A Woman In The Know Shares Her Little Black Book
@ALMAHA.BAHDELAH
JEDDAH
If I could only shop on one street, it would be Altahliyah Street. Here, you’ll find high-end brands, international names and some great furniture stores, too. I love that you can shop for everything in one place.
The coolest boutique is a concept store and café called Otium Concept. There you’ll find everything from modern and traditional fashion to cool accessories. There’s another one called Autumn Lane, which is also full of beautiful pieces.
Jeddah has some of the best jewellery brands and stores in the world. My go-tos include Charmaleena, Asmaa Ashoor and Yatagan.
Shopping always brings me happiness and joy. My favourite designer is Hala Algharbawi. For SS24, I also really love Loua and Pearl Collection.
A great spot for coffee or breakfast and people watching is Sculpture. I recommend ordering the French toast.
The best restaurant in Jeddah is Kuuru. Whenever I’m there I order the Lemon Zest Salmon and the Torched Escalope Nigiri.
My favourite place to hang out is the beach. The OíA Beach resort is beautiful – think all-white buildings and crochet umbrellas. The food, the vibe – it’s all great and we often spend weekends there with family and friends.
My favourite hotels in Jeddah are the Shangri La Hotel and The Edition Hotel, which is opposite the Yacht Club by The Marina.
MARBELLA
If I could only shop in one part of Marbella it would be the Old Town. There’s a part called Plaza de los Naranjos, or Orange Square and it’s where all the cool local stores, cafés and restaurants are. Estepona Old town has beautiful stores, too.
My favourite shop is called Maduarte. You can find everything there from beautiful home accessories to fashion and accessories. Tribeca in the middle of Orange Square is also full of unique pieces, like handmade earrings and necklaces. There’s also a store called Boho Shop in Mijas – it’s a small town in the mountains famous for its donkeys. Lastly, there’s a famous local brand called Homies – it’s another one of my favourites.
Amaloa is a local jewellery brand I love. You can add charms to the necklaces and switch them out depending on your look. There’s another local Spanish brand in Malaga Old Town called Coral Joyeros, which also has beautiful jewellery.
@AMALOASHOP | @NOSSOMARBELLA | @LAPLAZAPUENTEROMANO | @NOBUMARBELLA
The best place for coffee is Cappuccino. It’s set back from the beach and it’s right by the port, so it’s a great place to watch the world go by.
My favourite Spanish restaurant is called La Red – it has the best paella. If you love Thai food, then you have to try Thai Gallery. Order the sticky rice with the chicken, cashews and potatoes – it’s so delicious. Lastly, El Patio is known for its veal escalope.
The coolest spot to hang out during the day is the Nosso at Las Chapas Beach. Dolce & Gabbana’s beach pop-up is also not to be misses. At night, La Plaza in Puente Romano is always buzzing.
The best two hotels are Puente Romano & the Nobu Hotel. Puente Romano is a whitewashed Andalusian village-style beach resort, while Nobu is totally as expected – sleek, minimalist and modern.
CASABLANCA
Shopping and culture collide at the souks. The two main ones are Al Hobous and Derb Sultan. If you're looking for fancier, local brands, I would recommend going to Almaarif Street.
El Quartier Habous is worth a visit, too. It’s a new area but resembles the old medinas and you can shop for local produce like freshly pressed argan oil and other local cosmetics. You’ll also find plenty of that at Souq Al Qadeem, The Old Souk.
Bakchic is the coolest boutique. It has everything from fashion and accessories to homeware – I love the kaftans and embroidered linen dresses. Everything is inspired by Morocco and the Arab world.
My favourite jewellery brand is Maayaz Jewellery. It does beautiful, gold woven pieces and everything is handmade in Morocco.
When it comes to easy summer pieces, you can’t beat Yo Basics. It’s modern and modest, and has great tailored styles.
The Four Seasons is one of the coolest places to hangout. It’s the best place to stay, too – and it has a café with the best ocean views. The pool area is also beautiful.
When it comes to dining out, you’re spoilt for choice. For Sunday breakfast La Sqala is great, and it also has an amazing Moroccan show in the morning. My brunch choices are Cezanne & Bianca and for dinner I would recommend Trattoria Del Papa – it’s Italian but with a French twist.
My new favourite place is Le Béret. It’s directly by the sea, so it’s great during the day and really comes to life at night, too. The food is exceptional.
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@LE_BERET_CASABLANCA | FOUR SEASONS HOTEL CASABLANCA
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