Egyptian-Filipino journalist, cartoonist and graphic novelist Malaka Gharib grew up between worlds.

Nashville

"There’s one of the best restaurants in America here called Locust. That's definitely a special occasion place, but basically it's this Japanese restaurant. They have this amazing steak tartare that comes with a dome of perfectly cooked rice, and you put it in nori. It's so, so good."

Locust

"My favorite coffee shop is called Crema, and it is really the cream of the crop, if I could say so myself. They have a chai latte that is the most gourmet and exceptional chai latte you can ever have. It tastes Turkish delight or a baklava. The presentation is so beautiful and it's so fragrant."

Crema Coffee Roasters

"There is this really cool, almost like 90s nostalgia gift shop called A Shop of Things. Everything in there is so eclectic and unique. It's a funky store. I think I spend like $100 every time I go in there, because I cannot help myself."

A Shop of Things

"East Nashville Antiques and Vintage is basically this gigantic vintage superstore. Every time we go, we buy something really special and cool. Sometimes you go to a vintage furniture store and it's like an arm and a leg, but this is all very reasonably priced."

East Nashville Antiques & Vintage

"The music scene is so incredible. There's this place called Dee’s Country Lounge, which looks and feels like you're on a movie set. If you're thinking to yourself, I wonder what a Nashville bar looks like — Dee’s County Lounge is it. It's just people who really know how to play music."

Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge