On Gifting Experiences
Don’t give stuff: give something to do! From visiting charming central California villages to creative approaches to cuisine in the south of France.
Gift guides these days have become a veritable Mad Libs of capitalist culture, simply pencil in your preferred hobby or personal description et voilà!, here are the 42 best presents on earth (affiliate links and discount codes included). There are guides for people with taste, for people with kids (or with dogs), a guide for the clueless dads 🥴 and over-worked moms, a guide for people who like to stay in and a guide for people who like to go out. A guide for your zodiac sign, a guide for your Italy-obsessed girlfriend, a guide for narcoleptics, and a guide for burgeoning bird watchers.
I decided to take a different approach which is focused on giving experiences, places to vacation or places to share a meal. The list includes places I’ve personally visited and loved as well as places that are high on my list that I can’t wait to visit. Some places are fancy and some places are food trucks. Enjoying the spectrum of places, both culturally high brow and low brow, is the best way to truly enjoy the world. Imagine telling a special someone that you’re going on a fantastic vacation next year? Or that you’ve booked a very special meal for them for their birthday? Instead of buying disposable objects they probably don’t need you’re building memories that can be treasured forever (sorry Mom, I’m still not taking you to Deadwood, South Dakota 😂). None of this is sponsored, by the way, but if you want to invite me out, I’m available, these are simply places and businesses that I think you’d enjoy 💙
Sparrows Lodge in Palm Springs →
Palm Springs is hands down my favorite place to vacation, for many reasons. It’s remote, it’s warm, it’s filled with charming places to eat and shop, plus there wonderful hikes where you can savor the arid landscape. When I visit my go-to place to stay is the Sparrows Lodge, which was originally Castle’s Red Barn built in 1952, and was “one of the original resort getaways for Hollywood elite.” I first stayed here back in 2015 and the old red barn and massive pool lined with palm trees makes it the perfect place to relax and catch up on that book you’ve been meaning to finish. Plus, they have a talented kitchen who crank out cute lunches during the day while hosting fantastic dinners each night, a great place to meet other sunny vacationers.
Alamo Motel in Los Alamos →
My other favorite place to vacation in California is a small town called Los Alamos, a 2.5 hour drive north from Los Angeles. The whole town is only about 7 blocks wide, with an amazing restaurant (see below), an incredible bakery, lots of great shops, plus amazing wine country surrounding the town. It’s a perfect weekend getaway, and the best place to stay is the Alamo Motel right in the heart of the town. The rooms are simple, made with plywood and found materials, and in the center of the motel is Bar Alamo where you can enjoy a glass of local wine by the fire pit.
Hotel Saint George in Marfa →
There are few places as magical as Marfa, the way out there town in the west part of Texas that exists like a mirage in the desert. Famous now for becoming the home of artist Donald Judd, he started The Chinati Foundation as a place to house his large scale sculptures amongst the rocky terrain. In stark contrast to the small town and creative locals is the Hotel Saint George, a contemporary hotel that was originally built in 1886. It’s central location allows you to stop by places like Mutual Friends for coffee, swing by El Cosmico for some souvenirs, a nice bar of soap from Wonder Valley, and tour all the local galleries along the way.
Tuba Club in Marseille →
Just outside of Marseille is a tiny town called Goudes where you’ll find Tuba Club, a 5 room hotel and restaurant that is the perfect place to unwind. Perched along the rocky coastline, this former scuba diving club is now one of the coolest hotels in the south of France. I had the most amazing meal here in August and wish I could have stayed here, though sadly, dogs are not allowed. Still, it seems like the perfect place to stay. Swimming in the private cover during the day then drying off and enjoying oysters and champagne. Who could ask for more?
Also fantastic…
Placido y Grata in Seville, Hotel Rumour in The Netherlands, Castlemartyr Resort in Cork, Hotel Corazón in Mallorca, The Rebello in Porto, Totém in Madrid, Ace Hotel in Toronto, Hotel Drei Berge in Mürren, Artyzen New Bund 31 in Shanghai, De Durgerdam in Amsterdam, Villa Palladio in Jaipur, Maison Brummell Majorelle in Marrakech, Mona in Athens, Proper Hotel in Downtown L.A., Villa W in Saint Tropez.
Bell’s →
This list was so hard to compile because I love food so much. But there is one place that has always felt like the perfect combination of amazing food, a beautiful atmosphere, and incredible service, and that is Bell’s in Los Alamos. The Michelin star restaurant is helmed by chef Daisy Ryan and her husband and business partner Greg Ryan, who combine traditional French cuisine with the most exquisite wines (take a peek at the menus!) from the area. I’ve had the pleasure of eating two lunches and two dinners at Bell’s and I still think of those meals to this day. If I had one more meal on this Earth, I’d eat it at Bell’s.
Bar Cecil →
Back to Palm Springs, my desert sanctuary, where a new-ish restaurant stole my heart. It’s called Bar Cecil, and technically it’s in an all but abandoned strip mall, but you wouldn’t realize this as you sit inside. Inspired by the famous photographer Cecil Beaton, the space has high ceilings lined with wood-panelling, famous works of art, and moody lighting, while outside on the patio you’re surrounded by plants and flowers, a perfect place to perch in summer. The menu leans French though there’s plenty of surprises like the Red Thai Curry Mussels, the Smoked Bone-In Pork Chop, and for dessert, fresh made chocolate chip cookies.
A.O.C. →
If I had to recommend one place to eat in all of Los Angeles I’d recommend A.O.C. No matter the time of day, no matter the occasion, it’s always delicious and the vibe is always great. There’s their iconic Spanish fried chicken and cornmeal waffle for brunch, which is simply heaven on a plate. For a perfect dinner, you must order the bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with parmesan, the roasted tomato focaccia with burrata, salbitxada and almonds, the salad with apples, pears, chicories, honey and point reyes fennel blue, the fingerling potatoes with crème fraîche & chives, and finish it off with the duck breast with verjus poached quince, mustard greens and hazelnuts.
La Mercerie →
Finally, leaving the west coast, I have one more place that is very special to me, and that’s La Mercerie in Manhattan. Located inside the Roman & Williams Guild Shop on Howard Street, with food by chef Marie-Aude Rose, I simply can’t think of a more elegant, fancy, refined, and downright outrageous dining experience. It’s a place that feels out of time, and yes, it’s French food, I realize that I now equate French food with my best food memories. The first time I ate here, I ate by myself on a work trip, because I simply had to try it for myself. If you’re in New York, you must make a stop.
Also delicious…
Gitane in Amsterdam, Mikan in Barcelona, Sam’s Indian Food & Pizza in Joshua Tree, Tiffany’s x 1905 in Thessaloniki, Llama Inn in Madrid, Zizou in Los Angeles, OMA in London, Fiskebaren in Copenhagen, Cheval d'Or in Paris, Taco Zone in Echo Park, Apollo Bar in Copenhagen, Counter Reformation in Palm Springs, Mog in Barcelona, Noble Rot in London, Normal in Girona, Clown Bar in Paris, Bar Miller in New York, Fallow in London, Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur in Reykjavik, and Camélia in Los Angeles.
This last section includes some places to shop, in case you just HAVE to buy some cute things. These are small stores from around the world who are truly creating or curating beautiful objects that can enhance your day-to-day life.
A Kind of Guise in Germany, Niwaki in London, Postalco in Tokyo, Bard in Edinburgh, Thinking Mu in Spain, OK in Los Angeles, Mjölk in Toronto, Stoffa in New York, Flamingo Estate in Los Angeles, Casa Bosque in Mexico City, Neighbour in Vancouver, 0fr. Bookshop in Paris, Tekla in Copenhagen, Hender Scheme in Tokyo.