I saw a meme on the internet (below) that made a joke about how everyone is in Dubai or Tulum right now. If you follow me, you probably are on the side of the world that is looking at Tulum as their next escape. 

Traveling to Tulum during COVIDf2020: here’s everything you need to know. Or, at least the answers to questions that a lot of you had.

Was it annoying to get there from the airport?

There is no airport in Tulum, you have to fly to the Cancun (CUN) airport. Then, you can take a bus or cab to Tulum, which should take about 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic (and there is a good chance there will be traffic).

Personally, when I heard it was going to be a 4 hour flight, plus a potentially two hour drive, I was like, “can’t we just go to Cabo?” But it wasn’t actually that bad. We ended up getting a really nice cab driver who stopped at a grocery store so we could get food (they made me throw out my sandwich at customs—tip: make sure to eat all your food on the plane) and take pesos out from an ATM. 

How are they handling COVID?

I would say that Mexico, or at least Tulum, is handling COVID at about the same level that the US is (or at least in LA, where I’ve spent most of my time since last March). You have to wear masks inside taxis, while walking to your table at restaurants, and many people wear them while walking down the street (but some people don’t, or don’t wear them properly, just like in the US). However, nightlife is open in Tulum, and the one night I did go out to a party, nobody was wearing masks and people were dancing together instead of congregating at tables (again, this is no different than what I experienced in Miami last fall). 

The one thing that Mexico seems to be doing better than the US is testing, which brings me to the next section regarding traveling to Tulum during COVID.

Did you have to take a COVID test to fly to mexico?

You don’t have to take a COVID test to fly to Mexico, although I did just to be responsible. And also, because I didn’t want to get to Mexico and then come down with COVID, that would’ve sucked. 

However, you do have to take a COVID test to fly back to the US. You have to take your test (and obtain a negative result, of course) no more than three days before your flight. 

Taking a test in Tulum was super easy. There are walk-up testing centers all around, and there generally isn’t a long line because they make the process very simple. Mine cost about $40, it was the traditional nose test (the one that hurts), and I got my results within a day. 

I took mine exactly three days before departure, just in case it took long for the results to get back to me, and the woman at the airport who checked my digital results noted that if I had taken it any earlier, it wouldn’t have been valid. However, there appeared to be testing centers at the airport as well, which I imagine you could use in a pinch and just pay more money for a rapid test. 

Best food?

The food in Tulum was hit or miss, so definitely do your research! Once I settled down and looked into what spots to check out, I had a bunch of great, veg-friendly meals and some great fresh seafood as well. 

I’m going to do a separate blog post on my favorite spots, but here’s a quick list:

• Norita (super inventive menu with lots of veg options, my favorite food in Tulum)
• Azulik (expensive treehouse restaurant, but the food was as good as the atmosphere)
• Kitchen Table (more expensive, but really inventive menu + yummy)
• Burrito Amor (cute, trendy, and cheap with lots of vegan options)
• Lief’s (fully vegan)
• The Pitted Date (fully vegan)

Where to stay?

Although there are resorts in and around Tulum, and I do love resorts, I don’t recommend staying in one on your trip to Tulum because there’s so much to see and do in town. If, like me, you’re boujie, I recommend staying in a hotel on the beach in what is commonly referred to as the hotel district. Everyone recommended Be Tulum, but it was unfortunately a bit out of my current budget. 

Instead, my friends and I went the cheaper route and stayed in two nice, but affordable Airbnbs.

The first place we stayed was in a neighborhood called Aldea Zama, which is a quick bike ride or cab to the hotel district/beach area, and it’s a sort of gentrified, up and coming neighborhood. 

The apartment itself was one bedroom with a pull-out couch in the living room, which worked for three of us (but was definitely a little crowded IMO). It had a really nice rooftop pool area that was usually empty and great for tanning. It was also in a gated community so you can feel extra safe. 

The second place we stayed was in a neighborhood called La Veleta, which is more in the center of town (and less tourist-y). But, this building was literally in the middle of the jungle. When we first took a cab to get there, he drove so damn slow on the dirt roads that a 5 minute drive turned into a 15 minute drive. 

Even though I wouldn’t normally choose to stay in the wilderness, I actually loved this building because the one bedroom apartment was so nice and the pool area was so nice too. It was also super quiet and the pool was usually empty. We ended up renting bikes so we didn’t have to deal with annoying Taxi drivers who couldn’t navigate the dirt roads with their cars. 

Of course, Mexico is a developing country, so even in the nice-ish Airbnbs, there were hiccups. Neither Airbnb seemed to give us enough towels—the first one didn’t even give us any pool/beach towels. In the second Airbnb, there was a sign to tell us that we couldn’t flush anything in the toilet (this was common at a lot of restaurants too). The second Airbnb also has a lockbox out front with the key to get into the complex in case the door man wasn’t there, and it kept breaking and there were times we worried it wouldn’t open for us (thankfully we always found a way). I never really felt unsafe while staying at either property,  or in Tulum in general, but I’ve also traveled a lot and lived in a lot of cities, so I would understand if someone else may feel nervous. 

At the end of the day, if I could have my dream Tulum trip (or dream anywhere trip), I’d choose a hotel, but sometimes you have to work within you and your friends’ budgets. 

How to get around?

While staying in our first Airbnb, we walked or took Taxis everywhere. Taxis weren’t very expensive, but you needed to negotiate every time (don’t take the first price they give you). The most expensive one we took was probably $20 (split between three of us). But, sometimes it was hard to get a taxi, and of course if you’re a female traveling alone you want to be careful of taking them late at night.

What my friend Brandy did is she got the numbers of the drivers that we liked so we could call them personally when we needed rides. She made friends with one from her last trip who ended up taking us out to a Cenote excursion and waiting with us all day. 

At the second Airbnb, we rented bikes, which was an amazing way to get to know the city and feel a bit more independent (I personally hate having to rely on drivers and spend money every time I want to go somewhere). Again, you want to be careful about biking too late at night and you want to make sure to always lock your bike as they get stolen regularly. We rented our bikes from Ola Bikes for about $8/day. They’ll even deliver it to your hotel/Airbnb if you’d like! 

You can also rent a car, which one of our friends did toward the end of our trip. Driving in Tulum is a little crazy (we ended up getting pulled over by the police because we were on the wrong side of the road once, oops), but it made things easier for the longer excursions we wanted to do like Chichen Itza. Parking was pretty easy too in most places. 

Anything you didn’t expect?

Mexico is still a developing country, no matter how boujie your favorite Instagrammer’s trip looks. Unless you’re staying on a resort (and I didn’t), you will probably have to deal with toilets that can’t handle toilet paper, reservationists that don’t seem to respect anyone’s time, and restaurants that are randomly out of half the menu items. By the end of our trip, anytime anything “bad” happened, we would just sigh and say, “Mexico,” because we were used to it at this point. The US is shitty at a lot of things, but they are pretty good at service, and most other countries are not on our level (especially because they don’t live off of tips). 

Other things to know about traveling to Tulum during COVID (or whenever)

Don’t bother bringing your heels (or bring a change of shoes)

Tulum really has the rustic chic vibe through and through. Even the most expensive restaurants tend to have sand, pebble, or dirt floors where heels aren’t the best idea. What I ended up doing was bringing sandals in a bag so that I could do a quick change if the terrain looked questionable.

Bring cash!

A lot of ATMs didn’t work in Tulum, which was a pain in the ass because taxis only accepted cash, and you typically got charged more if you used a card or USD. That being said, most places will accept USD because it’s so touristy, so better to at least bring a good bit of USD with you so you have something to work with.

On & off season

Tulum’s most popular season is October to January, which means it’ll be a little cheaper outside of that season (but also, hotter). However, traveling to Tulum during COVID is probably a little different because everyone’s just trying to get away and they have less options. It was still very crowded and relatively more expensive in February than it was when my friend visited the previous summer.

My final verdict on traveling to Tulum during COVID?

Like I said above, I’m a boujie beach vacationer. I tend to stay at resorts and lounge by the pool with a good book and a waiter that brings me food. My trip to Tulum was not that at all. It probably could have been if I had gone alone and had a bigger budget, but I’m glad it wasn’t. Instead, visiting Tulum was more like visiting a cool new city that you want to explore. I tried tons of restaurants, co-worked in lots of cute coffee shops, biked around to explore, saw one of the wonders of the world, and found some pool and beach time in between. I also didn’t go out and party, which is why a lot of people go to Tulum, so I can’t really comment on that.

By my second week in Tulum, I felt like I was really getting to know the city, and there was still so much to explore that I didn’t want to leave! There were parts of Tulum that just felt like LA, which was weird, but made it kind of feel like home. If someone had paid me to stay in Tulum for longer (or just paid for another week of my Airbnb), I totally would have considered staying. Although, I found a new appreciation for the LA-pace of life once I returned home.

Moving To Los Angeles Alone : I Did It, Here’s Everything You Need To Know 

I’ve lived in a lot of cool places since I moved out of my parents house—Philadelphia, NYC, and even London for three months one summer—but nowhere I lived has caused as many questions (or criticisms) as Los Angeles.

I’d always had LA on my mind, but due to the distance from my hometown (the DC area) it always seemed daunting. But, after doing the digital nomad thing and getting burnt out on traveling, I decided I wanted to move somewhere that I didn’t feel like I’d always need a vacation from. Miraculously, I was able to find a job that month, and had just six days to pack up all my shit and get settled in LA. 

Here’s everything you need to know about moving to Los Angeles alone—including some personal anecdotes and questions I received on my Instagram stories when I posted about this topic! 

How I found a place and how much it cost:

Fun fact about me: when I first moved to LA I lived in a glorified frat house in the Hollywood Hills. My friend from college said his roommate was away on some acting job for the month, and I could stay in his room while I found my own place. After spending one night there (and having to break into my temporary room using a steak knife), I knew I would have to find a better spot ASAP. The next morning, I immediately headed to the nearest hotel lobby where I could use their Wifi to look for sublets. 

How to find roommates:

I had gotten some recommendations from friends for where to look for spots, but I actually found Facebook to be one of the most helpful resources as someone moving to Los Angeles alone, especially when looking for sublets. Here are links to some of the groups I found helpful and where you could also look for a longer lease or a roommate:

Los Angeles – Housing, Rooms, Apartments, Sublets

Apartments For Rent in Los Angeles

LA Housing Sublets & Rentals

LOS ANGELES APARTMENTS

After spending my first two days in LA taking ubers around the city to check out sublets, I eventually settled on a fully furnished month-to-month studio in West Hollywood for $1800. It was definitely a little sketchy because the person on the lease wasn’t supposed to be renting it out. I was somewhat worried she was going to take my money and change the locks or something, but it all worked out for the most part. Word of advice: Do not give someone your money until you’ve seen the apartment yourself. It was more than I planned to spend for my sublet, but considering the aforementioned frat house situation, I figured it was fine until I found something else. 

I chose West Hollywood because my new job was in West Hollywood, but also because I knew that’s where a lot of transplants first move to because it’s where most of the nightlife, shopping, hotels, etc., are. It is definitely more expensive than some less central neighborhoods, but I felt I was at the point in my life where I was ready to “overspend” on an apartment that would contribute to my overall happiness (and living alone in a convenient location makes a huge difference in my happiness). 

After a few months of settling into my new job and life, I started looking for my own spot because I wanted to get my own furniture and really feel at home (also the sublet had a twin bed which wasn’t ideal). I really liked the neighborhood I was in. It was technically West Hollywood, but on the border of Hollywood and walking distance from grocery stores, yoga studios, restaurants/bars, and Runyon Canyon (yay hiking), so I mostly looked in the same area. 

Just like last time, I used Facebook to find a place. But, instead of using the groups (because most people in the groups are looking for sublets or roommates), I used Facebook Marketplace, which proved to be more useful than any other tools. I was originally looking at studios and almost signed on a studio for $1700, but then I found a one bedroom for just $95 more in nearly the same location as my sublet with a huge balcony, so I ended up splurging because I figured I’d rather spend more money and stick with the same place than have to keep moving. 

If you’re reading this like, “OMG $1700 for a one bedroom?” Welcome to LA. According to Zumper, the average monthly rent for a one bedroom in Los Angeles is currently $1900 (and that’s decreased 16% in the past year, so it was higher before). The average for West Hollywood is slightly higher, at $1995. Honestly, I felt like I was getting a deal! Zumper has a lot of good tools for finding the average rent, most affordable neighborhoods to live in, etc. so I would definitely check them out during your search. 

How to find which neighborhood is right for you: 

If you’re moving to Los Angeles alone and not sure which neighborhood is right for you, I would recommend visiting LA first to get a feel for it. I ended up visiting two times, for two weeks each, the year before I moved to LA. I stayed in multiple neighborhoods (either Airbnb or with friends) to get a feel for which vibe I liked. I love West Hollywood, but I’m also a city girl and I know a lot of people think it’s too crazy out here, so definitely get a feel for what works for you and your lifestyle, and remember that no matter where you live you’re probably going to need a car. Other good starter, safe, and somewhat central neighborhoods to check out are: Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Culver City, or Century City. 

Is there a lot of crime in Los Angeles/in certain neighborhoods?

This was a submitted question, and to be honest my experience in LA is just like any other city I’ve lived in: there is crime and you have to be smart, but it’s not any different from any other urban area. Specifically, be sure to lock your car and don’t leave any valuables visible, because this is the crime that a few of my friends have personally experienced. 

Of course, some neighborhoods are (or at least, feel) safer than others. My street is quiet, but it’s right near the Hollywood Walk of Fame which is a popular location for homeless people to set up their tents. I’ve lived in cities my whole adult life, so this doesn’t bother me, but I’m also not going to go for a 4 AM stroll through my hood alone. The only place I’ve really felt unsafe in LA is downtown (which is a neighborhood I personally would never live in, but not just for safety reasons). 

Because LA is a driving city, you’re usually “safe” in your car late at night, so it’s not like when I lived in NYC and would sprint from the subway to my apartment at 3 AM because I was too broke to take a cab. According to Neighborhood Scout, your chances of being a victim of a violent crime in Los Angeles is 1 in 135 (compared to 1 in 188 in NYC or 1 in 110 in Philadelphia). Do with that information what you will. I’ve lived in all of these cities and I probably felt the least safe in Philadelphia, but that was also because I lived in a sketchier neighborhood compared to where I lived in LA and NYC. 

Okay, I’ve moved to LA, now how do I make friends? 

This might sound crazy (or unsurprising), but social media has been how I’ve made friends for the last 3 years or so, and not just in LA. One of my best friends in LA was someone I met once or twice in Philly, and she happened to move here a month after me. I saw her post on Facebook and commented on it saying I’d love to hang out or I’m here if she needs any tips. The rest was history. One of my other best friends and I met at a table at a club, and I asked her for her IG because she seemed cool. I DMed her asking if she wanted to grab drinks sometime, and I think it took a little while before it happened, but now we’re basically inseparable. To make good friends, you definitely have to put yourself out there. Practice makes perfect, but it’s so worth it!

I am lucky because I have a pretty big network through social media, so when I moved out here I was able to post on Instagram that I was moving here and encouraged people to reach out so we could grab drinks/dinner/etc. If that isn’t as fruitful for you, you could check out an app like Bumble BFF or Facebook groups like Creative Women of LA. People in LA are also surprisingly friendly compared to the east coast cities I’ve lived in (it’s all relative though), and I’ve made super close friends at parties or even at the grocery store. Just try to put forth an open energy and you’d be surprised what happens!

Is there a heavy emphasis on looks in LA? Is everyone super fake?

These were two separate submitted questions, so let’s go:

Nothing annoys me more than when someone says, “I’d love to move to LA, but people are just too fake there!”

As someone who’s lived in 3.5 major cities—I can honestly say that I have struggled with “fake” people in every single city, but I’ve also found my realest and most supportive friends in LA.

Of course, living in NYC and working for a popular magazine allowed me to experience firsthand the fake, clout-chasing people who were trying to befriend me for the wrong reasons, so perhaps this experience has allowed me to move through LA cautiously and carefully while avoiding these types of people.

Statistically, I guess there may be more “fake” people in LA because many people here are looking to be famous or trying to network their way into their big break. And yes, people in LA are super hot so you’ll probably question your own looks more than usual (although as a woman I’ve done this my whole damn life so it’s no biggie). But, like I’ve said, LA is also the place where I really feel like I’ve found my tribe, because so many people here think differently than your average 9-5 rat racer.

However, LA people are notoriously bad at committing to plans because something better might come up. This will forever bother me because I’m a huge planner and when I commit to something I mean it, but I’m lucky to have found people in my life who prioritize me and aren’t going to ditch our plans just because Jamie Foxx is having a pool party.

Have you met a celebrity?

Another submitted question that doesn’t really have much to do with moving to Los Angeles alone, but I’ll bite.

I am horrible with celebrities and I don’t watch TV/movies/etc., much, so nearly every celebrity I’ve seen out and about has been pointed out by someone else (Al Pacino at Soho House, for example). I did recognize Martha Stewart (at Matsuhisa) and Paris Hilton (my queen—saw her at a Halloween party). I also was introduced to Tim Burton at Petit Ermitage without knowing who he was. Good times. 

Other than that, I’ve gotten DMs from D-listers (who usually don’t DM me again after I take days to respond—oops), and I’ve been at parties with them too, but since I’m not really someone who gets star-struck it doesn’t really phase me.

Oh, except for when I saw Benji Madden walking down the street outside The Fonda theater and I had to casually chase him and ask for a photo. I was a Good Charlotte stan in 2003 so that’s the only celebrity I’ll really embarrass myself in front of. 

I hope this answered some questions you had about moving to Los Angeles alone! I know I probably couldn’t cover everything, so I’m happy to answer any more questions in the comments section!

Thank you Zumper for sponsoring this post! Opinions are mine.

If you want to pack everything you need in a carry-on bag, but are more high-maintenance and over-the-top than minimalist, I think you’ll find my maximalist packing list handy.

People always peg me as an over-packer, but I’m not. I’m just an over-planner. While packing for a trip can certainly be a process for me, I rarely find myself forgetting things or running out of outfits. The secret is to have a packing list, a travel toiletry bag that’s always stocked and ready to go, and to plan out your outfits (I literally write mine down) to make sure you’ve brought items that can be interchanged and worn for multiple occasions. It’s easy with a good carry on bag, like the one I recently received from Ricardo Beverly Hills.

I’ve always kept my OCD-esque packing lists to myself, until I took a trip to Big Bear with a friend and found myself in her room while she packed manically the night before our early morning departure. I decided to read off my list for her, since she probably needed most of the same items, and realized that my list might come in handy for others too.

So, here it is, maybe you’ll find it helpful? I tend to keep mine in my notes app and use the checklist format so I can cross things off as I go.

Packing List

• Skincare stuff
• laptops + chargers
• Purses
• Sunglasses
• Masks
• makeup bags
• Makeup brushes
• Jacket
• Zinc + additional vitamins
• jewelry
• lingerie
• swimsuits
• underwear
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Comb
• Deodorant
• Inhaler
• sneakers
• workout outfit(s)
• Travel toiletry bag
• Pajamas
• socks
• strapless bra/bras
• camera
• Flip flops
• Baseball cap
• book
• Makeup remover
• Phone charger
• Portable charger

This list is all encompassing for me, and generally still allows me to fit everything into a carry-on so long as I plan my outfits strategically and around no more than four pairs of shoes. Of course, for certain trips I modify the list slightly and for every trip I start fresh with the outfit list (keep scrolling for an example of this).

Certain items on this list are general because I already have them packed. For example, my travel toiletry bag is always stocked with first aid items (Pepto Bismol, Band-Aids, Benadryl), hygienic items (toothbrush, Q-Tips, shampoo, perfume) and beauty items (hair ties, makeup remover, moisturizer).

I recently transitioned to using the Martha Large Briefcase from Ricardo Beverly Hills, which I love not only for the cute snake print, but because the interior bags are actually detachable, so you don’t take up all the hotel sink counter space with your toiletries (seriously, this was an issue for me prior to getting this organizer). Same goes for my makeup bags, which I always just bring as is.

If the idea of having a travel toiletry bag ready to go at all times sounds psychotic, I understand. However, keep in mind that for about two years of my life I was essentially traveling full-time, so it made sense for me. Also keep in mind that I get tons of free samples of skincare products, etc., which helps me have extra stuff that I can always keep in the travel bag. But really, even if you’re not getting freebies all the time, I bet you have a mini toothpaste from your dentist or you can take a few capsules of Advil from your medicine cabinet and put them in a tiny Ziplock bag to be travel-ready.

If you have to buy yourself some mini Pepto or a new pack of makeup remover like I did, it’s a purchase that will probably last you a long time. Not to mention, it’ll definitely save you time. Nobody wants to wake up in a new city needing tampons and have to take a cab with period cramps. Doesn’t it sound better to be prepared with feminine products, painkillers, and your other fave remedies so you can curl up in a hotel bed and order room service? I thought so too.

Here is an example of my list for my recent trip to Miami.

Miami:

Airport: snake dress/ sneakers

FRI:

DAY: yellow bikini/ RESA skirt/black slides

NIGHT: yellow suit + yellow bra + white heels 


SAT:


DAY: white bikini/mint pants/ silver sandals


NIGHT: Mint pants, white thong, white bandeau or NG top, silver heels 

SUN:


DAY: Ark snake bikini + black kimono + black slides 


NIGHT: White Fringe Set or white jeans/nude top/white heels 


MON:


DAY: white teeny bikini/ RESA skirt/black slides


NIGHT: Airport outfit

ALT DAY:

red one piece + red sunnies

Yellow Bo + Tee set

Nude Tobi set

• laptop
• makeup bags
• Makeup brushes
• camera
• strapless bra/bras
• Ponytail
• jewelry
• Makeup remover
• Zinc + additional vitamins
• Jacket
• Pajamas
• lashes
• tampons
• Travel toiletry bag
• Skincare stuff
• workout outfit
• Comb
• Deodorant
• Inhaler
• Baseball cap
• Chargers: phone 
• underwear
• swimsuits
• socks
• Masks
• Sunglasses
• Purses
• book

Did I end up wearing all these outfits and/or wearing them all on the exact days? No. Did I have enough outfits for my four-night trip? Absolutely.

Plus, I was able to fit all of this into my brand-new Ricardo Beverly Hills Rodeo Drive carry-on suitcase. My old carry-on was soft and a bit oversized and the gate agent nearly always would make me check it at the gate for fear that it wouldn’t fit on the plane (even though it always would). This Ricardo suitcase is hard-shelled so there’s no argument that it won’t fit, but it’s surprisingly roomy inside. It also has four rollers, so it’s super easy to just glide through the airport with. The two-sided layout allowed me to put my clothes on one side, and my shoes and toiletries on another.

Another travel hack I use is Fashion Pass. You can read more about my full review of the fashion rental service here, but essentially I will order my latest rentals to my hotel or destination and then return it before my flight home, so that I have clothes for vacation that don’t have to take up space in my suitcase. You can use my code ASHLEYGIOV for 30% off your first month.

My last packing hack, in case you haven’t already utilized this is to take advantage of all negative space in your bag! It’s pretty common for me to stuff any shoes or purses with socks, underwear, or even rolled up crop tops. Of course, this isn’t super convenient if you plan on living out of your suitcase, but I like to unpack everything, so it works for me. Even if you don’t unpack everything, a suitcase like my latest one makes it simpler since you can open it like a book and see most of your stuff at once.

Thank you Ricardo Beverly Hills for sponsoring this post!

I don’t have many complaints about LA. After living in both NYC and Los Angeles, I’d take LA any day (no offense to my fellow east-coasters).

But one complaint I do have about Los Angeles is that coffee shops close far too early.

Of course, this probably stems from the work culture in LA where people actually leave work at 5 PM and have far more work-life balance than their NYC counterparts. But, I’m an east-coaster born and bred, and sometimes after getting home from the office, I want to head to a coffee shop and get some writing done.

Unfortunately, most coffee shops around here seem to close as early as 6 or as “late” as 8 PM—which still doesn’t give me a ton of time.

Thankfully, quickly after moving here I discovered Bohemia Tea Parlour which is one of my favorite neighborhood spots for multiple reasons…

1. They Have Great Vegan Food

When I first started going to Bohemia, they didn’t have food, but they launched it in late August. Depending on your appetite, they may not have enough to satisfy you for dinner, but they definitely have a lot of snacks and tasty treats. Not everything is vegan, but their vegan options include baklava, donuts, apple pie, avocado toast, cashew butter toast, Armenian pizza, plus a bunch of pre-packaged options such as a Caesar salad or kelp noodles.

I’m a pretty hungry girl, and I’ve found myself there in the evenings eating a cashew butter toast and an Armenian pizza and not being super full. I do sort of wish they had heartier meal options for when I want to work through dinner, but maybe they will add that eventually?

2. They Actually Don’t Serve Coffee—Just Lots of Tea (And Hot Chocolate)

So I know I said I was looking for a coffeeshop, but I don’t actually drink coffee, I just drink a ton of tea. So, this spot is actually perfect for me because it has tea on tea on tea, plus kombucha and hot chocolate and fun, very Instagrammable drinks like the rose boba tea I had in these photos.

3. They’re Open Until 11 PM

This is truly key, and part of the reason why I end up here more often than not. The only other place within walking distance of me that’s open this late is Starbucks, and their food options are awful!

4. They Have Outside Seating

They only have two tables outside, and it’s right on Sunset Boulevard which isn’t always super picturesque, but I love being outside so I totally still take advantage of this from time to time.

5. They Are Usually Playing Some Fun Rap Music

This can be a pro and con depending on what you’re working on, but I generally like the music they play at Bohemia (although TBH, sometimes it seems a bit too loud for my liking when I’m trying to write).

6. It’s Aesthetic AF

I mean, I don’t think I have to write about this considering these photos…but if you’re trying to get a cute Instagram pic in between conference calls, this seems like a good spot.

Anyway, I realize this post is probably not relevant for the majority of my readers, but I just wanted to write a quick love letter to this spot and post these adorable pictures by Sam Nahirny. So if you read this far, thank you!

Outfit Details:

Dress: ASTR the Label – BUY IT HERE

T-Shirt: Some random shop in Thailand where the salesman tried to explain to me it was for children…buy similar here

Shoes: I got mine at Buffalo Exchange, you can buy similar here.

Bag: I designed this bag myself via YouBag, you can design your own on their site here.

Photos by Sam Nahirny