Friday, August 17, 2012

Europe or Bust!

a quick preview of our trip plans,
more details + travel inspiration + outtakes next week.

have you been to any of these cities? leave us your tips, must-sees and best eats below!


  1. This looks awesome Jess! So excited for you & Mike!

  2. Yayyy! Looks like such a fun trip! While on the move, I would recommend 3 delectable dining options:
    1) In Paris, there's a North African restaurant called 404. I know, I know - you live in Malta and already get great North African goodies. I can't help it. I always recommend 404! Check them out here!
    2) Another more mainstream Paris hot spot - breakfast at Angelina's. Their hot chocolate is otherworldly. It's not just hot chocolate, my friends. It's...liquid heaven.
    3) Finally, in London, I've never been able to pass up the Gay Hussar aka the best Hungarian food outside, well, Hungary. If you decide to go here, I'd recommend reservations and empty stomachs. :)

    Can't wait to read all about your adventures! Safe travels :)

    1. Allie, this is amazing. Thank you!

      I can almost guarantee we will check out 404. There is actually hardly any North African food in Malta! While in Morocco last year we fell in LOVE with Moroccan food and haven't been able to get much of it since.

      I've never tried Hungarian, and I've heard about Angelina's hot chocolate, so I'm curious about these spots too!

      You're the best, thanks again!

  3. in Nice, you HAVE to stop by Fenocchio (assuming you guys eat ice cream at all). they serve some of the best ice cream that I have ever had in my life, and their flavor selection is amazing!

    1. We do eat ice cream, we'll be sure to check this out :) Thank you!

  4. ahhh so exciting!! i studies in florence so it still has a little piece of my heart. can't wait for you to visit the spain places and let me know what's a must see/do!

    1. I think you could give me a tip or two about Spain! Sending you an email shortly :)

  5. So happy you're going to Bilbao and San Seb! If you have time, stop in the town of Lekeitio (it's in the middle of Bilbao and SS) and if you're interested in architecture they have a 15th century basilica. Here's some tips/pics here:

    1. Thanks Christine, I actually became interested in Bilbao after reading your blog post about it! And we'll be in Lekeitio for the Gansos festival (which both grosses me out and intrigues me). Definitely going to check it out!

    2. What a compliment, thanks! Gansos is super fun and crazy. And don't worry about the geese, they aren't killed for the festival...but it is weird, I'll admit! Make sure you try kalimotxo (pronounced cali-mo-cho) when you're's a local favorite drink.

    3. Ah yes, kalimotoxo! I studied with some Spanish students who introduced me to it years ago. Most North Americans think it's strange, but I love it :)

  6. London:

    Sightseeing: Spital Fields. Great place with lots of East Ender history. For me, I always have to visit the National Portrait Gallery. Fortnum & Mason is always a hoot. I mean, a place even more expensive than Harrod's??

    E Pellicci
    332 Bethnal Green Road
    E2 OAG
    (Awesome comfort food. Hole-in-the-wal, but great.)

    Shampan Restaurant
    79 Brick Lane. Aldgate London . E1 6QL
    (Excellent curry restaurant)

    8 Hanway Place, London, W1T 1HD+44-(0)20 7927 7000
    (Best restaurant I have ever been in. Chinese food. Very hard to find, so use Google maps / GPS)

    20 Thurloe St
    London, SW7 2LT, United Kingdom
    020 75896117
    (Good Polish Food. Great potato pancakes.)

    Well, really too much to put here so I will keep it to a few basic points.

    The best ice cream in the world is Maison Berthillon, 31 Rue Saint-Louis en l'Île 75004 Paris. Nicely located for a visit if you go to Notre Dame.

    And a tip on going to the Louvre: It is faster to get in if you go through the entrance from the Metro, not from the ground floor. Or at least it used to be. I prefer the Musee d'Orsay in any case.

    1. Thanks for the recommendations!

      I agree, the Musee D'Orsay is much better. Definitely adding Hakkassan to our itinerary, I had an amazing meal of Chinese in Paris once and haven't been able to replicate it since (until now?)

      Spital fields is not somewhere I would have thought of going, but it looks really interesting.

      Thanks again!

  7. awesome list! pisa and florence are beautiful...pisa is very tiny but since you're an art history nerd like me, you'll love it ;)

  8. Hi Jess,

    I highly recommend Willi's Wine Bar in Paris the food is amazing, the wine is gorgeous and the service is brilliant! You can also pick up one of Willi's famous bottle art posters too. I am a teeny bit biased as my brother works there, but it is well worth a visit.

    1. Thank you so much Natasha! This place looks fantastic (LOVE the bottle art posters).


Let's talk.