Inside a Secret (but Shoppable) Antiques Museum on the Seine

If you thought the antiques business was on the decline, you only need to step inside the Galerie Kugel to realise you might have had it wrong. Familiar with Paris? You’ve likely ogled at this mansion on the banks of the Seine a dozen times before, and yet never dared to assume you could simply…

100 Rooms and 70 Secret Doors: Washington DC’s Quirkiest Secret

When most people think of secrecy in Washington, DC, they probably think of the FBI, the CIA or the Pentagon. But just south of Embassy Row, nestled behind the façades of five row houses, there stands an icon of kitsch, African American history, and rock and roll: the Mansion on O Street. Is it a…

A Mad Hatter’s Guide to the Parisian Tea Salons

The Mad Hatter’s favourite afternoon past-time is not exclusive to the English, for as the true tea connoisseur will reveal, the tradition of sipping delectable concoctions while gracing the air with one’s pinky finger is deeply ingrained within the French nation’s history. It is argued that the decadence of high tea was in fact invented by the French in…

What’s Up With Death Valley’s Bespoke Coffin Workshop?

The Nevada desert is arguably home to some of the strangest attractions in North America. From Clown Motels and Ghost Towns to haunted dolls and Area 51 there is no shortage of places to satisfy your taste for weird America, but none like Coffinwood, a custom coffin factory, wedding chapel, hearse garage and pet cemetery…

Georgia O’Keeffe: She Lived Deliciously Alone in the Wild, Wild West

In 1934, Georgia O’Keeffe gutted the passenger seats from her A-Model Ford. It was time to make way for the only companion she needed, and wanted, out west: her art. There, in the dry heat of New Mexico, the pioneering female artist drove, hiked, and schlepped her canvases to the farthest corners of its blackened…

Following in the Footsteps of New York’s First Urban Explorer

We are exploring New York City with an old hand drawn map that bears the mysterious legend, ‘Where Silence Reigns.’ Roughly sketched out over a hundred and twenty years ago, it shows just four streets. Like a pirate’s map of old, it has an ‘X’ marked on it, but this map marks the spot of…

What To Do When Paris Becomes A Ghost Town

If you’re not subscribed to the Messy Nessy Chic newsletter (hint hint), you may be wondering why we’ve gone a little quiet these past few weeks. The fact that the MNC HQ is based in Paris may give you a clue. You see, Parisians close up shop for August to chase the last rays of…

The Vault

Paris Inspiration & Events Guide for Spring and Summer 2022

It begins with the first sightings of cherry blossoms, those warm evenings that take you by surprise and before you know it, Spring is here. Paris is finally swinging open its doors, polishing its wine glasses and getting its groove back. As always, we’re here to accompany you with a little inspiration and guidance as…

Pssst! You've stumbled across content that is exclusive to Nessy's Keyholders.

There’s a new way to access the really special stuff from Messy Nessy Chic …

Hidden beneath the surface layers of the internet, there’s a place where we keep our most secret addresses, untapped archives, creator’s inspiration, collector’s guides, explorer’s manuals, obscure research and much more… And it’s made for our keyholders only!

Apply now to unlock the Vault

Keyholder Login

A Parisian Collector’s Museum Hiding Away in the Marais

In Paris, there’s no lack of private art collections that have been transformed into museums, and even after more than a decade of living in this city, we’re still discovering under-the-radar cultural gems. The Musée Cognacq-Jay might be relatively small compared to, say, the Musée Nissim de Camondo, but the well-curated collection that awaits behind…

How to Explore Sleepy Hollow, the Real-Life Halloween Legend

One of things that surprises most people about Sleepy Hollow, is finding out that it is a real place. For a name so shrouded in folklore and tales of headless horsemen told around firesides, it may seem like the creation of a gothic writer’s imagination, but Sleepy Hollow is in fact a small quaint village to…