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The Insider’s Guide to Tel Aviv

Located on the edge of the Mediterranean, Tel Aviv is a haven of buttery beaches and vibrant culture. The Israeli city — nicknamed “the White City” for the surplus of white, 1930s Bauhaus-style buildings that decorate the streets — boasts a unique combination of old and new: thousands of years of history set within a young, modern, cosmopolitan atmosphere. A place you sip black coffee on a storied palm tree-lined boulevard, explore an ancient port and discover a pop-up boutique tucked around the corner of the crumbly walls, stumble across a feminist art exhibition held in a restored Ottoman-era building. Elderly men play backgammon and smoke cigarettes in open-air markets while the latest, hippest restaurant bustles feverishly in the space next door. As such, it’s really no surprise that the city is such a fertile breeding ground for all kinds of creatives, from chefs and architects to musicians, artists and designers. This juxtaposition supplies Tel Aviv — at once a beach town, a thriving arts hub, an inclusive space for both tradition and boundary-pushing ideas — with a spirited energy that fuels the need to discover and rediscover it time and time again.

With that in mind, we asked a couple of our closest local pals to give us the low down on all of their go-to places to eat, beach and sightsee in the colorful, vivacious place they call home.

WHERE TO EAT

“Oasis on Montefiori St,” says Gittit Szwarc, designer behind the multidisciplinary studio Knobbly. “It’s the vision of a mad and inspired chef, Rima Olvera. I’m a food culture skeptic in general — I eat to get through my day, usually while reading/talking/texting. I remember being a little upset the first time I ate at Oasis because I couldn’t ignore the food I was eating the way I’m used to doing. I had to stop and experience it. And the place is designed to support it, dark and minimal with weird murals in the patio from local artist Klone. It’s a place to go to experience food as art.”

The charming Montefiori St is home to another excellent restaurant, this one at a boutique hotel. “Hotel Montefiori is a great option if you’re more into French-inspired classics, and is the place for an over the top breakfast/brunch,” adds Hila Chemony of Vender.

For the best hummus — a classic staple of the Israeli diet — in town, both Gittit and Hila recommend Abu Hassan in Jaffa. “Get the “Hummus Masabakha” (hummus with chickpeas cooked for 8 hours) with a brown egg,” Gittit says. “It’s only open until 4PM, the good stuff usually runs out by 2, it’s super crowded and noisy with communal seating, and you’ll be in and out in 15 minutes — the original hummus experience.” Check out Garger Hazahav (which means “the Golden Chickpea” in Hebrew) in the funky Florentin neighbourhood, too. “They have amazing hummus, delicious sides and a cool casual vibe,” describes Hila.

Oasis, Montefiore St 17

Hotel Montefiori, Montefiori St 36

Abu Hassan, Ha-Dolfin St 1

Garger Hazahav, Levinsky 30

Bait Thailandi, Bograshov St 8

WHERE TO DRINK

Unequivocally, the Teder. “It’s located in a courtyard surrounded by a complex with mainly artist and designer studios and there’s always some unoccupied room or corridor being taken over by an exhibition, pop up shop or music label, as well as live shows in the main area,” Gittit says. “You can find a quiet spot to sit with friends or take your drink and walk around to see what’s happening.”

The four-level complex itself is called Beit Romano and, along with the Teder, Hila suggests exploring the whole place. “The Romano restaurant on the second level is a great spot for dinner and drinks.”

The Teder, Beit Romano, Derech Jaffa 9

Romano, Beit Romano, Derech Jaffa 9

WHERE TO PEOPLE WATCH

One of the most wonderful things about Tel Aviv is its diversity. And the Great Synagogue, built in the 1920s and located on Allenby St, is a great spot to go at night to people watch, Hila says. Have a drink at Port Sa’id just across the street and settle in for the evening.

“Casino San Remo in the Noga District in Jaffa — a cafe by day and bar by night,” Gittit adds. “It’s casual but not too small, so there’s a wide range of people of all ages and walks of life who feel at home there in different hours of the day.”

Great Synagogue, Allenby St 110

Port Sa’id, Har Sinai St 5

Casino San Remo, Nehama St 2

WHERE TO BEACH

The White City’s coastline, with gorgeous yellow sand beaches looking out at jewel blue water, is hard to beat. “Beit Haetzel beach right on the edge of Tel Aviv and the beginning of Jaffa is simply beautiful,” Hila says. “If you’re into surfing (or surfers) you should head to Hilton beach, and don’t miss the Independence Garden right above it.”

Gittit recommends the laid back Ajami beach, just south of Old Jaffa.

Photos by Yasmine Shemesh (left) and Roni Cnaani (right)

WHERE TO SHOP

The best shopping district? “The Noga District!” Gittit says. “It’s where my studio is located. Most of the designers’ spaces there function foremost as studios and second as shops, which means you’ll usually be talking to the designer herself when you enter. You can find some conceptual-yet-wearable stuff at Magpie Goose (with whom I share studio space), HOKO, Juliett and Naomi Maaravi, strong clean basics at KAV, and you’ll be breathing sea air the whole time.”

For an eclectic experience, Hila suggests wandering the flea market in Jaffa — the Shuk HaPishpushim. “It is a fun way to spend half a day between the independent designer shops, galleries, cafes and a great place to find flea market finds.”

Noga District, in between Tel Aviv and Jaffa

Flea Market, Jaffa

WHERE TO SIGHTSEE

“Try and find a nice bike (or rent one of the city’s) and spend a day going from the Jaffa flea market and up Rothschild Blvd,” Gittit says. “I feel like cycling is the best way to feel the city.” Another superb way to take in Tel Aviv’s culture is going to watch local bands perform. “There’s some really amazing stuff happening here this year,” Gittit adds. “Girl punk duo Deaf Chonky, glam rock band the White Screen, political punk from Antigona Rex, lots of interesting electronic and stoner rock stuff!”

“Tel Aviv’s historical neighborhoods are absolutely gorgeous,” Hila says. “Neve Tzedek or Old Jaffa are a must, and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art (and the new wing especially) has great exhibitions throughout the year.”

Rothschild Boulevard

Neve Tzedek, southwestern Tel Aviv

Old Jaffa, Jaffa

ONE MORE THING YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST DO

For Gittit, when anyone visits Israel, they must take a trip out to the Dead Sea. It’s a two-hour drive, but so worth it. “It’s such a surreal and intense place unlike anything else on Earth,” she says. Staying strictly in Tel Aviv, though? Find an Airbnb in North Jaffa and make it your home base. “Tel Aviv can be really intense and Jaffa is the more laid back and arty part of the city, so that’s where I tend to spend more time.”

And, before you go, a coast-to-coast walk along the beachfront is essential. “Starting up north at Reding, going all the way through Tel Aviv Port, the boardwalk and into Jaffa’s Old Port and Old City,” says Hila. “Tel Aviv’s beach is always an option, no matter the season, time or mood.”

by Yasmine Shemesh

The Insider’s Guide to Vancouver

It may come as a surprise that Vancouver, British Columbia has been ranked by travel experts as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, alongside knockouts like Sydney, Kyoto, and Rome. But with an unrivaled setting of endless mountains and copious amounts of swimmable waters — from the Pacific ocean to local lakes and rivers — it takes the cake as the most stunning, calming metropolitan area we know. Vancouver’s accessibility to nature lets you start your day in the mountains, head to the beach for the afternoon, and end in the heart of a bustling downtown. Not to mention, the air is seriously fresh anywhere you go — like, smell the glacier waters and pine trees fresh. Plus, it also happens to be the home to Garmentory’s Canadian HQ.

As a tourist hotspot, you can no doubt find 100 city guides on Vancouver, but we’ve got one unlike any other thanks to our community of local creatives. (Shop the boutiques and designers right here on Garmentory!). Scroll on to discover the best places to eat, drink, and people watch straight from the city’s boutique owners, designers, and style influencers.

WHERE TO EAT

“Ask For Luigi is one of my favourite restaurants in the city,” says Kleah Graham, co-owner of boutique Charlie & Lee. “Honest, simple, high-quality Italian food in a charming little building,” she explains.“My top list is about 30 restaurants long, though, and I can never decide on an absolute number one! [There’s] an abundance of excellent food in this city.”

Saager Dilawri and Karyna Schultz, owners of Neighbour, a boutique in the historic neighborhood Gastown, also can’t just pick one favorite restaurant. “Too many to name,” says Saager, “but for starters: Ask for Luigi, Savio Volpe, Bao Bei, Carp, The Birds and The Beets and Pazzo Chow.”

Designer Sunja Link and Stephanie Gorrell, owner of Umeboshi also declared their love for Ask for Luigi.

Ask For Luigi, 305 Alexander Street

Savio Volpe, 615 Kingsway

Bao Bei, 163 Keefer Street

Carp, 2516 Prince Edward Street

The Birds and The Beets, 55 Powell Street

Pazzo Chow, 620 Quebec Street

For brunch, designer Erin Templeton likes Alibi Room, a beautiful restaurant in a historic building with over 50 taps of local and imported craft beer, plus delicious, local food. Michaela Smeaton, the designer behind Folk Fortune suggests Teahouse in Stanley Park for brunch.“I’m a vegetarian,” she says, “so I prefer places where I have more than a veggie burger to choose from. Heirloom, East is East, Flying Pig, Meet, and Pizzeria Farina all have good options.” Marie Foxall, the designer behind jewelry line Wasted Effort, offers even more veg-friendly options. “It is a really easy place to be vegan,” she says of Vancouver, “especially with restaurants like The Arbor. It’s like the low-key little sister of The Acorn (which is also amazing), and their deep-fried oyster mushrooms are the stuff of dreams.”

Alibi Room, 157 Alexander Street

Teahouse, 7501 Stanley Park Drive

Heirloom Vegetarian, 1509 W 12th Avenue

East is East, 4433 Main Street

The Flying Pig, 127 W 2nd Avenue

MeeT on Main, 4288 Main Street

Pizzeria Farina, 915 Main Street

The Arbor, 3941 Main Street

The Acorn, 3995 Main Street

WHERE TO DRINK

“I love the bar at L’Abattoir,” says Sarah Savoy, who owns the Main Street boutique Much & Little. “Bao Bei never disappoints for a delicious, inventive cocktail,” she adds. Amy Renee York and Noah MacNayr-Heath, the super cute couple behind boutique Nouvelle Nouvelle are emphatic about Boxcar. Located between a pizza shop and popular concert venue, it’s kind of the best place to grab a drink, see a show, then get some midnight ‘za.

Style influencer Kirstyn König has a favorite spot nice and close to her home. “My favourite little neighbourhood gem is Grapes and Soda,” she says, “a natural wine bar that also has an incredible cocktail and dinner menu. It’s a small, intimate space with a speakeasy vibe and is tucked away next door to another must-try restaurant, The Farmer’s Apprentice.”

“Best cocktail stumbling distance from my house is Nomad, with some of the best bartenders in Vancouver,” reveals Alex Chichak of Still Life boutique. “Otherwise, I’d spend every spare summer moment sipping a paloma at El Camino’s.”

Lauren Clark and Lyndsey Chow, the ladies behind vintage clothing and lifestyle boutique Hey Jude, have a very special place to drink. “We’re probably biased but on Fridays we’ll hang and have happy hour at our shop (all are welcome!).” They also suggest, “for a favourite local spot we head to 33 Acres for craft beer and cider. If you’re lucky you’ll hit a night with live music.”

L’Abattoir, 217 Carrall Street

Boxcar, 923 Main Street

Grapes and Soda, 1541 W 6th Avenue

The Farmer’s Apprentice, 1535 W 6th Avenue

Nomad, 3950 Main Street

El Caminos, 3250 Main Street

33 Acres, 15 W 8th Avenue

WHERE TO PEOPLE WATCH

Daniel Caesar at The Biltmore by Nicole Wong

“Coffee shops are ideal places to people watch. I’m lucky to have great ones really close to both my house and my shop: Prado on Commercial Drive and Kafka’s on Main Street,” Sarah says. Amy and Noah like Revolver, a coffee shop in Gastown, for people watching. Grab a seat on one of the benches out front and scope out the local scene (then hit the new Nouvelle Nouvelle location, right around the corner).

Kirstyn heads to the outdoor patio at the Gallery Cafe. “It’s nestled away on the second level of the Vancouver Art Gallery, overlooking Robson Square,” she explains. “Grabbing a glass of wine and basking in the sun after perusing the gallery is one of my favourite weekend activities.” Vancouverite and travel blogger Nicole Wong loves to people watch when she goes to concerts (try the Biltmore to catch emerging acts). “It’s really interesting to check out the crowd and just observe the people who like the same music as I do,” she says.

Marie, of Wasted Effort, has great people watching in her workspace. “From the window of my studio on Columbia Street in Chinatown [I can see] a strange microcosm of humanity, incorporating every element of stereotypical Vancouver life… and it’s endlessly entertaining.”

Prado, 1938 Commercial Drive

Kafka’s Coffee and Tea, 2525 Main Street

Gallery Café, 750 Hornby Street

Biltmore Cabaret, 2755 Prince Edward Street

Revolver, 325 Cambie Street

If you can’t get yourself to Vancouver any time soon, don’t freight. We’ve got all the best boutiques and designers right here on Garmentory. Shop the city’s finest from the comfort of your couch.

Get To Know Six Of Seattle’s Coolest Creatives

Between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington lies a city of distinct neighborhoods and urban districts that thrive with industrial, commercial and cultural activity around the clock. This bustling city is overflowing with creatives, makers, and explorers, and we want you to get to know six of our favorite. In the simplest terms, our Seattleite squad includes a photographer, restaurant owner, designer, toy collector, hair stylist, and vintage store owner. But, of course, they are all so much more. Get ready to meet some of the coolest creatives we know, find out why they love to call Seattle home, and get the lowdown on their expert city tips.

CHRISTINA HICKS, PHOTOGRAPHER

Art director and photographer Christina Hicks lives in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood with her boyfriend Ryan — also a multi-disciplinary creative — and their two year old rescue dog, Nori (a must-follow on Instagram). Hicks creates content in the fields of design, fashion, travel and technology with work that is both commercially strategic as well as artful.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN SEATTLE? I love the freedom of living in a growing city with so many amenities, yet being within a short drive of so many beautiful natural environments: the Pacific ocean, the Puget Sound, two major mountain ranges, an archipelago of islands, national parks, forests, and deserts, to name a few.

WHAT’S THE CREATIVITY COMMUNITY LIKE? The creative community here is definitely close knit — I think Seattle’s geographic location up in the corner of the country contributes to a sense of pragmatism and camaraderie.

I love that there’s an undercurrent of go-getters that gravitate towards one another, encouraging and supporting each other as both friends and creative colleagues. And with the more recent tech boom, I feel as though the creative community is coming together even more strongly as a means of survival in a quickly changing city that could easily displace artists and small businesses.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLACE IN SEATTLE TO PHOTOGRAPH? I love the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island- it’s an inspiring place to walk and clear your head, and the impeccably kept grounds offer an endlessly changing backdrop of colors and textures.

Follow @xt_marie

MICHELE TANSEY, HOME GOODS STORE OWNER

Michele Tansey co-owns a vintage rug and furniture shop called Homestead Seattle as well as Plant Shop Seattle (you can imagine what they sell) with her partner Ryan. In their spare time, the couple has been renovating and restoring their 1903 house over the course of seven years. They run an Airbnb out of the home, and it is one of the most beautiful places to stay when in the city.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN SEATTLE? I’m from Washington state but grew up in the midwest, and I always felt like I just needed to get back to Seattle. It’s beautiful here even when it’s cold and rainy because it stays so lush and green. If the green can carry you through the sunless winter, the summer here is just perfect (and practically mosquito free). We live about a mile from downtown and can walk to a beach or forest just as easily as a museum or restaurant. But my favorite thing about living in Seattle right now is watching it grow, so much so fast. Even though some of the growth is problematic I’m still proud as hell of our city, continuing to evolve and make a bigger name for itself in the world. Like me, it seems to be right in the middle of its story and I’m interested to watch how it plays out for both of us.

WHAT’S VINTAGE/ANTIQUE SHOPPING LIKE IN SEATTLE? It’s good and bad. Compared to somewhere like Portland, we have fewer cute, small vintage furniture shops, but we have more large antique malls, especially if you’re willing to drive an hours. I’d consider Pacific Galleries to be the gold standard of antique malls in Seattle. We also have some really great collectors that you can easily find selling on Craigslist. If you’re not scared of a bit of elbow grease, our friends over at Seattle Furniture Co have a 7000+ sq ft basement filled with furniture to hunt through.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PIECE YOU’VE EVER FOUND AND DID YOU KEEP IT? Pretty much anything that’s made the cut to stay in our house at this point falls into the category “favorite.” We only have so much space, and in order for something to stay something else has to move on. If I was forced to pick one thing right now that I own I think it would be a large Persian Gabbeh carpet that I have hiding under a stack of other beautiful hoarded rugs in my basement (this stack is the one thing I allow to grow). As for furniture, in the shop right now we have a pair of lucite Pace Argenta Chairs and a set of Mario Botta Quinta Chairs. If I could, I would hoard those forever, too!! Definitely going to cry when those lucite chairs leave the shop.

Follow @micheletansey

BOBBIE YANOUPETH, HAIR STYLIST

After living in New York for the past 10 years, Bobbie Yanoupeth has moved back to his hometown of Seattle. In 2015, he and his business partner Michael Sing teamed up to open BAHTOH, a bridal boutique that does everything from floral arrangements to decor to hair styling. Bobbie is a professional (and seriously amazing) hair stylist who has worked with Lady Gaga, numerous fashion houses, and whose work has been featured in Vogue, Brides, Nylon, and more.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN SEATTLE? Seattle has just as much to offer as any other big city. It has great food, cute little shops, dope art, so many cool neighborhoods, diversity and who doesn’t love driving along the freeway and seeing all the lush greens and Mt. Rainier in the distance!?! Even with all this growth and great culture, Seattle still has a small town feel. Since opening our shop, so many people have reached out to us and are so excited to support us. There is a sense of community here that a lot of big cities lack.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER YOUR LOVE FOR HAIR STYLING? I was eight and we were living in Holland, MI. My parents were refugees from Laos and could barely speak English. So my mother decided that in order for her to keep up with the hair trends, she was going to teach me. She pulled the dining chair up to the kitchen counter and taught me how to perm her hair. Which then led to French braids, French twist and other updos. I became obsessed and started playing with everyone’s hair. I would get in trouble in class cause I was braiding hair during work period.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WEDDING VENUE IN SEATTLE? I’ve really been into intimate weddings. We did a wedding at Zoe Events recently. It feels like a little secret garden in the middle of the city. I can’t wait for the day that a couple give us total freedom to do whatever in that space. I want to recreate that moment in The Great Gatsby movie when he meets up with Daisy at her cousin’s house. He had the whole place decked out with tons of flowers, sweet treats and cakes. SOOOOO DREAMY!!!

Follow @sachoon

LINDA DERSCHANG, RESTAURATEUR

Linda Derschang is the founder and CEO of The Derschang Group, which owns and operates six neighborhood cafes, bars, and restaurants in Seattle. With so much success, Linda has rightfully earned the title “Queen of Capitol Hill.” Her signature aesthetic –– rustic, Scandinavian-inspired, vintage–– can be found in each space, big or small.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN SEATTLE? I love the Seattle summers. After nine months of grey, it is such a treat to spend so much time outside and on the water.

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED IN THE SEATTLE FOOD SCENE? Ever since moving to Seattle I have known people who are involved in food, art, and music. After opening Linda’s Tavern in 1994, it was just a natural progression to move into food.

TELL US WHERE YOUR IDEAL DAY OF EATING OUT WOULD BE FROM BREAKFAST TO DESSERT. My ideal eating out day would start with Vif in Fremont for breakfast. I love their smoked trout tartine. Then I would pop over to Juicebox in Capitol Hill for lunch. They have amazing juice and salads. Le Caviste is just a few blocks from my house downtown so I often head there for wine, bread, and cheese, or charcuterie in the evening. I would finish out the day at Stateside in Capitol Hill.

Follow @lindaderschang

ABRAHAM VU, BOUTIQUE TOY SHOP OWNER

Abraham Vu and his family moved to Seattle from Edmonton in the late ‘90s. He’s spent most of his career at tech companies including Microsoft and Amazon, until he recently quit the corporate world to pursue his dream of starting a boutique toy shop, curating collectible and designer toys under the moniker Made to Scale.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN SEATTLE? The diverse mix of culture, food, and the great outdoors. Seattle’s culture has been flourishing with the recent come up of tech companies and startups, leading to the increase of new food spots and developments in the city. I also love that you don’t have to drive very far to be surrounded by water, mountains, or the forests of the Pacific Northwest; what’s not to love!

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO COLLECTING TOYS? For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been into collecting toys at some point in my life. My passion started as a kid the day I received my very first Transformers toy from my parents as a birthday gift. Since then I’ve collected everything from He-Man and Ninja Turtles, to Marvel toys, to now the more art-centric collectibles. I’m a huge sneaker collector, too, and the designer vinyls go hand-in-hand with sneaker culture. I think what appeals to me the most about toys is seeing the progression of the hobby so deeply rooted in my childhood to now being fully engrained in my life and my appreciation for them as an art form. I have always viewed toys as the artistic process of starting from a 2D art drawing, manifesting into its 3D representation.

YOUR FAVORITE TOY RIGHT NOW AND WHY? My favorite toy right now is the 400% Jackson Pollock Be@rbrick, from the Japanese company Medicom Toy, a collaboration with the late American painter. What draws me to this piece is that it perfectly captures the essence of Jackson Pollock’s work and makes for a great display piece in any collection. Medicom Toy is definitely my favorite toy company because of their collaborations with high profile artists and brands such Andy Warhol, Kaws, Nike, A Bathing Ape, Daft Punk, just a name a few.

Follow @madetoscaleshop

NIN TRUONG, DESIGNER

Splitting his time between Seattle, California, and Japan, Nin Truong kind of does it all. He runs a small design studio and gallery called WKND with his partner Christa Thomas, which is home to serveral in-house projects: Maiden Noir, a men’s and womenswear line, Blk Pine Workshop, a lifestyle, accessories, and furniture collection, and a small neighborhood coffee shop called Café Weekend. Along with the design studio, he is the design director for Stussy and to top it off, he has recently started a new project called the Da Da Da Gallery. Located in Seattle’s little Nihonmachi/Japantown, it is a revolving creative and contemporary space for work that can transcend from multiple dimensions.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN SEATTLE? I really love the geography and setting in Seattle. It’s a major city but is tucked away between the water and the mountains. I’m always reminded about how much I love Seattle when I’m flying back home.

YOUR FAVORITE SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHY? My favorite or part of Seattle is the South End (Columbia City, Beacon Hill, and Seward Park). There’s a lot of diversity and food choices are pretty amazing. There are still little immigrant restaurants and shops sprinkled throughout. Seward Park is great for swimming and there’s a few good loops for trail running.

HOW WOULD DESCRIBE SEATTLE MEN’S STYLE? It’s a mixture between laid back outdoorsy and contemporary. There are remnants of the grunge era still around, that’s part of the laid back vibe. Filson is based out here, along with several other outdoor brands, so that has an influence. Then there’s a great design and art community in Seattle. It’s much more contemporary — almost Scandinavian or Japanese in sensibility.

Follow @maidennoir

Bonus: We have an unreal Seattle flash sale happening right now! Shop the city’s brightest boutiques and designers at up to 85% off, but only until August 30. And go >

The Fashion Girl’s Guide to Austin

They say everything is bigger in Texas, but in Austin, it’s the small-town feel that really sets this bustling city apart. A laid back place that celebrates community, encourages individuality and boasts gorgeous scenery to boot, it’s also a haven for creatives — that’s why we asked a few of our favorite locals to give us the lowdown on their hometown. Here, the top places to eat, drink, play and people watch.

WHERE TO EAT

“The list of places to eat and drink can go on and on in a town like this,” says Jill Bradshaw, owner of Friends & Neighbors. “There’s something amazing in every category of cuisine.” She recommends Launderette (above) for their fun atmosphere and diverse menu.

Launderette, 2115 Holly St

ARO boutique’s Leslie Hernandez agrees and adds Elizabeth Street Cafe to her list. “They both have incredible food, drinks and beautiful interiors.”

Elizabeth Street Cafe, 1501 S 1st St

For lunch, designer Miranda Bennett is all about the deli counter at Wheatsville, a grocer that sells thoughtfully sourced products. If it’s a special occasion, she has a couple favorites — Justine’s, a French brasserie, or Josephine House (below), the more casual sister of fine dining restaurant Jefferey’s.

Josephine House — *Photo via @mmhaustin*

Wheatsville Food Co-op, 3101 Guadalupe St.; 4001 S. Lamar Blvd.

Justine’s, 4710 E 5th St

Josephine House, 1601 Waterston Ave

“It’s rare that a week passes without several trips to Taco Deli for tacos,” admits Olive boutique owner Laura Uhlir, adding that she swears there’s not a bad one on the menu. She’s also been really into Unit-D (below) for Neapolitan pizza lately. “It doesn’t hurt that it’s a few blocks from my house too.”

Tacodeli, various locations

Unit-D, 2406 Manor Road

“You can spot us having a breakfast or lunch meeting at Café No Sé — a fresh and delicious restaurant in the new South Congress Hotel,” adds Stephanie Beard, designer of Esby Apparel. “We also love a great bottle of wine, house made mozzarella and handcrafted neapolitan pies at Bufalina for dinner.”

Café No Sé, 1603 S Congress Ave

Bufalina, 519 E Cesar Chavez St #200

WHERE TO DRINK

Weather Up 2 — *Photo via @miachelphotography*

“For drinks, sitting outside with pizza and a glass of wine at King Bee,” Miranda says, referring to the vintage detailed pub. Both Stephanie and Laura name Weather Up (above), an offshoot of the NYC bar, as one of their go-to’s — Jill agrees and adds drink.well., a gastropub known for its innovative drink menu, to her list. “Both make excellent cocktails and they change them up all the time,” she says.

King Bee, 1906 E 12th St

Weather Up, 1808 E Cesar Chavez St

drink.well., 207 E 53rd St

Laura doesn’t need to go very far for a nightcap, though. She also recommends her “favorite dive bar across the street from the shop, Longbranch Inn, for cocktails.”

Longbranch Inn (above), 1133 E 11th St

“For drinks, I hit up San Jose Hotel and hang out at the pool area,” Leslie says. “It’s relaxing and I love that it’s hidden from the busy street of shoppers and feels like you’re walking into a secret garden with a pool.”

Hotel San Jose (below), 1316 S Congress Ave

WHERE TO WATCH LIVE MUSIC

Austin is nicknamed the “Live Music Capital of the World” for a reason and, as such, there are more than plenty of places to catch a show.

“The Gallery, which is above the Continental Club, is one of my favorite spots because it feels like you’re sitting in your cool friend’s living room,” Leslie says. “Hotel Las Vegas is good too for emerging artists, we recently saw a Brazilian band with our friends, the venue is a mix of indoor and outside.”

The Continental Club (above), 1315 S Congress Ave

Hotel Vegas, 1502 E 6th St

“On a nice night, I love going to Cheer Up Charlie’s or Mohawk to see a band because they have shows outside,” Jill says. Laura agrees completely. At either of those Red River spots, “You’re bound to catch something good.”

Cheer Up Charlie’s, 900 Red River St

The Mohawk, 912 Red River St

“It’s also fun to take your chances on winning tickets to a live taping at ACL Live,” Stephanie adds. “They announce their upcoming shows here and you might be lucky enough to snag a pair of free tickets if you enter the drawing.”

ACL Live at The Moody Theater, 310 W. 2nd Street, Willie Nelson Blvd.

As for Miranda, her jam is Sahara Lounge (above), which has a Texas juke bar vibe with an African twist. “Bring your dancing shoes.”

Sahara Lounge, 1413 Webberville Rd

BEST WAY TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS

It’s a general consensus: when in Austin, go to the water. “No matter where you are, as long as you are in or near water you’re having the best day ever,” Jill says. “There are so many places to explore, there’s no way you can know all of them even after living here 10+ years. Explore Texas, get in some water.”

“Swim. Swim. Swim,” Laura insists. “Texas summers are rough. When I’m not at the shop I’m most likely in a pool or hunting down a swimming hole.”

Miranda continues, “There are a ton of options, but I like to keep it simple with Barton Springs and/or the boardwalk on Lady Bird Lake.”

Barton Spring s Pool (above), 2201 Barton Springs Rd

Lady Bird Lake, Sandra Muraida Way and W. Cesar Chavez St.

Stephanie also recommends Barton Springs (“where the water is always a cool 68-degrees,”) along with the Greenbelt for shaded trails and refreshing swimming holes. “If natural bodies of water isn’t your thing,” she continues, “head over [to] the Deep Eddy Pool — a man-made pool that happens to be the oldest swimming pool in Texas.”

The Greenbelt, 3755-B Capital of Texas Hwy.

Deep Eddy Pool (above), 401 Deep Eddy Drive

“Sometimes just sitting outside on the patio at one of my favorite spots and having a drink with friends and family is the best way for me to enjoy the outdoors,” Leslie says. “It’s nice in the evening because it’s not so hot and Austin has so many unique places to go… It’s kind of our thing to go try new patio spots all over the city.”

WHAT TO WEAR

Screen Shot 2016-08-11 at 11.44.12 AM — *Photo via @jessicapages for Esby Apparel*

“As Austin itself changes, I think it’s style changes as well,” Jill says. “Austin remains a very casual town, not putting a lot of emphasis on dressing up, but that’s slowly changing. People are embracing their own unique styles. As a shop owner who sells a lot of vintage clothing, I carry a pretty wide variety of styles from bohemian to modern, casual to dressy and there’s a customer here for all of it. Everyone has a different style here and that’s part of why it’s so great.”

Miranda agrees, describing the city’s style as “laid back and personal.”

“Austin is growing fast, there [are] tons of people moving in from New York, California and from all over but I think this makes Austin an eclectic city when it comes to style,” Leslie says.

“Austin style is pretty casual but the main rule here is anything goes,” Stephanie continues. “Because of the hot hot summers, we stay relaxed and cool in flowing dresses and comfortable slides. We love to accessorize with fun sunglasses and summer hats.”

And, of course, “Denim is always appropriate,” Laura adds.

HOW TO HAVE A PERFECT DAY IN AUSTIN

According to Miranda, a perfect Austin day starts off with a bit of nature and ends on Congress Avenue at a music venue. “Walking my dog along Boggy Creek, meeting up for a swim at the Springs, frozen rosé in the courtyard of Hotel San Jose, dinner at Café No Sé and music and a night cap at the Continental Club,” she says.

Stephanie also recommends frozen rosé (“frozé”) at Hotel San Jose (above), after spending time outside and tucking into some tacos. “Once awake, if it’s still cool outside, a stroll around the boardwalk with the dogs is ideal,” she says. “Afterwards, we love to grab a couple of breakfast tacos and an iced latte at one of the many local coffee shops. Afterwards, suit up and find some water.”

For Laura, it’s a no brainer. “Sleep in, the one-two punch that is coffee-tacos at Houndstooth and Tacodeli (brilliantly right next door to one another), pack up a picnic, head out to the Greenbelt or another swimming spot, spend the afternoon in the sun, grab a juice on the way home from JuiceLand, rinse off, drinks – while my hair’s still wet – somewhere with a great patio, gorge myself on sushi at Uchiko, wrap it up with a late movie at the Alamo and a salted caramel milkshake.”

Houndstooth Coffee, various locations

JuiceLand, various locations

Uchiko, 4200 North Lamar

Alamo, various locations

Jill also cites Uchiko as an essential place to stuff your face, alongside homestyle eatery Mi Madre’s and Philly-style sandwich and soda joint, the Republic of Sandwich. First, though, “Sleep in,” and then “get brunch at Mi Madre’s, grab a sandwich to go from The Republic of Sandwich, drive to Krause Springs, hit up some antique stores on the way back, grab a happy hour cocktail (this town is filled with insane happy hour deals), then finish it off with a gourmet meal at Uchiko. Perfection.”

Mi Madres, 2201 Manor Rd

The Republic of Sandwich, 2320 Hancock Dr

Krouse Springs, 404 Krause Spring Rd

“I’ve been antique and vintage shopping in Austin for years, when I lived in the East Coast, I could never miss hitting up my favorite stores when I came back into town,” Leslie says. “Finding some hidden gems and meeting friends for drinks would be the perfect ending to my day in Austin.”

Summer Soundtrack: City Escape

It’s travel month! So we’re swapping moodboards for playlists to inspire your next getaway.

Sometimes, you’ve gotta let it all go and get lost in the bright lights of the big city. And there’s nothing more fun than getting dressed up for a hot night on the town — trying on a million outfits, swiping some color across your lips and then wandering the streets to get to whatever restaurant or show you’re just late enough not to be really late for. This little track list will add an extra finesse in your Rachel Comey-clad step, as it takes you from the cab to the hotel closet and straight to the dance floor.

Photo by Daniela Spector for our feature with Brooklyn babe Jessi Frederick.

What To Pack: City Escape

We get it. You’ve been at that grind all week, hunched over in front of your computer, overly caffeinated (is five a day too much?) and about ready to lose it on the next poor soul who crosses your path the wrong way. Our advice? Get out. Take a precious few days, or just a weekend, and run away to the bright lights of an inspiring city. Get all dressed up, go eat at a fancy restaurant, go see a show and bask in the excitement of it all. But what to wear? Something effortless that’ll make you look good without having to think too much about it, of course. And don’t worry — since we’re talking about giving your brain a break here, we’ve already packed for you and picked pieces that are comfortable enough to gallivant around town in, but still maintain the sophisticated edge that we know you love.

Woman We Love: Anna Gray

From her travel diaries and interviews with cool girls, to her effortless style and penchant for expensive things, there’s a lot we love about New Yorker Anna Gray. When we learned that she loved us right back, we obviously had to get to know more about this woman we love. Check out our interview as she shares all the things she loves and words of wisdom on how to keep your style cool in the heat of summer in the city. Plus, she shows us how its done by styling her own Garmentory wish list featuring pieces from other people we love like Nikki Chasin, Wray, Intentionally Blank, Luz Ortiz, RHOI, Nettie Kent and Vincetta. Read on, you’re gonna to love her too.