If Continentale Florence wasn’t already the most perfect hotel, she also brought the gorgeous rooftop bar, La Terrazza, who absolutely isn’t here to play. (She was only here to play). Make sure to reserve in advance, either online with a card or just ring up the hotel directly. The spot is tiny and full, but…
Month: April 2023
Continentale- Florence
Wow, wow, wow, I have not been happy with a hotel in quite a long time- Continentale was absolutely next level on service, room, location, and roof top bar. I was meant to stay here a few years ago with my then partner, but he bailed on the trip and we never made it. Continentale…
Gucci Gardens
Gucci Gardens was a major player of my Florentine weekend which is saying a lot as I really wasn’t expecting much. I’m all for a lifestyle store/bistro/bar concept, so I knew I would have to check it out, but really I was expecting to be underwhelmed- wow was I wrong! The outside space was lovely,…
Trattoria Toscanini- Lake Maggiore
Easter 2023 was spend island hopping the Borromean Islands of Lake Maggiore. I see them often from the train and am always intrigued, so here we are. You’d think I’d have arranged a holiday lunch in a tiny town, but I was determined to wing it. Based on gorgeous location, adorable lounge area, fellow apertivos,…
Ristorante La Stresa- Stresa
Ristorante La Stresa has a whole mess of killer reviews and for good reason- the service, food, and price all made for a nice evening. Two women worked the entire restaurant, not annoyed that I was dining solo and gave me choice of table which is always thoughtful for we solo diners. As usual in…
Taverna del Pappagallo- Stresa
Craving a pizza and seeing the line at the clearly loved Taverna del Pappagallo, I managed to squeak in for an early lunch reservation the next day. As the restaurant was parrot themed for some reason, it felt right to sit on the terrace that blended the in and outdoors well. The pizza that I’d…
Trattoria La Botte Stresa
On my first night in Stresa, I opted to try Trattoria La Botte. The cozy restaurant was adorned with fun caricatures of the family who was there running the place, even this particular evening. I was kindly seated at a very romantic table, ripe for people watching and even better as they poured me the…
Hotel La Palma- Stresa
With France striking for trains, pensions, and garbage on fire from those strikes, the only logical thing to do with the long Easter weekend was pop over to Italy. On a particularly frustrating work day I did about five minutes of googling and settled on Hotel La Palma for its proximity to the train station,…
Enoteca da Giannino- Stresa
What’s better than an effervescent glass of bubbly to sip while watching the buzzy tourist square of Sresa go by? A good book to go with it? Ok…now it’s better… a handful of potato chips…ok, ok maybe slightly better. (How to the Italians never tire of crisps?) And that’s precisely the fun little pit stop…
Macarons and Mayhem 