lively lagos

this cute little beach town is the perfect mix of vacation and a fun time. beach hop from one beach to another all day and then pop into one of the many lively restaurants or bars for some tapas & sangria to top off the evening. the beaches and grottos are out of this world beautiful and the town is vibrant and fun. I love experiencing little beach towns throughout europe because each one has their own charming characteristics that show through by the stories from locals or the architecture of the buildings in the center of town. this beach town was so special, the people were so friendly, the overall atmosphere is relaxed and it’s a good time! definitely recommend spending a few nights here if you find yourself in the south of portugal.

gems:

bites & sips:

• green room (mexican)

• taninos (wine bar)

• mar d’estorias (nice rooftop bar)

• coffee & waves (good coffee, breakfast & smoothies)

• meu limão (amazing sangria & tapas)

• london tiger coffee (breakfast & coffee)

beaches:

• praia dos estudantes

• praia dona ana

• praia do camilo (favorite beach, but gets crowded so go early)

• praia do pinhão

to do:

• ponte de piedade (go early & take the 20 euro boat tour at the bottom of the stairs!)

• go to sagres, portugal for sunset (about 40 mins from lagos, amazing cliffs and lighthouse, and the best place to sip wine & watch the sunset!)

lisbon, portugal

gems:

bites & sips:

• dear breakfast (brunch)

• hello, kristof (coffee)

• manteigaria (hands down best pastel de nata!! ate a whole box haha)

• park bar (rooftop bar)

• comoba

• manifest lisbon

• seagull method café

• cafe janis

• prado restaurante

sites:

• praça luis de camoes

• castle of são jorge

• walk the streets of alfama district

• portas do sol

• praça do comércio

unfiltered budapest

budapest is outstanding, the architecture, the food, the culture, the BATHS, the list goes on. unfortunately, we could only spend a day and a half here, but I know I’ll be back again soon to see more of this unfiltered, beautifully raw place. budapest is straightforward in every sense of the word; some areas are insanely beautiful they literally take your breath away and others well, don’t. but what I like most about this city is just that, it’s raw and doesn’t try to hide a flaw and somehow that makes it feel oddly comfortable. I love the various classical styles that make up the city center and yet, the overall character of the city is casual and laidback unlike some other big metropolitan areas throughout europe.

it’s also a very lively place (to say the least), because of the cheap prices and great bars it definitely makes it to the top of every bachelor party destination list. drink your way through the city while casually strolling by one of the most notable parliament buildings in europe, not a bad way to spend a weekend. we probably saw 15 different bachelor parties in a span of a day and a half, more than half of europe was in budapest for a good (and rowdy) time haha. nonetheless, walking along the danube, crossing the chain bridge and ending up at fisherman’s bastion for sunset gives you a sense of nostalgia and charm that is unforgettable and I can’t wait to get back to see more.

budapest gems:

bites & sips:

• espresso embassy

• mazel tov

• new york cafe

• high note sky bar

favorite sites:

• széchényi baths

• fisherman’s bastion/matthias church

• buda castle 

• parliament building 

• danube promenade memorial

• st stephen’s church

• gellért baths

• buda hill funicular 

enchanting amalfi

the pastel and white colored houses nestled into the mountains overlooking the enchanting hues of the blue sea is definitely something to experience at leaaaast once in your life. not to mention all of the citrus trees spread around town, it feels like a dreamy italian film from sunrise to sunset. we went during off-season (end of april) and it couldn’t have been more perfect. we beat the summer rush and enjoyed more relaxing walks through town without the thousands of people. definitely recommend visiting during off-season, even though not all the restaurants/beach clubs are open it’s worth it because of how small the towns along the coast are. don’t worry though, there are plenty of cliffside places to enjoy an aperitivo and a side of caprese even in off-season. we took the ferry over to capri for a night and it was everything I pictured and more. not to mention the insanely beautiful views of the famous sea stacks from the boat tour around the island which was definitely the icing on the cake. the amalfi coast is the ultimate vacation destination (especially for honeymooners...pretty sure everyone we met was honeymooning besides Stacey & I...lol). also, expect to spend money because it’s much more expensive than other places in europe however, the sea views and delicious fresh food are worth it, so save up & book the vacation because you won’t regret it.

positano gems:

favorite bites & sips:

• casae bottega (healthy breakfast/brunch)

• le sirenuse (lunch spot with amazing views)

• latteria (wine & cheese stop with amazing sandwiches)

• chez black (oldest restaurant in positano, sort of a tourist trap but still delicious)

• max restaurant (amazing dinner….get the calamari wrapped in zucchini…life changing)

• fly bar (amazing cocktails)

• franco’s bar (bar next to le sirenuse)

• villa treville (super nice hotel for dinner or drinks)

favorite sites:

• path of gods hike! (can take up to 5 hours and there’s probably 10,000 stairs but the views are insane. we only did half the hike and it took a couple of hours total!)

• spiaggia grande beach (main beach in positano)

• boat tour around amalfi coast (best one is called positano charter! www.positanocharter.eu )

• day trip to capri or ischia (or spend a night or two!)

• side note: stay at casa fioravante (amazing views and reasonably priced! https://www.casafioravante.it/)

capri, italy

capri gems:

favorite bites & sips:

• aurora (apparently beyoncé & jay-z’s favorite dinner spot sooo expect to drop some bills)

• quisisana (nice hotel for lunch)

• buonocore (best gelato & pastries)

• mamma (lunch or dinner)

• la luna hotel (drinks for sunset)

• salumeria da aldo (located in marina grande, the best caprese sandwich for 3 euro!!!)

• ristorante isidoro (dinner spot)

favorite sites:

• walk down vía tragara

• marina piccola beach

• chairlift at monte solaro

• explore anacapri

• boat tour around the island

cool copenhagen

relaxing, cool and calming all wrapped into one little city. the coolest part is that main means of transportation is biking, so everyone and their mothers (literally) are biking around from place to place. it was the perfect relaxing city getaway, we strolled from one side of copenhagen to the other stopping for a bite to eat by the water taking in the dreamy scenery and perfect weather. I love this city because it’s small enough to get from one side to the other and back in an hour or two by walking, but its big enough so you won’t get bored. from the coffee shops, cool restaurants and endless danish bakeries you’ll definitely find a way to enjoy your time in copenhagen.

gems:

favorite sites:

• botanical garden

• nyhavn

• rosenborg castle

• rundetårn

• christiania neighborhood

favorite bites & sips:

coffee/breakfast:

• central hotel & cafe

• cub coffee

• prolog coffee bar

• democratic coffee bar

• brød

• granola

• mad & kaffe

lunch/dinner:

• atelier september

• the corner at 108

• la banchina

• sonny

• mother

drink spots:

• hotel danmark (rooftop drinks)

• beau marche café & vins

• mikkeller

• duck & cover

• lidkoeb

vibrant marrakech

honestly never felt so inspired by a place.... the detailed architecture, intricate designs, textures, vibrant colors, incredible food and warm-hearted people make this place unbelievably beautiful. it’s one of those places that is hard to describe because it’s one you just have to experience for yourself. the juxtaposition between the loud, busy, upbeat (sometimes chaotic) streets of marrakech to the serene, relaxing atmosphere of the elegant riads (which are the traditional homes usually converted into hotels and private villas) is unmatched. it can go from motorcycles, donkeys and bicycles flying past you all at the same time in these tiny little streets to ultimate peace and quiet by opening a door to a riad. they sometimes seem like they are off the beaten path, but knocking on a door and walking into them feels like walking into another world. from the food and mint tea (which alone is worth visiting marrakech) to the design of the various riads makes you never want to leave…legit was debating if I should start property hunting. experiencing another culture that is so vastly different than what we are used to or even comfortable with is always humbling and special. counting down the days until I can go back and drink more mint tea and experience more of morocco!

gems:

bites & sips:

• nomad

• plus61

• le jardin

• teraze de espices

riads/good eats:

• el fenn (fav!)

• le maison arabe

• riad yasmine

• la mamounia

• riad jardin secret

to do:

• yves saint laurent museum & jardín majorelle

• hammam (google it. your skin will thank me later.)

• walk around the souks (for shopping!)

• drink mint tea all day everyday

authentic sevilla

between the bullfighting culture, amazing tapas, women flamenco dancing in the streets, colorful old buildings and plazas filled with locals having their smoke & espresso, sevilla is what everyone imagines spain to be like. It definitely felt like the most authentic spanish city I’ve been to yet. with so much history and character to this city I spent hours roaming through the different neighborhoods appreciating the overgrown plants on the balconies and the horse and carriages strolling down the road. the more famous sites, like plaza de españa and the royal alcázar, were out of this world beautiful, hence why they have been in movies and shows such as: star wars and game of thrones (no big deal). this entire city is so lively and encompasses so much culture it’s hard not to fall in love with it. my favorite part was perusing along the river and exploring the beautiful old gypsy barrio called triana, which is filled with amazing ceramic shops you could endlessly wander around in for hours. when it comes to a crash course in spanish culture, sevilla is the spot to be. it’s the real deal and it’s a must if considering visiting the south of spain.

gems:

favorite sites:

• plaza de españa

• catedral de sevilla

• royal alcázar

• torre del oro

• las setas (largest wooden structure in the world)

• macarena neighborhood

• triana neighborhood

favorite bites & sips:

• torch coffee (great breakfast/coffee…went here everyday)

• parcería cafe (great coffee shop)

• kok (brunch spot)

• filo (lunch/dinner spot)

• mercado lonja del barranco (great wine & tapas pit stop before heading to triana)

• orsini (amazing italian food)

• san francisco (rooftop bar)

• la terraza de eme (rooftop bar with views of the catedral)

• el pintón (restaurant & cocktails)

elegant vienna

vienna is elegance at its finest. every street and every building are beaming with an incredible amount of beauty. from the famous viennese cafes to strolling past the ice skating rink in front of city hall, everything about this place is enchanting. vienna felt like paris’ super clean cut, proper cousin that is put together in all aspects of life haha. I also don’t think I’ve taken so many pictures of facades, I kid you not every single street was lined with exquisite buildings showing off their gold accents and regal looking doors it was impossible not to snap photos of the elegance. this weekend in particular was one of my favorites because it was filled with quality time with my favorite austrian couple (who happen to be the best tour guides!!!), delicious food and viennese desserts! we also took a day trip to a little town called hallstatt, aka real life winter wonderland. It’s about a three hour drive from vienna, but SO worth it. honestly I don’t think I’ve ever experienced someplace so magical, it felt like something straight out of a fairtytale book. the entire weekend was honestly magical, there’s no doubt I will be back as soon as possible for the schnitzel, apfelstrudel & glühwein… oh and to visit my favorite austrians!

gems:

favorite sites:

• stephansplatz (beautiful cathedral)

• ringstrasse

• rathausplatz (city hall with ice skating rink in front during winter)

• michaelerplatz

• graben (shopping street)

• schönbrunn palace

• albertina museum

• weiner staatsoper (famous opera house)

• naschmarkt (most famous market)

• volksgarten

• belvedere palace/gardens

favorite bites & sips:

• motto am fluss (amazing brunch)

• café telegraph

• café mozart (apfelstrudel & sachertorte)

• neni (yummy middle eastern food)

• centimeter (authentic austrian food)

• glühwein

• drinks at hotel sofitel (best view of the city, especially at sunset and order a ‘hugo’ cocktail—elderflower and white wine)

• hildebrant café

• lamee rooftop

hallstatt, austria

bright granada

there’s something about warm afternoon light, orange trees and the snowy sierra nevada’s (spain’s version) lingering in the background that make for the most relaxing weekend. these days I’m definitely realizing that there’s a huge difference between going on a trip and going on a vacation, but going to granada felt like the ultimate much needed vacation from hectic, big city life in madrid. every day felt like a movie, people playing spanish guitar in the streets, birds chirping, sun that you could actually feel warmth from, oh and did i mention orange trees EVERYWHERE… an actual paradise. one of the best things we did was wander the cobble stone streets of granada, which were lit up by the warm sun, turning everything this beautiful golden color. the highlight however was 100% the alhambra, which is what granada is most known for. essentially it is a gigantic palace/fortress that casually sits above the actual town of granada and it’s insane. between the moorish architecture, arabic inscriptions in the walls, all of the tiny intricate designs in the wood doors and ceilings, we ended up spending 3 hours wandering the grounds and gardens of the alhambra. all in all, granada is a gem. I probably asked the question “is this real life?,” 112 times throughout the weekend because everything about this little town is not only picturesque but slow-paced, light, bright and exactly the refresher I needed.

grand dublin

fresh air, irish castles and obviously lots of guinness come with the territory when visiting dublin. pretty sure we drank 8 guinness a night (kidding mom…only 7) but really, the hype is real it’s THAT good. we took a half day trip to howth, the quaintest little fishing village where you can find of course another castle…casual, a stunning sea walk and crazy irish people going for a swim in 30 degree weather (lord only knows what that water temp was) to exercise…of all things hahah. but seriously, couldn’t have asked for a better afternoon strolling alongside the windy cliffs with sea views straight out of game of thrones. we topped off the afternoon with fish and chips and a cold guinness in a pub filled with crusty old irish fishermen (haha just kidding..but that’s what I pictured from the movies). other than the very distinct accent difference (legit was questioning if we spoke the same language sometimes), in a lot of ways dublin seems so homey and familiar because of how friendly the people are and how cozy the town is. this was truly one of the best getaways and a much needed dose of friends, sea views, fresh air and well this is probably a given but…..guinness!

dublin gems:

• p.mac’s pub

• the bridge

• guinness storehouse tour

• temple bar area

• dublin castle

howth gems:

• howth castle

• sea walk

• bodega coffee (best chai latte)

eccentric berlin

there’s nothing quite like this city, it’s unique in every way. rich in history, culture and bakeries (may or may not have eaten more than two pastries every morning…). it’s surreal walking down the streets and seeing scars of the war via bullet holes in buildings throughout the city, standing on top of hitler’s bunker and stopping by pieces of the berlin wall on the way to a coffee shop and remembering the magnitude that all of it still has on history today. it’s wild to think about.

also, side note: walked past the hotel balcony that michael jackson dangled his baby over and that definitely could have been (maybe even was) the highlight of the walking tour….haha. so be sure to check out hotel adlon next time you’re in berlin.

while, it might not be the prettiest city i’ve ever been to, the beauty lies in the culture, history and food making it one-of-a-kind, with honestly nothing to compare it to. I love berlin for its unconventional ways and how the graffiti everywhere in the city somehow turns into a beautiful expression of street art that seems to complete this grungy, extraordinary city. not to mention the coffee scene is out of this world here, so that alone is worth the trip.

berlin gems:

favorite sights & neighborhoods:

• mitte

• kruezberg

• east side gallery

• berliner dome

• brandenburg gate

• tiergarten

• holocaust memorial

favorite bites & sips:

• concierge coffee (best coffee…went here almost everyday)

• father carpenter

• bonanza coffee

• five elephant

• hallesches haus

• albatross (amazing pastries)

• zeit für brot (also amazing pastries)

• brammibal’s donuts (the blackberry whiskey & salted caramel hazelnut are out of this world)

• hako ramen

• curry36 (best currywurst in berlin)

• zola

• soulcat (bar that plays only 50s & 60s vinyls…went here two nights in a row)

classic london

london is the definition of classic and cool. there are so many sights to see, like the buckingham palace, london eye and big ben, except apparently big ben is under construction for the next 2 to 4 years (who really knows), so when we were there all you could see was the nice scaffolding that completely covered him, but hey, at least we could still see the clock. so shoot for 2021/2022 for big ben’s new look. the whole time I was here I was just replaying all the scenes from the 30 hugh grant movies that took place in london. kidding there’s only 18. from window shopping in piccadilly circus to exploring the quaint and colorful homes of notting hill, filling up a day in london is quite easily done and it is truly one of those cities that you can’t get tired of.

sidenote: highly recommend going to see a play and going to a football match while in london, both are amazing experiences and you definitely won’t regret it.

london gems:

favorite sights & neighborhoods:

• notting hill

• shoreditch

• hyde park

• tate modern

• london bridge

• piccadilly circus

favorite bites, sips & shops:

• duck & waffle

• portobello market

• dishoom (amazing indian food!!)

• ace hotel

• bluebelles portobello

• the breakfast club

• goldsmith vintage

perfumed paris

it’s hard not to fall in love with paris, when the fresh scent of baguettes and croissants are lingering the streets as you pass the boulangeries on practically every block. I mean, honestly how can you pass up eating a fresh croissant (....or three). this city is boasting with grandeur, from the dreamy walks along the seine river with views of the eiffel, to the quaint little cafes on each street corner; it almost feels like you are constantly in a rom-com until you realize you have walked 12 miles in converse and your feet have just about fallen off. but, with so much to do and see, it’s easy to get lost wondering the streets and passing by paris’ most famous sites and museums, which definitely still have a sense of awe & wonder about them no matter how many times you’ve seen them. we went to paris at the end of november, where the temps were slowly creeping towards freezing and the sky is constantly grey and moody; and yet somehow the city never seems to lose its romantic, warm tones—found when watching the eiffel sparkle at night or in the warm cappuccino you get at the neighborhood shoe repair turned coffee shop. the true essence of this city is so charming and beautiful it almost has its own elegant perfume scent trailing through every neighborhood.

paris gems:

• holybelly (hands down best pancakes, still dream about this breakfast...)

• explore le marais neighborhood

• boot café

• merci

• hoxton hotel (best cocktails!)

• hôtel amour

• shakespeare & company

• walk around saint germain & go to café de flore (best hot chocolate!)

• go to the luxembourg gardens

• explore montmartre & go to sacré-coeur (one of the best views of all of paris)

• pont l’alma (prettiest view of river & eiffel)

• rue montorgueil (cutest street with lots of restaurants)

• pigalle basketball court

• pink mamma

• le brebant

• musée d’orsay

• watch the eiffel tower sparkle at night (every hour on the hour for 5 minutes, starting at sunset)

dreamy switzerland

switzerland is one in its own, it felt like we were in one weekend long dream. every place we went looked like a photo out of a national geographic magazine. enchanting swiss cottages perfectly placed on lush green hills with large blissful mountains in the background…straight up a fairytale. our weekend trip landed in the middle of october, which meant fall colors for days; the orange, red and green trees covered the mountains for miles. this place is truly out of this world.

switzerland gems:

• harder kulm (top of interlaken)

• town of lauterbrunnen (30 minute train ride from interlaken)

• base cafe in lauterbrunnen (best hot chocolate)

• jack & jo (zürich)

quick tip: switzerland is very pricey especially when it comes to food. so we picked up snacks from the market to save money. here’s a few things we lived on for the weekend:

• pastries

• cheese

• baguette

• truffle chips

• all of the swiss chocolate

refreshing mallorca

refreshing might just be an understatement when it comes to mallorca, its true essence has a calmness about it that is indescribable. from the most breathtaking (and kinda sketchy) drives through the mountains to the beautiful beaches and coves, this place is one of a kind. every place we went had such a unique set of characteristics that it almost seemed like we were in different countries when we drove from one side of the island to the other. the natural, untouched beauty of this place is definitely worth (at least) a weekend trip.

mallorca gems:

• cala des moro

• s’amarador

• cala figuera (stay at hostal can jordi)

• cala deia

• port de sóller

• sa calobra (sketchy drive getting there, but worth it)

• cala llamp

• puro beach club

upbeat barcelona

barcelona is upbeat for the liveliness you can find all over the city. whether you’re at the beach or walking around the gothic district you’ll be immersed in the eclectic architecture and surrounded by the high energy that the city brings. from beachside bars to quaint brunch spots, the amount of hidden gems in barcelona are endless.

barcelona gems:

• bicos restaurante

• satan’s coffee corner (gothic district)

• espai joliu

• little fern cafe

• bunkers del carmel (at sunset)

• gothic quarter

• catedral de barcelona

• le montserrat (day trip)

• mercat de la boqueria

• nomad coffee

• cometa cafe

• baldomero

• heyshop

• beaches of sitges (30 mins away via train)

effortless kauai

kauai holds such a special in our hearts. it is effortless in all forms. it’s crystal blue water, green mountain ranges, easy and slow-pace lifestyle, warm-hearted people, and local grinds make this island unique from the rest.

kauai gems:

• aloha roastery

• spam musubi’s/poke bowls from isihara market

• ensaimadas from aloha sweet delights

• the greenery cafe

• java kai

• aloha exchange

• polihale beach

• anini beach