Cha Cha Matcha

I recently went to New York in July to meet up with some of my amazing blogger friends. I have lots to get round to blogging about, however I have really wanted to do this post for ages and thought it was time. So lots more on my trip soon! But now to talk about a magical place I have wanted to go for ages after seeing fab photos on instagram. This place is Cha Cha Matcha.

On my trip to Manchester in April I finally got to try a matcha latte, and it was delicious! And of course I fell completely in love with it. I found this amazing place online which happened to be in New York, and I added it to my list of things to do while I was there. I was only in New York for such a short time, and am already planning my return, but on my last day in the city I managed to go visit with Lina. 

It was pretty magical, and very instagram/blog worthy, as you can see from my photos. I ended up ordering a warm matcha latte, and it was wonderful. They had all different types of drinks you could order, including some fabulous looking cold ones. They will be a must the next time I visit. 

The decor was so fun, and I just wanted to take photos of everything. Friendly staff working really hard as they measure all the servings out to perfection. Pastel pink and bright green tables, with grass on the wall, and their signature cha cha neon font adorned the walls. It really was perfection. I mean even the lightening in the toilet was pink! It was the perfect place to relax in such a busy city before I headed home. While I was visiting they opened up a new location which will be on my list to visit next time I am in New York. You can find out move about Cha Cha Matcha on their website or take a peek at their instagram.

Fancy a drink?

While Dillon was here we got to visit Margate. It's one of my favourite place to visit, as I get to spend a lot of my time with David here. The sun came out, and the sky was blue. It was really warm, so the best time to be beside the sea. We did quite a lot in Margate on this day, more of which I will talk about soon, but this post is all about the cute coffee shops/ restaurants/ bars we visited.

First up was Proper Coffee. This super cute place is always top of my list of place to visit while I am in Margate. The coffee is always so good, and sandwiches are always the first thing I order. The style and decor of the place is super relaxed and quirky. I love the different rooms, and the giant chalkboard with lots of fun things to do in Margate.

Proper coffee is defiantly my favourite place to stop when in Margate. The chilled out vibes make the whole coffee shop perfect. The best place to relax with friends or sit and type away on your laptop. I first stumbled across this gorgeous place when it was raining with friends. It turned out to be the best thing we did all day.

The next place we visited was a brand new place called Word Up. I was drawn to the beautiful giant coffee sign above the bar. It was still very new, and lots still needed to be finished, but we enjoyed the drinks anyway. The fact we didn't have wifi was annoying, but it will be sorted soon as they are still working on the space. They had amazing lights on the walls, which I think they make and sell. The lights really make the space. So bright and fun.

Then later in the afternoon we nipped into the Cupcake Cafe. It has been given a brand new makeover and inside is now a dark blue. We had to visit because when I'm in Margate I have to have a cupcake. The cupcakes are still the best, and always make me smile!

Just before we went home we tried this new bar on the seafront and it was called The Bottle Shop. This again was very nice, and had just opened! I loved the fresh and clean style of the place. The guys behind the bar were friendly and happy to help with advice on what to drink. We ordered drinks and sat with the warm sunshine on our faces.

After our drinks and fish and chips, we caught the train back. More on our adventure in Margate soon!

Hutspot, Amsterdam

While I was away in Amsterdam I was lucky enough to visit the gorgeous Hutspot. It's a beautiful store, which actually reminds me of a Urban Outfitters. So Hutspot searches for new and interesting brands, designers, artists and entrepreneurs, offering them the chance to expose their products in their own space within the shops. I love this approach. It feels so different when you walk into the store, its fresh, bright and airy. This is what you want when you go shopping. 

The store is laid out perfectly. Of course I have already said there is a Photo Booth in the front, which is an amazing plus. When you walk further in you are greeted by such clean and fresh displays. You feel as if you can really look at the items for sale. I am a huge fan of stores that mix their pieces together. I feel you can always shop this better.

While in the store I picked up these The Cool Club: Men playing cards. I purchased the Cool Men set, but sadly The Cool Club: Women were sold out, but I hope to go back and pick that set up on my next visit. The illustrations on the cards reminded me of Wes Anderson, so I was completely drawn in.

The great thing about Hutspot is that there is a cafe and restaurant upstairs. The perfect little spot to sit and relax. It has an office feel about it, and well as a relaxed coffee house. It really is the perfect place to grab a coffee and bring your laptop and type away. Plus chatting over drinks and lunch with friends works so well also. The lightening is bright and inviting. I really did fall in love with the amazing staff service and the overall atmosphere. I can't wait to go back and spend a whole afternoon there. Shall be thinking of this place when I book my next flight to Amsterdam.