The 2025 Edit — Under-the-radar stays, standout meals & core travel memories
Everything I loved from the year just gone
Let’s start by saying hello to all 1,000+ of you 🤍
I can’t quite believe it’s already been six months on Substack. The time has flown by, but I think that’s what happens when you’re working on something new, exciting and creatively fulfilling.
For me, 2025 was a year to reset with intention. In the first few years building these channels, it was constant go, go, go — pouring every spare moment into creating work, hoping it might eventually lead somewhere. The focus was on getting better at the craft and finding my voice, which, in hindsight, only comes from putting in those hours.
This year I hit reset. I said no to far more than I said yes to, guided by one rule: no creates space for hell yes.
At first, that felt quite uncomfortable. But it’s what allowed me to focus on work I genuinely love, partner with brands and campaigns that feel aligned, and avoid burnout. Been there, done that, I’m not going back for a round two.
I’m taking that same energy into 2026. A little more focus on my health, continuing to do creatively rewarding work, and actually switching off from the internet from time to time. More books, more screen-free hobbies, less scrolling.
So I wanted to use this edit to look back at some of my highlights from 2025 — favourite hotels, destinations and restaurants — in the hope it offers a little inspiration for the year ahead. Whether you’re already plotting summer plans or simply looking for a cosy distraction through winter, maybe you’ll find something here.
Let’s get into a few of my favourites from 2025 🤍 As we emerge from the mince pie and mulled wine haze, I’m sending you all good thoughts and wishes for the New Year ahead x
Pastry to remember: Mahali Bakery by Mahali & Co
This is such a recent favourite it hasn’t even made it into my updated bakery guides yet. On a cosy autumn Saturday, I headed down to Battersea with one stop firmly on the agenda — Mahali Bakery — and it completely won me over.
Drawing on Filipino, Malaysian and Chinese flavours, there’s something here for both sweet and savoury lovers. The flaky sambal and bacon pastry is a house favourite, finished with a generous layer of pillowy grated cheese. But my personal highlight is any of the twice-baked croissants — whatever they’re doing to these, the caramelisation is a solid 10/10.
Bucket list destination: Togakushi Shrine
When I realised we’d be passing through Nagano on our way to our first stop in Japan, I knew I had to try and make a visit to Togakushi Shrine work. And sometimes, travel luck is just on your side. We managed to book a private tour the day before, only to arrive to the region’s first snowfall of the season — clear blue skies, trees dusted in snow, and the softest early morning light.
Tucked away in the mountains northwest of Nagano City, Togakushi is a series of shrines set at the foot of Mount Togakushi. You can visit each one individually, or follow the route that links them together. To reach Oku-sha, the Upper Shrine, you walk the Cedar Avenue — an ancient path lined with towering 400-year-old cedars. It’s every bit as breathtaking as it sounds.
Under the radar: A stay in Türkiye’s emerging wine region
Aside from reading a handful of articles, Urla wasn’t really on my radar before our trip to Türkiye earlier this year. And what a lovely surprise it turned out to be.
Tucked away on the Urla–İzmir Peninsula, the region is often overlooked in favour of Istanbul, Bodrum or Cappadocia. But that’s part of its appeal. There’s a quiet charm here that’s hard to find elsewhere — slow mornings spent by the coast, followed by afternoons meandering between local vineyards.
The real highlight of our time in Urla was staying at OD Urla. A guesthouse that instantly feels like home, set among olive groves, with a Michelin-starred restaurant serving thoughtful, Aegean-inspired dishes.
Shopping heaven: Kappabashi Kitchen Town, Tokyo
Now that we’ve been back in London for a few weeks and I’m firmly in the reminiscing phase of our trip, I can safely say my best purchases of the year came from Kappabashi Kitchen Town in Tokyo.
If you’re unfamiliar, it’s a dedicated street lined with more than 100 shops specialising in kitchenware — knives, ceramics, cookware, utensils, teapots, it’s all there. We filled half a suitcase with practical bits, and an entire carry-on with ceramics alone (thankfully, no one weighed it).
But more than that, it reminded me why I love utilitarian souvenirs — things you actually use every day. Every time we reach for our Japanese knife or serve tea in those painted cups, we’re right back there, thinking about the trip and the memories tied to it.
Add to your London eats list: A quietly brilliant meal at AngloThai
One of my most memorable London meals this year was on a rainy Saturday, wandering through Marylebone before settling into a window seat at the humble AngloThai.
Within months of opening, they had earned a Michelin star — and it’s easy to see why. Their £65 set lunch is a perfect introduction to AngloThai’s playful, beautifully balanced cooking. Standouts for me were the soulful beef tongue jungle curry and a reimagined Thai tea ice cream — easily one of the best desserts I’ve had this year.
That said, this was just one of many great meals in London this year. I’ve shared a few more favourites below.
Work highlight: My Fujifilm campaign
At the start of 2025, I made a very short list of dream brands I’d love to work with. Right at the top was Fujifilm.
So when they reached out six months later to collaborate on the UK launch of the X-T30 III, I couldn’t have said yes faster.
I picked up my first Fujifilm camera a few years ago as a way to reconnect with photography, so this project felt very full circle. An added bonus was spending a few summer days wandering through Bath and the Cotswolds — exploring tiny villages and eating well as part of the shoot. You can watch the full video here if you haven’t seen it yet.
Worth the day trip: Cardiff’s first Michelin-starred restaurant
Restaurants that tell a story about origin, place and provenance are always the ones that stay with me. And a meal at Cardiff’s first Michelin-starred restaurant did exactly that.
Set inside a converted coffee shop and seating just 20 guests, Gorse is a love letter to Wales — its land, its sea, and the traditions that shape Welsh cooking. Chef-founder Tom Waters has created a tasting menu deeply rooted in that connection. From the house martini made with local seaweed stock to the phenomenal salt-baked kohlrabi with blackcurrant leaf and gooseberries, every dish felt thoughtful and personal.
You can see more from the meal in this Reel — and if you’re planning a trip to Wales, add Gorse to your list.
Favourite check-in: Boys Hall
One of my favourite stays this year — for value, experience, and sheer ease of getting there — was Boys Hall. Just 45 minutes by train from St Pancras, this beautifully restored 17th-century house manages to feel both personal and completely relaxed, while retaining so many of its original details.
Each room is individually styled, many looking out over the gardens, and some with the most beautiful roll-top bathtubs. Days here are best spent drifting between your room, a sun-soaked cocktail in the garden, and a hearty local meal at the on-site restaurant.
We visited in spring while the wisteria was in bloom, but I can just as easily imagine this as a perfect cosy stay in December too.
Core memory: Turning 30 in Lake Kawaguchi, near Mount Fuji
I can count on one hand the travel days that truly feel like core memories — and this was one of them.
Mount Fuji is only visible around 80 days a year, and we had just one full day in Lake Kawaguchi for my 30th birthday. We woke to the thickest fog I’ve seen in a long time, you could barely see two metres ahead. My heart sank.
But a ten-minute drive away, in Fujiyoshida, there was a chance of clearer skies. Emerging through the fog to see Mount Fuji towering in front of us is a moment I’ll never forget.
We climbed to Chureito Pagoda for that iconic view, wandered the town’s textured streets with a direct sightline of Fuji, and later returned to the lake where the fog had finally lifted. We hired bikes and cycled around the shoreline, soaking it all in.
I honestly couldn’t have asked for a more perfect way to ring in the next decade of my life.
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Thanks as always for being here ❤️
Jess x
You can also find me on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and via my Travel Guides + London Foodie Map.
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Aww what an incredible year! Such beautiful memories and now I have a bunch of new places I want to eat at or visit.
Sounds like a wonderful year! Congrats on all your success - looking forward to seeing what 2026 has in store ✨