definitely the spot to go for a casual hang out with your friends where you can enjoy Shisha food and board games. Open until 3am most nights and until 5am on weekends this is the perfect place to end up after going out for dinner to the movies etc. I think of this place as somewhere nice and chill and if I lived in LA I imagine i’d become a regular here. Shisha (Ghelyoun) is a big part of Persian culture. In Iran, my family always would have the Ghelyoun going after lunch or dinner over a cup of tea and snacks. It’s not about smoking, it's more the fact it brings everyone together.

I went to Cafe Glace with my cousin and my friends for the first time in 2019 when we were in LA to shoot music videos. Everyone is so lovely here and the food is amazing. I’ve had their gourmet Pizzas and sandwiches. Don’t forget to order some Chai (tea) after your meal. In Persian culture, we drink tea a lot. First thing in the morning, before and after meals tea is something that is always being made and poured into your glass. We also believe that tea is great for the stomach after meals to help with digestion.

If you’re looking for some quality hair products including amazing hair extensions and wigs then look no further, my uncle's store Santee beauty in Downtown LA. I love visiting my family when I'm in LA and my uncle has had so much success at his store in downtown where many celebrities go to get their hair  products from.

Explore Los Angeles' Persian Spots with CHAII

Ysa Pérez

New York City 

More Williamsburg shit. Five Leaves is one of my FAVORITE restaurants, mmm truffle fries, good for dinner but sick for brunch. It's in a prime spot so can get busy

Cheap ass falafel right off the Bedford L stop, Oasis, Williamsburg staple, not the fanciest, but solid for price and just on the go when you tryna eat quick

Definitely check out The Lot. Opened a few summers ago in this abandoned lot no one was using. Now it's a place to chill outside grab drinks, think that weird park ting in Shoreditch, same vibes... there are DJs playing all day

All your vintage needs, this Japanese place plays tight ass music and has hella gear

Best Southern food + cheap, chill ass, dive, Williamsburg, hipster bar

Sweets! Milkshake that tastes exactly like cereal, next door to The Commodore

Ysa Pérez's Guide to NYC 

Carl Jan Cruz

Manila

It's a great 'one stop shop' experience that's composed by amazing galleries, stores, and restaurants: Toyo, Panaderya, Sidechick, Aphro, ArtinFormal, and Bellas Artes Projects to name a few

World's oldest China town. Amazing food and supply finds

For those chill times you only want 'one drink' 

Filipino multi brand Tropa Store and Hoodwink are here along with other contemporary int'l brands and outlets like Archives

Amazing block parties and an emerging community of creatives. Celine Mallari and Jao San Pedro's works are to be seen here too

No exaggeration - the best caramel cake in town

Carl Jan Cruz' Best Spots in Manila

Kevin David

São Paulo

Bar da Bete is the best place to warm up before heading to your favorite party.


If you are in the centre, you must go for a beer with a group of 20 friends.

If you are an LGBTQIAP+ person you have an obligation to live in the zig. a gay nightclub in the basement with pop music, darkroom and gay cruising.

Imagine a funk party in Brazil? now imagine an LGBTQIA+ funk party in brazil, where the G, the T and the L dominate everything. That's it, just living to see.


If you are looking for a more cozy place, where you can spend the afternoon with friends and still listen to some music, then lote sp is the place.

As a fan and lover of Hip-Hop culture, I find everything here, ribbed tank tops, jewellery, sneakers, t-shirt prints - the rock gallery is a good option for those who want to spend their evening lookinging and don't have time to adventure so much, as there are several floors with wonderful curatorship. 

I cut my hair for 15 years in the same place with your rodriguez. If you're looking for a ruler cut, this is the place.

My favorite food in São Paulo is here: a dish made of pot roast and carrot cake dessert is what I eat the most.


This is where I find all my fashion and culture magazines.

The Creative Underbelly of Sao Paulo with Kevin David

Bully Mag 

Toronto

Independent fashion store that carries a tightly-edited selection of clothing brands (such as Telfar, Barragán, and Vaquera) and premium and obscure fashion print publications. A real day one BULLY supporter (and stockist).

Both an in-house brand and textile gallery shop, 100% Silk curates emerging *slow fashion* designers from around the world. They also work with local artists like GUNNAR to bring their retail experience on another level – very conceptual.

Follow the lights up to the second-floor for this classic Chinatown karaoke bar. Think neon lights, pleated leather couches in private rooms, and considerably late drink service.

A Black-owned business conceptualized and operated by CHIEFF BOSOMPRA, who runs event collective UNDISPOSABLE, in collaboration with Canadian Top Chef Adrian Forte. We reco the Accra burger + fries combo, an ode to Chieff’s hometown in Ghana.

Authentic Japanese homestyle vibes here – soft lights and natural wood tones help you get cozy until you realize you’ve been there for hours. Ask about their secret vinyl room downstairs where they play rare groove and Japanese city pop.

Black-owned business. The wife-and-husband duo fuse Jamaican and Italian cuisine together in a cozy spot in the heart of our eclectic Kensington Market. Local community vibes – look for the spot with the lineup and a grill out front.

Tucked inside P.A.T., a local grocery store in the heart of Koreatown, this cash-only stall gets lineups of people deliberating on whether they should get sweet custard or red bean-filled homemade waffles shaped like lil fishies.

Go here for contemporary menswear like Our Legacy, Eckhaus Latta, BODE, and Margaret Howell. The Toronto space has a showroom vibe that showcases the Neighbour world really well, which also includes a variety of household items and found objects alongside print publications from the likes of IDEA.

Hanlan’s Point is an inclusive space and a short ferry ride away to escape the city. Clothing optional :)

Canada's oldest boxing gym. Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Lennox Lewis have stepped into Sully's to train. Coach Tony is a Black trainer and former heavyweight champ – he might even drop some boxing history if you're nice. Iconic.

Authentic vintage clothing experience here – no curated boutique showroom or displays. There are some real deadstock finds if you dig deep enough in some of the mountains of clothes. Also good for military surplus goods, costume and props, and a lil role play.

Niche rental store for obscure cinema on vhs and dvd. There are some titles you just can’t find online that they carry, ranging from B-movie blaxploitation to Takashi Miike deep cuts. They also have a small screening room in the back for rent if you ever thought of setting up a private screening dedicated to Hype Williams or whoever.

Indo-Caribbean family-owned business. This lil everyday convenience store has a very small, unassuming room in the back that sells a bunch of different santería love charms and all the Yoruban orisha candles to help you find love, give you strength and protect you from enemies. This is a Parkdale gem tbh - if you know you know.

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