It’s been about a month since we got back from our two week vacation in Italy and so I thought I’d put together a guide of everywhere we stayed and ate along the way with some additional recommendations in case you ever find yourself traveling through any of these unforgettable cities.
Rome
To me, Rome is just a hub. You fly in or fly out of Rome. Unless this is your first time, you really only need one night in Rome to adjust to the time zone and make your way to any other city in Italy. While Rome is extremely unique and you absolutely must see the Vatican and ruins, it reminds me of LA and is full of so many people that I couldn’t wait to get out and to the countryside. But there are some gems hidden amongst the crowds.
Where to stay
The Westin is located in the northern part of the city away from all the hustle and bustle, which I appreciated. It’s tied to a fabulous bakery/coffee shop and restaurant with fresh pastries and espresso and just feels luxe. It’s also directly across from Harry’s iconic and legendary bar where we had our very first aperol spritz of the trip. Pricey but worth every penny.
Where to eat
Saint Lucia: A gorgeous outdoor patio that is tucked away underneath ivy and flowers.. we loved eating here for lunch. Fun fact: a scene of Eat, Pray, Love was filmed here!
SANT’EUSTACHIO: A super chic spot for a mid day pick me up of espresso and some treats.
Trastevere: Just walk around this iconic part of the city and pop into a restaurant off the beaten path (stay off the main drags is typically my recommendation). It’s the most charming part of Rome and so picturesque.
Tuscany
Where to stay
We’ve stayed in some pretty dope hotels in our day but nothing could prepare me for the drive through the winding hills of Tuscany and coming up on Castello di Velona in Montalchino.
This literal castle is perched on a hill surrounded by rolling vineyards and thermal hot springs, pools, and spas. It is pure luxury. We found this hotel through a recommendation from American Express and it did not disappoint. We drank only the finest Italian wine, ate the freshest Italian food, and relaxed for three full days under the Tuscan sun.
What to do
Wine tasting is the most popular choice and it would be really easy for any hotel to arrange this but we chose to stay at our hotel and just lounge and drink wine on property. I find wine tasting to be more fun in a larger group or with another couple so we skipped it this trip.
Florence
Where to stay
We stayed at the St. Regis and out of every hotel, this one had the best buffet breakfast in the morning and the best service overall. They just get it. Within minutes of leaving our room for the gym or breakfast it was being made up. And they just knew us from the second we walked in. Can’t beat it. But the Westin right across the way would also be a great location and they have an insane rooftop bar we went to a couple times for unobstructed views of the city. Drinks were expensive but again, worth it for the view and pictures.
Where to eat
Il Latini- iconic spot with huge portion sizes. Steak florentine is a must… and it’s massive. They have a wine window right next to the restaurant while you’re waiting in the streets for your reservation.
13 Gobbi – get the rigatoni
All’Antico Vinaio – viral sandwich shop with lines that wrap around the street.. so either go really early or really late
Edoardo next to the Duomo – best gelato
Venice
Where to stay
We stayed at the Gritti Palace and WOW, what a showstopper. Right on the grand canal, you have views of the water taxis and all the people watching your heart could desire. The restaurants are top notch and pricey so we only ever just got a drink and moved on to different locations to eat but the $30 dirty martini was worth the views.
Where to eat
Ristorante Da Ivo – this is where George Clooney and all his pals showed up the night before his wedding to Amal. This place is TINY and has maybe 10 tables in the whole place. It was family run, quaint and charming and the food was excellent.
Ristorante Riviera – we came here for lunch and sat outside on the canal and just drank spritzes and ate pasta while watching the water ferries drive by. A gorgeous location with delicious seafood pasta.
What to do
Do the gondola rides but don’t wait in the lines. It’s worth the 80 Euro. Find a random nook and cranny of Venice and you’ll see plenty of men willing to offer rides. We got on ours right under the Rialto bridge.
Lake Como
I’ll never forget our drive into Lake Como… absolutely breathtaking. First of all, it’s huge. And lining either side of the lake are mansions, estates, high end hotels and vistas for days. This was my favorite location out of it all and for good reason.
Where to stay
Grand Hotel Tremezzo – like it was out of a fairytale. A postcard. A movie. Just insanity from beginning to end. We didn’t leave except once to take a water taxi over to Bellagio and while I’m glad we made the trip over for a couple hours of shopping, I couldn’t wait to get back to Tremezzo and lounge by the pools. Bellagio is very touristy. Ferries are dropping people off by the minute and it was body to body walking around and difficult to find a place to grab a quick drink. Staying on the quiet side of Lake Como was where we wanted to be. And we didn’t want to leave. So we didn’t. There are plenty of towns in Lake Como to explore and the ferries are basically free I believe. We were just exhausted by the end of our trip that we wanted to stay put.
