Jessica is the founder and designer of Zahava Jewelry and The Brave Collection, a Forbes 30 Under 30, a wife to Patrick Yee (ex CMO of Refinery29), and a mother to young son Ezra. The family moved to Madrid a few years ago to follow the living abroad dream, and as new parents in a new city, they’ve got a super interesting take.

Part of our Five Reasons series, here you’ll find the most local of tips – from unique hotels to small businesses and secret spots (we trust you to keep these on the DL). Because, we firmly believe there’s no better way to get to know a place than when guided by someone who knows it best.

Read on for Jessica’s favorite places to eat, drink, stay, and shop in Madrid.

Name: Jessica Hendricks Yee

Where you live: Justicia, Madrid

Where you’re from: New York

What you do: Designer of Zahava, fine jewelry inspired by wisdom of the past

Five reasons to visit Madrid

The hotel

Stay at the Urso Hotel –  my favorite boutique hotel in Madrid. You’ll get so excited pulling up to the doors, as the architecture is stunning and it’s on the perfect block. The lobby is the ideal place to people-watch, while enjoying some Iberico ham, and taking in the original Urso scent by candlelight.

The market

Just across the street from the Urso is our local Barcelo Market, which has tens of stalls, selling everything from fresh fish to meats and freshly baked baguettes. It’s a great way to get a sense of the local culture.

Pro tip: The organic fruit stall is killer, but you mustn’t touch the fruit! Point to what you’d like and the woman behind the counter will pull the perfect piece for you with her gloved hand.

The bakery

The most divine bakery is La Duquesita. This hundred-something-year-old spot looks right out of a Wes Anderson film, and everything they make is out of this world delicious (and beautiful).

The thing to do

Visit the wild peacocks in the sprawling and perfectly manicured El Retiro Park.

The food and drink

Try the razor clams at Sala de Despiece, the coolest tapas bar in Madrid. They don’t take reservations, so come early and prepare to limbo under the communal table to get to a seat. Afterward, head over to the best cocktail bar –  Supernova. It’s a maze of tiny, impeccably designed rooms where you can sit, dance and sip. It’s chic as hell.

Read more from our Five Reasons series, here.

Emilie Hawtin is Editorial Director for J.Crew, plus a writer, editor and brand strategist. She’s a New Yorker, but travels for work a lot, and she credits Florence, Italy as her second home.

Part of our Five Reasons series, here you’ll find the most local of tips – from unique hotels to small businesses and secret spots (we trust you to keep these on the DL). Because, we firmly believe there’s no better way to get to know a place than when guided by someone who knows it best.

Read on for Emilie’s favorite places to eat, drink, stay, and shop in Florence, Italy.

Name: Emilie Hawtin

Home: West Village, Manhattan

From: New Jersey

Job: Brand strategy, writing, and editing in the style world between New York and Italy, mainly for J.Crew

Five reasons to visit Florence, Italy

The bar

Let’s start as we mean to go on, with natural wine at Il Santino, a tiny bar that serves ‘cicchetti’ with every glass. Everything is delicious, as they have some of the freshest ingredients in Florence here. I’ll have their small plates as a meal if I miss the strict Florentine lunch hours, or feel like a light dinner. The staff are young and cool, too. Everyone spills out onto the street to drink wine and talk as the day progresses – it’s an atmosphere quite unlike anywhere else.

The food

Trattoria Cammillo is family-run restaurant, where all generations work together to create a space that’s elegant yet relaxed. The classic dishes are done well here, but I particularly love the more unusual specials on the menu. Their risotto with curried shrimp is something I’d never expect in Florence, or the truffled eggs with mushrooms in the fall. I often dine alone here, or take people I care about – you remember every meal. A visit to Florence simply isn’t complete without dinner at Cammillo.

The cafe

Rivoire is one of my favorite places in the world. It’s popular, but I love to go early in the morning, walk across Piazza della Signoria and have cornetti at the counter. The cane chairs, wooden bar, silver capped bottles and formally dressed staff are beautiful to wake up to. If I’m feeling indulgent, I’ll sit for a little longer and watch the world pass by.

The thing to do

The Boboli Garden has an understated grandeur that feels natural and calm. I love the faded colors of the buildings amongst the greenery, faded mints and pinks that just strike the right notes. I often visit the porcelain museum at the top of the hill – the garden, fountain and stunning view remain in my mind all of the time, transporting me to Florence wherever I am in the world. 

The store

At Bottega di Corte you’ll find everything from old porcelain to tassels, maps, silver, vintage clothes, and chic Italian interior design that’s perfectl worn in. Dexter is another favorite, for the men’s shirts and lightweight pants that I end up wearing all of the time. The owner, Marco, has a true elegance in style and attitude. And, don’t miss the paper shops like Il Papiro, the Santo Spirito flea market, and the food markets. 

Read more from our Five Reasons series, here.

Negar Mohammadi is a former Vogue brand director and now a freelance creative strategist and founder of natural vegan haircare brand 14th Night (she’s also a Safara Insider). She hails from Chicago, but has called Downtown Manhattan home for years and is our go-to guide for all things Greenwich Village. She’s also an awesome surfer, spending as much time as she can by the sea.

Part of our Five Reasons series, here you’ll find the most local of tips – from unique hotels to small businesses and secret spots (we trust you to keep these on the DL). Because, we firmly believe there’s no better way to get to know a place than when guided by someone who knows it best.

Read on for Negar’s favorite places to eat, drink, stay, and shop in Greenwich Village, NYC.

Name: Negar Mohammadi

Home: Greenwich Village, NYC

From: Chicago

Job: Former Brand Marketing Director at Vogue US, now freelance creative brand strategist and founder of 14th Night

Five reasons to visit Greenwich Village, NYC

The coffee

An early morning espresso at il Buco Alimentari & Vineria can’t be beaten. It’s my go-to in the Greenwich Village area, if not all of NYC.

The food

Any of the vegan ice creams at Van Leeuwen – cookie crumble, strawberry jam is my favorite. Before dessert, I love Morandi for its lemon pasta, Vermentino wine and outdoor seating.

The hotel

The Marlton Hotel is great – I love its cocktail bar and cozy fireplace. My drinks order is an Address Unknown, which is made with mezcal, Ancho Reyes chilli liqueur, coconut and pineapple – it’s amazing.

The culture

I went to NYU for business school and love the Grey Art Gallery near there.  It has an incredible collection of Persian art, including some of my favorite pieces from artist and architect, Siah Armajani.

The thing to do

Modo Yoga is my favorite yoga studio in Greenwich Village, NYC. The owners Karine and Lawrence are the absolute best. I also love visiting the Washington Square Dog Park with my friend’s adorable pomski.

Read more from our Five Reasons series, here.

Haley is originally from New Jersey, but now lives in Greenpoint, Brooklyn with her husband (the man behind interiors mecca, The Somerset House, and founder of sustainable fashion brand, Everyone Wins). Haley is a fashion stylist, with an incredible eye for cult brands. She’s worked with the likes of Moda Operandi, Timo Weiland and NYLON, to name a few. She’s also travel obsessed and loves nothing more than booking a trip to explore somewhere new or revisit a favorite destination. Her guide to Greenpoint, Brooklyn, is a checklist of cool places that feel properly local.

Part of our Five Reasons series, here you’ll find the most local of tips – from unique hotels to small businesses and secret spots (we trust you to keep these on the DL). Because, we firmly believe there’s no better way to get to know a place than when guided by someone who knows it best.

Read on for Haley’s favorite places to eat, drink, stay, and shop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Name: Haley Loewenthal

Where you live: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Where you’re from: New Jersey

What you do: Fashion stylist, travel enthusiast

Five reasons to visit Greenpoint, Brooklyn

The food

For brunch, my ultimate favorite in Greenpoint is Glasserie. They do an amazing seasonal mezze brunch that is so fun to enjoy with a group of friends.

For drinks, Archilles Heel is a must. It’s off the beaten track in Greenpoint and makes you feel like you’ve found a true treasure. From the crew behind Marlow & Sons and Diner, it’s a bar that makes you feel cooler than you are – sipping on a whiskey, tucked away in a private booth, with an amazing soundtrack humming in the background.

The donuts

Yes, donuts get their own separate section. It’s not a trip to Greenpoint without indulging in donuts and coffee at Peter Pan. I love sitting at the counter of this old-school bakery, pretending it’s the 1950s.

The hotel

The Wythe Hotel is where I recommend my out of town friends and family to stay. It has the right amount of boutique charm, an amazing rooftop bar, and a great restaurant. Its technically in North Williamsburg, but it makes for the perfect location to walk through the park into all your Greenpoint adventures.

The store

I absolutely love Homecoming, a coffee shop / plant and home store. They have great coffee and the sweetest bouquets, which make you want to fill your home with flowers.

Dream Fish and Tackle is my favorite for vintage home and furniture finds in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, plus records – and fish and tackle! This is a father-daughter run operation and lends itself to some serious treasure hunting.

The thing to do

New Love City is a great yoga studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The instructors all have different styles and I’ve learned to love each one of them. The serene space is so gorgeous that half the time, my mind ends up wandering to imagine how I would design the studio if it were my own apartment. A girl can dream!

Read more from our Five Reasons series, here.

Dayami Candebat hails from Hamburg, and lives between there and London. She considers herself to have the dream job, as an international model and mental health advocate. She’s also one of the best in the business for beauty tips. Her Instagram bio reads ‘skincare and travel aficionada’, enough said.

Part of our Five Reasons series, here you’ll find the most local of tips – from unique hotels to small businesses and secret spots (we trust you to keep these on the DL). Because, we firmly believe there’s no better way to get to know a place than when guided by someone who knows it best.

Read on for Dayami’s favorite places to eat, drink, stay, and shop in Hamburg.

Name: Dayami Candebat

Home: Eimsbüttel, Hamburg

From: Hamburg

Job: Digital project lead, turned international model, and mental health and body positivity advocate

Five reasons to visit Hamburg, Germany

The food and drink

One of my favorite places to eat breakfast is Marie. They have the best pancakes and also serve a lovely lunch with seasonal and local products. If you go for the pancakes, try the crunchy banana or blueberry versions. And, don’t underestimate the portions.

Trattoria Calabria is a hidden gem in Hamburg. It’s a small Italian restaurant run by Matteo and Leo, who use the freshest produce for their dishes. I love the homemade scampi pasta! If you want to support an amazing small business and try some delicious pasta, add them to your list.

The Chug Club is located in the Red Light district of Hamburg. And, as the name says, they serve ‘chugs’ – tequila-based mini cocktails. The atmosphere is speakeasy vibes and I would definitely go for the six-course mini cocktail tasting.

The hotel

The boutique Hotel Das Kleine Grindel is one of Hamburg’s smallest hotels and located in the vibrant Grindel district. Housed in a restored workshop dating from the first half of the 19th century, the two rooms offer all possible comforts. If you’re looking for a cozy spot with everything in Hamburg close by, this is the perfect stay.

The store

Vau Hamburg is located in Eppendorf and carries an exciting variety of Hamburg-designed products, but also internationally renowned brands like Acne and Samsoe&Samsoe. The Eppendorfer Baum (street) is always worth a stroll.

The thing to do

BOOM BÄNG NAMASTE is a newly founded yoga studio, where the music is just as powerful as the yoga You can flow from hip hop to techno. Its always nice to chat with Laura, the owner, who travels all over the world to broaden the experiences at her yoga studio with classes like sound baths.

The culture

Located in the heart of the red-light district the Affenfaust Galerie is a forum for contemporary art, curating young and established artists. If you stroll around town, you will also find street art on the walls from their collaborations.

Read more travel inspiration from Dayami Candeba in her full Insider profile, here.