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have you heard of it?
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • UK
        • London
          • Covent Garden & Holborn
          • Fitzrovia
          • Marylebone & Mayfair
          • North
          • Shoreditch & East
          • Soho
          • South
          • West
        • Bath
        • Brighton
        • Cambridge
        • Cumbria
        • Kent
        • Manchester
        • Oxford
      • Amsterdam, Holland
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Berlin, Germany
      • Budapest, Hungary
      • Lisbon, Portugal
      • Paris, France
      • Stockholm, Sweden
    • America
      • By City
        • Austin, TX
        • Boston, MA
        • New York, NY
        • Providence, RI
        • San Francisco, CA
      • By State
        • Arizona
        • California
        • Massachusetts
        • New York
        • Texas
        • Utah
    • Mexico
    • Asia
      • Bali
      • Singapore
    • Africa
      • Kenya
      • Morocco
      • Sierra Leone
  • Travel Guides
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
Boro Hotel: Affordable design-led hotel in Queens, just a stone’s throw from Manhattan | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

Boro Hotel, New York: Design-led hotel in Queens

America, New York, New York NY
X11th December 2017
In a city where hotels don’t come cheaper than $200 a night, Boro Hotel is one to know. Located in Queens, across the water from Manhattan, the neighbourhood itself
Breddos Kingly Street: New taco & tequila joint in Soho, London | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

Breddos Tacos, London: Taco & tequila joint in Soho

London, Soho
X3rd November 2017
Breddos Tacos in Clerkenwell is too popular for its own good, what with the restaurant being miniscule and the crowds of hungry diners so lengthy. So it was super
Wer-Haus: Hidden hipster oasis in Barcelona's L'Eixample district | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

Wer Haus, Barcelona: Hidden hipster oasis in L’Eixample

Barcelona, Europe
X27th October 2017
Behind an assuming entrance on Carrer d’Aragó, down a dim corridor… The light-filled warehouse space that it opens out into is my idea of interior perfection, with the lofty
Syra: Barcelona coffee bar with brilliant branding & doughnuts | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

Syra, Barcelona: Beautifully branded coffee bar

Barcelona, Europe
X25th October 2017
Small but perfectly formed, Syra Coffee is just an archway in Barcelona’s Gracia district – but with standout branding like this, how could I fail to notice it!? The
Scout: Matt Whiley’s simple, chic and seasonal British cocktail bar in Shoreditch, London | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

Scout, London: Seasonal cocktail bar in Shoreditch

London, Shoreditch & East
X24th October 2017
When The Talented Mr Fox (AKA Matt Whiley) opens a new bar in your ‘hood, you pay attention.  With Peg + Patriot (Bethnal Green) and Talented Mr Fox (now
Canova Hall: Vast, rugged restaurant & bar in Brixton, with bottomless brunch offering | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

Canova Hall, London: Rugged restaurant & bar in Brixton

London, South
X12th October 2017
I used to live in Brixton. Now I don’t, and it’s changing faster than I can keep up with. Brixton has spawned countless foodie successes (both Honest Burger and
No.29 Power Station West: New all-day dining spot in the shadow of London’s architectural icon | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

No.29 Power Station West: New all-day dining spot in the shadow of the Battersea icon

London, South
X22nd September 2017
The oh-so-iconic Battersea Power Station is probably my favourite building in all of London. Currently undergoing extensive remodelling, us architecture-obsessed Londoners wait with baited breath to see how it
Henrietta Hotel: New boutique hotel in Covent Garden, from the team behind Experimental Cocktail Club | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

Henrietta Hotel: New boutique hotel in Covent Garden, from the team behind Experimental Cocktail Club

Covent Garden & Holborn, London
X1st September 2017
Experimental Group have a knack for producing fabulous hospitality establishments: What started as a hidden cocktail bar in London’s Chinatown has matured into something of an empire, with a
A Cevicheria: Clean and simple ceviche restaurant in Lisbon - with a giant octopus! | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

A Cevicheria: Clean and simple ceviche restaurant in Lisbon – with a giant octopus!

Europe, Lisbon
X30th August 2017
Because who doesn’t want to feast on raw fish beneath a giant octopus?! A Cevicheria was a must-see for me – house gin & tonics in giant globe glasses,
Bairro de Avillez: José Avillez’s authentic yet modern Lisbon taberna | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

Bairro de Avillez: José Avillez’s authentic yet modern Lisbon taberna

Europe, Lisbon
X29th August 2017
Choose Bairro de Avillez if you appreciate iberico ham that melts on the tongue, white sangria by the carafe-ful, a hint of molecular gastronomy in the form of exploding
The Vincent: New all-day E8 dining spot with a dreamy #plant_problem | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

The Vincent: New all-day E8 dining spot with a dreamy #plant_problem

London, Shoreditch & East
X17th August 2017
Five years ago, a team of restaurateurs transformed a boarded-up pub on Hackney Road into the East End institution that is the Sebright Arms. In search of a new
Little Quiet: The latest - and most clandestine - venture from Disappearing Dining Club | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

Little Quiet: The latest – and most clandestine – venture from Disappearing Dining Club

London, Shoreditch & East
X18th July 2017
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there’s nothing more impressive than turning up to a totally unassuming front door on a super residential street, and then
Corner Room: Bethnal Green’s bright & beautiful brunch spot | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

Corner Room: Bethnal Green’s bright & beautiful brunch spot

London, Shoreditch & East
X10th July 2017
It seems ridiculous to me that Corner Room has only just started serving brunch. The upstairs dining room within Bethnal Green’s Town Hall Hotel is interior perfection, best enjoyed
Tiong Bahru Bakery: Cosy Singapore cafe with artisan coffee & matcha croissants | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

Tiong Bahru Bakery: Cosy Singapore cafe with artisan coffee & matcha croissants

Asia, Singapore
X2nd May 2017
If a freshly baked bright green Matcha Almond Croissant and an artisan coffee from Common Man Coffee Roasters aren’t enough to tempt you into Tiong Bahru Bakery, then there
Palatino: Multi-course traditional Italian dining | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

Palatino: Multi-course traditional Italian dining in Clerkenwell

London, Shoreditch & East
X3rd April 2017
One of the best things about traditional Italian restaurants is the sheer number of courses that are served as standard.  Obviously I’m not talking about the pizzerias – but
Breddos Tacos: Speedy, cheap, cheesy & incredible Mexican in Clerkenwell | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

Breddos Tacos: Speedy, cheap & cheesy Mexican in Clerkenwell

London, Shoreditch & East
X2nd March 2017
Breddos started out as a food truck in Hackney. Now (having been backed by the big dogs behind Hoxton Hotel and Tandoor Chop House) it’s got a permanent spot
Leman Locke: Stunning London aparthotel, a stone’s throw from Spitalfields | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

Leman Locke: Stunning London aparthotel, a stone’s throw from Spitalfields

London, Shoreditch & East
X27th February 2017
Self-described as a “design-led aparthotel”, Leman Locke is one of a new generation of London hotels that just makes so much sense.  From the street, it might not be
Artist Residence Brighton: Quirky boutique hotel, full of character, street art & cocktails | Recommended by HYHOI.com: Have You Heard Of It? | A curation of design-led hotspots around the world, tried and tasted

Artist Residence Brighton: Quirky boutique hotel, full of character, street art & cocktails

Brighton, UK outside London
X15th February 2017
The 19th-century townhouse façade on refined Regency Square is somewhat misleading as to what lies inside, as Artist Residence Brighton sits squarely in the current decade, as quirky and ‘street’ as
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Last stop of our roadtrip was Portland, Oregon - 5 days here, and we loved it! Staying at @thehoxtonhotel on the edge of Chinatown, using their beautiful covid-closed restaurant as a co-working space, and drinking all the great coffee we could find! 

Top spots in the city:
🍽️ Food: @eempdx (Thai BBQ), @stjackpdx (fancy French & cocktails), @besaws (brunch).
☕ Coffee: @proudmaryusa (also for brunch), @coavacoffee, @goodcoffeepnw, @heartroasters.
🍾🍺 Drinks: @ensowinery (amazing OR wines), @cascade.brewing (sour beers), @eclipticbrewing (sours & hazies).
🔖 and @powellsbooks (new & used book heaven!)
Whale sightings: 0 😭
Will have to come back another time, when the weather is good enough to go out on a boat.

The San Juan Islands in Washington actually have 3 pods of resident orcas, which are listed as endangered 😔 Though this area has a somewhat checkered history - for example, 80 orcas were herded into Penn Cove (pictured here) back in 1970, using boats, spotter planes and explosives; 7 young whales were then captured and taken into captivity at SeaWorld, etc. 50 years on, only 1 of the 7 captured whales is still alive - Lolita, in Miami Seaquarium - although there are campaigns trying to have her released from her too-small tank 😢

If you haven't seen it already, the documentary Blackfish is a must-watch to learn more about the plight of the killer whales and how incredibly intelligent and emotional  they are 🐋💔
The Honeymoon Suite at @thecaptainwhidbey, Whidbey Island, WA - looking out over the lagoon 🥰😍
Stop 5 of our trip north: @thecaptainwhidbey on Whidbey Island, just outside of Seattle (Seattle was our fourth stop of the trip, but it rained the whole time and I didn't love it..). Captain Whidbey, on the other hand, was AMAZING - staying in the honeymoon suite with the wind and rain raging outside, getting cocktails and hearty meals from the in-hotel restaurant, reading, and keeping an eye out for whales!

Things to do nearby: Hiking trails in Deception Pass and Ebey's Fort parks nearby. Liqueur tasting at @whidbeydistillery, wine tasting at @spoileddogwinery. During the warmer months, it's all about the whale watching!
Third stop on our roadtrip north: @SuttleLodge, Oregon.

Huge rooms in the forest, heated by the fireplace, with food from the in-hotel Skip restaurant/bar.

Things to do in the area:
🌲 Walk the picturesque 3.5 mile trail round Suttle Lake, or hike up Black Butte
☕🔖Visit the nearby town of Sisters for @sisterscoffee or @paulinaspringsbooks
Stop 2 of our Northern roadtrip: Crater Lake, Oregon. The USA's deepest lake, formed by a volcanic eruption 7700 years ago; the volcano peak then collapsed, forming a basin that filled with rain and meltwater. And yes it really is that blue 💙

👣 Trail: West Rim Drive (closed to cars during winter; snowshoes required)
🛎️ Hotel: Fairfield Inn in Klamath Falls

@ninafitton

About Me

about-me-image
Hey – Hi – Hello!

I'm Nina, a Brit living in San Francisco.

I'm a travel addict, and an extreme planner - so every trip I go on is extensively researched, with a strong tendency towards beautiful design, quality coffee and experiential restaurants.

Here, I'm sharing all that research and planning with you - this is my curated collection of design-led hotspots; the hidden gems that you won't find in any old guide book.

Enjoy :)

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