The AmiGo Edit 20: Japan recs, a new London hot spot…

The team behind some of West London’s buzziest pubs—The Pelican and The Hero—has just delivered a new hot spot: Canteen 310, a bustling Italian cafe at the intersection of two of Notting Hill’s best roads, Portobello and Golborne. The kitchen is headed up by two ex-chefs of the River Cafe, who dish out plates including gorgonzola and fig pizzettes, vitello tonnato, duck ragu gnocchi, & more. Swing by the walk-in–only spot right around opening to be one of the first to try it.

Take your workouts indoors this winter—but stay stylish while doing so—with Hercule Studio’s chic yoga mats. The Paris-based brand, started by former athletes, designs with an “Exercise Beautifully" philosophy, which has resulted in architecturally interesting, graphic mats in vibrant colors. And we’re not the only ones who love them. You can find their products at some of our favorite workout studios in Paris (The New Me Pilates, Burning Bar) and stylish hotels including Nice’s Hôtel du Couvent, Menorca’s Experimental Hotel, London’s The Emory, & more.

Buenos Aires rightfully deserves its nickname of the Paris of South America, a reference to the city’s European influence and cosmopolitan air, but there’s more to Argentina’s capital than that. Buenos Aires is a multi-dimensional city with a fascinating blend of latin culture and colonial heritage. Fresh from a trip to the Argentine metropolis, our editor noted grand boulevards and architecture reminiscent of Madrid and Paris alongside lush greenery embedded into the city’s architecture akin to Mexico City. Highlights from her visit include a fabulous boutique stay at Hotel Casa Lucia in the elegant Recoleta neighborhood, a meal at Palermo favorite El Preferido, shopping for vintage treasures at Gil Antiguedades and modern designs at Sadaels, and viewing vibrant art at MALBA and MAMBA—all of which make a strong case for Buenos Aires as your next adventure.

There’s no shortage of amazing follows on AmiGo, but this month we’re excited about three users in particular:

@evelinekotakidou: Stockholm-based creative director and stylist with recs in Athens, Paris, the Swedish capital, & more.
@khanum: London-based product marketer with recs in Marrakech, Norway, Paris, & more.
@zoodbored: NYC-based corporate strategist with amazing art-focused recs in Santa Fe, NYC, Paris, & more.

It’s not quite ski season yet but we’re here to encourage you to start planning a winter escape to Japan’s best ski resort: Niseko. Known for its powder skiing, the laid-back cool town sits on the island Hokkaido, reached via a two-hour flight from Tokyo. And you’ll find more than just epic skiing here—there are a handful of cool hotels, including a very authentic ryokan, Zaborin, and some amazing restaurants. Don’t miss the family-run Rakuichi for handmade soba noodles, Shin Shin for Edomae-style sushi, or Bar Gyu+, possibly the coolest speakeasy bar in the world (accessed via a nondescript refrigerator door).

Madrid-born, Paris-based designer Maria de la Orden is our latest favorite follow on AmiGo. Maria launched her eponymous brand after an inspiring trip to Peru, where she brought home vibrant textiles that would inform her line’s beautifully patterned jackets, scarves, & more. Quality is of the utmost importance for her brand (Maria sources her prints from India and cashmere from Mongolia), so it’s no surprise that her travel recs are also expertly curated. Follow Maria on AmiGo for tightly edited recs in Paris, London, & more—and shop Maria de la Orden for chic travel-ready pieces. Use code AMIGOxMDLO for 10% off, valid until December 6.