Matador Network's Blog, page 456

These Boston Food Tours Showcase America’s Most Underrated Food City

Filled with history, pubs, and a famously raucous sports culture, Boston is among America’s most unique major cities. Whether you plan to tour The Freedom Trail landmarks or catch a ballgame at Fenway Park, no trip to Boston is complete without experiencing the city’s iconic food scene. These tours take all the guesswork out of choosing where to go, and promise to showcase the city’s culinary offerings in an educational and entertaining manner — lobstah roll included.

We hope you love the Boston food tours we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a tour. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Traveling to Boston? Check out our rundown of the best Airbnb Boston vacation rentals.

Politically Incorrect Food Tour

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

If you’re looking for the real deal regarding food tours in Boston, then this “politically incorrect” food tour is just for you. Hosted by a local born and raised in Boston, this tour will take you to places most don’t know about in the city. The tour will start through Hanover Street and discover all the Iltain favorites from cannoli, biscotti, and other Italian favorites. Then you’ll visit an Italian Deli, bakeries, coffee shops, and other hidden gems.

Price: From $75 per person

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Boston’s Underground Donut Tour

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Need to satisfy that sweet tooth craving of yours? Check out this sweet Boston food tour. On this tour, you’ll explore the city of Boston through donuts and how they fit into Boston’s flavorful food scene (they’re more historically relevant here than you may have guessed). Kane’s Donuts, Boston Public Market, and Boston’s North End are some of the places you’ll visit to try out their delicious donuts.

Price: From $40 per person

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​​Boston Food Tour – Explore the North End and Quincy Market

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

On this tour, you’ll venture to the North End and Quincy Market. You’ll be topping at Faneuil, Quincy Market, the North End Neighborhood, Paul Revere Mall, and even exploring the Rose Kennedy Greenway, all while getting your fill of everything from seafood to pizza. This tour will introduce you to Boston’s foodie culture and one of its most iconic and well-known neighborhoods.

Price: From $48 per person

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North End Little Italy Food Tour

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

There are not more in-depth food tours in Boston than this one, which guides you through the North End on a Little Italy food tour. On this tour, you will explore Boston’s oldest neighborhood and visit many hidden gems including Hanover and Salem streets, Italian delis, bakeries, and cafes. People often think Irish when they visit Boston – -but the real culinary treats are Italian. If you’re looking for a feast, then this tour is for you.

Price: From $75 per person

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The Boston Seafood Tour

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

When experiencing food tours in Boston, there is one thing that you simply can’t skip, and that is the city’s rich seafood. In this tour, you can experience the New England Clam Chowder, lobster rolls, fried clams, raw oysters, and more. Enjoy this tour’s best local seafood stops and savor the tasty, responsibly-sourced seafood.

Price: From $99 per person

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Why You Should Try This Historic Aphrodisiac Liqueur the Next Time You’re in Mexico

My first introduction to damiana liqueur was in La Paz, Mexico, where I received a gift that included damiana liqueur. I was already familiar with other Mexican spirits, such as mezcal and tequila, but the small, souvenir-size bottle piqued my interest. The tag hanging around the neck of the bottle showed a picture of an unruly shrub and stated that the marine air coming from the Sea of Cortez enhanced its flavor. But the more I delved into the history of damiana, the more I learned about its roots — literal, fantastical, and even sexual.

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A post shared by GUAYCURA Damiana Liqueur ® (@damianademexico)

You may have unknowingly encountered this short, unassuming shrub, scientifically known as turnera diffusa, if you’ve been to southern Texas, Central or South America, or the West Indies. The sandy-rocky soil of the more mountainous regions is ideal for the damiana, which prefers desert areas and bears yellow, five-petaled flowers from January through July.

Typically workers gather damiana right before the cold season by using a sickle to lob off the branches, which are then sectioned and laid out in the sun to dry. They then ready the leaves for collection by stripping them from the stems. It’s a relatively tricky job due to the stony terrain, lack of shade, and possible presence of unwanted critters, such as snakes. Nevertheless, it’s a harvesting process that has remained the same for centuries.

The history of damiana liqueur

The Mayans started using damiana to treat balance issues, but it wasn’t until the late 1600s that some attributed aphrodisiac qualities to the plant. Father Juan Maria de Salvatierra, a Spanish missionary, noted that indigenous Mexicans took the leaves of the damiana and made them into a sweetened tea to help with sexual issues, such as libido and arousal. To encourage fertility and the blessing of children, loved ones gave newlyweds damiana, which is a tradition continued to this day in many families.

When damiana was finally imported to the U.S. in the late 1800s as a tincture in 2-ounce bottles, it came with mighty claims that it could cure the most intimate issues, no matter someone’s age.

What is the herb damiana good for?

As damiana crossed the border, so did folklore. Tales of aged Mexican men siring dozens of children due to the damiana plant circulated. However, for North Americans, the results were mixed. Some people experienced the seductive impact, while others encountered the exact opposite. An 1875 study reported by John M. Maisch noted that most men felt nothing beyond “a slight stimulation from the alcohol,” with one gentleman saying he had “no desire at all for sexual congress” after consuming two bottles.

Beyond being an aphrodisiac, some people also claimed that damiana could heal the urinary and reproductive systems and their accompanying organs. To this day, damiana is sold in many forms to help with menstruation, impotence, and bladder infections. Although, if you decide to make it a part of your regular regimen, do so cautiously, as it can alter blood sugar levels and cause hallucinations if you take more than 200 grams.

Rebecca Story Alvarez is a sexologist on the more positive side of the fence. As the co-founder of Bloomi, a collection of plant-based sexual wellness products, she dove into her Mexican heritage and uses damiana in her line.

“It’s an uplifting herb that naturally boosts arousal in the body,” says Alvarez. “It can be sensual as well, creating a calming, arousing feeling.”

More modern science supports this fact, at least among rats: A 2009 study concluded that damiana helped males recover from sexual exhaustion.

How to use damiana liqueur

As the ancient Mayans did, you can brew tea using damiana leaves or by making a blend with complementary herbs like chamomile and rosehips. Some folks go so far as to smoke damiana, which produces a mild euphoria with calming effects. Note: Healthline strongly advises against smoking the plant.

However, if you’re anything like me, the best way to consume damiana is via a liqueur, either taken neat, over ice, or blended into a cocktail.

What flavor is Damiana liqueur?

The spirit itself is sweet and slightly creamy, making it easy to drink on its own. In Mexico, damiana liqueur often replaces Triple Sec or simple syrup in mixed drinks, such as margaritas. Personally, I enjoyed my sample size on its own, straight from the bottle, and without an aphrodisiac effect, I might add. The only pleasant feeling I experienced was as the liqueur traversed my tastebuds.

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A post shared by GUAYCURA Damiana Liqueur ® (@damianademexico)

So, is damiana a “herbal hoax,” as Varro E. Tyler claimed in his 1983 pharmaceutical article? He concluded that “in the absence of a cure, desperate people want hope, not facts.” Although humans can support or deny such claims, it’s no fault of the damiana shrub’s lovely, yellow, flower-laden branches.

My advice? Head to La Paz — or somewhere south of Texas — to find out for yourself. Whether you experience a placebo effect or the long-sought-after aphrodisiac impact, one thing remains true: You’ll enjoy tasting one of the lesser-known, easy-drinking,  Mexican-produced liqueurs.

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Lhakpa Sherpa Talks Record-Breaking Everest Climbs and the Ever-Lasting Allure of the Mountain

Explorers of the Modern Age is a series by Matador Network spotlighting trailblazers of travel. The world may be less mysterious than it was centuries ago, but the Golden Age of Exploration isn’t quite over yet. There are still new corners of the map to be illuminated, boundaries to be pushed, and travel records to break. These are the explorers making it happen.

Photo: Lhakpa Sherpa

Climbing Mount Everest — the world’s tallest mountain at 29,031 feet — was once a big enough accomplishment to satisfy most for a lifetime. Lhakpa Sherpa has climbed Everest a whopping 10 times, and is the first woman to achieve that particular feat.

Not only that, in 2000 she was also the first Nepalese woman to successfully climb and descend Everest. Needless to say, Lhakpa Sherpa’s expeditions have been legendary in the Nepalese community for quite some time, but now she’s entered the global conversation as one of the most revered climbers of her generation, and as a trailblazer for women.

Photo: Lhakpa Sherpa

Lhakpa has always had an affinity for high altitudes. She was born in a village 12,000 feet above sea level in eastern Nepal, and her disposition for climbing is evident in her name. A member of the Sherpa ethnic group, she descends from a line of nomadic people used to living in difficult high-altitude conditions. Despite doubts from her family and other villagers, who warned that climbing Everest was not a woman’s endeavor, she made her first climb in 2000 and climbed with her brother and sister in 2003.

Photo: Lhakpa Sherpa

We talked to Lhakpa about her passion for Everest, how she sees the mountain with new eyes each time, and the significance of her achievement for female climbers.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Matador Network: Most people who climb Everest are happy to do it once. What motivated you to climb Everest multiple times?

Lhakpa Sherpa: I love going to the mountain, it is like an addiction for me. Whenever I’m climbing Everest it brings out a side of me that is more confident and happy.

Is the experience vastly different each time?

Every time I go to the summit, the route to Mt. Everest changes.

How did you become interested in climbing?

I grew up near Makalu which was very close to Everest. I was surrounded by mountains my whole childhood. Most girls were told to stay home and do housework but I wanted to change the system and do things that boys could. My dad started me off as a porter and I would carry loads with him to prove I was capable of doing any job. My mom disapproved of this but I knew that I wasn’t meant for the life she wanted me to have. Eventually, I heard about my brothers and cousins climbing Mount Everest and thought: why aren’t women doing it too?

What’s the toughest part of climbing Everest?

Khumbu icefall and near the Hilary step are the most difficult sections of the climb.

Does climbing for the purpose of setting records take the fun out of the experience?

It’s my passion. Every time I go to the summit I feel proud of myself. You never get used to the feeling at the top. I go back not only because I love what I do but also because I want to get more people interested in climbing and being outdoors.

The first Nepalese man climbed Everest in 1953, but it took until 2000 for the first Nepalese woman to do it. Why the discrepancy between men and women in climbing?

Opportunities for women came very late. In each and every field we can find men are first. The chance for women to do the same always seems to come later.

What’s your advice after climbing Everest multiple times?

Since all the glaciers are melting due to climate change, I would like to advise that visitors trust the mountains and sherpas.

Which explorers have inspired you?

Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa inspired me to summit Everest.

Do you have your sights set on any new challenges?

Yes, I have new challenges. I would like to summit K2. I am currently looking for sponsors.

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A New Oslo Hotel Lets Guests Sleep at the Home of Artist Edvard Munch

If you love Edvard Munch, this new hotel needs to be on your travel radar.

Called the Ramme Fjordhotell (Rammefjord Hotel) and located roughly 40 minutes outside Oslo, Norway, the hotel and compound is a passion project for the owner, who cared so much about opening the hotel that he sold Munch’s most famous painting – “The Scream” – for a cool $120 million to finance the project. Despite that, the multimillion-dollar haven in the countryside where the artist once lived is still almost totally off the tourist radar.

Photo: Ramme Gaard

Hidden away and surrounded by forest, the hotel is on a remote country farm called Ramme Gaard. It’s the same location that gave the troubled artist a respite from his mental stressors and oft-cited “psychological demons.” (Munch struggled with depression and alcoholism through his early years). The hotel aims to bring some of the allure and history of being where the artist lived to guests, offering the chance to recline at night in a bed that Napoleon himself once laid in or getting close enough to original art to see light reflecting of the brushstrokes.

Travelers to the Oslo hotel always start their journey in Oslo proper, and if you love art, don’t dismiss the city as a mere stop-off point on the way to the northern lights or western fjords. Norway’s capital has much more to offer than it gets credit for – and now, it can add to its nearby charms the Rammefjord Hotel, one of the region’s newest must-stay destinations.

How to get to the Munch Oslo hotel

The hotel is in an idyllic town just outside Oslo. Photo: TheNorthern/Shutterstock

The hotel is close to the city in a tiny former town called Hvitsen and is only a 30-minute drive. Alternatively, guests can take a short train journey to the town of Vestby, followed by a 15-minute taxi ride to the hotel. Guests can also book the on-request bus service from Vestby (number 530). It’s included in the train ticket cost from Oslo, but must be arranged in advance.

If you opt for the latter, you’ll need to walk about 15 minutes along a path in the forest to reach the hotel. It’s a beautiful experience and highly recommended (unless you have very heavy luggage).

The painting that inspired a destination

Photo: S.Dali/Shutterstock 

Rammefjord Hotell is the brainchild of Petter Olsen, a billionaire art collector who lives near the hotel. The idea for the high-end Oslo hotel first took shape after he sold one of four original versions of Munch’s 1895 painting “The Scream,” earning almost $120 million at a Sotheby’s event. It made history as the most expensive piece of art ever to be sold at auction, second in price only to Picasso’s “Nude, Green, Leave, and Bust.”

But due to its dark history, it seldom saw the light of day.

The Olsen family had been forced to hide the painting during WWII when the Nazis were on the brink of invading Norway, knowing that the Third Reich would brand the art “degenerate” and use that tag to justify looting it. It almost certainly would have been stolen, sold, or destroyed, along with over 30 other Munch pieces in the family’s collection, had they not stashed them all safely away in a hay barn in the mountains to avoid detection. Thomas, Petter’s father, ultimately fled to England during the war and later presented Munch’s “The Sick Child” to London’s Tate Gallery in a display of gratitude to Britain for taking him in.

Later, there was a war of a more personal kind between Petter and Fred, Thomas’ sons, over who would inherit the art collection after his death. Petter ultimately prevailed, but soon after, more dark history arose around the painting. Though Olsen did technically buy “The Scream,” it was potentially sold under duress by German-Jewish art collector Hugo Simon, whose descendants claimed the painting once belonged to their family.

The Nazi Party was known to steal art from institutions and people, and reuniting families and galleries with their legally owned art is an ongoing struggle. Photo: Public Domain

Hugo had been declared an enemy of the state in Germany when the Nazis came to power in 1933 and had to flee the country, selling the art to Thomas Olsen in a rushed effort to unload most of his possessions. The Simon family has continued to lobby for the painting to be displayed with a summary of its history, highlighting it as one of many paintings with questionable ownership that were bought, sold, or lost during Nazi occupation.

History aside, the painting itself is rather dark. It depicts a man at a spot known for suicides near Oslo: Ekeberg Hill. Munch described the inspiration for the painting to friends, telling them he hallucinated a “blood red sky” with “tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city” while walking. Some say the actual scream is a response to a forced acceptance of the modern era — though Ekeberg Hill was also in close proximity to both an animal slaughterhouse and a local psychiatric hospital, where one of Munch’s sisters had been staying for treatment.

The hotel’s history

Edvard Munch’s former home on the hotel property. Photo: Ramme fjordhotell

Fifteen years passed between the creation of “The Scream” and Munch’s move to the countryside, where he became one of Thomas Olsen’s neighbors and friends. Today, guests of the Oslo hotel can take a short walk to Munch’s yellow house by the water and gaze at the same nature scenes Munch brought to life with his paintbrush over a century earlier.

Munch suffered from alcoholism, depression, psychosis, and even partial paralysis when he arrived at the property. Munch refused rehab, claiming he’d be fine if he could stay near the peaceful property. He used the surroundings as inspiration for his art, often employing female models to pose for him. According to the hotel staff, Thomas Olsen would deliberately crash his boat on the rocks to have an excuse to go ashore and meet Munch’s beautiful, siren-like models.

The hotel today

Photo: Ramme fjordhotell

Today, the hotel is full of memories of Munch’s legacy. The majority of the 42 guest rooms feature replicas of his paintings. Guests can walk to Munch’s five-bedroom property for guided tours on the weekends, though they plan eventually for the home to be rented primarily for private events.

In Olsen’s mind, the modern translation of “The Scream” is a man expressing the anguish caused by global warming and environmental destruction – and consequently, he’s making Rammefjord as sustainable as possible.

Photo: Ramme fjordhotell

Photo: Ramme fjordhotell

 

Rooms at Rammefjord are artistic, eclectic, and either Munch- or period-themed. Expect antique furnishings, including lamps from Marrakech, Persian carpets from Iran, and even an ornate bed that French leader Napoleon once slept in, complete with headboard cherubs. Most rooms have woodland views and replica Munch paintings inspired by the landscape.

Aside from Munch art, the hotel features art from local artists inspired by the woodland surrounds, including a fabulous painting of foxes and woodland creatures at a dinner party.

The art

Photo: Ramme Gallery

Perhaps the biggest draw at this Oslo hotel is the opportunity to see the on-site underground gallery — The Ramme Gallery. It’s exclusively for hotel guests and buyers of the property’s “culture ticket,” open every day between noon and 6 PM.

Try to arrive at noon as the staff unlocks the door to discover the world of Munch’s original paintings, as well as other notable Norwegian artwork, potentially without another soul in sight. Due to the intimate nature of the hotel, it isn’t uncommon to be the only person in the gallery, observing the artwork so closely that every bump of every brushstroke is visible. Low lighting preserves the most important paintings, but the paint shines and glints before your eyes nevertheless.

Oslo as an art destination

Photo: Visit Norway/Didrick Stenersen

When you return to the city, a visit to the Munch Museum is virtually obligatory.

Though it’s a tourist attraction on a much larger scale, lacking the intimacy of Hvitsen, the Munch Museum displays some more of his original paintings along with text descriptions.

For an extended art fix, visit Oslo’s National Museum. It reopened in summer 2022 after three years of renovations and also includes an original version of “The Scream.”

Stroll down Karl Johan Street, where Munch rented his first art studio for a Munch-inspired walking tour (or if you can’t make it to the aforementioned Oslo hotel). Karl Johan Street is also home to one of the most prestigious Oslo hotels, The Grand, whose in-house cafe Munch frequented. He would actually trade his art in exchange for steak dinners at the restaurant.

Fans of the wider art scene should consider staying at the waterfront property The Thief near the city center. Besides offering stunning views from its balconies of boats bobbing along the water (enough to inspire any aspiring painter), guests of the hotel receive free access to the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art with just a flash of their room key.

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The 10 Best Fetish Clubs Around the World

Sex clubs and swingers resorts are great for your vanilla, garden-variety public sex. But as anyone with a fetish knows, an approximation just doesn’t hit the spot. When you want leather, you want leather and nothing else will do. Fetish clubs get that.

Fetish clubs range from bars, nightclubs, or social members-only clubs that cater to a clientele who want to explore their sexuality, fetishes, and dominance and/or submission. There are generally no strict codes of conduct, but most venues will have general guidelines that need to be adhered to.

This is why they’re such hallowed places for kinky folk: these domains of debauchery offer a safe space for enthusiasts to truly unleash those desires and be free among like-minded people. So whether you love dommes or diapers, sadism or subbing, or you just fancy a swift paddle to the behind — gussy up, get ready, and get freaky with this list of 10 of the best fetish clubs around the world.

Photo: IAKIMCHUK IAROSLAV/Shutterstock

1. Club Black Whip in London

Created and run by the legendary Madame Caramel, Club Black Whip was born out of a need for more diversity in the fetish — and specifically Black femdom — community.

Club Black Whip is a vibrant d/s (dominance and submission) group created for Black d ommes and the white male submissives who want to adore them. And while the core ethos remains, all nationalities, ethnicities, and genders are welcome. The Club is now a closed event, so in order to attend you must email for permission.

The dress code is fetish only, or if that’s not possible, all black with a collar for subs (sold at the door if you forget yours). Submissives should bring cash for the Champagne fund, and remember to join in with the games (voyeurism is a big no-no). Who wouldn’t want to take a spin on the Wheel of Misfortune, anyway?

Fetishes: All safe and consensual fetishes allowed.

Who is Club Black Whip for: Club Black Whip welcomes all.

Address: 265 Poyser Street, London E2 9RF, United Kingdom

2. Bar Sinister in Los Angles

Something of an institution in Hollywood’s BDSM community, Sinister is the go-to venue for those with a soft spot for gothy getups. While dark decadence abounds, fetishists of other persuasions are more than welcome to be as creative as their kinky imagination allows, whether that be leather, latex, uniforms, or something else.

Upstairs in the bar, you’ll find the Purgatory room, where masters and mistresses inflict an array of painful experiments on their willing victims. Not for the faint-hearted, this room caters to kink connoisseurs of an edgier variety. Expect serious sadomasochistic games on full view. The club has theme nights on offer every month. Check the calender for the latest details.

Fetishes: All safe and consensual fetishes are allowed.

Who is Bar Sinister for: Bar Sinister welcomes all.

Address: 1652 N Cherokee Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Opening hours: Monday 10:00 PM — 2.30 AM, Saturday 10:00 PM — 2.30 AM

3. LAB.ORATORY in Berlin

Did you know Berghain had a basement? And that it also happens to house one of the most famous male-only party spots? LAB.ORATORY is a cruise club for kinksters of all stripes — but those whose tastes err towards the more depraved are well catered to here. In fact, rumor has it the urinals from Berghain are directly connected to the shower heads in LAB.ORATORY below. Is it true? That would be telling.

Guests have two floors of industrial concrete and metal to navigate, plus the usual array of swings, cages, and harnesses. There’s also a wet room and a labyrinth to explore solo or with a play partner. When it comes to the dress code, pretty much anything goes, but fetishwear is encouraged.

Fetishes: All safe and consensual fetishes are allowed.

Who is LAB.ORATORY for: LAB.ORATORY welcomes gay cis men only.

Address: Am Wriezener bhf, 10243 Berlin, Germany

Opening hours: Thursday 9:00 PM — 11:00 PM, Friday 10:00 PM — 12:00 AM, Saturday 10:00 PM — 12:00 AM, Sunday 04:00 PM — 06:00 PM

4. Hellfire Club in Queensland, Australia

Sate your hedonistic hankerings at Hellfire. With a reputation of being one of Australia’s friendliest fetish clubs, veterans and newbies alike play side by side. The crowd is diverse here and you’ll meet kinksters of all varieties, from drag queens to leather kings and beyond.

The club itself opens every Saturday and runs regular parties hosted by resident dungeon masters and mistresses. Expect DJs spinning tunes late into the night, plus plenty of opportunities to express your kinky desires in (and on) the flesh, something made all the easier thanks to the club’s dungeon equipment on offer.

Fetishes: All safe and consensual fetishes are allowed.

Who is Hellfire Club for: Hellfire Club welcomes all.

Address: 130 Leichhardt St, Spring Hill QLD 4000, Australia

Opening hours: Saturday 09:00 PM — 2:00 AM

5. Bar Bar Fetish Club in Bangkok

The neighborhood of Bucking Patong is known for gogo bars, but Bar Bar Fetish Club offers something for those with kinkier requirements. Now in its 15th year, this stalwart of Bangkok’s BDSM community offers parties, games, and private rooms (plus a glass one if exhibitionism is more your thing). There’s also a spanking bench, medieval stocks, and other implements for debauchery at your disposal.

One of the more open on this list in terms of rules, you can show up as a couple or single (solo men allowed too), and join in with the games or indulge your voyeuristic side. The venue also has an in-house team of pro-dommes and subs on hand for those who want to explore their kinks with an expert. And the dress code? Pretty relaxed. A black shirt and/or mask, both of which are provided free at the door if needed.

Fetishes: All safe and consensual fetishes are allowed.

Who is Bar Bar for: Bar Bar welcomes all.

Address: House number 7, Patpong Soi 2 Suriyawong Sub-District, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand

Opening hours: Seven days a week 6:00 PM — 1:00 AM

6. MSC Finland — Tom’s Club in Helsinki

Founded in 1976, Tom’s Club (named after gay icon Tom of Finland) hosts legendary kink events once a month. The dress code is strict, so don’t just rock up in chinos and a jumper — we’re talking head-to-toe leather or rubber, uniforms, biker gear, and sportswear here. Jeans are allowed, but it needs to be traditional masculine denim paired with a tight vest and jacket. Alongside kinky parties, Tom’s Club hosts education events and socials (spanking workshop anyone?) — check Twitter or the events calendar for the latest updates.

Fetishes: All safe and consensual fetishes are allowed.

Who is Tom’s Club for: Tom’s Club welcomes gay cis men.

Address: PL 48 FIN-00531 Helsinki Finland

7. Department-H in Tokyo

Whether you’re into furries or femdoms, Department-H is the spot to be. This is one of Tokyo’s best-loved fetish nights, with guests treated to more sexy performances than you can shake a whip at — think drag shows and striptease, drinking, and games with your fellow revelers.

BYOB is allowed (though do check the rules for each event before you go), but bring cash for kinky goodies. Dress code-wise, the more eyebrow-raising the better: we’re talking fetish with a cosplay flavor. If you’re more LARP than latex, this is the party for you.

Fetishes: All safe and consensual fetishes are allowed.

Who is Department-H for: Department-H welcomes all.

8. Cris et Chuchotements in Paris

Unrestrained decadence is the name of the game at Cris et Chuchotements (Cries and Whispers) Club. This is a place where sadomasochistic Parisians while away the evening in elegant surroundings. Run by Marquis Pascal, the club welcomes veterans and newbies alike, though if you place yourself in the latter category, let Pascal know so he can show you the ropes, so to speak.

The dress code is libertine, fetish, or S&M. Leather, lace, or latex are safe bets, but an all-black outfit is tolerated. On the last Sunday of every month is the legendary sale of the slaves (that’s an event where submissives are auctioned off like horses), while on other nights, expect to see the club welcome dommes and mistresses from all over France. There’s plenty on offer for foot, shoe, and nylon fetishists too — look out for themed nights and book early.

Fetishes: D/s, with themed nights offering a wider variety.

Who is Cris et Chuchotements for: Cris et Chuchotements welcomes all.

Address: 9 Rue Truffaut, 75017 Paris, France

Opening hours: Wednesday — Saturday 10:00 PM — 2:00 AM

9. ManiFest in Copenhagen

Welcome to the largest fetish club in Scandanavia. Running since 1995, this dream spot for kinky sorts caters to most fantasies and fringe fetishes, no matter how wild. Since ManiFest is all about kinky clothing, you’ll need to impress the door staff before you’re let in. You know the drill: if it wouldn’t raise eyebrows at a regular club, you’re not trying hard enough. Attendees have an array of events to choose from, from masquerade balls to rubber clubbing nights. Check the event calendar for the latest updates on parties.

Fetishes: All safe and consensual fetishes allowed.

Who is ManiFest for: ManiFest welcomes all.

10. Torture Garden in London (plus various global events)

From leather to latex, feet to fornifilia (being a piece of human furniture, for the layperson), Torture Garden (aka TG) welcomes a broad range of tastes through its doors each month. Events come jam-packed with special guests and live performances, art installations, DJs, and more.

One thing to note about TG is its strict dress code. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been on the scene — if you don’t look the part, you’re not getting in. But don’t stress too much — this isn’t Berghain. The philosophy is simple: just come as an extreme version of yourself. “More is more” according to the dress guidelines — so whether you’re a crossdresser or a club kid, don your most fabulous fetishwear and flaunt it. And hey, if you’re overdressed you can always take layers off as the night goes on. In fact, it’s encouraged.

Fetishes: All safe and consensual fetishes allowed.

Who is Torture Garden for: Torture Garden welcomes all.

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This Drone Footage of the Faroe Islands Shows the Awe-Inspiring Area in a Way You’ve Never Seen Before

The Faroe Islands are a set of 18 volcanic-formed islands located between Norway and Iceland in the North Atlantic Ocean that are part of the Kingdom of Denmark. They’re famous for their striking, other-worldly appearance, but seeing the islands from the air is something totally different. Parker Sheppard, also known as the drone guy on TikTok, captured some incredible footage that will have you wishing you could grow wings (or at least be a professional drone pilot yourself).

@p_shep1 Exploring the edge of the world #fpvdrone #faroeislands #dronestagram ♬ Reflections on a Hero – Trevor Morris

The landscape is so awe-inspiring that it might even feel unattainable, with its massive stones, endless miles of greener and bounds of water. But this outdoor destination is perfect if you love to hike or ride bikes to get around, and it’s even possible to go island hopping by car on the Faroe Islands. If you’re interested in seeing the islands from up high like in Sheppard’s video, a helicopter tour is a common tourist activity. The Faroe Islands are pretty easy to travel through using its well-laid-out system of tunnels and causeways and getting to the Faroe Islands is pretty simple once you reach Europe. If you want to take in the landscape, ferries run from Iceland and Denmark. If you prefer to fly, nonstop flights regularly travel from Copenhagen, Paris, Reykjavik, Edinburgh, Oslo, and Bergen.

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The Essential US Virgin Islands Travel Guide, From Beaches To Eats

“Driver’s license, please,” asked the official at the St. Croix airport when I touched down on the largest US Virgin Island. Even after boarding my flight without a passport, it was surreal to think that my American driver’s license was the only identification I needed to access the soft, pale beaches and balmy tropical breezes that lay ahead.

Together with St. Thomas and St. John, St. Croix is one of three main US Virgin Islands, a territory that also comprises around 50 smaller landmasses in the Caribbean Sea. Of the trio, only the smallest island, St. John, lacks an airport, though the ferry from St. Thomas is just 45 minutes. On a recent trip to the Caribbean, I visited all three islands. After stepping off the plane in St. Croix, I spent a week engulfed in a culture I’d never experienced before. The warmth of the welcomes I received was surpassed only by the warmth of the sunlight that showers the islands year-round, having no formal rainy season.

Within days, I was in love — a fate I’m convinced is inevitable for anyone who visits the US Virgin Islands, whether or not you need a passport to find out. Here’s your essential US Virgin Islands travel guide, from one traveler who’s already itching to go back.

Getting to know the US Virgin Islands

Welcome to the US Virgin Islands!
Photo: Scott Sporleder

You've probably never seen clearer, bluer waters.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

You'll be tempted to spend all day boating — and hey, it's your vacation.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

Under the surface, species like thresher sharks and spotted eagle rays call the region's reefs home.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

Naturally, seafood is a staple of the local cuisine, such as this red snapper at Anson's on St. Croix.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

Also on the menu? Caribbean comfort foods like Anson's fall-off-the-bone, melt-in-your-mouth ribs.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

Tangy, tingly pepper sauces are the perfect complement to any meal. Stop by a farmers market to pick up a bottle of your new favorite condiment before you head home.

Then there's the mamajuana to wash it all down. Almost every bar in the US Virgin Islands has its own recipe for this Caribbean rum-and-wine beverage that's infused with local spices.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

Later, relax like the locals do over a game of dominoes.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

And if you're on St. Croix, save some downtime for sign-spotting walks. Handwritten messages that are at once endearing and empowering pepper the island. Heed their wisdom as you explore, whether they’re advising you to “take a splash and take your trash” or simply reminding you that “you matter.”
Photo: Scott Sporleder

Come evening, pause whatever you're doing to look to the skies. The bright, fiery sunsets in the US Virgin Islands are some of the most brilliant in the whole world.
Photo: Scott Sporleder

The best US Virgin Islands beaches

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Rainbow Beach, St. Croix: The string of blue umbrellas lining Rainbow Beach lets you know you’ve arrived at one of St. Croix’s most popular hangouts. Calm waters make this a particularly kid-friendly stretch of coast while the frozen cocktails at Rhythms cater to the adults in the group. You might even catch some live music while you’re there.

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Coki Beach, St. Thomas: Coki Beach is where the people of St. Thomas go to unwind, especially on Sundays when picnickers keep the food vendors busy. You never know who might make an appearance at this sandy hotspot in northeastern St. Thomas. Even Pressure, the island’s resident reggae star, has been known to frequent Coki Beach.

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Magens Bay Beach, St. Thomas: Magens Bay has the buzziest beach on St. Thomas. Some say it’s one of the most buzzworthy beaches in the world. It’s not the best for snorkeling, but you’ll love sinking your toes into the soft white sand and floating in the smooth water. After, head for the hills to see the ultimate panorma at Drake’s Seat lookout. Note that there’s a $5 entrance fee to access the beach for everyone over 12.

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Cinnamon Bay, St. John: Mile-wide Cinnamon Bay is St. John’s longest beach. Part of Virgin Islands National Park, it’s a boon for beachgoers who get bored of lounging on the shore, from kayakers to hikers to birdwatchers. It’s also one of the many spots in the US Virgin Islands with grassy seafloors that’re prime feeding territory for green turtles, which you can strap on a snorkel and see up close.

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Honeymoon Beach, St. John: An easy two-mile hike down Lind Point Trail leads you to Honeymoon Beach, one of seven beaches on Caneel Bay within Virgin Islands National Park. The sand is Colgate white, the water is electric blue, and the shore is virtually empty. Between dips and snorkeling sessions, carve out time to appreciate the view — a view so wide you can see the British Virgin Islands right there from the sand.

What to see in the US Virgin Islands

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Historic Christiansted, St. Croix: Before St. Croix’s largest town, Christiansted, belonged to the US Virgin Islands, it was the capital of the Danish West Indies. Danish colonial architecture such as the Government House on King Street is evidence of that. So is the fact that street placards bear both English and Danish translations. Get to know the island’s historic core on a self-guided walking tour through Christiansted, following in the footsteps of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton who spent much of his childhood on St. Croix.

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Estate Whim Sugar Mill, St. Croix: Across the US Virgin Islands, colonial-era sugar mills remind visitors of the role sugar plantations historically played in the Caribbean. St. Croix was among the region’s most prolific sugar-producing islands. Though many of its sugar mills are still standing, Estate Whim has the only plantation museum in the US Virgin Islands, which provides vital context into the lives of the enslaved peoples who were forced to work the plantations.

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Annaberg Plantation, St. John: Established by Danish colonists in the late 1700s, the Annaberg Plantation became one of St. John’s biggest sugar producers, as well as an exporter of rum and molasses. What remains of the plantation now serves as the nucleus of the Annaberg Historic District on the island’s north shore, which is overseen by the Virgin Islands National Park Service. Like Estate Whim, Annaberg teaches visitors about the history of sugar production in the US Virgin Islands and its ties to the African slave trade.

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Virgin Islands National Park, St. John: More than half of St. John belongs to Virgin Islands National Park, which spans roughly 13,000 acres of land and sea combined. To recommend a visit to the park is essentially just a recommendation to visit the island, but there are a couple of sites worth prioritizing: the Underwater Snorkel Trail in Trunk Bay and the plantation ruins, pre-Colombian rock carvings, and 40-foot waterfall on the Reef Bay Trail, to name a few.

The best US Virgin Islands tours

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Mutiny Island Vodka, St. Croix: The Caribbean is all about rum, but St. Croix’s Mutiny Island Vodka makes the case for a clearer spirit — one that’s miraculously made from breadfruit. Tours of the Sion Farm Distillery where Mutiny Island Vodka is produced include a visit to the newly renovated bar and tasting room, as well as a sneak peek at the newly installed copper still.

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Cruz Bay Water Sports, St. John: Cruz Bay Water Sports is another operator with locations on both St. Thomas and St. John. Sunset sails, dinner sails, and snorkel sails are just a few of the outings on the menu. I did the Lime Out Day Sail on the Jammin’ boat, which included stops at three different clear-water snorkel spots and lunch at a floating taco bar.

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Ocean Surfari, St. Thomas: Sailing is big in the US Virgin Islands — really big. The day I spent sailing around St. Thomas with Ocean Surfari was a highlight of my trip, in no small part thanks to the unforgettable crew. Beyond boating, excursions focus on snorkeling and sport fishing, both of which can be arranged from either St. Thomas or St. John.

Where to eat in the US Virgin Islands

Photo: Scott Sporleder

La Reine Chicken Shack, St. Croix: Roasted chicken, curry chicken, stew chicken. Chicken wings, chicken soup. Welcome to your one-stop shop for the world’s most popular poultry. But that’s not all that’s on La Reine’s menu, which changes daily. You’ll also find meats like goat, oxtail, pork, and beef and seafood like conch, lobster, saltfish, and salmon, alongside sides such as johnny cakes, macaroni, tostones, and cassava. It’s all delicious — and served fast. That’s what makes La Reine a local favorite on St. Croix.

Where: 24-I, Christiansted, St. Croix 00820

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Caroline’s, St. Croix: Caroline’s is more than an all-day breakfast and brunch spot. It’s an experience that starts with oceanfront views, transitions into ultra-photographable floral decor, and descends into a feast of pastries, benedicts, crepes, and more. Do yourself a favor and order the beignets, either traditional style or with dark rum pecan caramel sauce.

Where: 59 King St, Christiansted, St. Croix 00820

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Dushi by the Sea, St. Thomas: Dushi herself dishes out daily specials at this seaside joint near Coki Beach where customers line up before the doors even open. The demand makes sense as soon as you’ve experienced her warm personality and generous portions. But be warned: You’ll probably find yourself sluxxin’ down Dushi’s fried fish even if you’re not hungry.

Where: Rte 388, St. Thomas 00802

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Rudy’s Fraco Sno-Cones, St. Thomas: Rudy is a local legend who’s been serving up sno-cones in a variety of flavors since before folks can even remember. Tamarind? Soursop? Name a fruit that’s native to St. Thomas, and Rudy’s got it. You might just find a new favorite.

Where: 84Q5+6WF, Tutu Park Mall Annas Retreat, St. Thomas 00804

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Blue 11, St. Thomas: That Blue 11 is located in the Yacht Haven Grande marina is your first clue that it’s a memorable dining experience. That you can choose between seven-, nine-, and 11-course tasting menus — with optional wine pairings — confirms it. Signature dishes include the poached halibut with passion fruit butter and the braised wagyu short ribs with sweet potato puree and a cinnamon port reduction.

Where: 83PH+WGG, St. Thomas 00802

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Lime Out, St. John: Picture yourself enjoying fresh tacos and craft cocktails in the middle of the ocean. You can do that at Lime Out, a floating resto-bar in Coral Harbor with eight different tacos including ceviche, short rib, and a vegan option with black beans and quinoa. You’ll need to charter a boat to hang here as swimming across the harbor is prohibited, but the Smokin’ Luca featuring mezcal and native tamarind juice is well worth the adventure.

Where: West Fortsberg Coral Bay, St. John 00831

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Bajo el Sol, St. John: If you’re looking for a proper rum tasting on St. John, look no further than Bajo el Sol. In addition to the 100-plus rums in its arsenal, Baja el Sol doubles as an art gallery, bookstore, and cafe where you can learn all about the Caribbean’s favorite spirit in one of the coolest settings in the US Virgin Islands.

Where: Mongoose Jct, St. John 00830

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Ocean|362, St. John: Ocean|362 puts a fresh spin on Caribbean classics, both figuratively and literally given its commitment to using ingredients that were picked, speared, and otherwise sourced right in the restaurant’s backyard. Dinner service is the best way to sample the island-to-table cuisine, but don’t skip cocktails on the top-floor bar for an equally delicious view.

Where: 362 Strand Gade Estate, St. John 00831

Where to stay in the US Virgin Islands

Photo: Scott Sporleder

The Fred, St. Croix: I stayed at The Buccaneer in St. Croix, a beach and golf resort in Christiansted Harbor, but I also had the pleasure of lounging poolside at The Fred, an adults-only boutique resort in Frederiksted. Whichever hotel is more your speed, be sure to swing by The Fred for a dip and a photoshoot with the cock portrait in the lobby.

Where: 605 Strand St, Frederiksted, St. Croix 00840

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Margaritaville Vacation Club, St. Thomas: The swim-up bar at Margaritaville is reason enough to pick this Wyndham resort as your home base in St. Thomas, with your choice of studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom suites that can accommodate two to six guests. The fact that Coki Beach is just a 10-minute stroll away seals the deal.

Where: 6080 Estate Smith Bay, St. Thomas 00802

Photo: Scott Sporleder

The Hills, St. John: On an island that’s 60 percent national park, there’s something fitting about booking a private villa rather than a room in a more sprawling resort. The Hills has 22 well-appointed vacation rentals on offer to make St. John feel like your island home away from home, complete with unbeatable views overlooking Cruz Bay.

Where: 11 Bay View Terrace, Cruz Bay, St. John 00830

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7 Literary Pubs Where You Can Drink Like Your Favorite Authors

For some writers, drinking alcohol would be counterproductive to the creative process. For many of the most distinguished authors in literary history, however, having a pint of beer went hand-in-hand with penning books, short stories, and poems, and that meant frequenting a local watering hole. Some of the best literary work ever produced was written in a rather unlikely setting: the pub. For centuries, authors have settled into their favorite booth or barstool, thrown back a beer (or twelve), philosophized with their contemporaries, and conceived literary masterpieces. These are the literary pubs around the world where you can drink like your favorite authors.

The Eagle and Child, Oxford, UK (Tolkein)

Photo: John Selway/Shutterstock

The Eagle and Child are one of the world’s most storied literary hubs, in one of the world’s most storied literary cities. The meeting place of the Inklings, a group of writers that included J.R.R. Tolkein (author of The Lord of the Rings) and C.S. Lewis (author of The Chronicles of Narnia), The Eagle and Child has been a staple of Oxford’s literary culture for decades. In the Rabbit Room, where the group frequently gathered, you’ll even find pictures of the various members, and you can almost imagine them sitting exactly where you are, discussing and critiquing each other’s writing.

White Horse Tavern, New York City, US

Photo: Brian Logan Photography/Shutterstock

Jack Kerouac may be known for traveling west, but it all started in New York City, where Kerouac – along with many others – conceived their greatest works. Opening in 1880, the White Horse Tavern in Greenwich Village became popular with mid-century literary figures like Kerouac, James Baldwin, Anais Nin, Norman Mailer, Frank O’Hara, and Allen Ginsberg. There’s even a popular legend that Kerouac spent so much time here that someone wrote: “JACK GO HOME” on the bathroom wall. Welsh poet Dylan Thomas was similarly drawn to the place and is even said to have had his last drink here. After finishing 18 shots, Thomas collapsed outside the bar and later died at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Now, many claim to see Thomas’ ghost sitting at in a corner of the tavern.

George Inn, London, UK

Photo: Alan Kean/Shutterstock

It’s not often that a pub is owned by the British National Trust, but with London’s George Inn, it’s easy to see why. The only galleried coaching inn (inns that provided stabling for horses) left in London that’s open to the public, George Inn was once a favorite haunt of William Shakespeare in the 16th and 17th centuries, and Charles Dickens in the 18th century. It’s even mentioned in Dickens’ novel Little Dorrit. Established in the medieval period, it was originally known as the George and Dragon. It’s divided into several bars, which were formerly used as waiting rooms for coach passengers, coffee rooms, and bedrooms.

Harry’s New York Bar, Paris, France

If you loved the film Midnight in Paris, chances are you have a whimsical longing to wander into a 20s-era Parisian cafe and find Ernest Hemingway or F. Scott Fitzgerald discussing literature. While you won’t encounter the long-deceased authors, it’s certainly possible to put yourself in their shoes for a night by visiting Harry’s New York Bar, a favorite watering hole of Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Jean-Paul Sartre, Sinclair Lewis, and other early-to-mid-century celebrities. The bar even features in Ian Fleming’s James Bond short story, “From a View to a Kill.” The quintessential jazz age bar, Harry’s is known for its piano performances. George Gershwin even composed his famous “American in Paris” here.

The Carousel Bar, New Orleans, US

If the Carousel Bar in New Orleans’ Hotel Monteleone sounds familiar, it’s probably because you read about it in one of Tennessee Williams’ plays or in the Hemingway short story “Night Before the Battle.” A revolving bar overlooking Royal Street in the French Quarter, Carousel Bar completes one revolution every 15 minutes and is so unique that many authors decide to not only patronize the place, but feature it in their work. Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, and Truman Capote all famously frequented the bar. Capote was so fond of it, he even claimed it as his birthplace.

Antico Caffè Greco, Rome, Italy

Photo: giulio napolitano/Shutterstock

Rome’s literary scene isn’t quite as famous as that of Paris, but the Eternal City has hosted some of the world’s most famous literary luminaries. That’s particularly true of Antico Caffe Greco, which opened in 1760. The cafe has been a favorite haunt of authors like Mary Shelley, Hans Christian Andersen, and Ivan Turgenev, and poets like Lord Byron and John Keats. It’s no wonder why, either. The cafe is adorned with dazzling stucco moldings, ornate decorations, statues, and over 300 paintings. Combine all that with the rich aroma of coffee swirling through the place, and it’d be tough not to be inspired here.

Literary Cafe, St. Petersburg, Russia

The aptly-named Literary Cafe is, perhaps unsurprisingly, one of Russia’s most popular and historic cafes for literary luminaries to gather. In the early 19th century, it operated as a bakery, where writers, poets, and journalists would meet. Some of Russia’s most renowned literary geniuses once frequented the establishment, including Fyodor Dostoevsky, Mikhail Lermontov, and Alexander Pushkin. You can still find Pushlin sitting at his favorite table, holding a quill and looking out the window — though it’s a wax model, not the author himself. Pushkin, who famously perished in a duel on the Black River, departed for the duel from this very site.

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How To Make the Most of an LGBTQ+ Trip To Key West

With its 500-year history of Spanish, Bahamian, Cuban, and American influences, Key West’s reputation as a live-and-let-live Conch Republic has long made it a home and travel destination for the LGBTQ+ community.

Here, island time and the beach lifestyle take on a new meaning flanked by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Whether you’re a morning person who loves to kayak through mangroves or a night owl who loves to bar hop, the Florida Keys, especially Key West, allow you to indulge and be yourself.

Thanks to its subtropical weather and Caribbean-adjacent position, the Florida Keys offers beach weather year-round. That said, March through May are the best months to visit to escape the winter crowds, or the last week of October if you want to experience Fantasy Fest, a Florida tradition with a Mardi Gras-level of bacchanalianism.

Regardless of the timing, here’s what you need to know before making a trip.

What to do in the Florida Keys

As RuPaul says, “reading is fundamental.” When it comes to the LGBTQ+ community, it’s important to be cultured. Key West has long been known as a haven for artists, hippies, immigrants, counter-culture activists, and the LGBTQ+ community. For a city ripe with ribald entertainment and day-drinking opportunities, it also hosts a healthy number of cultural institutions that you should visit. But to start, you can’t go to the Florida Keys without enjoying some time on the water.

Blu Q Catamaran: These four-hour day trips and two-hour sunset sails cater to the gay community. I joined a Blu Q trip where the friendly staff took us on an excursion to a secluded sandbar rung by crystalline blue waters where the group swam, drank, and made new friends. We then sailed farther west to a shallow area where we snorkeled and came face-to-face with a multicolored array of fish, corals, sponges, and the remnants of a shipwreck. The Blu Q crew provided water, fresh fruit, and healthy snacks, inviting guests to bring their own alcohol.

Photo: Rini Kools/Shutterstock

Bar hopping on Duval Street: Duval Street is Key West’s main drag – pun intended. The blocks between Angela and Catherine Streets are festooned with welcoming rainbow flags, LGBTQ+ bars, cabarets, an LGBTQ+ Visitors Center, and the Tennessee Williams Museum. The drag queens at 801 Bourbon are known for carrying on the tradition of Southern queens: spirited, gritty, and charmingly unpolished. We caught an old-school drag show at La Te Da, which, like many establishments in Key West, is a jack of all trades type of business with a cabaret, a restaurant, and a hotel. We caught Christopher Peterson’s Eyecons, in which he impersonated Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minelli, Reba McEntire, Cher, and Judy Garland in less than two hours. The highlight of Peterson’s tour-de-force is his commitment to singing live and creating a show that will shock you with its combination of bawdy humor and inspirational coming-of-age autobiographical narrative.

Tennessee Williams Museum: A fascinating museum that exists under the radar but just half a block off Duval Street is the Tennessee Williams Museum. One of America’s most important playwrights of the 20th Century, Williams considered Key West home, living on the island for 34 years – 14 of which with his romantic partner Frank Merlo. Dennis Beaver created the museum as a tribute to the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and The Glass Menagerie. Beaver’s passion for sharing the life and work of Williams is on display in the carefully curated exhibits that don’t shy away from the highs and lows of Williams’s life. The section on the playwright’s relationship with Merlo is a must-see when so many museums avoid discussing the queer identities of the very people they claim to celebrate.

Photo: Rob O’Neal/Florida Keys News Bureau

The Ernest Hemingway House: This stunning piece of Key West architecture is well worth the visit to glimpse into the author’s writing studio. But make no mistake, the six-toed cats steal the show. Many a visitor can be seen wandering the property trying to photograph and pet as many of these polydactyl cats as possible. Whether it’s the whimsical bathroom tiles or the first pool built in Key West, each corner of Hemingway’s house has something to appreciate. You can take a guided tour or walk around at your own leisure.

Photo: Horacio Sierra

Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory: The LGBTQ-owned center is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. The climate-controlled, glass-enclosed habitat gives you a chance to come face-to-face with butterflies and birds from around the world. Don’t be surprised if while you’re watching a pair of strikingly pink flamingos perform a courtship dance, a duck waddles by your feet and a blue morpho butterfly lands on your shoulder. It happened to me. Although it’s small compared to a state- or university-run butterfly museum, the intimate nature of the conservatory invites you to lull for a good 30 to 45 minutes and immerse yourself in a lepidopteran wonderland.

Photo: Any Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau

The Little White House: President Harry S. Truman considered Key West his second home. He spent 175 days of his presidency in what is now known as The Little White House. It’s here where he strategized and drafted some of the most influential Civil Rights legislation of the 20th Century, such as an Executive Order desegregating the military. President Truman invited noted Black Civil Rights leaders such as Dr. Mary McLeoud Bethune, who founded one of Florida’s HBCUs, to be one of his advisers. The house’s collection demonstrates how much President Truman embodied Key West’s live-and-let-live attitude. One fascinating piece is the custom-made poker table he used to gamble on and its accompanying cover that hid all hints of its at-the-time taboo purpose. Other highlights include his collection of Hawaiian and guayabera shirts and a painting of the Everglades, which he made a National Park, hanging above his bed. When taking a tour of the house and learning more about Truman, it’s easy to imagine that the Midwestern boy from Missouri would have evolved right along with society thanks to his time in Key West.

Photo: Horacio Sierra

Kayaking with Tortuga Jack and Key West Eco Tours: Another reason to drive down to Key West is so that you can stop at Geiger Key and meet Tortuga Jack. A character well known in the Lower Keys, Tortuga Jack led us on an eco-minded kayak tour of the Keys’ flats. With his Santa Claus beard and witty quips, Tortuga Jack taught us about the mangroves, sponges, jellyfish, birds, and starfish that live in the unique ecosystem created by the Keys, which are built on the carbon of decomposed corals. If you’re lucky enough, he’ll recite some of his original poetry for you while you glide over the key’s azure waters.

Where to eat and drink in the Keys

Photo: mezzotint/Shutterstock

The Docks at Stock Island: Here you’ll find an unbeatable combination of fresh seafood and gourmet preparation. Located on the docks in an out-of-the-way neighborhood, the Dock’s limited menu ensures the offerings are fresh and the chefs have perfected their skills. Baked oysters, Key West pink shrimp, tequila-sprinkled drunken scallops, delectably textured swordfish and snapper. Invite your friends and try it all. Then save room for dessert. The hand-made zeppoles, fried dough balls coated in power sugar, are rivaled only by the strawberry bread pudding topped with toasted coconut.

Cuban cuisine: Known in Spanish as Cayo Hueso, Key West is closer to Havana than Miami. After soaking in the history of Key West’s centuries-long Cuban community at the San Carlos Institute on Duval Street, you can check out two great Cuban restaurants: El Siboney in Old Town or El Mesón de Pepe on Mallory Square. Both restaurants serve healthy portions of Cuban classics such as picadillo (ground beef), ropa vieja (shredded beef), puerco asado (roasted pork), and camarones enchilada (creole shrimp). Again. Save room for dessert – especially at El Meson, where we ordered a grand triumvirate consisting of coconut flan, guava pudding, and Key Lime pie.

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Latitudes on Sunset Key: If you want to splurge and live your best Oprah Winfrey life, then make a reservation for Latitudes on Sunset Key. Unless you were fortunate enough to be invited to Oprah’s 44th birthday when she rented all the cottages on the island for her and her friends, you can take a ferry to Sunset Key and enjoy a beachside meal. Freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable drinks complement hearty breakfast meals like lobster eggs benedict and key lime ricotta pancakes. Order a side of yucca hash browns for something different.

Chef Michael’s: Islamorada also offers some gourmet dining while you’re on your way to Key West. Chef Michael’s offers an array of fish that can be prepared in sundry ways. To try something unique order lionfish, an invasive species that conservationists are more than happy to see disappear, or the meaty hogfish. Another only-in-the-Keys highlight is a shrimp-and-lobster ceviche medley served in a cracked coconut shell.

Islamorada Brewery and Distillery: The best bar in Islamorada is its very own brewery. Islamorada Brewery and Distillery offers locally brewed craft beer and cocktails made from spirits distilled on site. The family- and pet-friendly beer garden is the perfect place to cool off with its tropical canopy and misting fans. Spanky’s food truck will supply you with all the fries, nachos, pretzels, and burgers you need when washing down a cool beer.

How to get to the Florida Keys

While you can easily fly into Key West’s airport with direct flights from Boston, New York, Chicago, Dallas, and DC, the most memorable and social media-worthy way to get there is by car. If you book with a car rental agency early enough, you can score one of the hundreds of brightly colored convertibles available from the Miami or Fort Lauderdale airports to cruise down the iconic Seven-Mile Bridge and visit Key Largo, Islamorada, and Tavernier Key along the way to it’s-so-gay-it’s-straight-friendly Key West.

How to get around

Although you’ll need a car to explore the other islands, measuring four miles long by 1.5 miles wide, Key West is as pedestrian friendly as it gets. Staying anywhere south of White Street allows you to walk from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico in 30 minutes. Parking is in short supply, so you can hope to score one of the coveted free visitors spots on side streets or just opt for one of the parking garages near the docks on the Gulf side.

Where to stay

We hope you love the places we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay.

For LGBTQ+ visitors, Key West is about where you stay as much as what you do. Alexander’s Guesthouse is the epitome of inclusivity. Although it’s owned by and caters to the LGBTQ+ community, all are welcome. And who wouldn’t want to stay in this boutique hotel that features a heated pool, a hot tub, and multi-level sun decks? Comprised of 17 room spread out over 3 Conch-style houses built in the early 1900s, Alexander’s has been lovingly updated with modern amenities. The best feature about Alexander’s is the sense of community that’s created during its complimentary breakfasts and daily happy hours. Located off the corner of Fleming and Frances Streets, Alexander’s offers you a relaxing respite from the bars and restaurants of Duval Street, which is a quick 10-minute walk down the street. Other LGBTQ+ guesthouses such as Equator and Island House are located down the street, forming a mini-gayborhood of hotels nestled among residential homes and locally owned antique stores and art galleries.

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Islamorada is a family-friendly key and the Islander Resort offers all the amenities: a children’s pool, an adult-only pool, hot tubs, a pool-side bar, a beach fronted by calm waters, a dock, and a wide selection of activities and watersports. Each room has been recently renovated so that the high ceilings and private porches offer a cool respite from the hot weather. A cool feature that makes the hotel stand out is the fact that all the buildings are covered by solar panels.

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The Best Spots To Enjoy the Bahamas’s Iconic Conch in Every Delicious Preparation

Walk into nearly any restaurant in the Bahamas, and you’ll find a common theme across menus – conch (pronounced “konk”). It’s been a food source on the islands for 5,000 years, and tourists flock to the islands wanting to try the local delicacy in its many forms. The mollusk meat is so popular you might never realize it’s actually critically threatened. Luckily, local governments, scientists, and commercial fishers are banding together to make conch fishing more sustainable to ensure the tradition of cooking and eating conch dishes in the Bahamas isn’t lost forever.

Whether they realize it or not, tourists to the Bahamas have almost undoubtedly seen conch shells all over the islands. The spiral-shaped shells are distinctive and are often transformed into jewelry or souvenirs. Conch dishes represent a significant part of Bahamian culture and cuisine, and is a vital part of the economy.

Photo: Paulharding00/Shutterstock

What are popular conch dishes?

Conch, indigenous to Bahamian waters, is farmed for the meat protected inside the shell. Conch dishes are a staple food with perceived health benefits (high protein, low fat) and versatility. Bahamians serve it up using a variety of cooking methods. Glance at the menu of any restaurant in any Bahamian town, and you’ll find some form of conch. It might be fried, frittered, or thrown into soups and salads. The calamari-like texture of conch makes it ideal for sushi, battered balls, burger patties, and chowder.

Is conch sustainable?

Intrepid travelers want to try the national dish of whatever country they find themselves in, but the question for ethically-minded individuals is: Should you eat an animal that’s critically threatened? The popularity of conch has become problematic in recent years. Researchers estimate that the conch population in the Bahamas has dropped by 71 percent, according to the Miami Herald. Even the Bahamian government is increasingly concerned about the overall conch population and its ability to survive the ongoing climate crisis, poaching, and overfishing. That’s why there has been a significant push for stricter fishing regulations and more sustainable conch fishing across the Caribbean.

Researches at NC State University launched a “Conchservation” campaign in 2013, to protect conch and research sustainable fishing methods. Over time, experts have identified conch farming techniques that make it viable long-term for both fisheries and conch to thrive.

These conservation efforts have resulted in some stricter fishing regulations that include conch limits. It’s also considered the best practice for fishermen to weigh and measure conch to decipher its maturity. Allowing conch shells to remain in the water until they are mature enough to be fished is critical for sustainable fishing practices. Female conchs reproduce once they are between 3 and 5 years old.

Photo: theCarolynWitt/Shutterstock

It’s now also considered most ethical to harvest conch meat on the shore. This prevents people who harvest conch from hastily carving out the flesh and throwing shells overboard, creating meat waste and “graveyards” of shells that discourages other conchs from reproducing in those areas.

Despite these new measures being put into place, the Bahamas is still some of the laxest fishing regulations when it comes to conch. There really is no way to know for sure that the conch dishes you’re consuming is sustainably-sourced unless you see it being harvested from the shell onshore with your own two eyes. However, tourists can do their part by eating at locally-owned establishments so that money supports communities and families, rather than chains and corporations. Here are a few of the best restaurants where you can try conch dishes in the Bahamas.

The best restaurants in the Bahamas to try conch dishes

Photo: MevZup/Shutterstock

Goldie’s Conch House

Goldie’s is a Nassau establishment that conch-lovers can’t miss. It’s a neon-painted eatery with indoor and outdoor seating you’ll have no trouble finding, especially since there will likely be a line out the door. The fried conch fritters at Goldie’s come with a side of delicious dipping sauce.

Where: 3JJR+237, Arawak Cay Dr, Nassau, Bahamas

Mckenzie’s Fresh Fish & Conch

Though Mckenzie’s is close to Atlantis on Paradise Island, there’s nothing resort-y about this restaurant. The charming pink stand’s outdoor seating makes it an excellent place for a quick lunch or casual dinner. Conch salad, a staple conch dish in the Bahamas, is similar to ceviche. In it, the conch meat is finely chopped and added to a mixture of other raw ingredients, including cucumbers, hot sauce, bell peppers, and sweet onion. Every spoonful is equal parts fresh and flavorful.

Where: 3MGH+643, The Dock,Paradise Island, Bridge, Bahamas

Photo: Blueee77/Shutterstock

The Poop Deck

The draw of this upscale dining establishment is the unobstructed views overlooking turquoise blue waters, but don’t let the clever name fool you – it’s all in jest. You can get cracked conch or fritters here, but the conch chowder is especially worth trying. Served with a side of johnny cake, the chowder’s spicy aroma wafts through the air before it’s brought to your table.

Where: 3MFJ+QWP, E Bay St, Nassau, Bahamas

Dino’s Gourmet Conch Salad

Head to Dino’s for the chef’s signature “tropical conch salad for an exciting new take on conch.” Dino’s twist on this classic island recipe combines fresh fruits like mango and pineapple. It’s a taste sensation that’s juicy and sweet.

Where: W Bay St, Nassau, Bahamas

Photo: AllMyRoots/Shutterstock

Oh Andros

Grilled conch, conch fritters, conch salad, and more. You can count on a plate piled high with mounded portions of whatever variety you order. The grilled conch here is particularly exceptional. The meat is served with a side of rice and beans in true Bahamian style. However, the true mark of excellence is that the meat is tender but not chewy, the way conch can sometimes get if overcooked. Oh Andros manages to nail every variety of conch it offers.

Where: 3JHR+XH8, Nassau, Bahamas

The Corner Pocket

The Corner Pocket may not be a sit-down restaurant, but the quality of food here is outstanding. This food stand in Potter’s Cay, a short jitney ride from downtown Nassau, is worth traveling to for its conch salad. Ingredients are chopped on the spot and served fresh. A zesty combination of sweet onion, habanero, and lemon juice, among other secret ingredients make it perfectly refreshing after spending a day in the sun.

Where: Potter’s Cay

Photo: BlueOrange Studio/Shutterstock

Firefly Bar & Grill

Located in beautiful Elbow Cay, Firefly Bar and Grill has a heaping selection of seafood, but their conch is the star of the menu and it’s highly popular amongst visitors. The restaurant is attached to a beautiful resort, but you don’t have to stay at an adjoining villa to enjoy a meal at the Firefly. The cracked conch served with a side of creamy macaroni and cheese.

Where: Centre Line Rd, Elbow Cay, Bahamas

Crab and Tings

Crab and Tings is exactly what most people think of when they think of Caribbean seaside shacks. It’s a small hut with outdoor seating so that you can chow down with your toes in the sand. Set against a tropical background of blue ocean and palm trees, Crab and Tings is always busy churning out trademark cocktails and cracked conch to ravenous beachgoers. It could be the proximity to the water, but the fried conch tastes remarkably fresh. Mama Sue, the owner of this small business, takes great pride in her classic Bahamian recipes, so you can eat knowing you’re getting truly Bahamian cuisine made with love.

Where: 3JHX+GV2, Nassau, Bahamas

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