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Martina Bohn at Mona inside the James Turrell

Places

Immersing myself in Mona, Tasmania

I had a fabulous day at Mona, the Museum of old and new in Hobart, Tasmania. Its one of these museums I would place in the ‘best 100 museums of the world’ category. Both for the curation of the shows as for the experience. Currently showing until the 2nd of April 2018 is the amazing collection of the Museum of Everything, celebrating outsider art.

Mona, designed by Melbourne architect bureau Fender Katsalidis and privately owned by David Walsh, is largely built underground and sits on the waterfront at the river Derwent. The building is best appreciated when arriving from the water. Mona operates a ferry, which leaves from Brooke Street Pier in central Hobart and for the view, it’s worth paying extra for the water ride. Book the ferry through Mona and enjoy the company of sheep and cows.

Share your journey to Mona with some sheep on the ferry.

On the ferry to Mona

One of the highlights for me at Mona is the James Turrell light installation, Amarna, which starts at sunset. The installation is outside the museum so you don’t need a ticket – just pop by when the light show starts at dusk.

James Turrell show turning yellow at the Mona show

Enjoy the view of Hobart from the James Turrell installation.

James Turrell’s installation in pink and purple.

I treated myself to the Golden hour experience, a communal dining at Mona’s Wine Bar, which includes a special tour to the James Turrell light installation. Mona sits within a vineyard, so you can also book wine tastings combined with art tours. The food created by Chef Vince Trim was divine and great to pair it with the wine from the Moorilla Estate, also owned by David Walsh. And of course, if you do want to go for the full Mona experience, you can stay at the adjacent Mona Pavilions. Indulge!

Moo Brew Dark Ale glazed scotch fillet, smoked spring greens & tomato Soffrito.

Compressed BBQ Cos lettuce with 64 degree egg yolk, pancetta, capers & pangritata served at the Wine Bar at Mona.

February 13, 2018 by Martina Bohn

Camille Walala designed the Clerkenwell design store

Places

Spotlight on Exmouth Market, London

Exmouth Market in London is one of my favourite place to hang out for a lazy lunch and to browse some great independent design shops. For food, stop at Caravan which always draws a hip crowd, or if the queue is manageable, head to the tiny Morito at 32 Exmouth Market for some great tapas.

Caravan offers a great brunch selection, I love their avocado toast with chillies.

It’s always a pleasure exploring the small independent shops around Exmouth Market. One of my favourites is Bagman and Robin at 47 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QL where you can shop for beautiful bags and accessories made from leather and fabrics such as vintage Kimono material.

Bagman and Robin are crafting their London designed bags in Exmouth Market.

Bagman and Robin use vintage kimono fabric to create these stylish wallets.

A few minutes away from Exmouth Market, is the fabulous concept store Clerkenwell London at 155 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3AD, watch out for ceramics by Katie Brinsley or jewellery by Eleanor Bolton. I love it that they get other artists to transform their store, most notable Graphic Designer Camille Walala has added her touch to the Clerkenwell design store. Close by Exmouth Market, you find another great British design duo, Wallace and Sewell, located at 24 Lloyd Baker Street, London, WC1X 9AZ. Their studio is just at the corner of Amwell Street, a beautiful London street with the occasional pop-up shop. Wallace and Sewell create colourful scarves and other textiles to enrich your home.

While you’re in the neighbourhood visit Craft Central. This designer studio complex usually has pop-up shops at 33-35 St John’s Square and 21 Clerkenwell Green, showcasing different British independent designer-makers each week.

Find out more about some of my favourite shops in London in my guidebook on designer-makers, which was published by Airbnb today.

March 29, 2017 by Martina Bohn

Places

Cuba Libre!

With the passing of Fidel Castro, the caribbean island was certainly in the limelight this week. Cuba is an exciting place to visit, its intriguing to experience the mix of home stays, the casa particulares, or to have a drink in a retro 1970s concrete top end hotel. I dined at some fascinating restaurants, the best places I found are run from converted living rooms or private homes, and I loved the eclectic scene of Havana. Below are some of my favourite restaurants and places.

elCocinero is not only a super cool bar and restaurant to head to in Havana, it also serves as an interesting art house. Once inside, you could easily be in Miami rather than in state run Cuba. Its on the outskirts of Vedado, an area close to central Havana. Booking is essential, call +(537) 832 2355 for reservations.

One of the most intimate restaurants I came across in Vedado is Porto-Habana, which is located inside an apartment in one of the many high-rise residential blocks in Havana. You would not spot this restaurant from the streets, but rest assured, as soon as you approach the building, some helpers usher you into the bleak lift, taking you upstairs, where you step out into this retro glamour style restaurant.

View from the outdoor balcony at the Porto-Habana restaurant.

Another great restaurant to head to in Vedado, is Atelier. Call +(537) 836 2025 for reservations. For central Havana, La Guarida has almost become an institution amongst the food scene in Havana, its an amazing theatrical place, through its firmly on the tourist map.

I stayed at the Artedel Luxury Penthouse in Havana, a superb homely place in the heart of Vedado. Great care is taken at the Artedel to help you with all your travel needs, booking restaurants and making arrangements, which in Cuba are all down to personal contacts.

The living room at the Artedel penthouse is full of iconic art memorabilities.

One of the bathrooms in the Artedel Penthouse.

Other areas I explored in Cuba were Vinales and Trinidad

Fields in Vinales

Onion shop in Trinidad

Yellow house in Trinidad

Cyclist in Trinidad

Red door in Trinidad

Old car in Trinidad

Coppelia’s state run flagship ice cream parlour in Havana opened in 1966. Designed by Mario Girona.

A private bathroom in Trinidad

Martina in Trinidad wearing a dress made by London label D4DISCUS, using vintage fabric.

Martina in Trinidad wearing a dress made by London label D4DISCUS, made from vintage fabric.

December 5, 2016 by Martina Bohn

Places

Three of my favourite design shops in Melbourne

Melbourne has some amazing clothing and design shops, it’s the perfect shopping destination, below are my favourite three shops for homeware, gifts and other obscure objects of desire.

Make Designed Objects in Carlton

Make Designed Objects located at 194 Elgin St, Carlton, 3053 Victoria, Australia offers a huge selection of stunning homeware, woodwork, stationery and just about everything you need to make your life more beautiful. My favourite pieces are from Australian artist Fink, Japanese paper merchant Midori and woodmaker Stephen Ziguras.

The Collaborate Store at 1/171 Greville Street, Prahran, 3181 Victoria, Australia is a tiny shop that curates and designs jewellery pieces and stocks beautiful ceramics. I couldn’t resist buying some pastel cups made by Milly and Eugene.

Cups by Milly and Eugene in pastel colours

The Collaborate Store in Prahran

Close by the Collaborate Shop is the Lunar Store at 2/127 Greville St, Prahran, 3181 Victoria, Australia stocking locally crafted ceramics, jewellery, leather goods, photography products and inspired objects for your home. I especially loved the jewellery they sold from Australian brand Elk accessories.

Lunar Store in Prahran

Some beautiful ceramics on sale at the Lunar Store

June 28, 2016 by Martina Bohn