Mood Scent Bar

April 20, 2016April 20, 2016 | Design & Culture by Ed

Warsaw is underrated by many and I don’t get why. New places to visit appear constantly, without a moment of pause; people here are so open for new ideas and opportunities. After my last, very short trip to Poland’s capital, I’m obsessed with Mood Scent Bar. But don’t get it wrong – the name of this spot might deceive you to think it’s a place to eat. However, it’s Warsaw’s coolest multibrand of niche perfumes from around the world. In fact, they have two boutiques – one is a step from Vitkac, this huge luxury department store, and the second on Tamka street. But my heart belongs to the first one, which is much smaller and much chicer, with dove-grey walls, vintage lamps and pretty, floral arrangements.

The selection here is mind-blowing, even though you might have never heard of any of the labels they sell here. As the lady mused on the topic of Unum’s Opus_1144, a fragrance, which has its brutalist, concrete “bottle” made in collaboration with Rick Owens, I tried out the literally addictive scent of Blamage by Nasomatto. Although I’m not a fan of heavy, smokey perfumes, Boccanera (in Italian translated as “dark lips”) by Alessandro Gualtieri’s Orto Parisi made me fall in love with its slightly dramatic, oriental twist. Classic-reconstructing Humiecki & Graff, electrifying Room 1015 and eccentric A Lab on Fire, to mention a few, are available here. And for those who don’t feel like experimenting with their noses (and minds!), Mood Scent Bar has a wide variety of well-known Comme Des Garçons fragrances. Indeed, this place is a synonym of nutritious feast for the senses!

Ul. Bracka 3 / Warsaw

Bistrot Giacomo

February 11, 2016February 11, 2016 | Design & Culture by Ed

Bistrot Giacomo is Milan‘s best kept secret if talking of a soigné-mannered bistro / restaurant. The place is fully booked every evening – and not just because of romantically chic interior. The wooden shelves, which are literally heaved up with antique books; the burgundy sofas and cushions; walls with huge, old mirrors; the floors covered with tiles. All of that defines a classical Milanese restaurant where Italians (note: we were the only “tourists” in the restaurant that day) eat their taglione pasta with fried artichokes and pomegranate dressing, beef tartare and home-made buns with dried tomatoes. It’s not only a place where you will feel like an Italian and drool over your meal – it’s also the place, where you are likely to meet somebody from the Milan-based fashion industry. I’ve met with Alessandro Dell’AcQua, the creative director behind N21 and Rochas, the second time in this city – specifically, firstly at his show last autumn, and here!

Via Pasquale Sottocorno 6 / Milan

This cigarette look from Dell’AcQua’s last womenswear outing makes me think of Bistrot Giacomo, somehow…

All photographs of Bistrot Giacomo courtesy of Design & Culture by Ed

Café Marchesi

February 7, 2016July 27, 2018 | Design & Culture by Ed

Let’s praise Miuccia Prada not only for her reality-subverting fashion at Prada and MiuMiu, famous Prada Marfa installation, mind-blowing creation of FondazionePrada, but also for Cafe Marchesi, the newest addition to the visionnaire’s portfolio. Located on Via Montenapoleone, the chicest street of Milan, Miuccia revived the iconic PaticcerieMarchesi into a must-visit spot of every fashion person who is in hurry for the next show. The roots of PasticceriaMarchesi begin in 1824, when a small pastry shop opened inside an elegant 18th century building. The shop quietly evolved in the 1900s when Angelo Marchesi expanded its services to a coffee bar, early evening cocktails and freshly baked pastries, cakes, cookies and candies. The main, sweet aim of this place is still the same – but after the re-opening in 2015, the industry got crowded in here, seeing the Miuccia-selected pastel green silks as wall tapestries and Wes-Anderson-like colour palette delights. If talking of their goods, I confess – I have never, ever eaten a better marzipan cake with strawberries. Additionally, Marchesi is already a sentimental place for me – it’s the place were I had a love affair with coffee. The Marocchino rules.

Via Montenapoleone 9 / Milan

All photographs courtesy of Design & Culture by Ed

Maison Borella

February 3, 2016February 3, 2016 | Design & Culture by Ed

During my recent trip to Milan for the pre-fall 2016 re-sees, I’ve stayed at the Maison Borella. This hotel literally makes you feel like at home. The cozy atmosphere of the Naviglio Grande district is already close to my heart – and when I saw the peaceful, all-green patio, I felt instantly that this is my favourite hotel in Milan from all I’ve been to. In a former balustrade townhouse, Maison Borella is kept in a stylish, Italian manner – eclectic lobby filled with beautiful flea-market finds and charming, minimally furnished rooms with original wooden ceilings have this modern “vintage” aesthetic I love so much. In fact, I would love to live in a place like this, having a wonderful view on the patio every morning…

Alzaia Naviglio Grande 8 / Milano

Photographs courtesy of Design & Culture by Ed

Ora Berlin

August 19, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

Kreuzberg is becoming Berlin‘s most creative district. A former pharmacy is situated on the peaceful Oranienplatz, which one day became the most beautiful restaurant of the German capital – ORA. With the original cabinets de curiosities, wooden shelves and marble counters from the past, the restaurant serves refreshing summer cuisine (unfortunately we didn’t have any time left to try it out) and delicious coffee with home-made apfelstrüdel. However, the atmospheric and truly romantic interior makes this restaurant not only a place to “EAT”, but also to “BE”. And definitely I am going to try out their signature gazpacho next time.

Oranienplatz 14 / Berlin