On an unseasonably sunny Saturday afternoon, we took a stroll through Iseo and despite the bustling market throughout the town, we decided that we must dine on the lakefront, so we “landed” at the Idrovolonte (sea plane) restaurant. While not always my vibe, it seemed like the perfect vibe for an Aperol Spritz and (always…
Tag: Italy
Cascina Doss, A Culinary Gem in Iseo
My favorite meal of our trip was at Cascina Doss, an easy (though dark) five minute walk from the Iseolago hotel. The simple farmhouse facade opens into a courtyard and exceptionally cozy restaurant with white table cloths and wood burning fire. The vibe was very romantic and was full of locals and a waitstaff whose…
Discovering Questione di Gusto: An Iseo Gem
On a beautifully, unseasonably warm Friday afternoon, we stumbled across the adorable Question di Gusto, a wine bar and bistro on a side street in Iseo. We took a table outside with a lovely view of the lake and struck up a conversation with the owner who had a real passion for wine. After the…
Iseolago Hotel Review: Vintage Charm by the Lake
On the return journey from the trip to Bologna, we decided to stop in the Franciacorta region to taste some favorite bubbles in their home region. What a better way to celebrate a first anniversary than with a celebratory glass. We opted to stay at the budget-friendly, yet old school Italian charming, Iseolago Hotel, right…
Solo Dining Delight: La Trattoria del Tempo Buono in Bologna
On my “fancy lady day” in Bologna I needed a break between Renaissance art and gift shopping for the family, I stumbled on La Trattoria del Tempo Buono. After a quick glimpse of the menu posted outside, I thought I’d try my luck with a table. Luckily, the crowded restaurant had one for and all…
Il Portico di San Donato: A Hidden Gem in Bologna
In the need for a cheap and cheerful, but generously caloric meal after the long trek to Santuario Madonna di San Luca, we found the wonderful Il Portico di San Donato in our neighborhood. The hospitality was lovely and the main owner/manager of the restaurant didn’t speak English, but his warmth was felt during our…
Exploring Bologna: Aemilia Hotel Experience
For my first trip to Bologna, with the need to be in close(ish) proximity to the conference center, we selected the Aemilia Hotel. The hotel seemed to be full of pilots and flight crew as well as equipped with many meeting rooms and a lively bar that was well conducive for work. The common spaces…
Taste of Local Flavors: Dining at Osteria Ai Do Pozzi
While we were enjoying exploring our new neighborhood of Castello, on a leisurely stroll one evening, a waitress popped out of a restaurant and handed us a card for the establishment. Not thinking much of it, it certainly did help us remember the osteria buried among the meandering dark alleyways on the backside of Castello….
Dining by the Canal: Ristorante Riviera Experience
This is the third review of Ristorante Riviera and it still racks up as one of my top favorite Venetian restaurants. We scored a canal-front table on an unseasonable warm October afternoon and started with a glass of Franciacorta. Why does wine always taste better on the water? The first course is my absolute favorite…
Liassidi Arco: Affordable Comfort in the Heart of Venice
Buried in the heart of the sprawling Castello neighborhood is the group of Liassidi properties. For the Venice Marathon we elected to stay at the four room Liassidi Arco due to it’s proximity to the race’s end. The room looked lovely online, but I wasn’t certain they’d live up to the main hotel. Luckily, they…
A Taste for Travel: Venice
Updated June 2025 TREATS TIPPLES TASTE REST VISIT
Experience the Eccentric Charm of XS Venice
Just around the corner from other notable hotels on Dorsoduro is the small, but living large, XS Venice. The name fits the crazy interior design, and wilder hotel uniforms (by Dolce & Gabanna) well. It feels like a step into a palace run by your eccentric uncle if you had either of those things. The…