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I live in Amsterdam and visit Oficina at least once a month, as their menu changes regularly. It’s a serene canteen with shared tables and a calm atmosphere. The menu is vegetable-focused, offering seasonal dishes like bean stews, farinata, and congee. Oficina is also known for its extensive tea menu—be sure to try the sobacha, a nutty-tasting buckwheat tea. I also love having breakfast or lunch at Carmen, located at the back of the eponymous shop and guesthouse. It’s impossible to leave without falling in love with the shop’s new arrivals, featuring brands like Sophie Buhai, Saks Potts, Baserange, Corali, and Bless.
I’m currently prepping for Paris Fashion Week at the end of the month. Last time I was in town, I stayed at Château Voltaire—the rooms felt homey yet utterly chic, and the staff was lovely. This time, I’m staying at Hotel Rochechouart in the 9th, which feels like my Parisian home at this point. It’s less central, but the rooms are cozy-chic, and there are a few great cafés and lunch spots nearby, such as Rose Bakery, Hôtel Amour, and Dimanche, where I get my daily matcha. It’s also close to one of my favorite vintage stores, Iregular, which sells archival pieces from Prada, Maison Margiela, and Tom Ford-era Gucci. I found a rare Martin Margiela-era Hermès clochette there! Speaking of vintage, I can’t wait to finally visit Nuovo, a designer vintage store with impeccable curation.
I just got back from a trip to Venice to celebrate a dear friend’s birthday, and it was magical. She has visited countless times with her mother and introduced us to all the iconic spots, such as Harry’s Bar, Caffè Florian, Trattoria Do Forni, and the Gritti Palace (thank you so much, Pirrie!). I loved visiting the Olivetti showroom, designed by Carlo Scarpa, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, which currently features a Jean Cocteau exhibition. We sailed on a vintage yacht to Murano to see how the famous glass is blown, and to the lesser-known Burano, renowned for its lace. I came home with the most beautiful handmade lace coasters. We also jumped off the boat for our final ocean swim of the year—the best summer sendoff one could ask for.
Maryam Nassir Zadeh is not only one of my favorite designers, but I also love her namesake stores in New York and Paris, where she sells brands like Cristaseya, Sophie Buhai, and Santangelo alongside her own collection. I especially enjoy following her for the unique antique and vintage gems she discovers. Her home and stores are filled with ceramics and objects she finds during her travels, and I follow her on AmiGo to learn exactly where she sources these treasures. For example, she found antique embroidered napkins, combs, and hair clips at the Feriköy Antika Pazarı, a local antique market in Istanbul.
Hodakova is a brand I can’t stop talking about, known for transforming discarded items like bras, belts, and spoons into luxury pieces. I interviewed founder Ellen Larsson Hodakova for the March issue of Vogue Netherlands, and I admired her even more after learning about her upbringing on a horse farm and her inspiration from her mother, who rehabbed thrifted clothes for their family. Ellen recently won the LVMH Prize, and I’m currently saving up for her Belt Bag Chequered, crafted entirely from woven leather belts.
When my daughter Olive was a baby, she was the easiest travel companion, joining us on weekend trips to Copenhagen, Paris, and Biarritz. Now that she’s just turned two, we’ve noticed after our summer holidays that she prefers the routine of being home, surrounded by her books, toys, stuffed animals, and her own bed. It’s just a phase, and I’m sure she’ll love traveling again eventually, but for now, I’ve canceled the city trip to Athens I had planned for October. I had booked Mona, a boutique hotel with spacious rooms featuring beautiful draped curtains, a round bath, and mid-century furniture, and it’s located close to the Acropolis. I was also planning to have dinner at Pharaoh. Ever since I saw Sam Youkilis dine at this wood-fired restaurant, I’ve been dreaming of trying their dolma, beans, and eggplant dishes.
Xx
Stephanie Broek
Follow Stephanie to discover more of her favorite places around the world.
