places that will make you fall in love with Morocco
Morocco
Let us start with emphasizing the word “beyond” – and here is why: Marrakech is a true wonder with its busy, still authentic Medina and its charming riads, so it is not surprising that it’s people’s first association when talking about Morocco. It would be a mistake though to neglect the countryside, since Morocco offers way more than its well-known cultural capital. Let us show you around, starting from Marrakech until down the coastline!
she she Retreats: Contemporary wellbeing for Her in 2023
Spain
Nature heals and so are connectivity, inner peace, rituals, movement, nourishment, creativity or even adventure. If you are seeking for such experiences in one place, look no further — she she retreats may offer it all. "Our retreats offer daily movement, delicious food, art workshops, essential oils and time for relaxation, without a strict schedule or enforced detoxing - because we know that many women arrive on our retreats needing a break from their demanding professional and personal lives. Both of us like to live well and enjoy daily pleasures - like a glass of organic wine or fresh baked sweets - and so we want our retreat guests to feel right at home with us, that they can really let their hair down and indulge in a magical retreat experience." This year's been different for obvious reasons, yet developing healthy routines to support our own wellbeing has become top priority. Join one of the she she retreats in 2023. The retreats are for her, who seeks adventure. And if you've been wondering too, we've asked Albertine and Steph, the lovely founders to explain; who is she? Read on!
Warszauer Hotel, Kraków
Poland
Part immersive hospitality with customized services, part social hub with common dining and open-air terrace, part intimate residency thanks to limited number of rooms. Warszauer is an expansion of this simple idea of slowing down. They close the door to a bustling city and open a modern sanctuary.
Casa Balandra: Experiential Guest House
Spain
Casa Balandra is a creative residency & guest house on the island of Mallorca. A space to share, create and celebrate conviviality. The place where you can hide and rejuvenate find your inner balance and dig into your childhood memories. Our team really wish to enjoy the summer breeze here, but until then we had a chance to make a lovely interview with Isabella.
Holiday Treats
United States
Over the past two years, the pandemic caused by COVID19 has had a major impact on almost every aspect of our lives, but the Local’s Lore Team demonstrated their skills and commitment during this period, as we have continued to work hard without interruption and have even strengthened our Team by the time to close the year 2021. Society has demonstrated its expectations of companies in terms of their role and usefulness. The Local’s Lore Team was one of the first virtual map developer and small business supporter companies to define it's mission.
Casa Cook Samos
Greece
Samos is an island rich in both history and beauty. Beyond its bustling beaches and lively town, there are countless hidden gems, including quaint churches, fresh waterfalls and lush forests in the shaded inland mountains just begging to be explored. Inspired by traditional greek houses, or kamares, found in samian villages, the architecture is down-to-earth and inclusive. The historic concept of a Grecian village has been embodied in the modern space, where the hotel’s infinite swimming pools act as the town centre of each small ‘neighborhood’ within the hotel — offering space to immerse with those around you when the mood strikes, or retreat back to your room to recharge in complete solitude.
Nōema
Greece
Nōema is an expression of the Cycladic way of living. A culture of natural warmth and simple pleasures, of deep-rooted traditions as elemental as the wind and sun, the rocks and sea. A place where life moves with the rhythm of nature and being together is what really matters. A space for spontaneous gatherings and ritual festivities, Nōema embodies the open-hearted soul of Mykonos, where every occasion is an opportunity for a feast. In the Cycladic home, life centres around the courtyard, or avli. A secret garden protected from the elements, where family and friends come together to eat and drink, share stories and songs.
Special Tokyo guide by Julianna
Japan
During the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 — besides following the Games — a part of our digital playtime was browsing Tokyo’s hotspots thanks to the wonderful Local’s Lore community. Never having been to Japan, finding Julianna who worked as a volunteer at the Games was a pure bliss. Especially so, as there were only two non-Japanese volunteers working at the Tokyo Olympics. One of the lucky ones is a 24-year-old Hungarian student, Julianna Molnar. She studies art history at the Japanese capital’s Ochanomizu University and had initially come to Japan because she is very interested in contemporary Japanese art and culture. We sat down with Julianna to talk about her experiences at the Games, life in Tokyo and her 10+1 must-visit-spots in the city…
Jane's Guide to Dubai's thriving coffee scene
United Arab Emirates
This July I was visiting my friends who have recently moved to UAE and let me tell you the summer here is hot. Since we’re still in the pandemic and the majority of countries are still closed for visitors I decided to go anyway despite the hot weather. I was pleasantly surprised by what Dubai’s cafes and coffee shops have to offer. Here are some of my favorite places: Orijins is a relatively new trendy coffee shop located in the heart of the financial district of Dubai. The interior and furniture look spectacular. The designers were inspired to create a cave-looking coffee spot using natural materials and textures such as sand and stone. Locals adore this spot so it gets pretty crowded around 11 a.m. The coffee here was so great that I had to get two oat milk cappuccinos in a row. If you're a fan of sweet drinks I would also recommend trying specials from the menu such as Mocca and Spanish latte. This place doesn’t offer breakfast however their pastry selection is pretty good. Orijins coffee shop is one of a kind and you got to experience it yourself.
Experience Tokyo with Mai Shiratori
Japan
All eyes on Tokyo. Around 5000 to 6000 athletes from more than 200 nations were to join the parade in Tokyo today as the official kick off of the Olympic Games. Tokyo is everything you can ask of a city to be; it’s a place where you can experience past and future coexisting next to each other. You will find centuries-old forms of performing arts still play on stages, yet just a few corners away public artworks picturing anime robots. Its traditional culture and passion for new is nothing but unique in its own right. On the occasion of the upcoming games we’ve asked Mai Shiratori writer and trend researcher to take us around in Tokyo after the pandemic. The guide includes tranquil cafés and tea houses, hidden restaurants and stores filled with artisanal craft goods. Discover Tokyo with Mai!
The Local's Lore Berlin Guide (to eat out)
Germany
Ever since ITB and Berlin Travel Festival got cancelled in March 2019 due to the pandemic, we wished to get those flight tickets again stating; Destination: Berlin Brandenburg Airport - which by the way just opened recently. Berlin is the city that always have something new to offer, a city where communities are strong and you'll most likely make friends just by sitting next to someone at a long communal table of a newly found hip brunch spot. It's the city where everybody's got a friend to visit, a city that is forever young due to its openness to different cultures, diversity and people from all over the globe, hence a hotspot for small (international) businesses. The restaurant and coffee scene is again, or rather is still blooming and the cultural opportunities are close to endless. It's a city to eat out, to cycle, to lay in a park with a good book, to discover exhibitions in hidden streets while just passing by. We've discovered and rediscovered what Berlin has to offer yet again and visited some old and new favourites to eat out such as SOFI, the newest project of Danish chef and restaurant owner. Also guilty as charged but dined in Mugrabi twice thanks to its fantastic Israeli delicacies. Since our return to the Local's Lore HQ, we've found another at least five places for next time, but your recommendations are always welcome - we love making bucket lists and above all; MAPS.
The revival of the countryside: Szegzárd – the lodge
Hungary
When was the last time you had a good read in a hammock surrounded by vineyards and orchards? Do you remember the crisp sheets in your favourite hotels and apartments to jump out of with the first rays of sunshine to take a dip in the pool before breakfast? We invite you to a journey to the Hungarian countryside’s freshest design lodges, Szegzárd – the lodge; a true nest to modern-day seekers.
The “New Role” Award this year goes to our homes and cars
These times when staying at home is the new coming home, ones’ home has never meant such a secure place. The lockdown allowed us to grow and flourish despite the locational boundaries, but also to revaluate the importance of supporting locals (and each other), that friends and family is everything, that (online) communities are worthy, but also taught us that home is not only a physical destination but a state-of-mind. Not being able to travel in the past year our homes have either remained or have become our happy places in the world, where we — globetrotters, felt so comfortable commuting in. We can’t wait to discover more but couldn’t be more thrilled finding home for once and forever. BUT it’s not only our homes but cars that got a new role during the pandemic.
Travel Photographer Muse: Interview with Lavinia Cernau
Do you have the feeling that some photographers can capture the deepest desires of the soul? We have this thing with Lavinia's imagery. They make us feel like we are standing right in the sunset light by the sea, wild and free. In her photography, she is embracing the essence of summer; the sun-drenched streets, the saltiness of our naked skin, the eternal lightness of holidays by the beach. While scrolling her Instagram feed, the one thing you wish for is being her muse; the "sunset seeker" in her perfectly composed photographs. Lavinia Cernau is a travel, fashion and lifestyle photographer based out of Transylvania, Romania, with an unquenchable thirst for the Mediterranean. Lavinia’s visual perspective seamlessly brings together color, light and narrative. Her work is invariably imbued with a sense of nostalgic freedom and summer sensuality in candid scenes where her subjects feel honest and at ease. Read on for hear thoughts on traveling and literally heart-warming visual imagery.
Introducing: Local's Lore Studio
We call it an on-demand shift; one that was both a necessity and a dream coming true (which we’ve been holding back due to priorities for quite some time). Last year certainly has seemed to pack in more than just 12 months, it has been incredibly challenging for all of us, but happy to say out LOUD:
A farm-to-table culinary pilgrimage: PAJTA
Hungary
Leaving behind our urban lifestyles for peaceful tranquility has never been more desired or rather cherished than it is today. Whether chasing an intimate culinary experience or a long stroll in the realm of untouched nature, being actually able to slow down and be present seems to be the one thing we all strive for. Even if it’s a long journey to come to the ultimate slow-life, yet there are places that can give us the feeling of timelessness — even if just temporarily, such as the hidden countryside restaurant called Pajta (means barn). Pajta is the embodiment of the owners’ passion for the Őrség National Park close to the Austrian and Slovenian borders in Őriszentpéter, Hungary. The whole restaurant concept was made with care and respect towards reserving traditions, both in terms of architecture and cuisine, in order to fit Őrség’s landscape and Zeitgeist. Welcome to Pajta!
Take us to Venice, CA - Interview with Alyssa Ponticello
United States
Guys, meet Alyssa, a formerly LA, now Venice based content creator, storyteller, photographer and the founder and editor of Runway Chef! We had the pleasure to interview Alyssa about her passion; cooking, which she calls a second language of her and her favourite hotspots around Venice and LA. Alyssa believes that food and fashion play integral intertwining parts in creating a beautiful and balanced life. She believes in things that are easy and undone, rustic yet clean, achievable yet luxe, stress-free yet inspiring, humorous yet real. She believes in living a life well loved. Get a glance to her life in Venice, CA and prepare to have serious travel and food cravings!
The Ultimate Budapest View: Toprum SkyBar & Restaurant
Hungary
Have you ever played tourist in your own city? Have you ever considered staying at your beloved hotel for a night and let it be your home away from home? What would be your most treasured local places to visit? For locals in Budapest, Hotel RUM and the hotel’s SkyBar, TOPRUM would undoubtedly be on the TOP of their lists. The bar-slash-restaurant offers a scenic view over the city while serving you the best of the flavours in terms of cocktail, brunch and dinner choices. Let's have some vacay moments in the heart of the city with the unmistakable TOPRUM vibe and Hotel RUM’s “ONE NIGHT RUMING” or “BUDAPEST AFFAIR” special offer. Have dinner or brunch at the top of the city or at the sister units of RUM and spend a night at Hotel RUM for half price!
Summer Escape with Hannah Gabrielle More
Sri Lanka
We invite you to sit back and enjoy the journey through the lenses of Hannah Gabrielle More, a travel and interiors photographer based in London. Hannah's photography is not only beautiful, but her signature earthy tones and minimal compositions are just as calming for the eye as they're for the soul; they make us want to live in the world she is capturing. We've talked about her recent trips to Tokyo and Sri Lanka and also about living in London and her favourite hotspots in the city. "I shoot a lot of interior portfolio’s when I’m in London, which means I get to explore different neighbourhoods, so it’s nice to play tourist in a new area for the day and means I can stay inspired by the things on my doorstep. I feel most inspired when exploring new places so find travelling affects my practice more than anything else but as much as I love leaving London, I always love returning home." Hannah’s also in the midst of building THIS IS ELSEWHERE, an online journal featuring design-led hideaways and launching her own print collection of dreamy places. Enjoy this sweet summer escape with Hannah!
Cape Verde Photo Journal: Aylaan Moodysson
Cape Verde
Thanks to our friend and photographer muse; Aylaan Moodysson, we've been taken to the untouched island of ocean blues, wind and sodade; Cape Verde. Sodade or saudade, is a deep emotional state of nostalgic or profound melancholic longing for an absent something or someone that one cares for and/or loves. "Cape Verde really is a place that rewards doing some research upfront. The islands are fairly diverse, and I think each of them has its own sweet spot." Are you ready to escape and switch the urban vibes for breathtaking natural landscapes? Take a closer look at Aylaan's personal photo diary she took in Cape Verde just before the pandemic.