Absolute Musts-dos in Amsterdam

Wow, after being in Prague for nearly 3 months now, I couldn't imagine a more incredible first weekend traveling, than my time spent in Amsterdam the other week with my girlfriend. I can't even begin to count how many times I've thought of going to Amsterdam and decided against it, thinking it was too touristy and overcrowded. I am so excited to share with you all of the incredible places we went to, but I don’t even know where to begin. There were so many places I had on my list to check out and not enough time, so we made sure we hit up the cutest neighborhoods, cafes and places to grab dinner and cocktails.  

When arriving in Amsterdam I was completely overwhelmed with the charm and accessibility of the city. Not once, did we take public transportation as most places are easy to get to and stumbling upon hidden alleyways, graffiti painted walls, local shops and the endless canals throughout the city were some of my favorite times while in Amsterdam.

I still can’t describe to you how much I fell in love with Amsterdam after visiting and the best part is that we barely did any of the “touristy things,” that most people come to do. Having no agenda and getting lost within the city made for the most enjoyable times.

Although my major recommendation to anyone visiting, would be to first just wander and explore the streets and canals, I of course have some incredible places you must check out as well.

Shown below: 

Must Visit Café: Lavinia Good Food Café

Must Visit Café: Café Georgette

Must visit restaurant: Bull & Dogs

Must visit place: Pulitzer Hotel

Must visit restaurant/bar: Palladium (mainly for drinks) (not pictured)

Must Visit Café: Café Georgette

Recently opened this cafe, is light, bright and incredibly well decorated. Their healthy and incredibly creative food options are endless and beautifully done. We both ordered avocado toasts, one being pomegranate, feta and avocado and the other with arugula, prawns and a soft-boiled egg. YUM! Oh and of course, I needed to test out their acai bowl. Pretty much in love.

Must Visit Café: Lavinia Good Food Café

So, I have to be honest, this place was so good, we went back for a second time. The food is so fresh, healthy and there are a ton of veg/vegan options, it is the perfect place for everyone. Additionally, the endless options of fresh juices, nut mylks, dairy free options and the turmeric golden latte, had me swooning. I ordered their breakfast truffle, egg and tomato flatbread and can pretty much say it was one of the best things I've ever tried. Clearly this is a must stop when visiting Amsterdam. Oh...and its incredibly cute inside. Perfect for taking photos. ;) 

Must visit restaurant: Bull & Dogs

This place...I literally have no words. It was heaven. Look at this milkshake. After coming across this place while doing our research, we knew we NEEDED to stop and check out Bull & Dog's incredibly creative and artistic milkshakes and hot dogs. Interesting combination, but it works. My friend Catie & I decided to go with the Big Banana Bash surrounded with peanut butter and chocolate mixed somewhere in there. Needless to say, it was gone within a matter of minutes as well as the Bourbon Bacon Dog we ordered too. This is definitely a must on my list of places to check out. 

Must visit place: Pulitzer Hotel

If you are looking for a perfect place to grab a cocktail or glass of wine with incredible decor, this is the place. Located centrally in the Nine Streets neighborhood its incredibly convenient to get to. Make sure to check out the incredible gardens

I can't wait until you experience all of the wonders this adorable town has to offer. Comment below if you visit and have anymore tips for future travelers. 

Cheers!! Make sure to follow my adventures on Instagram @tripleoblog 

Prague's Cutest Cafes pt. 1

Hey all!! 

Can you believe almost a month has gone by since my arrival in Prague? Things have been nonstop since getting here, and I've made sure to jump right in and explore something I love to do most...relax while drinking a beautifully handcrafted coffee amidst a cafe's eclectic and charming decor. 

While there are many more cafes that I have yet to explore here in Prague, I managed to visit a handful of the ones I love most. I think that these top picks of mine are definitely worth exploring and visiting when and if visiting Prague. I also managed to stop by and of course taste some delicious donuts at one of the cafes as well. 

I started my search early in the morning and headed to an area in central Prague known as JZP, Jirio Z Poděbrad.

1. Spižírna 1902- My first stop started at a cafe which just opened nearly a week ago. I was lucky to stumble upon it & was overwhelmed with the charm and artistic mural paintings along the walls and ceiling. Comfortable chairs to lounge in and windows that span from floor to ceiling, there is no lack of natural sunlight shining through. I have put this not only at the top of my list, because it was my first cafe to visit, but in regards to ambiance, comfortability, taste & decor it the best. The cafe offers beautifully crafted foods and drinks, with the option of non-dairy options, using nut mylk. In the evening, this cafe turns into a Tapas bar and serves food + beers & spirits. Its a must on my list. 

2. Coffee Room - Right down the road from the first cafe, is the Coffee Room. The Coffee Room is much smaller in size and but overflowing with people. There is a reason why this coffee shop is consistently busy. Its incredibly "California-esk" type food will make you swoon. Avocado toast with sesame seeds...do I need to say more? Acai smoothie bowls with beautiful fruit overflowing, grain bowls with roasted sweet potatoes, tomatoes and pomegranate seeds, and these are just a few dishes. The food menu is only a portion of the amazing items to order. There are a variety of drinks, which also include nondairy options, but one thing that stood out the most to me was the homemade lemonade. Freshly squeezed lemons, thyme and kiwis all come together to form a fresh, heavenly and refreshing beverage. Again, this cafe is a must visit for me. Make sure to grab a seat outside, if there's room. 

3. Donut Shop - I know this isn't exactly a full on cafe, but, who cares, they have donuts...and coffee. This adorable and unique shop is also located in the JZP area and funny enough has the same owners as the Coffee Room. I had to put this place on my list of cafes to check out, because every morning donuts are made fresh and they also offer a delicious oat milk latte. Their oat milk latte is creamy, smooth and not overly sweet. Furthermore, its located right beside a wonderful park where you can take your coffee and donut to sit and eat outside. To make this place even "sweeter," they offer "plant based" or vegan donut options for those vegans out there, but you wouldn't ever be able to tell the difference. I'd highly recommend the blueberry and peanut butter donut for your next visit. 

4. Pekárna - I saved one of the best for last. Located right around the corner from my flat in the area of Prague 2 - Vinohrady, I feel incredibly lucky to live in such a lovely area and this cafe only makes it that much better. The highlight of this cafe, is the homemade bread freshly made every Monday, Wednesday & Friday when they are open. Their traditional Czech bread fills the air with an incredible aroma and the lovely table decorations along with the record player quietly playing tunes creates for an atmosphere you won't want to leave. The first time visiting this adorable cafe, I was greeted by a lovely young Czech girl, who spoke such wonderful English & made all of the customers feel welcome. If you're looking for a place to relax, spend some time doing work & enjoying a latte or espresso, this cafe is another one I recommend. 

I have only started to skim the surface of cafes and restaurants here in Prague & I am sure I will have many more recommendations to come. Can't wait to share more about my cafe & restaurant obsessions in the coming months. 

-Ciao xx

Bachelor Farmer Cafe

Happy first day of Spring!!

It has been such a lovely weekend here in Minneapolis. There is still a slight chill in the air, but the sun was out and shining finally, so it was a perfect day to get outside and explore my neighborhood in the North Loop of Minneapolis. The North Loop is growing and expanding so rapidly, that there are new restaurants, shops and cafes opening all the time. The other day I came across this adorable, quaint cafe, called the Bachelor Farmer Cafe. This cafe is an addition of the preexisting restaurant called the Bachelor Farmer.

With large windows facing the downtown skyline and an outside patio along side of the building with benches for customers to enjoy the outdoors in an alley way, which is reminiscent of an Italian-style cafe, the Bachelor Farmer Cafe is a perfect place to relax, eat delicious pastries and sandwiches and spend the day catching up with friends. 

When walking in, you're greeted with an ever-changing construction paper board which hangs from the wall displaying the day's specials, the temperature outside and more. You can also grab one of the many newspapers hanging from hooks to read while sipping your coffee. The cafe has a constant flow of customers coming in and out every day and the atmosphere is fun, vibrant, light and airy, making the cafe feel spacious and open. 

As I stopped in yesterday for the second time within a matter of a week, I knew this was a place that I needed to share with you, because I am already OBSESSED. The first time I visited the Bachelor Farmer cafe, I ordered their open-faced beet + goat cheese + walnuts + honey sandwich. It was simple, elegant and nothing short of incredible! It was so amazing, I forced myself to slow down while eating, as to savor the amazing explosion of flavors that I was experiencing! This sandwich is a MUST! With the Beet + honey combination alongside the walnut + goat cheese combination reminded me of a fancier, adult version of the PB&J sandwich. It was perfection. 

In addition to how incredible the food is at the cafe, the coffees are just as amazing. Not only because of the taste, but how beautifully they are presented as well. The Bachelor Farmer Cafe ensures that you're not just experiences good food and coffee, but also an incredible experience as well. After my name was called from behind the barista bar, I looked down and my latte had the most intricate and complex design created on top of the foam. It was beautiful and I was OBSESSED with it. The quality of the latte was amazing and it wasn't overly sweet. 

I definitely recommend checking out the Bachelor Farmer Cafe if you're ever in the North Loop of Minneapolis. If you want to check out the website, you can find more information on their site, here. Its definitely a place that I am OBSESSED with and I hope you will love it as much as I do. I hope this recommendation was helpful. Enjoy!