Winter Special Episode 1: Creative Burnout? Reignite Your Spark with the Founders of Birch and The Coven

Calling upon Adam Burke – President & CEO of LA Tourism – and Francine Sheridan – Regional Vice president for Europe and the Middle East for LA Tourism – we’ll be spotlighting their go-to LA recommendations, sharing their insider stories and showcasing the places our audience should have on-radar in this conversation-starting podcast episode. 

From world-class museums, world-class gastronomy and a whole host of red carpet-approved experiences, we’ll be giving our audience all the tools, tips and tricks to start planning their Los Angeles adventures. Whether they’re seasoned visitors or first-time travellers, we’re lifting the lid on the best spots for brunch, art exhibitions not to miss and the beaches locals want to keep a secret. 

Throw in some editor-approved recommendations from our podcast co-hosts and you’ve got yourself a LA adventure where anything is possible. 

Discover what’s playing at discoverlosangeles.com/

Adam’s & Francine’s Insider Recommendations to LA

To Stay:

Venice V Hotel 
Short Stories

Fairmont Century Plaza

Dream Hotel Hollywood

The Conrad Hotel 

To Eat:

La Cha Cha Cha

Republique 
Browse Dine LA roster of events 

N/Naka 

To Drink:

Homebound Brewhaus (formerly Imperial Brewing Company)

To Do:

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 

Catch a Los Angeles Angels game
Explore the Original Farmers Market

LACMA 

Visit the Arts District in DTLA

Catch a live show at Hollywood Bowl

Dogpound to get your sweat on

To Shop

Clae for eco-conscious kicks 

The Grove

Our Editor-Approved LA Hotspots

The Peppermint Club for a celebrity-fuelled night out.

Stay in the Silver Lake Pool and Inn 

Amira’s foodie favourites: L&E Oyster Bar for seafood; Bowery Bungalow; Bacari for glam patio vibes; Mother Wolf for fine dining vibes; Causita for Puruvian Japanese fusion and All Day Baby for something casual

And for fashionistas: Mohawk General Store, and for vintage Golden Age

Fleur’s Culver City foodie picks:

Lonzo’s

Hatchet Hall

Jackson Market Deli

In this energetic episode Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Justin Jesso, who has amassed hundreds of millions of streams for his collaborations with Kygo, Ricky Martin and the Backstreet Boys, is joined by Sangyay Chen; a fashion, beauty and lifestyle tastemaker who has graced the cover of Vogue and has nearly 250,000 followers on Instagram.

They tell Amira Hashish about their back-to-back European travels after they packed their bags to explore Italy, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, the Balearics and Switzerland over four culture-packed months.

From stumbling across their new favourite sculptural artist to a surprise foodie getaway, they lift the lid on the more unexpected jet set adventures.

Looking for the soundtrack to accompany your travels? Justin’s new single Lose Ya is available to stream here.

This episode was recorded at Soho Works, the members-only co-working space from Soho House with locations in Los Angeles, London and New York. Visit sohoworks.com.

Keep up with our hosts' travels and follow Fleur Rollet-Manus on @fleur_rm and Amira Hashish on @thedesigneditor.

This episode is proudly sponsored by away.  Follow @away on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok. Or to browse the full line-up and find your ideal travel companion, visit their website at awaytravel.com or IRL at their London store, located in vibey Seven Dials.

Completing 52 UK adventures within 52 weeks - and welcoming their first-born along the way - Charlie and Jess have turned their passion project into a lifestyle that everyone wants a piece of. The couple have redefined the parameters of adventure, emphasising that you don’t have to embark on a journey to a faraway destination to feel the thrill of discovery. 

Leaning on relationships built with locals, Charlie and Jess immersed themselves into the culture of whichever spot they chose to visit and strived for an authentic, sustainable experience to write home about. 

Now with 32.5K followers on Instagram, the travelling twosome have ignited the movement of “achievable adventure” and rediscovered the UK in a brand new - and beautiful - light. 

This episode was recorded at Soho Works, the members-only co-working space from Soho House with locations in Los Angeles, London and New York. Visit sohoworks.com.

Keep up with our hosts’ travels and follow Fleur Rollet-Manus on @fleur_rm and Amira Hashish on @thedesigneditor.

This episode is proudly sponsored by away.  Follow @away on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok. Or to browse the full line-up and find your ideal travel companion, visit their website at awaytravel.com or IRL at their London store, located in vibey Seven Dials.

Nicknamed the “nomadic chef,” Santiago Lastra has cooked the learnings of his international travels into the Michelin-star kitchen of his Mexican-British fusion restaurant, KOL. Taking inspiration from kitchens in the 27 countries he’s worked in, Lastra has presented London with new ways to use local ingredients, grounded in the flavours and techniques of Mexico, his home country. Listen in as the pioneer culinarian details his journey to not only success, but a sense of purpose. 

On the heels of three family deaths, the then 15-year-old Santiago Lastra found solace in cooking for his mother and brother. Watching from the kitchen, the young chef witnessed the power of quality food to brighten the darkest of moments and has chased that feeling ever since. 

After bouncing around the world, Lastra settled on London to open KOL, the first Mexican restaurant in the UK to have a Michelin star –– and within the first year of opening nonetheless.

The once solo-mission has now granted him with a new, and thriving, community in a city where he’s most definitely made his mark. Plus, Lastra gives insider tips on exploring Mexico City, the origin place of his culinary career. 

This episode was recorded at Soho Works, the members-only co-working space from Soho House with locations in Los Angeles, London and New York. Visit sohoworks.com.

Keep up with our hosts’ travels and follow Fleur Rollet-Manus on @fleur_rm and Amira Hashish on @thedesigneditor.

This episode is proudly sponsored by away.  Follow @away on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok. Or to browse the full line-up and find your ideal travel companion, visit their website at awaytravel.com or IRL at their London store, located in vibey Seven Dials.

In this moving episode, Penguin Modern Classic author Tété-Michel Kpomassie lifts the lid on his rare gem of travel writing and the startling journey that took him from Africa to Greenland.

Part memoir, part anthropological observation, Michel the Giant is a storytelling feat. Kpomassie digs deep into the astonishing experience that changed the course of his life and led to his much-acclaimed book.   

Plus, The Upgrade hosts Fleur and Amira compare notes on the travel destinations that make them nostalgic. They explore places that have a pull because of their impactful memories and discuss why this kind of travel experience is seeing a rise.

This episode was recorded at Soho Works, the members-only co-working space from Soho House with locations in Los Angeles, London and New York. Visit sohoworks.com.

Keep up with our hosts travels and follow Fleur Rollet-Manus on @fleur_rm and Amira Hashish on @thedesigneditor.

Tune in as @PHLEMUNS founder James Flemons unveils why Los Angeles has the most liberating landscape in the US for launching a relevant fashion brand, while mother/daughter design duo Rebecca Henry and Akua Shabaka of @houseofaama discuss the Black experience that is conveyed in their timeless garments. @theculturistgroup founder Danny Guerrero explores his pathway to inclusive, culture-forward communications in the travel world and @shortstorieshotels owner Leo Grifka outlines his vision for the hotel world.
 

In partnership with Visit California, this episode was recorded live at a dinner party, produced by creative studio Rapport and hosted at Short Stories Hotel, with some of the greatest creative minds from the Golden State in attendance.

Feeling inspired? Start planning your trip at visitcalifornia.com. 

The final instalment of our three-part podcast series with Visit California, we catch up with executive chef Matthew Beaudin who is at the helm of the innovative, sustainably-driven food program at Monterey Bay Aquarium. Thanks to Matt and his team, the Aquarium has become a leader in the conservation field and is making waves with its environmental efforts around the world. Big Little Lies fans will recognise the jellyfish from the silver screen too.

Chef Matt gives us his take on why Monterey is a big city with a small town feel and glides us through the winery tours we should raise a glass to in Carmel, the need-to-know restaurants with breathtaking beaches in the county or the hikes and trails we should plot out.

The Upgrade co-hosts Fleur and Amira are primed for a coastal getaway that packs a serious punch when it comes to food and wine.

Start planning your trip at visitcalifornia.com.

This episode was recorded at Soho Works, the members-only co-working space from Soho House with locations in Los Angeles, London and New York. Visit sohoworks.com.

Keep up with our hosts travels and follow Fleur Rollet-Manus on @fleur_rm and Amira Hashish on @thedesigneditor.

The second episode in our three-part podcast series with Visit California, we chat to Alexis Palomino and Chris Ramirez, the founders of a design collective called Superbloom. The dynamic duo’s endless passion for Greater Palm Springs is infectious. 

Giving us a wealth of insider tips and in-the-know local recommendations to help you plan your next trip, they share their favourite natural wine breweries, the neighbourhoods we should be exploring and the antique stores to get lost in.

Plus, The Upgrade co-hosts Amira and Fleur reveal why they find the desert destination so irresistible and guide us through the hotels, restaurants, bars and vintage shops you should be making a beeline for. Oh and did someone say pool party?

Start planning your Greater Palm Springs adventure by visiting visitcalifornia.com.

This episode was recorded at Soho Works, the members-only co-working space from Soho House with locations in Los Angeles, London and New York. Visit sohoworks.com.

Keep up with our hosts travels and follow Fleur Rollet-Manus on @fleur_rm and Amira Hashish on @thedesigneditor

The first episode of our three-part podcast series with Visit California, Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunksi, owner of San Diego based sustainable clothing brand Sew Lowka, gives us her insight into the city’s buzziest neighbourhood; Barrio Logan. 

A fountain of knowledge on the area and an integral part of the community, she explains why this is the epicentre of the city's Mexican-American culture and takes us on a tour of the cutting-edge art, independent shopping and innovative cuisine.

Plus, The Upgrade hosts Fleur and Amira compare notes on the must-visit places that are on their radar. From speakeasies to cultural hotspots, there is so much to savour. 

Start planning your trip at visitcalifornia.com.

This episode was recorded at Soho Works, the members-only co-working space from Soho House with locations in Los Angeles, London and New York. Visit sohoworks.com.

Keep up with our hosts travels and follow Fleur Rollet-Manus on @fleur_rm and Amira Hashish on @thedesigneditor

Calling upon the expertise of Paul Christie, CEO of trailblazing tour operator Walk Japan, we’ll be spotlighting the Japanese prefectures you (probably) haven’t heard of but should be making tracks to, his top Japanese travel tips and why Japan is leading the way for slow travel. Plus, Paul shares his insider guide to the Kunisaki Peninsula in Kyushu, a bucolic hidden paradise that he calls home. 

Our travel editors also share their go-to guide to Iwate, an under-the-radar prefecture filled with blissful beaches, snow-sure mountains and soothing hot springs, and deep-dive into how wellness is key to unlocking Japanese culture. 

We want to know where in Japan you’ve set your sights on. Want to hit the ski slopes? Soaking in onsen hot springs more your scene? Or how about slurping soba noodles in Iwate? Share with us your Japan travel plans to be in with the chance of winning a collector’s bundle of SUITCASE Magazine, worth over £100. Simply fill in this survey.

Start planning your trip to Japan with the Japan National Tourism Organisation here.

Our Go-to Guide to Iwate, Japan

To stay:

For relaxing hot springs and beautifully situated boltholes, bed down in one of these hotels: Hotel Senshūkaku, Hotel Hanamaki or Hotel Kōyōkan. 

To eat:

For the noodle-lovers out there, we recommend heading full-steam ahead to Pairon Honten in Morioka – a local hole-in-the-wall loved for what is arguably the region’s best jajamen (udon noodles topped with cucumbers, garlic, chilli oil and a sweet miso sauce).

To do:

Sun-seekers should absolutely head to Jodogahama Beach, while skiers should make a beeline for Appi Kogen Ski Resort. 

How to get there:

Simply hop on a fast train from Tokyo and in just over two hours you’ll be greeted by the epic scenery and standout food of Iwate. 

Need some Japan travel inspiration? Check out these articles on suitcasemag.com

https://suitcasemag.com/articles/less-visited-japan

https://suitcasemag.com/articles/diamond-route-japan

https://suitcasemag.com/articles/mitsuboshi-kaidou-three-star-road-japan

https://suitcasemag.com/articles/Ishikawa-and-gifu-prefectures

https://suitcasemag.com/articles/pilgrimage-shonai-japan

https://suitcasemag.com/articles/hachinohe