- Words
- Ellis Tree
- —
- Date
- 31 July 2026
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The Weekend With Zara McIntosh
A pop culture connoisseur and the queen of physical media, whatzaraloves gives us the run down on her ideal weekend, and there’s no gatekeeping here. The creative hands us her tips for the best London spots, the queer mags that are on her reading list and the soundtrack to her summer.
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If you’re in any kind of creative circle, we’re certain you’ve come across an episode of Taboo on the Bus on your feed by London-based writer and content creator Zara McIntosh (A.K.A @whatzaraloves). The queen of physical media and thoughtful takes on pop culture, the creatives viral Tiktok series where she chats taboo topics on public transport has offered up a unique and unfiltered glance at contemporary culture since its beginnings. It’s since expanded into lengthier episodes in the form of a Spotify podcast in 2023 and Zara’s ongoing YouTube video series Taboo off the Bus.
Outside of making visual connections, ideas and thought pieces come alive in a way that cuts through most of the things you tend to see online these days, Zara’s creative approach to content has also been an indication of her amazing (and very personal) visual taste – and she doesn’t gatekeep the good stuff. We’re often getting the run down on recent reads and obsessions in her media hauls but we were keen to spend a whole weekend with the creative to get a whole load more...
You’ll find me at...
“I’m starting at a cafe accompanied by a magazine and my laptop, likely in East! A creative day for me looks like beginning with an overly sweet coffee and filling my brain with inspiration and insights then heading to a market and browsing bookshops and letting ideas marinate in my mind. My go-to at the moment is looping from Broadway Market to Columbia Road Flower Market, then popping in to shops like Waste Store to browse the zines and artsy bits. I try not to force creative projects out of myself, but if I’ve followed this morning, I’m usually bursting to go home and create or write something after this.”
I’ll be reading…
“Right now, I have been devouring the latest Autostraddle magazine. I’m loving the depth of the stories in there, it is a very real and raw insight into topics that are so relevant to queer and trans experiences, it’s great to see so many voices represented. I always read multiple things at once, though, so I’ll have at least one library book with me too that I’ll dip in and out of.”
I’ll be eating...
“I had a delicious dinner with my partner at Aya & Suki in East London! It’s a tiny, neon pink restaurant that you can’t miss, both visibly and in terms of trying the food. We shared so many small plates – lots of dal, hummus, falafel and veggies then topped it with an ice cream Sunday which felt both kiddish and romantic at the same time. It was a perfect date spot.”
I’ll be watching...
“Like books, I’m constantly dipping in and out of different series. The two I have on rotation right now are Half Man and How to Get to Heaven from Belfast. The former was recommended by my sister and has me gripped so far, plus it’s great to see a lot of Scottish representation on TV lately. The latter I’m already enjoying, unsurprisingly, as a huge Derry Girls fan! I’ll likely watch an episode of each in the evening while I cook and eat.”
Something I’ve got my eye on…
“I found an artist on Instagram who makes the cutest, eclectic rosettes, rings and badges, which she sells at markets around London. I am desperate to visit one of her stalls and pick up some badges and a rosette, I think they’d look so cute on a bag. In a similar vibe, I’ve been eyeing up Milk cafe in Balham as a brunch or coffee spot. I’m often pulled in to cafes by their branding, and this one has all of the whimsy of the artist’s rosettes and rings that I think this would be a perfect duo for a day out. Lastly, I have Rachel Moss’ new book: In the Girls’ Room on my wish list which is a collection of essays on girls’ bedroom culture from the 90s to now.”
This is on repeat in my headphones…
“Smerz has been the soundtrack to my Summer! I think Feisty on Big City Life is such a fun song!”
A memento from your weekend with me...
This is the space where creatives leave us with something to look at from the weekend we’ve spent with them. It could be anything really – a drawing, a picture or just something cool they think you should have a little look at.
“I always keep mementos. I’d definitely leave a receipt saved from the coffee shop and likely notes of a book I’d jotted down to read. The last one I noted from a creative weekend like this was Notes on Suicide by Simon Critchley. From reading the blurb and first few pages in Broadway Market Bookshop, I knew I had to come back for it and give it a read once I finish my current rotation. I’ll leave that recommendation with you.”
Copyright © Zara McIntosh
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Portrait, copyright © Jenny Arrowsmith
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About the Author
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Ellis Tree (she/her) is a staff writer at It’s Nice That. She joined as a junior writer in April 2024 after graduating from Kingston School of Art with a degree in Graphic Design. Across her research, writing and visual work she has a particular interest in printmaking, self-publishing and expanded approaches to photography. ert@itsnicethat.com
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