A GUIDE TO NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, SPONSORED BY BUICK CANADA

Check out my sweet ride! The Buick Encore!

Check out my sweet ride! The Buick Encore!

At the beginning of the summer, I made a pact with myself to explore and promote as much of my home province as I could. I distinctly remember as the days started to get longer and the warm weather returned, having an epiphany and kicking myself because of how little I have written and promoted this beautiful place I call home. Even though I travel all over the world for work, have explored many different countries, I still walk away from those experiences feeling like Canada doesn’t get enough credit - and it’s true! There is so much to see and do in this beautiful country and I will be the first to admit I take my proximity to so many amazing destinations in Ontario for granted. You don’t need to book two weeks off from work and spend three months of savings to have a great getaway, you can drive there on a weekend in an hour and a half - and that’s exactly what Krystle and I did!

We knew off the bat that planning a road trip to Beamsville and Niagara-On-The-Lake wouldn’t be complete without a couple key essentials: 1) a Winemakers Selections Tasting Pass; 2) a reservation at Kitchen 76; 3) a cute place to stay for the night; and 4) the perfect vehicle to get us there. Thankfully getting these items in order was a breeze and before you could say ‘Happy 30th VQA’ we were hitting the road in our Buick Encore.

A quick stop in the cute town of Jordan, ON on our way to Niagara-On-The-Lake

A quick stop in the cute town of Jordan, ON on our way to Niagara-On-The-Lake

Now before I dive into the amazing adventure that ensued there are a couple things about this vehicle that I need to point out because frankly they completely elevated our entire weekend. Having never driven a Buick Encore before I was surprised right off-the-bat at how spacious the compact SUV was. Krystle and I are known to travel with way too much stuff (content creation props, outfit changes, computer and camera equipment, etc.) and the Buick Encore accommodated us perfectly. That said it was actually the keyless entry feature that was the lifesaver! If I had my hands full – say with luggage or purchases – I didn't have to put my stuff down and search through my purse to find the keys to unlock the vehicle door. As long as I had the keys on me the car would unlock at the press of a button on the door handle - it was that easy! Also, being unfamiliar with the area, the ‘real time traffic’ data available through the navigation system along with the 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot (which can connect up to 7 devices) made traveling in rural, unfamiliar territory so easy. We never had to worry about being stuck in traffic or getting lost, which made sticking to our fun filled weekend plans even easier! There were also a couple extra bonus features like the heated steering wheel, which definitely came in handy (pun intended) on the last day when the temperature dropped, and safety features like the back up camera, blind spot alert, and forward collision alert that gave us that extra cushion of comfort and made driving the Buick Encore a dream.

It was a beautiful day to walk around the town of Niagra-On-The-Lake!

It was a beautiful day to walk around the town of Niagra-On-The-Lake!

Circling back to our Niagara and Beamsville road trip, Krystle and I were warriors when it came to ticking things off our ‘to see/do’ list. Although all the places we visited were amazing and a lot of fun there were a few special places that really rose to the top for me. So without further ado - here is a list of things to do in Niagara On The Lake!


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Niagara On The Lake Wineries

Krystle (@DineAndFash) and I living our best lives in the Buick Encore! A quick stop for a photo at Peninsula Ridge Winery!

Krystle (@DineAndFash) and I living our best lives in the Buick Encore! A quick stop for a photo at Peninsula Ridge Winery!

With our Winemakers Selections Pass ($25 + Tax) Krystle and I were able to get a tasting at numerous wineries including a couple of the ones I am going to list below (I will indicate them with a ‘*’). The pass gets you one tasting at each winery and the head winemaker at each vineyard has selected the wine you get to taste. Krystle and I didn’t have time to hit even a fraction of the wineries that were on the list because we were on bikes while visiting the participating wineries and part of the fun for us is also creating content along the way (which as you can imagine also slows our pace down significantly). That said the pass is still a great option to consider.

*Although I am promoting getting the Wine Makers Selection Pass and visiting niagara on the lake wineries I do not condone drinking and driving. Krystle and I made sure to visit the majority of the niagara on the lake wineries while on bike and in the instances we were driving, one of us was appointed the designated driver for the day and abstained from consuming ANY alcohol what so ever.

Tasting room at Angels Gate Winery!

Tasting room at Angels Gate Winery!

Angels Gate (Beamsville) - Of course my favourite Ontario winery made the list! Not going to lie, I usually buy three or four bottles of their Pinot Gris ($14.99 + Tax) from the LCBO at a time (it’s a staple in my house), and visiting the winery just made my love for their wine grow even stronger. Visiting Angels Gate also gave me a chance to try wines that aren’t available at the LCBO and walk away with some new bottles. The winery itself has only been around for about 20 years (the first grapes were planted in 1999, production started in 2000, and the winery only opened on 2002), but they have already carved out a name for themselves among VQA wineries having won numerous awards already.

Made it to Reif Estate Winery in Niagara-On-The-Lake!

Made it to Reif Estate Winery in Niagara-On-The-Lake!

*Reif Estate Winery (NOTL) - Reif Estate Winery is one of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s founding family wineries and has been in operation for almost 40 years. A very popular pick (there was literally a bus load of people that showed up while we were there) and still family owned, Reif is notable for their delicious full-bodied reds. It came as no surprise then when our ‘Winemakers Selection’ tasting was just that. Surrounding the tasting room is a beautiful fountain and garden with lots of chairs so you can bring a picnic and enjoy a bottle outside. There is also a large old Victorian mansion on the property that has been converted to a bed and breakfast, making this winery a NOTL heritage beauty you don’t want to miss.

Checking out the Grand Victorian Bed and Breakfast next door to Reif Estate Winery

Checking out the Grand Victorian Bed and Breakfast next door to Reif Estate Winery

*Stratus Vineyards (NOTL) - I had never been to Stratus Vineyard until this adventure, but had seen pictures of its big, gorgeous, modern tasting room with massive windows and a great patio. I had heard they throw some really great parties during harvest and take a more scientific approach to wine production by incorporating gravity flow methods. What I didn’t know was how amazing their wines were, how they are a LEED certified winery, and how they are committed to producing sustainable and outstanding wines. At Stratus it’s about quality over quantity and that really shines through in everything they do. This winery not only makes amazing wines that I would happily enjoy drinking, but also exceeded my expectations in innovation and sustainability in every way.

Stratus Vineyards tasting room! Time to get our tasting on!

Stratus Vineyards tasting room! Time to get our tasting on!

Two Sisters Vineyards (NOTL) – Talk about being transported into another time and place. To me, Two Sisters Vinery is NOTL’s adult version of a Disney fairytale land. Once you pass through the gates of the property a long road lined with trees and rows of vines leads you to a large building resembling a mansion which houses their amazing restaurant Kitchen 76 and tasting room. Everything about this winery feels super opulent and magical. They have a grand terrace in the back with lots of outdoor seating where people can spend the afternoon drinking exquisite wine and feeling like the Lords and Ladies of the vine-lands below.

We made it to Two Sisters Vineyards - NOTL’s adult version of Disney Land!

We made it to Two Sisters Vineyards - NOTL’s adult version of Disney Land!

Local Distilleries

Tasting room at Dillion’s Small Batch Distillers

Tasting room at Dillion’s Small Batch Distillers

Dillion’s Small Batch Distillers (Beamsville) - This small batch Gin distillery was born out of necessity for Geoff Dillion (Distiller) and has the cutest love story. Geoff who was desperate to marry founder Gary Huggins’ daughter, was only going to be accepted into the family if he made a name for himself, thus Dillion’s Small Batch Distillery was born! With the help of Geoff’s father Peter, an engineer and spirit lover, they started producing some great gin using quality ingredients found only in Niagara and scaled the business quickly. If you aren’t really a gin person like myself, no need to worry. They are producing more than just gin these days and also offer tasting of their Limoncello, Rye Whisky, Peach Schnapps (which I grabbed), Vodka, and a variety of flavoured gins. They also started making pre-bottled Negroni’s and a variety of bitters, all of which are on display and available to try in their tasting room (which is also très mignon by the way).

Niagara On The Lake Restaurants

Loitering outside Tide and Vine Sandwich Shop in the town of Niagara-On-The-Lake.

Loitering outside Tide and Vine Sandwich Shop in the town of Niagara-On-The-Lake.

When it comes to Niagara on the lake restaurants, many of them, especially those with patios, seem to be a bit of a tourist trap in the summer. Not only are the restaurants usually super packed making it hard to get a table, but the food itself is over priced. With that being said we did find two places, one sandwich place that was great for dining on a budget and a winery restaurant that offered phenomenal food, ambiance and wine!

Tide and Vine Sandwich Shop (NOTL) - Krystle and I just happened to walk by this cute sandwich shop in NOTL and literally stopped in our tracks. It was a small, cute, sea foam green, casual shop with a couple seats and a cute bench nook by the window that we quickly occupied. Feeling a little hungry I was keen on trying their food and since you could opt into having any of the sandwiches made into a salad, I did just that. In the end the food was really good, the place was super cute and compared to all the other overpriced ‘tourist trap’ restaurants on the NOTL town strip, this one’s cute east coast vibe really jived with me.

Kitchen 76 at Two Sisters Vineyards (NOTL) - When Krystle told me about the wood burning pizza oven at Kitchen 76 I was automatically sold. When we arrived I was taken back at how grand the entire estate and winery was, but once we sat done for our late lunch in the restaurant and actually got to experience the food, I knew this was going to have to be on my list. Our meal was hands down the best we had our entire time in Niagara and the restaurant felt so cozy with its massive fire place and large windows, which provided a view of the terrace and vineyard in the distance. The pizza here was of course amazing but I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t also recommend their burrata and orecchiette.

Things To Do in Niagara On The Lake

Krystle and I got our bikes from Grape Escape! They were so great!

Krystle and I got our bikes from Grape Escape! They were so great!

Grape Escape Wine Tours – By now it should come as no surprise that this bicycle tour and rental company is another family run and owned establishment in Niagara-On-The-Lake. We got to meet Richard Mell, the owner’s son, when we came in to grab our bikes and he was very accommodating in helping us plan a route for our skill level and time requirements. He also adjusted the bike to our measurements and provided helmets so we didn’t have to worry about bringing our own. I actually really enjoyed experiencing the area via bike and since the shop was located very close to 3-4 wineries you really don’t need to bike far to start enjoying yourself. Richard also mentioned that wine tours were available and they do provide group tours however they are known to run out of bikes (they had around 200 bikes) on weekends so it is important to make a reservation ahead of time. If you are looking for things to do in Niagara on the lake, renting a bike or joining a tour is a great way to get in a lot of wine tasting in Niagara on the lake.

Had such a great time this weekend in the Buick Encore!


Unfortunately this time around I don’t have any recommended accommodations for you. I would never recommend a place to you that I have never stayed at and even though there were a lot of cute looking Niagara on the lake accommodation, the place Krystle and I stayed was going through renovations and updates and just didn’t hit the mark. That being said I wouldn’t recommend staying there until the updates and renovations are over. For now it felt a little too expensive for the value you were getting as well as a little far from things to do in niagara on the lake on the downtown strip for my liking. Next time I will look at something more closer/in town and come back to provide you with a solid recommendation.


Thanks for following along on Krystle and I’s adventure to NOTL! If you have any questions or recommendations for hings to do in Niagara on the lake, Niagara on the lake wineries or Niagara on the lake restaurants, please feel free to leave them in the comments below and share about your experience


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48 HOURS IN MONTREAL

Enjoying a Cappuccino at Caffe Farine in MTL’s St. Henri neighbourhood

Enjoying a Cappuccino at Caffe Farine in MTL’s St. Henri neighborhood

Romantic cobblestone streets, beautiful architecture, delicious eats, and friendly, warm people. All of these characteristics to me what make travelling to Montreal one of best cities to visit in Canada. There is something to say about a place that no matter how many time you visit, you still find yourself coming back for more. Montreal to me is exactly that. Every time I venture back to my french speaking roots (my mother is from the Laurentians) there is something new, delicious, and fun to discover.

Recently, needing a change of scenery from my everyday Toronto, I took a trip to visit a close lifestyle blogger, dear friend and Montrealer @HEY.MACA, to do some Montreal sightseeing. At the time I couldn’t shake off a lingering creative rut and desperately needed a shift in perspective. I knew Montreal would provide the perfect call for inspiration I needed and Maca the best host to show me all the new things to do in Montreal and the best restaurants in Montreal downtown core. We spent the next 48 hours running around Montreal collecting hot spots of happiness and inspiration along the way. She took me to all the new cool places and I left Montreal feeling completely full of delicious foods, inspiration, and with a list of new favorites restaurants in Montreal’s downtown core. .

So… without further ado, here is a list of some of my favorite new discoveries from my 48 hours in Montreal with Maca!


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CAFE’S AND RESTAURANTS IN MONTREAL WORTH CHECK OUT:

Caffe Farine - A cute coffee shop in the St. Henri neighborhood (pictured above) with the most amazing coffee (their foam was soooo on point!) I have ever had while in MTL! It was very quiet, had great lighting by the window, and I loved their vibrant blue banquette and little Ciao Bella neon sign on the wall. It all made for a perfect coffee shop photo-opp and a great spot to grab a caffeine fix when visiting Montreal.

Ssense Cafe - The new Ssense store in the Old Port features a beautiful cafe and reastaurant on the top floor that is an architecture and design lovers dream! The lighting inside is also incredible and casts perfect rays of contrasting light into the space. Although the whole place makes for a great photography setting Maca and I both found it hard to shoot portrait style photos in here. Reflected light made for an interesting cast on skintone and accentuated all flaws - more than normal. Although it wasn’t a good place for us to shoot outfit photos it was still an amazing and inspiring space. The food coming out of their small kitchen looked and smelt quiet amazing as well. Even if you have no plans to eat, the Ssense boutique should be on your ‘Montreal sightseeing’ list as it is a premiere shopping destination for luxury designer brands in downtown Montreal

Foiegwa - This restaurant has been open for a while and I have been dying to go because I have seen it on so many list regarding ‘Best restaurnats in Montreal’s downtown’. Every time I visited Montreal in the last two years I had it at the top of my list of places I wanted to eat, but it wasn’t until this last trip that I was actually able to go and let me tell you, it was worth the wait! The food here was spectacular although a little pricey*. Maca and I shared the beef tartare and immediately ordered another one after finishing the first - we couldn’t get enough!

*One of the beautiful things I love about Montreal is all their great restaurants. Usually in the past, especially as a student, I would always remark on how restaurants in Montreal’s downtown core were so affordable, even the super nice ones. I remember going to visit my friends at Concordia and having a nice meal and thinking the same meal in Toronto would probably cost 20-30% more. That said I know Toronto food prices have gone up (perhaps because of higher food cost or even increase in rent) so I can only imagine Montreal is experiencing the same. Honestly this comment was more about me no longer seeing Montreal restaurants being as affordable as they once were and how they are more on the same tier as Toronto in terms of food price points.

Cafe Pista - This little Mile End gem was totally my hipster coffee shop dream and one of the best cafes in Montreal to sit and work. It was very bright with amazing tile floors and white and mint decor/accents. Although their menu was small the food looked amazing and I couldn’t stop myself from ordering their ‘Bol Pista’ - a salad version of a salmon poke with a boiled egg - a delicious choice if you ask me. If I was looking for a cafe to do some work while I was in Montreal this would be it. This place just did it all for me - great people watching, awesome food, and cute decor.

McKiernan Lunchonette - This new collaboration between the owners of Maison Publique and Joe Beef is definitely one to add to your list of things to do while in Montreal. Having only opened the week prior to my trip I was so happy I got to check this place out before I left Montreal. I was only informed of its opening the night before I was leaving town, and being a big fan of Joe Beef’s food and having heard amazing things about Maison Publique, this place immediately shot up to the top of Maca and I’s ‘to-do’ list. The cafeteria style space the restaurant is located in is nowhere near downtown but rather in a more industrial loft style building on the outskirts of Montreal. Although it may be a little bit of a trek from where you may be staying, the breakfast we had here was delicious and so was the spicy Caesar cocktail I ordered. The space is available to rent for larger events and the new Lunchonette venture doubles as both an on and off-site catering company.

Pastel Rita - This pretty pink heaven is a mixed-use space featuring a boutique, an atelier, and a coffee shop/winebar. The three designers (a jewelry designer, a milliner and a leather-smith) share an open concept atelier in the back (with glass windows so you can peer in), while displaying their handmade goods in a boutique space and coffee shop in the front. The whole idea of having a shared co-working space that is also partly open to the public is a very cool concept to me. It is something I don’t often see as they are usually more private, members-only spaces in Toronto. I always find watching people work on their craft very inspirational and it helps feed my curious tendencies. Taking this opportunity of inspiration and combining it with coffee, and all pink everything, makes for an afternoon well spent in the Mile End area and a cool places to hang out while visiting Montreal.

Pictured Below - a shot I took of @Hey.Maca in Pastel Rita wearing a hat from Heirloom Hats.

Montreal


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ADDITIONAL PHOTOS FROM MY TRIP TO MONTREAL!

Left unsupervised in Montreal’s Old Port

Left unsupervised in Montreal’s Old Port

Waiting for my coffee at one of the best cafes in Montreal - Tommy - Located in Montreal’s Old Port

Waiting for my coffee at one of the best cafes in Montreal - Tommy - Located in Montreal’s Old Port


I hope you enjoyed this travel guide on the best cafes in Montreal, Old Montreal restaurants, things to do in Montreal downtown and so much more. If you have any questions, comments or recommendations of your own, please feel free to leave them in the comments below and I wish you a great time visiting Montreal!


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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!

 

EAST HOTEL - MIAMI, FLORIDA

Brickell City Centre. Photo courtesy Swire Hotels.

Brickell City Centre. Photo courtesy Swire Hotels.

Miami has always been known for its vibrant lifestyle. With its manicured beaches, delicious restaurants, fabulous nightclubs, colourful neighbourhoods and constant sunshine seven days a week there is no question why it’s a huge hotspot and a destination choice for many Canadians.

In the last year, Miami’s cityscape gained a newcomer to the U.S. hospitality scene.  With the development of the Brickell City Centre, a large-scale, mixed-use project in the Brickell financial district of Miami, came the East Hotel in Miami, Swire Hotels’ first U.S. property.


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Swimming pool at EAST Hotel in Miami. Photo courtesy Swire Hotels.

Swimming pool at EAST Hotel in Miami. Photo courtesy Swire Hotels.

With 352 rooms (89 of which are residence suits) East Hotel Miami attracts young professionals who come to town for business and for pleasure. With two restaurants, a poolside bar lounge, 20,000 square feet of event space with phenomenal views of the Miami skyline, and a rooftop garden that makes you feel like you have stumbled upon a Balinese oasis there is no question that this property offers an unconventional experience for those interested in innovation, elegance and personalized boutique service.

A suite at East Hotel in Miami. Photo courtesy of Swire Hotels.

A suite at East Hotel in Miami. Photo courtesy of Swire Hotels.

The best part about being a guest at the hotel is that you can ‘stay in’ to go out! With East Hotel in Miami’s two restaurants come some of the best food and nightlife scenes Miami has to offer. Conte Nast Traveler recently voted East Hotel’s Rooftop Bar and tapas restaurant Sugar as ‘The best rooftop bar in the United States!’ Occupying the top two floors of the hotel, East Miami’s Sugar is an Asian-inspired garden oasis in the heart of the city. With unimpeded views of the Miami skyline, delicious cocktails, and a well-curated Asian Tapas menu it is easy to lose track of time and spend a whole afternoon/evening eating and drinking under the stars. This rooftop lounge also features a wrap-around deck made of Brazilian teak and a Balinese bar carved out of reclaimed oak!

The bar at Sugar, EAST hotel in Miami’s rooftop bar. Photo courtesy of Swire Hotels.

The bar at Sugar, EAST hotel in Miami’s rooftop bar. Photo courtesy of Swire Hotels.

East Hotel in Miami’s Quinto La Huella restaurant is also a ‘must’ when staying at the hotel or visiting the city. This Uruguay-inspired restaurant located on the 5th floor of the hotel features a large beautiful outdoor patio, elegant bar, and a wood burning parrilla. Since opening, the restaurant has become quite the urban sanctuary and caters to both hotel guests and local professionals working in the downtown core and Brickell center. Their menu is a mixture of sushi, seafood, and grilled meats that are cooked to perfection in front of you on their parrilla. The restaurant prides itself on featuring simple dishes with only the best ingredients. With that being said the food here is delicious; from the cocktails to the dessert everything I ate was made with great care and embodies the cultural cuisine the restaurant is inspired from.

Quinto La Huella at EAST Hotel in Miami. Photo courtesy of Swire Hotels.

Quinto La Huella at EAST Hotel in Miami. Photo courtesy of Swire Hotels.

To encourage business travellers and first time visitors the East Hotel in Miami is offering special packages, room rates, and incentives to help you experience all that the hotel has to offer. Located in the Brickell City Centre it takes only 15 minutes to drive to the hotel from Miami International Airport. Built on top of the Brickell Plaza, East Miami is conveniently connected to a huge shopping mall and popular Miami districts like Wynwood, The Design District, and South Beach making it the perfect place for you to stay on your next trip to Miami.  To learn more about the East hotel in Miami, room rates and special offers please visit www.east-miami.com

Poolside Bar and Lounge at EAST Hotel in Miami. Photo courtesy of Swire Hotels.

Poolside Bar and Lounge at EAST Hotel in Miami. Photo courtesy of Swire Hotels.


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I hope you enjoy your time at East Hotel in Miami, Florida as much as I did! If you have any questions or comments about Miami East Hotel, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below!


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COCKTAILS AND GASTRONOMY IN TAMPA

Although you may never of suspected it Tampa has a booming Gastronomy scene. In the last 10 years there has been a lot of development to revitalize downtown Tampa, especially along the Riverwalk, which made its premiere about 2 years ago. Now Tampa has seen a huge growth in their food and entertainment industry with new farm to table restaurants, cocktail bars and upscale dinning experiencing popping up everywhere. With all those options where would one start, you may ask…


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1.     ANISE GLOBAL GASTROBAR - 777 N. Ashley Drive Tampa, FL

Anise is one of downtown Tampa’s trendiest cocktail bars and restaurants. What once started off as a food truck selling Asian-style stinky buns, Anise has become a young professional hotspot for lunch and after work drinks. With killer cocktails and an expanded menu (which still includes those delicious sticky buns they got their start with) the restaurant is always busy for weekend brunch, dinner and lunch during the week. The comfy lounge chairs outside on the patio also make Anise a great place for people-watching as the sun goes down and downtown’s lights along the Riverwalk come up.

2     FLY BAR & RESTAURANT - 202 N. Franklin St. Tampa, FL

This craft cocktail bar pioneered Tampa’s downtown bar scene.  10 years ago when there was nothing going on in downtown Tampa, Fly Bar was the first bar to open its doors and soon after became a legendary hot spot for craft cocktails and live music. What once was a destination bar is now see as the pioneer to Tampa’s downtown revitalization and started the boom of bars and restaurants opening up in the area. With a great global inspired Tapas menu and their rooftop patio/bar weekends at fly get packed with college students and young professionals often pouring out onto the sidewalk patio. Arrive before 9PM Thur – Sat to ensure you can get in without waiting in line.

3.     ULELE - 1810 N. Highland Avenue Tampa, FL

This once public water pump house, situated on the banks of the Hillsborough River and at the North end of the Riverwalk features a menu inspired by Tampa Bay’s early native and Spanish explorers. With seasonal seafood options and a large selection of offerings (including their very own award wining craft beer) Ulele is an absolute local favourite! The restaurant also features a great outdoor patio and beer garden making it a great place to enjoy the sunset or to grab a drink after you bike down the Riverwalk.

4.     HOTEL BAR – 200 N Tampa St Tampa, FL

Tampa’s newest cocktail bar is the sister bar to downtown’s legendary Fly Bar (remember #2?) When the owners opened Hotel Bar 2 months ago they were looking to reinvent hotel cocktails in a modern cocktail bar setting.  With a swanky atmosphere, cool music and late night bites (serving food until 2AM) Friday night at Hotel Bar is the place to be.

5.     OXFORD EXCHANGE - 420 West Kennedy Boulevard Tampa, FL

The Oxford Exchange offers one of the most historic settings in Tampa. Located near the University of Tampa this once upon a time horse stable was redeveloped into what is now the Oxford Exchanged. Inspired by the architecture of the building and English interior design the owners decided to use the space to combine a restaurant, coffee bar, bookstore and home décor shop. Now the Oxford Exchange is a popular place for locals and tourists to pass time drink coffee, eating in their courtyard and perusing through their masterfully selected boutique and bookstore features. Not to mention it’s a great place to snap some photographs!

6.   EDISON FOOD + DRINK LAB - 912 West Kennedy Blvd Tampa, FL

The Edison is one of the most innovative restaurants in Tampa. Chef Jeannie Pierola creates every dish with the intention to push the boundaries of what’s possible in a kitchen. With the help of liquid nitrogen and other unusual cooking techniques her dishes make this restaurant rise to the top when it comes to Tampa’s gastronomy scene. With strong cocktails, an excellent wine list and classic workingman's beer on tap it’s the perfect place to make yourself right at home.

7.     BERN’S STEAK HOUSE – 1208 S Howard Ave Tampa, FL

Bern’s Steak House is truly a Tampa staple. Known for having the largest private wine collection in the world, Bern’s draws every politician, well to do businessmen and movie star that passes through Tampa. Their reputation as the finest steak house in Tampa holds true and many locals will easily put this restaurant on their top 10 list. From their dry ages stakes to their dessert room Bern’s Steak House is a destination within itself and is always packed which is why I recommend making a reservation well in advance.

8.     FRANKLIN MANOR - 912 North Franklin Street Tampa, FL

Franklin Manor is downtown Tampa’s newest venue. With a large outdoor patio featuring a stage for nightly live performances Franklin Manors adds a whole new dimension to the food and entertainment in downtown Tampa. Often filled with young professionals Fraklin Manor is the place to see and be “scene”. Hand crafted cocktails, vibrant live music, delicious bar bites and Taco Tuesday specials (try the oyster taco – it is a delight!!!) this is a place you want to be on a night out.

9.     EDGE - 1207 S. Howard Ave Tampa, FL

The Edge cocktail bar located on the roof of the Epicurean Hotel is completely open to the public. With a view of Tampa’s posh Hyde Park neighbourhood the Edge cocktail bar tends to draw a more affluent crowd that has no qualms paying $11 for a drink. Offering small snacks and drinking accompaniments the Edge rooftop is a place you would go for a pre dinner cocktail or a delicious night cap.

10.      HAVEN - 2208 W. Morrison Ave Tampa, FL

Located just down the street from the Epicurean Hotel, Haven is the sleek contemporary sister restaurant to the famous Bern’s Steak House (remember #7). Having just opened in 2015 Haven is one of the most popular restaurants in Tampa. With an always-delicious modern Mediterranean dinner menu that changes seasonally Haven’s menu focuses on charcuterie, a large selection of cheese (more than 60 types), and a variety of meat options. This upscale date night spot also features an extensive bar selection and is famous for its 300 varieties of bourbon and 40 different wines by the glass. They also have a $2 oyster and $4 cocktail happy hour from 5-7PM Monday to Saturday!

11.     CIRO’S SPEAKEASY & SUPPER CLUB –  2109 Bayshore Boulevard Tampa, FL

Although Ben Afflicts 1920 blockbuster Live By Night was based on Tampa Bay in the 1920s – this speakeasy is the real deal. At Ciro’s Speakeasy you can really get a feel for what it was like during prohibition thanks to their intimate setting, private cocktail booths and well crafter cocktails. This small cocktail bar fills up fast on weekends with a capacity of only 70 patrons so make sure to call ahead for a reservation or you may find yourself left out in the cold, sugar. This small cocktail bar is also password protected and it changes nightly so check their website for info.

12.   DATZ – 2616 S. MacDill Tampa, FL

If a gluttnous boozy breakfast/brunch is what you are after this place is perfect. A very popular spot among locals, Datz is always busy for brunch on weekends. This south Tampa gastropub smokes all of the meat in house and bakes all of their bread nextdoor at their bakery Dough. The family friendly restaurant doesn’t take reservations on weekends however you can go on their website and get on their waitlist via a text app. Make sure to try their monkey bread and eggs barbacoa (a gluten free option), two dishes they are absolutly famous for. Also if you need a little hair of the dog they have many local craft beers on tap and make amazing bloody marys!

13.    COLUMBIA - 801 Old Water St Tampa, FL

Columbia is Florida’s oldest Spanish restaurant! Located in the heart of Ybor City (Tampa Bat’s historic Latin Quarter). Columbia brother restaurant to Ulele (remember #3) has been around since 1905. This family run restaurant expanded over the years from a bar and sandwich shop to a restaurant that now spans the entire block and seats 1,700 people. Columbia, like Bern’s is a major attraction in Tampa Bay and draws politicians, movie stars and big businessman that are passing through. With great menu offerings (like their famous salad and paella) there is no wrong choice. Want a little entertainment with your dinner? Columbia has a flamenco show six nights a week! Olé!!