These are personal recommendations from cities I've lived in or visited extensively. No sponsored content, no affiliate links — just places I genuinely enjoy and would recommend to friends
Vancouver, BC
Coffee: Revolver (best pour-over in town), Prototype Coffee (excellent espresso), 49th Parallel (reliable everywhere)
Food: Miku for sushi, Vij's for Indian, Tojo's for omakase. Granville Island market for fresh produce
Walks: Stanley Park seawall, Queen Elizabeth Park for views, Lynn Canyon for an easy forest escape
Neighborhoods: Gastown for history and coffee shops, Kitsilano for beach vibes, Commercial Drive for local character
Stockholm, Sweden
Coffee: Drop Coffee (world-class roaster), Johan & Nyström (great fika spot), Café Pascal (brunch)
Food: Pelikan for traditional Swedish, Frantzén if you're splurging, Lilla Ego for modern Nordic
Walks: Djurgården island, Gamla Stan (old town), Södermalm waterfront in summer
Museums: Fotografiska, Vasa Museum, ABBA Museum if you're feeling nostalgic
Moscow, Russia
Coffee: Camera Obscura, Double B, Skuratov Coffee (Moscow locations)
Food: White Rabbit for fine dining, Lavkalavka for farm-to-table, any pelmeni place for comfort
Walks: Gorky Park, Patriarch's Ponds, Boulevard Ring in autumn, VDNKh for Soviet architecture
Culture: Tretyakov Gallery, Garage Museum, Bolshoi Theatre if you can get tickets
General Travel Tips
Stay local: Skip the hotel breakfast, find where locals eat. Ask baristas and bartenders for recommendations
Walk more: The best discoveries happen on foot. Get lost on purpose. Put away Google Maps sometimes
Slow down: One neighborhood done well beats five attractions rushed. Quality over quantity
More cities coming as I explore. These guides evolve as places change and I discover new favorites