MANGIARE A ROMA: A TRAVEL GUIDE FOR FOODIES!

Traveling to Rome - Colosseum - Rome.jpg

* Last updated in Fall of 2023 *

Rome - the heart of Italy, the emperor of pasta, the epicenter of some of the best food in the world. This past September my boyfriend and I did a big Italy trip. Throughout the trip we ate at some pretty amazing restaurants but nowhere came close to the food in Rome. It was literally knockout after knockout and by the end of the trip, it was safe to say that the food in Rome was some of the best meals/restaurants we experience during the entire trip! That is why I am devoting a whole travel blog post to just food in Rome  - cuz man, you gotta try these places if you are traveling to Rome anytime soon.

Just a disclaimer before I begin - prepare to gain weight because the pasta in Rome is the bomb.com. Between my boyfriend and I, we ate 12 pastas within 4 days. If there was truffles on it, i wanted it! If there was a spicy sauce, you bet I was ordering it! Artichokes - don’t get me started! There is no wrong decision when it comes to pasta in Rome - pizza too if I’m being completely honest.

Okay are you ready to eat? Stupid question I know…

ROME FOOD GUIDE

Dinner at Taverna Trilussa in Rome

Taverna Trilussa - I literally died and went to pasta heaven! This place was so amazing! Talk about rustic Italian food, award winning pastas, death by truffle, great patio, mouthwatering fried artichokes, fantastic wine list, and a favourite of both locals and tourist alike. Although these restaurants are in no ranking order, this one definitely deserves to be at the top of my Rome food guide because it’s just that good!

Located in the heart of the Trastevere neighbourhood this place is buzzing with people. The restaurant’s inside is heartwarming with parma ham hanging from the ceiling against a backdrop of rustic wood finishings, while the patio is lined with ivy-covered trellises that give it wonderful evening energy.

Pasta is served in the same silver pans they are cooked it in, a simple presentation that enhances the experience.

Another great thing about this restaurant is that it’s in one of the best neighbourhoods to go out in. So after you finish your meal make sure to walk it off and explore the bars because there are tons of young people/places to party in the area after.

I recommend making a reservation unless you want to eat at 10 PM because otherwise it’s so busy and walk-ins won’t be able to get a table until then. Also since it is very busy expect service to be a little slower than average - definitely worth the wait though and a must when traveling to Rome!

Taverna Trilussa
Via del Politeama, 23/25, 00153 Roma
Tel: (+39) 06 5818918

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Italy food guide - best restaurants in rome - Ristorante le Mani in Pasta

Our grilled whole fish for dinner at Ristorante le Mani in Rome

Ristorante le Mani in Pasta - Always packed, (and for good reason!) Osteria Le Mani in Pasta is an informal yet intimate neighbourhood joint beloved by both local and tourists alike. A reservation at this Trastevere hot spot is definitely recommended so plan ahead (the day before) or be prepared to be turned away from this traditional-style trattoria. Adam and I recently visited the restaurant in September of 2023 following our wedding in Tuscany and it was easily one of the best meals we had while in Rome. They serve exquisite Roman cuisine as well as yummy seafood, meat and pasta dishes from different Italian regions.

We got a table right beside the kitchen window so dinner came with a show! The chefs were very nice and playful and it was obvious that they use the highest quality ingredients and extremely fresh seafood. The portions are quite large and are also great for sharing. Adam and I ended up ordering a fresh artichoke salad, the Amatriciana (tomato and bacon) pasta, grilled whole fish and a bottle of Rosso di Montalcino, and left with no room in our bellies to spare. If I remember correctly, the bill also only came out to €120 (wine included) which, having just come from Croatia - felt like great value compared to the prices we were paying while there.

Osteria Le Mani in Pasta
Via dei Genovesi 37, 00153 Rome
Tel: (+39) 06 581 6017
Call for reservations!

Italy food guide - best restaurants in rome - Ristorante le Mani in Pasta

Amatriciana (tomato and bacon) from Osteria le Mani in Rome

Lunch at Roscioli!

Roscioli - this gourmet grocery store is also home to an amazing restaurant. With a multi functional deli in the front and an unconventional restaurant in the back, this is a great spot to send your taste buds fluttering right to food heaven. With over 300 types of cheese, 150 varieties of cold cuts, and 1000+ bottles of wines to choose from - this place is a great spot to hit up for lunch. We had their burrata and practically fought over a plate of pata negra! Their pastas were also exceptional and their popularity indisputable. You had to wait outside for your table to be ready since the place was so small and packed with people. I would recommend making a reservation for lunch while you are in Rome or at least stopping by to grab a selection of meat, cheese, or at the very least some preserves and spreads to take home with you as the ultimate ‘food from Rome’ souvenir.

Roscioli
Via dei Giubbonari, 21 - 00186 Rome
Tel: (+39) 06 687 5287
Reservations: https://www.salumeriaroscioli.com/en/book-old/

Dinner at Renato e Luisa in Rome

Renato e Luisa - I would go back to this quaint, tucked-away restaurant any day of the week. Located across from Hotel dei Barbieri you would literally walk right past this place if you didn’t know what it was. Tucked down a cobblestone walking street this restaurant is a local gem and a great place to experience where they like to eat food in Rome. The restaurant consists of two small dining rooms with a small open kitchen in the back. Everything is served hot, fresh, and ready to eat! We had some great meat dishes along with some pastas and to be honest they were all really good. They weren’t shy with the truffles and their carbonara was to die for! Although it may lack in appearance, this little restaurant stole my heart from the first bite of food. Don’t even get me started on their desserts! Brava!

Renato e Luisa
Via dei Barbieri, 2500186 Roma, Italy
Tel: (+39) 06 686 9660

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Lunch at Urbana 47!

Urbana 47 - This contemporary eatery offers fresh handmade dishes using high-quality local ingredients. The restaurant itself at first may appear small but as you explore further inside opens up to quite a large room in the back. The modern industrial design is just as memorable as the food and features a lot of steel and wood accents.

We ordered a couple of different pizzas (for a change) and we were not disappointed. A great spot for lunch, we showed up without a reservation and got a table within 10 minutes.

Urbana 47
Via Urbana, 47, 00184 Roma
Tel: (+39) 06 47 884 006
Reservations: thefork.it

Inside Urbana 47

Trattoria Da Teo - This restaurant was recommended to me by a friend who lived in Rome. It is one of their personal favourites and happens to be a family owned and operated restaurants. Even though we had a reservation the restaurant was packed with locals and we had to wait for a table to vacate before we could sit down to order. Although a tad on the salty side, the food was delicious! The restaurant has tables inside but the real experience is to be had out on their ‘patio’. The restaurant is set in a corner of a small cobblestone square making for a quiet intimate setting. It is also only a 15-minute walk from the hip and trendy Trastevere neighborhood making it a great spot to enjoy some local food in Rome before heading out for a late-night of drinking.

Trattoria Da Teo
Piazza dei Ponziani, 7A, 00153 Roma
Tel: (+39) 06 581 8355
Reservations: quandoo.it

MORE PICTURES OF THE FOOD FROM ROME!

I hope you enjoyed this Rome Food guide as much as I enjoyed traveling to Rome! If you have any questions about food in Rome or want to recommend some delicious food from Rome you found (all Rome Foodie are welcome!) while there, feel free to leave them in the comments below!

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PURA VIDA IN COSTA RICA

Costa Rica has always been a place I have wanted to go. My brother, having studied abroad there for a year told me tales of beautiful beaches, spending the weekends surfing, gorgeous tropical weather, and diverse ecosystems with lots to explore and discover. So as 2017 wound down I decided that 2018 was going to be the year I make as many of my travel dreams come true. So I started planning… Costa Rica was definitely at the top of my list and lucky enough Sunwing was going to help me make it happen. My plan - head to Costa Rica as a travel photojournalist and content creator, and fulfill my dream to visit Costa Rica all the while sharing my experience with you guys - FINALLY!

The morning of our flight we woke up to a massive snow fall! Getting to the airport was going to be more of a trek then we imagined and my stomach started to wrench at the thought that we may miss our flight - or worse it would be cancelled. Before I could drown in negative thoughts I decided to bite the bullet, pay the uber surge and just make my way as fast as I could to the UP Express.  Thankfully we arrived at the airport with 20 minutes to spare and with the help of Sunwing's staff and our 'Sunwing Elite' status we were processed and on our way within minutes! The flight of course was NOT cancelled and after a little de-icing we were on our way. The flight itself went very smooth, the in-flight crew very friendly, and after aecend we were offered a glass of sparkling wine - don't mind if I do.

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Tamarindo, a small town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica is located on the Pacific coast of the country. What I didn’t know when I landed was that it was also a little over an  hour drive away from the airport. Lucky enough Sunwing, arranges transfers for their customers FOR FREE to their hotels when booked as a package! Having never flown with Sunwing before and having never in my previous travels ever seen this happen (or had this service available to me), I thought it was genius! Usually when I arrive to a destination I have to pay out-of-pocket for transportation via either a shuttle service or a taxi just to get to my hotel/final destination - but not this time!

Finding the bus was easy and soon enough we were pulling up to my hotel just in time for dinner. Since Tamarindo is a small town they really only have one big hotel - the Tamarindo Diria - a beautiful 3.5 star (completely underrated in my opinion) hotel with the most gorgeous beach front views, and the only hotel with a private garden and direct access to the beach! That night I was so excited to be in Costa Rica, explore the hotel, and check out the small town of Tamarindo, I hardly slept!

Waking up to the sounds of the ocean is always nice but waking up to it and seeing the amazing panorama view of the beach right from the comforts of my large room balcony was breathtaking. Sitting there drinking my Costa Rican coffee I would see people slowly starting to claim their beach chairs, locals going for morning walk along the beach with their dogs, sailboats anchored in the distance and a group of horses available to ride roaming up and down the beach. It was perfect. It was Pura Vida!

With my last sip of coffee I quickly got ready, went down to check out the hotel and familiarize myself with the area. The small town of Tamarindo has a main strip that runs parallel to the ocean in addition to maybe two or three small streets that splinter off of it. It’s a small town, but with tons of energy. The Tamarindo Diria is located smack in the middle of the main strip and straddles either side of the road. One side (the one I was staying at) had beach-front hotel views, beach access and a smaller (but not small by any means) pool. This side was dubbed the ‘Sunset Village’. On the other side of the road you have the ‘Lagoon Village’ and the ‘Tropicana Village’. The ‘Lagoon Village’ has the most beautiful (and very large) pool oasis, a grotto, a kid friendly pool, and a swim up bar. The “Tropicana Village’ is an ‘adults only’ area with their own quiet adults only pool and lounge bar. There are hotel rooms available in all three villages, it just depending on what kind of vacation you are more into. The Lagoon and Tropicana side however, also features condos, tennis courts, shops and a casino! Oh did I also mention that the hotel also has five restaurants and bars? Weather you want pizza, seafood, steak or explore typical Costa Rican cuisine they’ve got you covered. No matter what side of the hotel you end up on, you will have access to everything!

After familiarizing myself with the hotel and running around to take some pretty pictures, it was time for a beach walk. The sand on Playa Tamarindo is made up of packed sand making it very easy to walk on with very little effort. The beach itself is very wide and the water is warm, almost like a giant salt water bathtub. Although you see many people out in the water enjoying surfing, the progression in depth is very gradual making walking out into the water very easy. This combined with the fact that there wasn’t really any undertow or sea life made it seem super safe for kids, beginner swimmers, or even novice surfers like myself! The beach is public domain and therefore you can walk around with ease, dropping in and out of different beach-front bars and restaurants, and mingling with locals as you go along. At sunset don’t be surprised if you start to hear the sounds of live music echoing from these small bars and restaurants - definitely a great way to end the day and make you feel totally decompressed. You are on vacation after all!

One thing I noticed about Tamarindo is all the expats! Finding someone who speaks English is not difficult at all. As a matter of fact all the menus are available in English even at the restaurants off the resort. If you are big into sports, Tamarindo has an American sports bar called Sharky’s so you never have to worry about missing the big game. Although the Hotel Tamarindo Diria is beautiful I definitely recommend wandering around Tamarindo. I always felt completely safe and besides the local restaurants (Green Papaya and Falafel Bar were two we loved and frequented more then once), there is a night market on Thursday from 6-10 pm where you can buy artisan products, food, drinks etc. that I definitely recommend. If you are looking for a place to go out there is also a small disco/nightclub called Crazy Monkey. Located less than 500 meters from the hotel it has two dance floors, one with a live band that plays Salsa music and one with a DJ that playing hip hop. On Friday nights Crazy Monkey gets really busy. Packed with tourists and locals alike, it’s a really nice way to immerse yourself in the vibe of Tamarindo.

If you have seen the surf documentary The Endless Summer II you would know that Tamarindo is famous for surfing. With plenty of surf shops to choose from there is no need to bring your own board to catch some waves. On top of having your pick from a handful of surf shops that rent boards, the beach also has lots of instructors equipped with boards ready to help you ride your first Costa Rican wave. Having taken surfing lessons in the past, I headed over to Surf Culture to rent a board for the day, which only cost me $10. The shop is located less than a 5-minute walk from the hotel and the staff are very knowledgeable. They can help you with everything from finding the perfect board for your skill level and height, best spots to surf, and even some friendly tourism advice like the best place to go out that night and where to eat!

As I said in the beginning Costa Rica has so much to offer in the way of exploration and discovery. Towards the end of our trip my boyfriend and I spent an entire day in a small town of Bueno Vista with Sunwing Experiences. We went ziplining, had a Costa Rican coffee tasting, went horseback riding, tried volcanic mudding, hung out in hot springs, and to finish the day off, did a hike to a magnificent waterfall. The entire tour was arranged through Sunwing and can even be booked on the flight over! Bueno Vista is about 1.5 hours away from the hotel Tamarindo Diria, but Sunwing Experiences arranges transportation there and back and provides lunch. So if you are looking to get out of the hotel and really experience Costa Rica I definitely recommend trying the Bueno Vista Tour. With about 11 hours from pick up to drop off it’s definitely a jam-packed day of fun activities and totally worth every penny.

I know this was a long post but I would be doing the trip a disservice if I didn’t give you the full scoop. Traveling to Costa Rica was everything I imagined and more. It’s not often I find a destination that I want to go back to so quickly but this is one country I am eager to explore more of. If you ever get a chance to go or are thinking about doing a trip with your loved one, family, or even a big group of friends, I definitely recommend Tamarindo, Costa Rica and for ease, great tour partnerships, and price value, Sunwing.

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MY MONTALCINO, TUSCANY TRAVEL GUIDE

When I was 5-6 years old my family rented a villa in Montalcino, Italy. Montalcino, if you are not familiar, is a small walled medieval town in the heart of the Tuscany Brunello wine region - an absolute paradise for children and adults alike. The villa we rented was smack in the middle of a vineyard and although I was very little, I still have vivid memories of that summer. When I think back to that summer, I can remember running through the vineyards, stomping on grapes, eating fruit right off the trees, playing in the small square in town, and hearing the church bells ring. I also remember how right before the end of the trip, on the first weekend in September, my mom took us to a medieval festival where the city splits into 4 quarters and competes to win the ‘Gold Lance’. They joust, have archery competitions, have a parade in historical costumes, and at the end of the day lots of culinary meet ups. It was paradise!

Fast forward 20+ years to the present and after coming back from a recent trip down memory lane, I had such a fabulous time re-experiencing Montalcino as an adult. This is why I had to promote this destination and write a little travel guide for anyone going so they can make the most out of their stay. Are you ready for it?!

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STAY

Si Montalcino - this beautiful boutique style villa is the perfect place to stay if you are visiting the region. A less then 5 minute drive to town, the property offers free parking and free breakfast with your stay, a pool, and verandas that look over the Tuscan countryside. Our room was lovely and definitely had some Tuscan charm. The bathroom had been newly renovated in a very clean and modern style. We also had a private terrace where we enjoyed our morning coffee while planning the day’s activities. The staff were very helpful and answered questions to whatever we couldn’t look up using the hotel internet which was one of the best we experienced in Italy. The hotel also has a very friendly, beautiful dog that likes to welcome you back - very quiet and can often be found sunbathing. I highly recommend this place for the location, price, and what it includes. It is well worth every penny. The only thing that I was sad about was that I couldn’t stay longer.

EAT

Drogheria Franci (In Montalcino) - One of the best meals of our entire trip. The carbonara here was unbelievable but I was very satisfied with every dish that was served. The chef puts a modern twist on classic Italian dishes and his deep knowledge of the cuisine and inventive new approaches were executed perfectly. The wait staff is very friendly, speaks english and is very helpful and knowledgable about the menu. There is a wine store that is attached/part of the restaurant so they also have a very deep understanding of wineries in the region. Instead of ordering a bottle for our meal, my boyfriend and I asked our waiter to split us a glass with each plate so we could do parings which ended up working out so much better and came to about the same price as a bottle. You definitely have to eat here so make a reservation ahead of time!

Il Pozzo in San Angelo (15mins drive from Montalcino) - Traditional Tuscan cuisine at its finest! This restaurant was recommended to us by many people including the wait staff at Drogheria Franci. This rustic restaurant was super busy (even for when we went on a Sunday evening) and after tasting their food I could tell why. Tucked into a small corner of the little hilltop town of San Angelo, this restaurant offers a variety of fresh pasta dishes, and is famous for their excellent Steak Florentine. Come hungry because you will want to try everything on the menu and I’m positive you won’t be disappointed.

Latta de Luna in La Pienza (20mins drive from Montalcino) - If you are willing to drive a little further away from Montalcino, you have to visit the town of Pienza. This cute Tuscan town is bigger in size then Montalcino but offers the same kind of medieval charm and architecture with more stores to peruse and restaurants to try. When in town, after enjoying the sites I definitely recommend going to Latta de Luna for a bite. Their menu consists of traditional Tuscan cooking and they are known for their suckling pig which we had and was cooked to perfection. Since we went in September they also had some seasonal offerings including a squash soup which I was in heaven over. Definitely a nice little spot to grab a bite if you are willing to make the trip.

Bruno Dalmazio Wine Store (2mins outside Montalcino) - Montalcino has some of the most amazing sunsets and for us sunset lovers, we wanted to take full advantage. In order to do just that we always made sure to book our dinners 15 minutes after the sunset and arrive 45 minutes early with a bottle of wine we purchased at Bruno Dalmazio so we could enjoy it overlooking the sunset no matter what village/town we were in. With that being said, Bruno Dalmazio has a vast variety of wine at all different price ranges. The staff was very helpful at helping us find a perfect wine for the occasion and within our budget. They also gave us some really nice wine glasses to enhance our experience and a drip stopper so it stays good to the last drop. The best!

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PLAY

Locanda Demetra - This little hill top restaurant that overlooks the vineyards of Montalcino is a local hotspot. They offer lunch and dinner for small groups of max 20 people so if you want to get in, I recommend booking it in advance. Since the restaurant isn’t really in town, you would only really find out about it if it was recommend to you by a local - but its great! The reason why it’s in my ‘play’ vs. ‘eat’ section is because they also offer traditional tuscan cooking classes! For €120 per person, we had a 5 hour class which included a walk around the garden, lessons on pasta making (which included both a with and without egg dough making demo and a lesson on how to make different styles of pasta), a traditional tomato sauce, a tiramisu dessert demo, and a bottle of wine with our meal. After we finished cooking we were then led outside and served the pasta and food we we made while overlooking the countryside and enjoying our bottle of wine. An afternoon well spent and definitely a fun activity to do while on vacation.

Podere La Ripi Winery - Little did we know but going wine tasting in Tuscany is not like going to wineries in Canada. Most tastings are done by appointment only and are often booked weeks, sometimes months in advance. Lucky for us, Podere La Ripi had an opening which we quickly snatched up with excitement. The tasting included a walk through the property and the wine cellar, interesting historic information about the region, and of course a tasting which comes in 3, 5 or 6 tastings. Tasting fees are waived if you spend over €100. The experience was lovely and I learned a lot about what makes a Brunello wine, the region and how it became popular for growing wine, different techniques in planting and growing quality grapes and why everyone is transitioning their properties into biodynamic vineyards.
 
Abbazia Di Sant'Antimo (Abbey) - This former Benedictine Monastery is really close to Podere La Ripi Winery so if you are going there for a tasting this is definitely a beautiful well maintained church and property to check out and take photos on the way. The abbey was original built as a place of refuge for pilgrims on their way to Rome and has since been very well maintained making it a beautiful piece of history to observe


Bon Di Santi Winery - The only reason why this winery is on my list is because it is absolutely stunning. Although this winery is famous for their wine and I would of loved to try them, the €450 price tag for a tasting was way out of my price range not to mention it has to be booked way in advance. It is really close to Montalcino however and you are able to walk around the grounds a little bit which is why I am recommending it. The Cyprus trees that line the entrance driveway make for a beautiful shot and the grounds are so beautifully manicured its worth going for just the photo opportunities.

If you are going to Montalcino, I hope you have a great time and enjoy your stay. If you come back with some of your own recommendations I’d love to hear them so feel free to pop those in the comments below!! If you have any feedback on any of my recommendations as well, I’m interested to hear about other people’s experiences and what they enjoyed/didn’t enjoy. Until next time - Arrivederci!

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10 THINGS TO DO, EAT AND SEE IN PHILLY - RECOMMENDED BY LOCALS

If you follow me on Instagram you would have noticed that this last month has been a whirlwind of traveling for me. One of the most entertaining and interesting cities that I recently visited (and for the first time) was Pennsylvania largest city Philadelphia. While there discovering all the city had to offer I met some pretty cool locals that were more then happy to share their recommendations of places they would go if they had a friend coming to town - this is what they said:

Each * represents a repeated mention!

Dan

Martha - A really cool neighborhood bar with hoagies, house-made pickles, vegetable plates, cheeses & charcuterie, craft beer, cocktails, and wine.
Keystone Mini Golf - Indoor BYOB Miniature Golf Course and Arcade
* South Bowl - Retro bowling alley with 26 bowling lanes, billiards, arcade games, food and delicious cocktails. They also have a great happy hour

Pub + Kitchen - A lively restaurants for quality dishes, craft beers, cocktails, and elevated brunch offerings.
Cafe La Maude - French-Lebanese cafe serving breakfast, lunch & pastries
* Zahav - a modern Israeli restaurant
Helm - a contemporary American BYOB with great food and locally farmed produce
Gaul and Company - a malt house that does their Philly Cheesesteak with kielbasa!!! So good my friend!
**** The Fillmore - the best spot in Philly for live music hands down!
Beiler's Donuts - get the apple fritters - trust me.

Amber

Delaware River Waterfront - Parks, outdoor concert venue, museums, an outdoor skating rink in the winter, restaurants, and breweries all with an excellent view of Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the Delaware River
Rittenhouse Sq Park - A family friendly park that hosts many events throughout the year including Rittenhouse Square Spring Festival (typically in may) that attracts tens of thousands and boosts food, shopping, live entertainment and more.
Metropolitan Bakery - Makes the best fresh bread - I could make a meal out of just their bread!
African American Museum - America's history through the lens of an African American experience
Philly Museum of Art - One of Philly's most popular museum
National Constitutions Center - America's most hands on history museum
* La Colombe in Fish Town - Super trendy coffee shop serving their own brand of artisan coffee and pastries
Reading Terminal Market - Philly's famous indoor market offering diverse fare, housewares & area specialties since 1892.

Jinx Furniture Store - one of the best furniture/antique stores in Philly
Bar-Ly - A sports bar in Chinatown with happy hour 7 days a week!

Matt

Santuciii’s - Best Pizza Eva!
Fat Salmon - Best sushi in Philly
*La Colombe - Try their coffee and rum! I never thought it would go together but it does and its delicious!
*Philadelphia Distilling - The first craft distillery in the state of Pennsylvania since prohibition.
Spruce St Harbord Park - A good summer spot with an urban beach in Penn's Landing that features a boardwalk along the Delaware River with a beachfront atmosphere.
Zavino - A tiny wine bar that likes to team its vintages with Italian small plates & Neapolitan pizzas
Lolita - Boutique Mexican food
Bar - My favorite grimy bar in midtown - its so grimy but its great
**** The Fillmore - Great live music
Howl At The Moon - A lively bar with dueling pianos, live music and lots of song covers

Alicia

South Philly Barbacoa - Tacos!!!
Talula’s Garden - Cute farm to table restaurant with a garden in the summer
*Philadelphia Distilling - Gin Distillery
Independence Beer Garden - Pop Up Seasonal outdoor beer garden with 40 taps, cocktails, snacks & projection TV screens.
* Zahav - A modern Israeli restaurant
Magic Gardens - Instagram worth spot to take awesome photos (and I agree, see my photos from the Magic Gardens below)

**** The Fillmore - they have a great dance night!
Race St Pier - A spot along the waterfront great for spending the day overlooking the water
Frankford Hall - German style beer garden
South Moon Under- Great store/boutique that I always shop at

Bill & Eric

John Rose Pork - Sandwich shop
**** The Fillmore - for live music

* South Bowl or North Bowl - Retro bowling alley with 26 bowling lanes, billiards, arcade games, food and delicious cocktails. They also have a great happy hour
Marra's - Authentic Italian pizza spot! I love their pizza.
Ristorante Pesto - A small family-run trattoria with great Southern Italian classics & neighborhood atmosphere. Its also BYOB!!!
Helium Comedy Club
Noto - The only place we have close to an EDM/ Trap music club in Philly
McGillians - One of my favorite grimy Irish bars
Tony Luke's - Their Philly Cheesesteaks are the best!
Liscio Bakery - Bakery with great bread

Have suggestions of your own? Leave them in the comments below!

 

A SLICE OF PARADISE RIGHT HERE IN CANADA - OSOYOOS, BC

View from Painted Rock Winery Tasting Room

It’s kind of crazy for my millennial mind to get around the notion that travelling to faraway places has never been as easy as it is today. As a Canadian my ability to get up and go to another country without restriction is a luxury I fully take for granted. To give you some perspective 36% of American’s hold a valid passport whereas 60% of Canadians have valid passports, making us one of the most well-travelled nations in the world! That said, it has become common place for Canadians to choose to travel abroad instead of visiting beautiful places right on home soil! Crazy right!?

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🍋 Our last trip to Italy together vs our first trip to Italy together 🇮🇹 It might be the pregnancy hormones but I’m feeling very sentimental today and I cant believe it’s already been more than seven months since we tied the knot. Tu

PLAY: THINGS TO DO IN OSOYOOS

Thankfully I’m here to tell you about a slice of paradise right here at home called Osoyoos, British Columbia. This magical place in my opinion is one of the most underrated destinations for everyone outside of BC. Osoyoos is located 5km from the US border in the interior of beautiful British Columbia and is not only one of the warmest places in Canada, but smack in the middle of BC’s wine country. I was lucky enough to visit this beautiful Okanagan gem last Easter and had the time of my life attending the Osoyoos Oyster Festival, a yearly event to kick off their summer season.

Adding this destination to your bucket list is a must and I’m going to tell you why! Osoyoos has something for everyone. Do you like the outdoors? Cycling, biking, hiking, golfing, horseback riding, wake boarding, water skiing, fishing, boating, skiing, snowboarding, outdoor fitness classes - they have it all. People from British Columbia are some of the most outdoorsy Canadians I have ever met and they have tons of activities to get you out of your resort and into the sunshine where you can enjoy some of the most majestic views of the Okanagan Valley.

On the flip side to its many outdoorsy activities Osoyoos offers so many ways to relax. Their sandy beach, restaurants and wineries are perfect for those who want to spend the day taking it slow and sipping some great BC wines. It’s actually pretty common for people living in the area to spend their days off in the summer slowly drifting down the Okanagan River Channel (located in nearby Penticton) in a tube with a bunch of friends and a cooler full of cold drinks. Now doesn’t that sound like a great way to spend a weekend?!

EAT/DRINK: RESTAURANTS AND WINERIES IN OSOYOOS

One of the biggest draws to visiting Osoyoos is their sprawling fruit orchards and of course their wineries. The Oliver-Osoyoos Winery Association has 39 member wineries and in addition to the wineries in Osoyoos, there are also cideries and distilleries in the area. Exploring some wineries while in Osoyoos is a MUST and can easily be done thanks to organized wine tours like Heatstroke Cycles’ electric bike “Golden Mile Wine Country Tour”. This 4-5 hour leisurely tour takes you to some of the best wineries in the area where you can try some award winning wines. If you are like me and love wine make sure to grab an Oliver Osoyoos Winery Passport before starting your tour so you can collect stamps from each winery to possibly win a case of wine!

With great wine comes great food and restaurants in Osoyoos know how to serve up some great fare. One of my favorite restaurants in Oliver is Miradoro restaurant at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. This restaurant not only offers great views of the South Okanagan Valley but also mouthwatering dishes. Last time I was there during the Osoyoos Oyster Festival I had the best gnocchi ever! It had Oyster foam with an herb and seaweed sauce - so creative and delicious I would honestly go back just for that. If you are a foodie I definitely recommend making a reservation at Miradoro and trying out some of the great restaurants in the region.

WANT TO SEE MORE OF CANADA? CHECK OUT THESE OTHER TRAVEL GUIDES!

With over 28 festivals happening throughout the year in Osoyoos there is always something to do. The last two years in a row I have travelled to Osoyoos to attend the Osoyoos Oyster Festival. In terms of variety and bang-for-your-buck two of my favourite events from the Oyster Festival include Walnut Beach Resorts ‘Deep Sea Garden Party’ and the ‘Art of The Pearl Gala’ at Spirit Ridge Resort! Both events offer a huge selection of food vendors, wineries and of course oysters! Shout out to Codfathers Seafood Market for supplying the festival with amazing East and West coast oysters from some of the best farms in Canada. The Walnut Beach Garden party is a fun daytime event that other than the ‘Art of the Pearl Gala’ seems to have the most food and wine vendors along with a good flow of oysters. I’m not someone who likes to wait in long lines so this was a huge plus for me. The ‘Art of the Pearl Gala’ at Spirit Ridge Resort is the big finale event for the Oyster Festival and manyrestaurants in the region participate and go all out creating some pretty crazy and unique dishes for this special event. If you were to go to one event during the Oyster festival the gala at Spirit Ridge would be it! I was so impressed with how many restaurants and wineries participated in the gala, you could spend hours going from station to station tasting and sipping all the delectable offerings. It also had a very good flow so you never had to wait long for food and the supply of oysters seemed endless - which as a foodie is exactly what I wanted!

STAY: OSOYOOS HOTELS, TRANSPORTATION, AND PLACES TO STAY

Traveling to Osoyoos has never been easier thanks to Air Canada and West Jet flying into both Kelowna and Penticton airports. I flew direct out of Toronto and landed in Kelowna BC 4.5 hours later. I like to be mobile so renting a car was the easiest solution for me, but a shuttle service is available from the Kelowna airport thanks to Let’s Go Transportation. The drive from Kelowna to Osoyoos is about 2 hours and it is one of the most beautiful drives I have ever done. The drive from Penticton to Osoyoos is approximately 1 hour. When it comes to Osoyoos hotels and places to stay, there are a variety of accommodation choices to fit anyone’s budget. From the beautiful and luxurious Watermark Beach Resort to the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites to local camping sites it’s easy to find a place to rest your head that also fits your budget. Whatever your lifestyle it’s about time you start thinking about heading out west and exploring this beautiful country we live in.

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