Reviews

Places I have tried

Reviews of restaurants, cafes, stays and trips from the Journal By M. travel blog.

Travel reviews

Short, practical impressions from places worth recommending, plus notes on what to expect.

4 reviews

Cafes

Coffee on a table in a cozy cafe
Bali4.5 / 5$$

Cafes in Ubud

Ubud is practical for slow work days and quiet pauses. The cafes are beautiful, but smaller warungs away from the main streets are worth seeking out too.

Cafesbrunchremote worksolo travel

Best for: brunch, remote work, solo travel

Day trips

A turquoise mountain lake between peaks
Dolomites4.9 / 5$$

Morning Lake Hike

The best Dolomites moments arrive before the crowds. An early start, a warm layer and a weather backup plan matter more than a long list of places.

Day tripsphotographymountainsslow travel

Best for: photography, mountains, slow travel

Restaurants

A plate of Portuguese pasteis de nata
Lisbon4.7 / 5$

Pasteis de Belem

A classic stop that is especially worth it in the morning. The queue can look long, but it moves quickly and warm pasteis are a tiny Lisbon ritual.

Restaurantssweet breakfastfirst Lisbon visit

Best for: sweet breakfast, first Lisbon visit

Stays

The inner courtyard of a Moroccan riad
Marrakesh4.8 / 5$$

Riad in the Medina

A quiet courtyard in the middle of the busy medina is a huge advantage in Marrakesh. I recommend choosing by location and reviews that mention late-night arrivals.

Staysfirst visitsolo travelatmosphere

Best for: first visit, solo travel, atmosphere