As most of you know my apple map guides are my bread & butter and if you don’t you’ll know soon enough. There was an instance they all erased and I truly felt like if I had a diary my diary was read or lost or even burned. Anyways I have places saved all over the world – restaurants, shops, hotels, streets to walk down to, remote islands, villas, even coordinates, and just about anything else I can save on my maps for the slight chance I will be visiting somewhere and need a place to see. It is a point of reference and to know I am either headed in the right direction, near reputable places, and also more to add to my billion-page list of places I must see. I may seem organized, but these guides tend to be a free for fall. There are concentrations each week which that find their way to me somehow. And, lucky for you all I’ll be giving you a taste in what each week my mind fancies each week.
So here is the first week in July for Keeps
Los Angeles, CA – I always realize even though I grew up here this is the least explored city of them all but slowly I am getting my street cred back for these recommendations
Awan – Vegan GF ice cream but not ice cream? My usual go to is Go Greek in LA but needing to try this one now
Descanso Gardens – A perfect date spot in the enchanted gardens (bonus if its during the holidays)
Lucia Los Angeles – Fancy shmancy Caribbean restaurant with fine martinis in Fairfax district
Lolo Wine Bar – The name just speaks wonders. Wine & East Hollywood
Montauk, NY
Gigis – Who knew Gurneys Montauk just opened up a restaurant?? Mix of fancy shmancy with seafood clean and I can’t wait to go
New York City, NY – this city just makes it too easy. Somehow places open on my street and I don’t even know till opening day!
Cervantes Oyster Bar – Speakeasy Oyster bar right behind Café Select…
Chambers – Tinx recently went here and said the service was impeccable and that the people were kind. I never find gems, at least new ones, in Tribeca so had to add to my list
Horse with no name – Now this has caught my eye. It is a wine bar on 5th street and 2nd ave which is my street. I walk down every day and have been consumed by the neon signs, classic bars, and grunge of east village which I call home. BUT one day I walk by a wine bar filled with silver hightops, vinyl records, and a place I would go out of my way to visit just down the street. The front door has a “no assholes, and no tik tok” sign which checks out because the only online presence of this place I could find was a permit document from 2024. Anyways it opened end of June and looks great
Papa d’Amour – New Greenwich Village bakery that has a scallion basil blossom pastery and has a James Beard award with
Rosemary Home – the sweetest store for all glassware, décor, and classy knick knacks in East Village
Ojai, CA – sweetest place ever
Hotel El Roblar – newly renovated / opened boutique hotel right in town. Perfect for a cute stay and easy visit to Ojai Valley Inn for a resort feel and nearby spots like Rorys Place or Ojai Rotie
San Diego, CA
Leu Leu Leucadia – Bohemian cuisine that just opened and by Chef Claudette that is tucked into Encinitas
Upstate, NY
The Six Bells Hotel – A Brooklyn home store now opened up a sweet inn with beautiful décor and decadent wallpaper… Within driving to Mohonk Mountain house, Inness, and Wildflower Farms which tells me its in the right area and will be part of my next trip upstate
Lisbon, Portugal
Bodega Chafa – Now this is Tacos, drinks, and a trendy atmosphere
Patife Lisboa – Pizzaaaaa and wine on a quaint street
Loire Valley, France
Les Sources de Chevrny – Loire valley hotel right next to Cheverny Chateau and nearby beautiful vineyards. An easy drive from Paris for a trip switch up
London, UK
Zephy Nottinghill – Greek deliciousness with a buzzyyy bar downstairs to end the evening
Milos, Greece
Kivotos ton Gefseon – Local pastery and bakery that has the locals lining up. Right in Pollonia and perfect to start the morning before a beach day
Palioremma – beach with abandoned mines right on the sand
Paris, France
Dreamin Man / The Broken Arm – coffeeeeee to shop and bop
La Veste – Made in Spain clothes by two cute women with great style
Le Pain Retrouve – bakery that has all goods rising through the window
Rojo – Tapas, tapas, tapas in le marais with a young ambiance
Umbria, France
Reschio, Umbria – converted castle into a newfound estate. They have a beautiful home Bell’ Aria to rent for a family with a private pool, butler, etc…
Sardinia, Italy
Agriturismo La Colti – a quaint farmhouse restaurant/hotel/ in the Sardinia countryside with a farm and cooking classes with chef onsite
Ta ta! All in a weeks work by Coco B.