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

Abornmal Sleepz

Manchester

This is where the studio is, however from time to time they have art exhibitions and stuff. Besides me there's a community of studios and musicians/bands. If you're into music don't be a stranger!

Right in the heart of where I've grown up. Beautiful park that's been renovated. Great day out when the weather's nice. Manchester Carnival takes place here in Summer time too

You will find everything here from bars, nights out, quirky restaurants and vintage shops. It's worth exploring on a visit to Manchester.

This is a really cool club spot open in the day. Perfect balance of a good night out. Whether you're smart casual or all out dressed up all are welcome. They have ping pong tables and beer pong. I DJ here sometimes and is the main place I go out to.

When I was growing up I loved the arcades here. You can do shopping here as an alternative to Town/Arndale centre. If you got kids or are a kid take them to the arcade in the food court.

Go for a chicken split - it wont taste the same anywhere else you go I guarantee!

This is a legendary food spot. You'll find your favourite artists here at crazy hours of the morning. This is on the curry mile and a must go

Abnormal Sleepz' Best Spots in Manchester

Kida Kudz

Lagos

I love the ambience here, it’s literally full of culture and the hospitality is like none other. If you’re looking for Palmwine, Terra Kulture is the spot!

I love the view of the ocean. I come here often to take a walk on the beach side and clear my head. It helps me meditate. 
The food at "TRUTH", one of the spots at Landmark beach is also amazing. If you go there you have to get the platter, you get so many tasty options and can choose between the seafood or the beef platter.

They serve the best Nigerian dishes here, it’s like a home away from home. I especially love their starters… ALL OF THEM! I would definitely recommend the Ram Roll and Puff Puff - it’s not a meal that you get everywhere. 

Come for the cocktails… stay for more! My favourite is the Fruit Punch (mocktail), I have it every time. The Okoloko is also a Top Memba on their menu for sure!
They play great music and have a playlist which you can listen to when you want to experience those vibes from home.

My favourite thing about New Afrika Shrine is the heritage and culture, it’s everywhere from the music, the locals and the roadside meals - it’s simply inspiring, a real taste of Nigeria.

Explore Lagos with Kida Kudz

Area Noir & Tope Ajayi

Ibadan

Ibadan's Best Creative Spots with Area Noir & Tope Ajayi

Sita Abellan

Murcia

Every room of this place feels like it kind of hides a story, like if you were going back in time. It’s a very special place in Murcia.

When I visit Murcia I always make sure I pass by this place. I love coming here especially on Sunday mornings and watching the view of the city in nature. It’s a very relaxing place.

There is no other place more beautiful than The Cathedral for me. It’s style combines gothic with barroco. It’s a must see.

The best ensaladilla rusa in Murcia!! Marineras is one of my favourite “aperitivo” dishes. Simple and so tastyyyy with a glass of wine.

And because I enjoy eating and I do it well, one of my favourite places in Murcia to eat. They have many typical Murcia dishes.

This heavy metal bar was part of my teenage years in Murcia. I spent so many afternoons, nights and even days in this place. Just listening from punk to heavy. This place was kind of significant for me when I was younger since I got so many references from it.

Discover Murcia with Sita Abellan

Tainá Vilela

Rio de Janeiro

I would mostly be skeptical about eating two of the most famous Brazilian delicacies together: pao de queijo and acai, but please order both if you go to this place

Every Monday there’s live samba music at Pedra do Sal. The place was originally a Quilombo village, which held houses of freed slaves. Famous Brazilian musicians have played there. Arrive at around 6pm!

Most guides will feature Lenny and Osklen but the best kept secret of cool carioca girls is Haight, a modern minimalist swimwear brand. They also make jumpers and baggy trousers that are everything

Ana Porto does some of the nicest pieces of jewellery in Brazil. They're all handcrafted with local stones and have a modern feel. You can visit her atelier which is right by Haight

If colour blocking is your thing, Wymann is the brand for you. Founded by ex-model Raquel, the brand plays with folds and colours. Ask them how the colours are produced!

If going to bohemian Santa Teresa, grab a roast sandwich or an aubergine pizza if you're veggie. I’d also recommend the batida de coco. The owner's a bit serious, but you can always try get her to crack a smile. Take cash cause they don’t accept cards!

This house belongs to the Moreira Salles family (bankers, cinematographers and publishers). It’s a classic example of great 50s architectural work. It now serves as a cultural centre dedicated mostly to photography, music, literature and iconography exhibits and events

An old chocolate factory that now holds space for artists ateliers, rising fashion brands (check out the accessories of Atelier Tarsila and say hello to Cla, the owner) and a very charming bookshop (Felipe, the owner, is always there and can help you with art and Sufism books, but also pro food tips). Every first Saturday of the month people flock there to shop, drink and see the sunset. Def go to the rooftop for some live music and a cold beer

Tainá Vilela in Rio de Janeiro

PRIM

London

Our personal favourite obviously, boasting work not just from your favourites but across art, sports and most importantly culture. In creating our pop-up libraries and this bookshop, it's a snapshot into what a permanent PRIM bookshop could look and feel like. We want it to be an immersive space, giving room for queer and Black artists to discover, explore and showcase whilst also fusing literature with cultural activities from across artistic disciplines and inviting everyone to explore and discover with us.

New Beacon is literally the beacon, one of the most renowned bookstores in London to really help us dig into fiction and non-fiction by Black authors. They are the blueprint for PRIM, and have been serving the community for decades.


We love Round Table Books because it provides the fun environment we all needed as children and young adults. A place where we can look around at all the books and see ourselves. A great place to take your young ones.


Healthy remedies in abundance, this is a special store. Pempasie provides us with natural products for hair and body, culture, remedies, African art and reading materials we'll need to begin or maintain a holistic lifestyle. This is a special store that I've personally felt really excited by.

Crowned Independent Bookshop of the Year 2021, this bookstore has been around since 1948. With regular book clubs, authors events and a dedicated children's shop, it's another one that has truly been serving the community for a very long time.

A space not just for books but for learning history in a variety of mediums. Black Cultural Archives is so important because it is one of few heritage sites we have in London and in the UK overall. A visit here will leave you with more than books to talk about.

A queer-Black-woman-owned project inspired by resistance, imagination and care. We've always loved and been inspired by this project. Whilst they do not have a physical shop, much like us, they are often taking up spaces, as they did recently with their EcoFeminist Summit.

Based in Oxfordshire, African Books Collective is an African-owned, worldwide marketing and distribution outlet for books from Africa – scholarly literature and children's books. Love the ethos here, which brings works we couldn't readily get here directly to us. An incredibly needed service.

8 Black-Owned Bookstores in London with PRIM

A long time fav spot for yard (Jamaican) food. You might not think its proper because unlike a lot of other yardie food shops, they often do have what you want and serve it with no bad attitude lol. The jerk wings, festival and fritters are great.

Been playing at and having mad raves in Soup for well over 10 yrs. Swing Ting, a collective I'm part of has had its regular monthly nights there. Its just a cool spot with vibrant nights on and serves food upstairs.

Can't skate for shit but I'm fascinated by it and the garms are fresh. Joe Gavin who used to work there shot my first ever video The Eyes 'Harder' and I've made tunes with Think Tonk who works there. Also, played a few 'pop up' Street raves outside the shop with Levelz and its always a vibe.

Another great venue with loads of sweaty drunken memories. Estate Records used to do Ballin On A Budget there.

My bredrin just took over this spot, formerly Kim's by the Sea, and its a proper slice of Manchester. Foods great, lots of local community characters/artists/creatives passing through and just a cool warm vibe.

I play a lot of gigs here, mostly Hit&run nights. The gigs vary but I've never had a bad night there.

A lot of these spots I've mentioned are in this area of the city centre. It's filled with a lot of bars, clubs and creative hubs. Pic of a video shoot with Equiknoxx, Swing ting, Tarnish Vision.

On a good sunny day you're liable to find people playing music, usually Bloc2bloc crew, and lots of people chilling. Photo of a video shoot with Sparkz, Jhest, Layfullstop and Pitch.

If you wanna book in some recording time at a professional local studio, look no further. Ask for Darius. Photo of B. Cass, Diemond and myself from a recent recording session for Squang Dang, from my album 'Squang Dangs in the Key of Vibes' OUT NOW.

Manchesters Best Spots with Fox

The category is…Black storytelling! Their focus is to make stories by African, Caribbean and Afro-Latinx fam available and readily accessible. You can currently find them at their bookstore pop up in Shoreditch Boxpark.

London’s first ever cactus and succulent shop. Offering a selection of the most unusual and exotic plants sourced from across the UK and Europe. Their online store is still available to shop on.

Eat of Eden serves up some of the best tasting specialist plant based cuisine in there many locations across London. We recommend the callaloo, ackee and macaroni pie.

Brixton Soup Kitchen are a Brixton-based service for the homeless and people in need. However, they help people who are from London and surrounding areas. Their charity provides hot food, support and counselling for people in need. They rely on donations and volunteers to continue their work, which you can easily donate to on their website.

2021 Andam prize winner and a distinctive new voice in the menswear arena, Bianca Saunders has been capturing the attention of the fashion world, alongside the likes of Kanye West and WizKid. The London designer's pieces counter the traditional notions of gender and masculinity and draws from touchstones on either side of her British and West Indian background. Her collection is available to purchase at Browns.

Black Cultural Archives is the home of Black British History. Their mission is to collect, preserve and celebrate the histories of people of African and Caribbean descent in the UK and to inspire and give strength to individuals, communities and society.

If you’re looking to cleanse your home and space, Cremate’s natural incense hand-dipped in London is the shit. They come in two scents: Mary Mother of God and Middle Way. We love both.

Homage Tees are responsible for those T-shirts emblazoned with the faces of British icons like Louis Theroux, Princess Di and David Attenborough.

South London rooted Jewellery and accessory brand Image Gang has garnered a global community of courageous and creative young women. You can purchase Image Gang on ASOS and directly via their website.

Who doesn't need fresh crepes? One of the many businesses created for our culture.

The world would not be the same without Carribean food. Riaz Phillips created Belly Full: Caribbean Food in the UK, to document a journey across the UK meeting the people behind the county's most popular Caribbean eateries. If you love your jerk and rice & peas, why not educate yourself on their history?

Whilst in quarantine, supply yourself with the more fresh and delicious fruit straight to your door weekly. They also give more variety than your basic Tesco selection.

The only paradox we want to be in. Delicious plant based recipes, plant based catering for dinner parties.

Exploring the space where football and the Black experience intersects.

Black Thrive is a partnership between communities, statutory organisations, voluntary and private sector. They work together to reduce the inequality and injustices experienced by Black people in mental health services. They address the barriers which lead to poorer outcomes across a range of social factors, such as education, employment, housing, and so on, all of which may negatively impact one’s health and wellbeing.

Born from a lack of ethnically diverse natural hair care in the luxury beauty industry. Nigerian-Italian Loretta De Feo devised Dizziak – a deep conditioning formula that provides course, textured hair with the rich hydration it needs and deserves. A revolution in multi-cultural hair care, Dizziak has been coined an aphrodisiac for Afro hair – delivering visible and touchable results in minutes.

Specialists in African and Caribbean Literature since 1966. For over 50 years New Beacon Books has made available to Britain and its communities poetry, literature, non –fiction, history and children’s books from Africa, Caribbean, Asia, African America, Europe, South America and Britain.

Welcome to the home of natural honey! Founded by local Walthamstow legend, you can subscribe to receive raw honey to your doorstep or even buy bees for yourself.

SEASON is a trailblazing football and fashion platform that launched in London in 2016 to counter the male, pale and sometimes stale state of modern football culture. They tell stories that showcase, celebrate and empower female fans authentically, while unpacking important issues, emphasising diversity and collaborating with exciting creative talent.

Founded by Karl Jouanni, Alive & More is a forward-thinking, and gravity-defying fashion brand. Living within the cosmos of his other venture, TEAM RELMS, ALIVE & MORE is a streetwear label that brings something new, fresh, and all-encompassing to the table. The concept is simple, get the RELMS app, play the game, and travel to the virtual fashion shrine to unlock your very real garments, and, while you’re at it, immerse yourself in the world of Team Relms as well.

Bleu is a creative interior design, mid-century furniture store based in Herne Hill, South London. They source our illustrious stock from around the world. Most of their products are mid-century modern, 20th century design, decorative art, vintage industrial furniture, vintage African masks and art. They also offer specialist upholstery and restoration too!

Trap House Salon is a safe, judgement free space to get your your hair, nails and lashes done at affordable prices. They give you that good good experience and you always leave looking fly.

Gingham doll is a small womenswear brand based in London who continuously excite the fashion palette, using classic silhouettes but with a fresher twist. They are still operating and offering Free post worldwide and have just been informed that our boutique in Shoreditch will reopen on the 20th June.

Pureté Nature is wellness brand for luxury skincare, haircare, aromatherapy and home fragrances. All of their products are ethically sourced and handcrafted by themselves using the finest natural ingredients.

The best radio station in the world. Need we say more? You can subscribe to NTS and become a member now.

Learn how to use your space with Storage Goals. They offer customised and stylish storage solutions that are tailored to your personality. Using Scandinavian designed products from Elfa, they cater for all your home and office storage needs.

In 2016, Dutch streetwear brand Patta, opened its London store doors in the middle of Soho. Ready to introduce London's community to everything it represents, Patta have continuously stayed a brand that influences culture in London and across the world.

The Prince of Peckham is a pub for south London, by south London. The community pub is for everyone in the area, with a downstairs bar and pub, and an amazing event space. On the top floor there is a music room for parties, weddings, meetings, location shoots, live music, art exhibitions, and all other celebrations. Street food kings White Men Can't Jerk are kitchen residents serving up jerk chicken, Caribbean roasts and stacks of wings. It's a vibe all year around.

Based in East London - Hackney. They specialise in running fitness classes, personal training, membership and hiring out our space to fitness professionals. Their goals are to create a safe space for groups and individuals to improve their lifestyles through health, fitness, sports and wellbeing.

Black-Owned Businesses in London

Lean Chihiro

Paris

If you love Japanese food this is where you want to go to eat REAL Japanese food! The Opéra Garnier building looks really huge and the area is full of more beautiful buildings. It's kinda fancy

The lights at night are really pretty and the Moulin Rouge is impressive. Best thing is you can get food and drinks whenever cause most of the shops are open 24/7

A cat café and their cheesecakes are so yummy! Only for the cat lovers though

Really nice way to spend a lovely sunny afternoon and watch the sunset. Buy wine if you really feeling that tourist lifestyle lol

Definitely one of my favourite place in the city, the view is amazing and the whole place looks so different from the rest of the city. You have to go here if you're in Paris

Arcade game centre, really fun if you love video games like me!

Paris with Rapper Lean Chihiro

New York City 

Chicago

Botanique in Brussels is housed in a former botanical garden with a reputation for supporting and promoting emerging talent. From exhibitions to theatre performances and music festivals, Botanique is an experience you can’t find anywhere else.

Since 1997, the intimate atmosphere of Notting Hill Arts Club has been a heart for London’s music scene, with nights thriving with up and coming talent from across the globe and huge acts giving their first live performances here.

The Sunflower Lounge brings New York to Birmingham with its half punk and half 60s psychedelic interior. A home for unsigned up and coming bands since 2002, it’s the perfect venue to gain firsthand experience of the music scene within the city.

The Ruby Sessions take place every Tuesday in Doyle’s Pub in Dublin. The event stands out within the city as a beacon for new music appreciation, offering an intimate and acoustic environment where emerging artists can showcase their talent. The Ruby Sessions is a great visit as they donate proceeds from the event every week to a selected charity.

In the heart of Bowery, Manhattan, The Bowery Electric is iconic for its music scene. Hosting multiple performance spaces (a main stage and a more intimate setting), the venue hosts an array of artists – from both local and international acts. Also, as a nightlife hub, it’s a great place to have an authentic New York experience.

Cherry Bar is known for its authentic rock ’n’ roll vibe with an unfiltered music experience. Its legacy within Melbourne is well deserved, hosting a diverse range of genres and acts. It's a consistent must-visit venue when in the city.

As one of the oldest dance halls in Europe, Sala Apolo is a gem in the heart of Barcelona, with culture stemming back to the beginning of the 20th century. Sala is unparalleled when it comes to its history.

The Empty Bottle in Chicago sets itself apart as they actively engage with the local music community, collaborating with artists, promoters and other venues to support new and independent music. Highlighting innovative and boundary-pushing music, this venue is such an exciting space to discover and experience new and unique sounds.

Opening its doors in 1991, the Night & Day Cafe is iconic within Manchester and played a pivotal role in the rise of the city's music scene. The venue has hosted influential bands in their early careers and has acted as a launch pad for local emerging artists.

If you’re looking for a venue that showcases a plethora of country, Americana, indie and rock, The Basement in Nashville is rich with emerging talents across different styles and sounds.

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