Editor and brand consultant chronicling creative people, places and projects

Kissa Castañeda Editor and Lifestyle Journalist

I’ve spent almost 20 years working in lifestyle media creating award-winning magazines, building websites from scratch, writing travel guides and books, as well as hosting panel discussions and even the occasional TV show. I mainly cover design, travel and food, and the interesting intersection of these disciplines. I’ve done this while living and working in some of the world’s most dynamic cities — Tokyo, Manila, Hong Kong, Singapore. I now split my time between Europe and Asia, with Ireland as my base.

I was the former Regional Editorial Director - Travel & Design of Tatler Asia, during which I established Tatler Travel. I’ve held other leadership roles such as Editor-in-Chief of Tatler Singapore, Editor of Home Journal Hong Kong, and Founding Associate Editor of ELLE Decoration Philippines. Today, I bring my decades of experience to my work as an independent content and creative consultant.

I continue to contribute to various titles including Forbes Lifestyle, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Telegraph Travel, Times Travel, Vogue, Esquire, Centurion, CNA Luxury, The Straits Times, South China Morning Post and more. I’ve also worked on brand and content projects for the likes of Rolex, Hermes, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Tourism Board, Japan Airlines and Diriyah Company.

Highlighted Work

Tatler Travel
Established Tatler Asia’s travel vertical, and served as its founding editorial director

A House in Japan: Lessons in Living
Authored a coffee table book profiling 40 homes and the essentials of Japanese design (Gestalten, 2026)

Essentialist
Curated the Arts & Design Monograph for high-end travel club Essentialist

Asia’s Most Influential (AMI)
Built a new brand and digital-first vertical, which is now the definitive list of people shaping Asia

WanderLuxe by The Luxe Nomad
Conceptualised, produced and edited the official magazine of The Luxe Nomad, the largest luxury vacation rental company in Asia-Pacific

Tatler Homes
Redesigned the magazine, launched its new website and expanded the title to five editions in Asia

SUITCASE Creative Studio
Conceptualised and produced Diriyah Magazine, showcasing the culture and history of the destination

Article Archive

Times Travel

Travel + Leisure

CNA Luxury

Forbes

Tatler Asia

Forbes

Tatler Homes

South China Morning Post

CNA Luxury

Forbes

Featured Stories

Bylines

Times Travel

Vogue

South China Morning Post

CNA Luxury

Design + Architecture

Epicure

Telegraph Travel

Centurion

SilverKris Magazine

The Straits Times

Forbes

Condé Nast Traveler

Going Places

SHA Magazine

Introducing: Two Keys

In 2025, I co-founded Two Keys, an independent travel platform spotlighting characterful boutique and luxury stays, reviewed by a global collective of creatives.

It also highlights inspiring hospitality individuals in Behind The Keys — a conversation with the people who shape how we travel today.

New Work

New Work

Meet Shophouses of Singapore: Beyond the Facade — a landmark coffee table book I co-authored that pays tribute to the city’s most enduring and evocative architectural archetype and its evolution to become a creative canvas.