[ THE DISPATCH ]
City Guides
Deep dives into neighbourhoods, food and culture. 181 dispatches and counting.
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City GuidesWhere to Stay in Hoi An vs. Da Nang: Lanterns or the Beach City?
Hoi An is the lantern-lit old town everyone dreams of. Da Nang is the modern beach city next door with the bridges and the bars. They're 30 minutes apart — here's where to actually base your Vietnam trip.
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City GuidesWhere to Stay in Hong Kong: Sheung Wan Charm vs. Kowloon Buzz
Two sides of the harbour, two completely different Hong Kongs. Sheung Wan is the island's antique-and-coffee charm; Kowloon is the relentless, neon-bright buzz. Here's how to choose.
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City GuidesWhere to Stay in Kuala Lumpur: Bukit Bintang vs. Bangsar's Leafy Calm
Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur, decoded: tourist-central Bukit Bintang against the expat-favourite calm of Bangsar. Honest pros, cons, prices, and who each one suits.
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City GuidesWhere to Stay in Kyoto: Arashiyama Quiet vs. Gion's Geisha Streets
Two ways to sleep in Kyoto: out west among Arashiyama's bamboo and temples where the mornings are silent, or smack in Gion's old wooden geisha streets where the city's history walks past your window. Here's how to choose.
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City GuidesWhere to Stay in Marseille: Le Panier's Old Port vs. Cours Julien Art
Le Panier is Marseille's ancient harbour maze of climbing alleys and sea light. Cours Julien is the loud, painted, street-art hill. Two opposite bases — here's the honest take on where to stay in Marseille.
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City GuidesWhere to Stay in Mumbai: Bandra Cool vs. Colaba's Colonial Core
Two Mumbais, two completely different trips. Bandra is the suburb of film stars, sea-facing cafés, and late nights. Colaba is heritage, the harbour, and the postcard. Here's which one fits the trip you're actually taking.
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City GuidesWhere to Stay in Oaxaca City: Centro vs. Jalatlaco's Mural Lanes
Centro puts you steps from the Zócalo, the markets and the mezcal bars. Jalatlaco is the quiet, mural-covered barrio everyone photographs. Here's the honest call on where to stay in Oaxaca City.
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City GuidesWhere to Stay in Osaka: Namba Neon vs. Umeda's Quiet Convenience
Osaka's two big bases pull in opposite directions. Namba is Dotonbori chaos on your doorstep; Umeda is the calm, hyper-connected north. Here's how to pick the one that fits your trip.
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City GuidesWhere to Stay in Porto: Ribeira Postcards vs. Cedofeita Cool
Ribeira is the riverfront everyone photographs and half of them regret booking. Cedofeita is the arty, café-and-gallery district locals actually live in. Here's which Porto base is right for you.
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City GuidesWhere to Stay in Prague: Old Town Charm vs. Vinohrady Sanity
The postcard center will eat you alive on crowds and price. The residential districts give you Prague without the stag parties. Here's the honest trade.
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City GuidesWhere to Stay in Seoul: Seochon's Hanok Lanes vs. Yeonnam-dong Cafés
Most Seoul guides shove you into Myeongdong or Hongdae and call it a day. Skip both. Seochon's quiet hanok lanes and Yeonnam-dong's café streets are slower, prettier, and where I'd actually put you for a first trip.
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City GuidesWhere to Stay in Taipei: Zhongshan Calm vs. Xinyi's Glass Towers
Where to stay in Taipei, decoded: leafy mid-city Zhongshan against the glass towers and malls of Xinyi. Honest pros, cons, prices, and who each one actually suits.
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City GuidesWhere to Stay in Valencia: El Carmen Old Town vs. Ruzafa's Hip Streets
Two Valencias, two completely different trips. El Carmen is the medieval maze; Ruzafa is the brunch-and-design barrio. Here's how to pick the right one before you book.
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City GuidesWhere to Stay in Los Angeles When You Refuse to Rent a Car
LA was built for cars and punishes everyone else, but a handful of neighborhoods let you walk to dinner and reach a Metro stop. Here's the honest car-free map, plus where not to get stranded.
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City GuidesWhich Istanbul Neighborhood Is Right for You? Europe Side vs. Asia Side
Sultanahmet, Karakoy, or the quieter Asian shore? The ferry-commute reality of choosing where to sleep in a city split across two continents.
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City GuidesWhich Singapore Hawker Neighborhood Should Anchor Your Trip?
Singapore is a hawker city, so base yourself near a great one and you eat like a king for pocket change. Four neighborhoods, four hawker centres, and an honest call on which should anchor your stay.
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City GuidesJordaan vs. De Pijp: Choosing Your Amsterdam Base Like a Local
Jordaan or De Pijp? Two of Amsterdam's most coveted neighborhoods, each with its own personality—here's how to choose without second-guessing yourself for the entire flight over.
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City GuidesWhich Bangkok Neighborhood Is Right for You? A Brutally Honest Breakdown
Sukhumvit, Silom, Rattanakosin, Ari — Bangkok's neighborhoods aren't interchangeable. Pick wrong and you'll spend your whole trip in a taxi. Here's the map.
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City GuidesBest Neighborhoods to Stay in Paris (Ranked by a Real Snob)
Paris has 20 arrondissements and approximately 4,000 opinions about which one you should sleep in. Here is a ruthless ranking from someone who has stayed in most of them and has feelings about all of them.
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City GuidesBrooklyn vs. Manhattan: The Honest Guide for First-Time New York Visitors
Manhattan will overwhelm you and charge you $28 for a cocktail. Brooklyn will charm you, also charge you $28 for a cocktail, and pretend it didn't. Here's how to pick your borough and what nobody tells you about both.
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City GuidesThe Real Buenos Aires: San Telmo, Palermo Soho, Recoleta—Which Is For You?
Buenos Aires is not one city—it's four or five cities stacked inside each other, each with its own personality and price tag. Here's how to choose your corner of it.
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City GuidesThe Chicago Neighborhoods Guide: Beyond the Bean and the Deep Dish
The Bean is a 15-minute Uber from wherever you're staying — which means your Chicago base matters more than you think. Here's how Wicker Park, Logan Square, Lincoln Park, and the Loop actually differ, and who each one suits.
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City GuidesFitzroy vs. Collingwood: Where Melbourne Actually Gets Interesting
Fitzroy has the brunches and the street art and the cafés where the barista explains the bean origin before you ask. Collingwood is where Fitzroy goes to feel less precious about itself. Both are excellent. Here's who they're for.
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City GuidesGràcia vs. Born: Barcelona's Two Most Loveable Neighborhoods Compared
Gràcia is a village that got absorbed into a city and never stopped being a village. El Born is where Barcelona goes when it wants to feel medieval and stylish simultaneously. Here's which one is yours.